1.If you borrow a book from a public library or from a friend, don’t use a pen or pencil to make any mark on the book, don’t tear pages from the books, keep the books as clean as ever for the next readers. That’s common sense.

2. If you’re using a public toilet, flush it, clean the seat before sitting on top, check the environment for any hazard. Many infections in public toilets.
Don’t stand on the toilet, likely to crash under your weight. It happened during my university days, one guy allegedly stood on top of the toilet to answer the call of nature and nearly cut off his manhood. The rest is now history.

3. It is unethical to speak on the phone while still eating. The receiver or caller must not be hearing the sound of your mouth. You need to stop this rubbish attitude now. I hate such people with passion! As soon as I notice such nonsense, I just cut off. Emi o ni suru to yen oooo.

4. Don’t develop hypertension over Facebook updates. If you’re not happy with anybody’s Facebook updates,videos or photos, just ignore or block the person. End of story. Ko ju be lo.

5.Body odour starts from bushy armpits, try to shave on a regular basis, use moderate perfume, roll-on and body cream. Don’t forget to shave your ‘private arena’. I cannot over-stress this aspect. Personal hygiene is a serious matter in relationships.

6. Don’t associate with friends who cannot encourage you to achieve your positive goals in life. I always walk my talk, even on this Facebook. Yes!
This life is too short to roll with haters, dream killers and cheap blackmailers.
Argue with your conscience!

7. Don’t wait for anybody to spoonfeed you with information and knowledge in this 21st century. The Internet is a reservoir of unlimited knowledge and information. What are you waiting for? Don’t waste your time and energy on social media! Read good books and be ahead of friends with valuable knowledge. As simple as ABC.

8. Don’t use anybody’s clock to set your own time. We all have different missions in life. I am doing my own part both online and offline. I say it loud and proud anywhere to provoke sick haters. What are you doing for humanity?
Ask yourself now because death is sure.
Nobody knows tomorrow of anybody.Aye mojuba oooo.

9. Some friends cannot tell you if you have a mouth odour to avoid any embarrassment. Always visit your dentist on a regular basis.If you can brush your teeth at least 2 times per day, just do it.
If you can also use a mouthwash to rinse your teeth after brushing, just do it.
Thank me later.

10.Anybody that’s trying to avoid you on social media is likely to deny you in real life. That’s “Artificial” social distancing.
If you call anybody for more than 3 times, no response, send 2 critical text messages, no response. Just know you’re not really important to that person. If you send a very sad text message concerning the person’s family member, likely to reply you under 5 seconds. Nobody is really busy 24 hours per day, just a matter of priority. Think again.

11. Wetin concern me sef to write all dis story? I get plenty time to write 24 hours per day on social media? If you’ve gained something from the above messages, let me hear from you.
Let’s discuss like educated adults. Knowledge is light.May God bless our struggles in life. Amen.

*Dare Lasisi, former Commonwealth Journalist writes from the UK University of the year, University of Strathclyde, Faculty of Science, Department of Computer & Information Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

The criminals armed with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms were heading to attack villages surrounding Baga, when the troops attacked their convoy with overwhelming fire power killing 20 BHT/ISWAP criminals, captured six AK 47 Rifles, 520 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and five 36 hand grenades.

However, nine of our gallant soldiers were wounded in action with no loss of life. They were evacuated to Sector 3 hospital for treatment.

The Chief of Army Staff commends the gallant troops for their professionalism and directs them to remain resolute towards eradicating the criminals from the North East.

Prostitution is the world’s oldest profession probably older than the rock of Gibraltar and sexual intercourse as a universal language is unarguably a therapy for many troubled souls. In many parts of the world, sex sells like a freshly baked bread!

It is an open secret that women who work in the sex trade over the years have earned popular sobriquets such as prostitute, call-girl, whore, harlot, ashewo, hooker, honey-lady, and ultimately the escort.

With the sky-rocketing cost of post-secondary education in several countries, many students are desperately looking for alternative ways to finance their quest for higher learning because poverty is only good in sermons but very unpleasant in practice and it is true that education may not take anybody outrightly out of poverty but it will definitely not keep one in abject poverty and the sex trade cannot be the last option for these young souls.

Necessity they say is the mother of invention and as the street slogan says, “You need to use what you have to get what you want in life.”

According to a research conducted by Kingston University in southwest London, it was discovered that one in 10 female students had close friends who had stripped, lapdanced or worked at massage parlours and escort agencies to support themselves throughout their university education.

Many students are not really concerned about the fact that prostitution, either part-time or full-time, is a dark enclave and doubles as a dignity-stripping environment which is extremely harmful and dangerous to women.

The coinage “escort” is likely one that involves exceptionally beautiful ladies, paid to accompany wealthy men to classic public events and expensive dinners; elegant women whose aura and splendour are worth several hundreds of pounds per hour to majorly affluent clients.

But in the real world, the escort industry, like all business ventures, is purely about money, and it is strategically driven by the same economic force which motivates the entire exotic industry which is raw sex.

Frankly speaking, health concerns related to intercourse, with or without the use of a condom, are prevalent among women in the sex trade and in underdeveloped and developing countries where fetishism is still highly prevalent, many of these young, innocent, and beautiful ladies become vulnerable to ritualists especially men who are seeking spiritual powers.

It is like dancing on sword’s edge and any slight error would trigger a devastating repercussion for the victim, friends and family members that is why I term it a dangerous adventure, one that can be compared with sitting on the keg of a gun powder that is ready to explode within seconds before our very eyes.

Most escort agencies are just exploiting the vulnerabilities of “struggling” students by paying them pittance when compared to the average wages earned by unregistered street prostitutes, they take advantage of the fact that these young girls do not have their heads and eyes open enough to see other better opportunities around them except that of an escort.

Debt management is another major factor pressuring many young University students in the United Kingdom to prostitution due to student loan repayment policies which can eventually affect their credit rating when trying to apply for mortgages or credit cards from banks or other financial institutions.

To curtail the temptation of joining the sex trade, Universities and Colleges can reduce their tuition fees, advocate for scholarships, grants, interest-free loans, and bursaries for students from low-income family backgrounds or even offer very low-interest-rate where it is impossible to offer interest-free loan.

These measures if strictly adhered to, would certainly discourage the financially disadvantaged students from becoming sex workers at the detriment of their health and university education. It will also help in maintaining the status and the reputation of our institutions of higher learning as a place where morals are being instilled in students as institutions of learning are not only meant to certify students based on their academic performance alone but also on their character.

In a nutshell, the reality remains that, in general, a student who is aggressively desperate enough to sell their body for “quickie” cash is likely to qualify for financial assistance from government student loan programmes or local credit unions as long as that student is working part-time with original payslips to show.

It is estimated that 70% of clients who visit escorts are married, so why do married men visit escorts? This aspect deserves critical analysis.

Many married men are in sex-starved relationships and a visit to a nearby brothel to meet an escort would take them to another “Sugar candy” planet while still on earth! It is still an open-ended debate.

This visit is indeed a lifesaver for some frustrated men to cure their depression and boost their libido, confidence, and self-worth in life.

According to research, married men flirt for six main reasons: to get sex, to explore what it would be like to be in a relationship, to strengthen a relationship, to try to experience new feelings, to increase self-esteem, and above all, to have fun.

Just as we have female escorts, so are there male escorts who work in different gay clubs just like their female counterparts, fighting against all odds to use their bodies to earn a living. It is like a rat race or a Catch-22 dilemma.

To be candid, an escort is just a glorified prostitute or probably two sides of an outdated coin.

Although feelings towards their clients must be mutual, temporary, and consensual in order not to cross the boundary or break the rules.

In conclusion, the legendary Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, opined, “I can resist everything, except temptation.” and that is why all men should resist the temptation of illicit sexual intercourse and be faithful to their partners.

***Dare Lasisi, former Commonwealth journalist writes from the UK University of the year, University of Strathclyde, Faculty of Science, Dept of Computer & Information Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

I sat there in this funk for nearly an hour and wondered how to snap out of it.  Should I just forget about today?  Should I just give up on this project in front of me, because I’m not as good at it as I thought I was?

That’s what I was considering, at least for a fleeting moment.  But the better part of me knew this mild state of depression would soon pass.  And just as I started to feel better, the thought of the discussion the passengers sitting behind me in a commercial bus while traveling few months ago trolled in my mind, it was all about the numerous challenges bedeviling our country.

I have listened to many of their litanies of the nation’s challenges which were centred on bad governances, transparency in governance, and a weakened economy system we’ve been piloting for ages out of boredom.

I was in this thought when a messages popped out on the screen of my phone to bring me back to life.

The opening lines of the text was scary and heartbroken at such a time like this when things seems unappealing to everyone, it was a season that’s not been fair to everyone of us.

“I feel so drained, so uninspired.  I’m stuck again!  My mind is spinning with worry and overwhelm and just a general lack of enthusiasm.”

The last time I spoke to her was months back when i promised to keep her posted on job opportunities as I was also a victim looking for where to try out my skills and develops other ones. She had asked me about anything I could share?

What she can reflect on and try to remember whenever she lost her motivation.

During this moment the thought of people going back to their business today after almost 2-months of working remotely struck my heart.

Many won’t be resuming their place of work due to their company downsizing during the lock down to meet up with their productivity and cover up for the loss of profit that have crept in due to their inefficiency of service been rendered.

Some already have their salary slashed to a lower percentage; if you’re among these set, be grateful you’re still in the system and will always have something to return to. Moreover there’s is high probability for you to get your salary back to 100% when things go smoothly again for the organization.

This is a time where people who lost their jobs become depressed, miserable, and despondent just because of their inability to show strength, courage and perseverance which would have helped to overcomes the adverse situation and becomes an encouragement and inspiration.

It’s no joke that a higher percentage of this people have nothing to leverage on after reliving them from their office, just because they have nothing to augment what they made from their business or salary.

This is a tropical example of Nigeria working class, who only rely just on salary to survive, once salary stops coming for some months, then they’re in trouble.

The coronavirus has introduced a mentally draining situation for all of us. But that means we can’t just stand on the sidelines and lick our own wounds. Look at the other people around you, and offer what you can to help. If there’s one good thing to come out of this, it will be our ability to care for each other.

It’s no gainsaying we’ve been extremely divided because of series of factors that align our differences in school of thoughts like politics, religion, ethnicity, and many others.

Let’s use this crisis as an opportunity to not beat up on the other side; let’s find some common ground and look out for one another. What makes us alike is much greater than what separates us. We’re all wary of the unknown; we all want things to get back to normal. Focusing on that is a much healthier approach for both you and the people around you.

Every day we have a tendency to bump into many people with completely different temperament traits. A number of these individuals create a long-lasting impression. You would possibly also value more highly to keep in contact with them and eventually, these individuals grow to be your friends, then BFFs. It’s going to appear that you just make this decision based on each of your mutual interests, comfort, or want of the instant. But, sadly, typically it turns into a Cyanogen relationship leaving you drained.

Apparently, one Cyanogen person can cause you to discredit your opinions, defame your skills, and shatter your dreams. Science conjointly says that such negative individuals can even kill you. For that reason, you better avoid such kinds of Cyanogen individuals by all means.

To avoid toxic individuals in your life, we’ve listed five forms of toxic individuals to avoid.

1.Religious extremists: Anybody that cannot reason logically without attachment to “imported” religions must be avoided to maintain one’s sanity.
For example, look at this COVID-19 crisis, some religionists are not totally happy over the closure of mosques and churches.
No crime to have the fear of God but it must be maintained with a common sense and welfare of the people. Just look around you to spot these brainwashed religionists and hypocritical believers. They always claim to be God’s ambassadors on earth but they are secret Lucifer’s agents. Stories go plenty on judgment day ooo.

2.Dream killers: These dream killers are human beings and not ghosts from outer space or planet Jupiter, they don’t need to appear as ugly monsters with horns, swords, or whatever. If you tell them about your ideas, plans, and goals, they are ready to give you more than 100 reasons why your dreams won’t happen. They can even steal your vibrant ideas and turn them into big investments!

They can be your childhood friends, colleagues, former school mates, neighbours, members of the same religious organisations etc etc.

3. Cheap blackmailers, gossips and rumour mongers: These deracinated species of Homo Sapiens are not only wired to pull down people with positive ideas but to spread falsehood and fabricated stories to tarnish images of fellow human beings. You need to avoid people with negative energy.
These silly people always behave as if they are perfect in their dealings with fellow human beings. Only God can judge them all.
On a personal note, I have had enough nasty experiences from these “Asinwin” people and I need to move on with my life. I don’t need to re-open any old wound. Aye mojuba ooo.

4. Pathological haters: Foremost Master Playwright, William Shakespeare, The Bard of Stratford-Upon-Avon once said, “There is no art to see the construction of the heart from the face.”
In a nutshell, if you open the bellies of these natural haters, you’re likely to see snakes, scorpions, and other dangerous insects.
Even on this social media, not so difficult to spot haters and enemies of progress with their k-leg comments and inverted sarcasm.
These haters don’t need to know about your family history to hate you for nothing. They don’t need to investigate your personal struggles and challenges. I repeat again, only God can judge them, nobody else.

5. Parasitic grabbers/Serial beggars: In this modern world, we all need help in many ways. Anything can happen to anybody at any time. That’s the reality of life.
Beware of parasitic friends or family members who are just closer to you because you’re financially comfortable or with a regular source of income. They just need to collect free money from you and if you’re broke or jobless, they won’t come back to you or even suggest practical ways for you to bounce back financially and emotionally.
Many true-life experiences around us. As Yoruba adage says, “Oore niwon, Eniyan sooro”.
It is good to assist fellow human beings but we must still apply common sense not to fall into the hands of scammers, hypocrites and liars.

***Dare Lasisi, former Commonwealth Journalist writes from the UK University of the year, University of Strathclyde, Faculty of Science, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved phased and gradual easing of lockdown in Lagos, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Read the full address of the President to Nigerians this evening

1. Fellow Nigerians

2. I will start by commending you all for the resilience and patriotism that you have shown in our collective fight against the biggest health challenge of our generation.

3. As at yesterday, 26th April 2020, some 3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded globally with about 900,000 recoveries. Unfortunately, some 200,000 people have passed away as a result of this pandemic.

4. The health systems and economies of many nations continue to struggle as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

5. Nigeria continues to adapt to these new global realities on a daily basis. Today, I will present the facts as they are and explain our plans for the coming months fully aware that some key variables and assumptions may change in the coming days or weeks.

6. Exactly two weeks ago, there were 323 confirmed cases in 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

7. As at this morning, Nigeria had recorded 1,273 cases across 32 States and the FCT. Unfortunately, this includes 40 deaths.

8. I am using this opportunity to express our deepest condolences to the families of all Nigerians that have lost their loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is our collective loss and we share your grief.

9. Initial models predicted that Nigeria will record an estimated 2,000 confirmed cases in the first month after the index case.

10. This means that despite the increase in the number of confirmed cases recorded in the past two weeks, the measures we have put in place thus far have yielded positive outcomes against the projections.

11. The proportion of cases imported from other countries has reduced to only 19% of new cases, showing that our border closures yielded positive results. These are mostly fellow Nigerians returning through our land borders. We will continue to enforce land border arrival protocols as part of the containment strategy.

12. Today, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has accredited 15 laboratories across the country with an aggregate capacity to undertake 2,500 tests per day across the country.

13. Based on your feedback, Lagos State Government and the FCT with support from NCDC have established several sample collection centers. They are also reviewing their laboratory testing strategy to further increase the number of tests they can perform including the accreditation of selected private laboratories that meet the accreditation criteria.

14. Several new fully equipped treatment and isolation centres have been operationalized across the country thereby increasing bed capacity to about three thousand.

15. I commend the State Governors for the activation of State-level Emergency Operation Centres, the establishment of new treatment centres, and the delivery of aggressive risk communication strategies.

16. Over 10,000 healthcare workers have been trained. For their protection, additional personal protective equipment has been distributed to all the states.

17. Although we have experienced logistical challenges, we remain committed to establishing a solid supply chain process to ensure these heroic professionals can work safely and are properly equipped.

18. In keeping with our Government’s promise to improve the welfare of healthcare workers, we have signed a memorandum of understanding on the provision of hazard allowances and other incentives with key health sector professional associations.

19. We have also procured insurance cover for 5,000 frontline health workers. At this point, I must commend the insurance sector for their support in achieving this within a short period of time.

20. Nigeria has also continued to receive support from the international community, multilateral agencies, the private sector, and public-spirited individuals. This support has ensured that critical lifesaving equipment and materials, which have become scarce globally, are available for Nigeria through original equipment manufacturers and government-to-government processes.

21. The distribution and expansion of palliatives which I directed in my earlier broadcast are still on-going in a transparent manner. I am mindful of the seeming frustration being faced by expectant citizens. I urge all potential beneficiaries to exercise patience as we continue to fine-tune our logistical and distribution processes working with the State Governments.

22. Our Security Agencies continue to rise to the challenge posed by this unusual situation. While we feel deeply concerned about isolated security incidents, I want to assure all Nigerians that your safety and security remain our primary concern, especially in these difficult and uncertain times.

23. As we focus on protecting lives and properties, we will not tolerate any human rights abuse by our security agencies. The few reported incidences are regrettable, and I want to assure you that the culprits will be brought to justice.

24. I urge all Nigerians to continue to cooperate and show understanding whenever they encounter security agents. Furthermore, for their protection, I have instructed that the personnel of all the security agencies is provided with the necessary personal protective equipment against infection.

25. As we continue to streamline our response in the centres of Lagos and the FCT, I am gravely concerned about the unfortunate developments in Kano in recent days. Although an in-depth investigation is still on-going, we have decided to deploy additional Federal Government manpower, material, and technical resources to strengthen and support the State Government’s efforts, with immediate effect.

26. In Kano, and indeed many other States that are recording new cases, preliminary findings show that such cases are mostly from interstate travel and emerging community transmission.

27. Drawing from these, I implore all Nigerians to continue to adhere strictly to the advisories published by the Presidential Task Force and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

28. These include regular hand washing, physical distancing, wearing of face masks/coverings in public, avoidance of non-essential movement and travels, and avoidance of large gatherings.

29. Fellow Nigerians, for the past four weeks, most parts of our country have been under either the Federal Government or State Government lockdown. As I mentioned earlier, these steps were necessary and overall, have contributed to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in our country.

30. However, such lockdowns have also come at a very heavy economic cost. Many of our citizens have lost their means of livelihood. Many businesses have shut down. No country can afford the full impact of a sustained lockdown while awaiting the development of vaccines.

31. In my last address, I mentioned that the Federal Government will develop strategies and policies that will protect lives while preserving livelihoods.

32. In these two weeks, the Federal and State Governments have jointly and collaboratively worked hard on how to balance the need to protect health while also preserving livelihoods, leveraging global best practices while keeping in mind our peculiar circumstances.

33. We assessed how our factories, markets, traders, and transporters can continue to function while at the same time adhering to NCDC guidelines on hygiene and social distancing.

34. We assessed how our children can continue to learn without compromising their health.

35. We reviewed how our farmers can safely plant and harvest in this rainy season to ensure our food security is not compromised. Furthermore, we also discussed how to safely transport food items from rural production areas to industrial processing zones and ultimately, to the key consumption centres.

36. Our goal was to develop implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These same difficult decisions are being faced by leaders around the world.

37. Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and the Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May, 2020.

38. However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.

39. Furthermore, new nationwide measures are to be introduced as follows;
a. There will be an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am. This means all movements will be prohibited during this period except for essential services;
b. There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice;
c. Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers; and
d. We will strictly ensure the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene. Furthermore, the restrictions on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place. State Governments, corporate organizations, and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.

40. For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States shall remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th May 2020.

41. The Presidential Task Force shall provide sector-specific details to allow for preparations by Governments, businesses, and institutions.

42. In respect to the above guidelines, State Governors may choose to adapt and expand based on their unique circumstances provided they maintain alignment with the guidelines issued above.

43. To support our businesses and traders, the monetary and fiscal authorities shall deploy all the necessary provisions needed for production to continue, and thus, jobs restored.

44. These revised guidelines will not apply to Kano State.

45. With regards to Kano, I have directed the enforcement of a total lockdown for a period of two weeks effective immediately. The Federal Government shall deploy all the necessary human, material and technical resources to support the State in controlling and containing the pandemic and preventing the risk of further spread to neighbouring States.

46. I wish to once again, commend the frontline workers across the country who, on a daily basis, risk everything to ensure we win this fight. For those who got infected in the line of duty, rest assured that Government will do all it takes to support you and your families during this exceedingly difficult period. I will also take this opportunity to assure you all that your safety, wellbeing, and welfare remain paramount to our Government.

47. I will also recognize the support we have received from our traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and other prominent religious and community leaders. Your cooperation and support have significantly contributed to the successes we have recorded to date.

48. I will urge you all to please continue to create awareness on the seriousness of the coronavirus among your worshippers and communities while appealing that they strictly comply with public health advisories.

49. I also thank the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Presidential Task Force for all their hard work to date. Through this collaboration, I remain confident that success is achievable.

50. I also wish to thank corporate organizations, philanthropists, the UN system, the European Union, friendly nations, the media, and other partners that have taken up the responsibility of supporting our response.

51. And finally, I will thank all Nigerians again for your patience and cooperation during this difficult and challenging period. I assure you that the government shall continue to take all necessary measures to protect the lives and livelihoods of our citizens and residents.

52. I thank you for listening and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

2. From the first signs that Coronavirus, or COVID-19 was turning into an epidemic and was officially declared a world-wide emergency, the Federal Government started planning preventive, containment and curative measures in the event the disease hits Nigeria.

3. The whole instruments of government are now mobilized to confront what has now become both a health emergency and an economic crisis.

4. Nigeria, unfortunately, confirmed its first case on 27th February 2020. Since then, we have seen the number of confirmed cases rise slowly.

5. By the morning of March 29th, 2020, the total confirmed cases within Nigeria had risen to ninety-seven.

6. Regrettably, we also had our first fatality, a former employee of PPMC, who died on 23rd March 2020. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this very difficult time. We also pray for quick recovery for those infected and undergoing treatment.

7. As of today, COVID-19 has no cure. Scientists around the world are working very hard to develop a vaccine.

8. We are in touch with these institutions as they work towards a solution that will be certified by international and local medical authorities within the shortest possible time.

9. For now, the best and most efficient way to avoid getting infected is through regular hygienic and sanitary practices as well as social distancing.

10. As individuals, we remain the greatest weapon to fight this pandemic. By washing our hands regularly with clean water and soap, disinfecting frequently used surfaces and areas, coughing into a tissue or elbow and strictly adhering to infection prevention control measures in health facilities, we can contain this virus.

11. Since the outbreak was reported in China, our Government has been monitoring the situation closely and studying the various responses adopted by other countries.

12. Indeed, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was one of ten global health leaders invited by the World Health Organisation to visit China and understudy their response approach. I am personally very proud of Dr Ihekweazu for doing this on behalf of all Nigerians.

13. Since his return, the NCDC has been implementing numerous strategies and programs in Nigeria to ensure that the adverse impact of this virus on our country is minimized. We ask all Nigerians to support the work the Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC are doing, led by the Presidential Task Force.

14. Although we have adopted strategies used globally, our implementation programs have been tailored to reflect our local realities.

15. In Nigeria, we are taking a two step approach.

16. First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners to ensure their families get through this very difficult time in dignity and with hope and peace of mind.

17. To date, we have introduced healthcare measures, border security, fiscal and monetary policies in our response. We shall continue to do so as the situation unfolds.

18. Some of these measures will surely cause major inconveniences to many citizens. But these are sacrifices we should all be willing and ready to make for the greater good of our country.

19. In Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19, there is no such thing as an overreaction or an under reaction. It is all about the right reaction by the right agencies and trained experts.

20. Accordingly, as a Government, we will continue to rely on guidance of our medical professionals and experts at the Ministry of Health, NCDC and other relevant agencies through this difficult time.

21. I therefore urge all citizens to adhere to their guidelines as they are released from time to time.

22. As we are all aware, Lagos and Abuja have the majority of confirmed cases in Nigeria. Our focus therefore remains to urgently and drastically contain these cases, and to support other states and regions in the best way we can.

23. This is why we provided an initial intervention of fifteen billion Naira (N15b) to support the national response as we fight to contain and control the spread.

24. We also created a Presidential Task Force (PTF) to develop a workable National Response Strategy that is being reviewed on a daily basis as the requirements change. This strategy takes international best practices but adopts them to suit our unique local circumstances.

25. Our goal is to ensure all States have the right support and manpower to respond immediately.

26. So far, in Lagos and Abuja, we have recruited hundreds of adhoc staff to man our call centers and support our tracing and testing efforts.

27. I also requested, through the Nigeria Governors Forum, for all State Governments to nominate Doctors and Nurses who will be trained by the NCDC and Lagos State Government on tactical and operational response to the virus in case it spreads to other states.

28. This training will also include medical representatives from our armed forces, paramilitary and security and intelligence agencies.

29. As a nation, our response must be guided, systematic and professional. There is a need for consistency across the nation. All inconsistencies in policy guidelines between Federal and State agencies will be eliminated.

30. As I mentioned earlier, as at this morning we had ninety-seven confirmed cases. Majority of these are in Lagos and Abuja. All the confirmed cases are getting the necessary medical care.

31. Our agencies are currently working hard to identify cases and people these patients have been in contact with.

32. The few confirmed cases outside Lagos and Abuja are linked to persons who have travelled from these centres.

33. We are therefore working to ensure such inter state and intercity movements are restricted to prevent further spread.

34. Based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March 2020. This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two States.

35. All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes. Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period.

36. The Governors of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Minister of the FCT have been notified. Furthermore, heads of security and intelligence agencies have also been briefed.

37. We will use this containment period to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases. We will ensure the treatment of confirmed cases while restricting further spread to other States.

38. This order does not apply to hospitals and all related medical establishments as well as organizations in health care related manufacturing and distribution.

39. Furthermore, commercial establishments such as;
a. food processing, distribution and retail companies;
b. petroleum distribution and retail entities,
c. power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and
d. private security companies are also exempted.

40. Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored.

41. Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted.

42. All seaports in Lagos shall remain operational in accordance with the guidelines I issued earlier. Vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargoes from these Ports to other parts of the country will be screened thoroughly before departure by the Ports Health Authority.

43. Furthermore, all vehicles conveying food and other essential humanitarian items into these locations from other parts of the country will also be screened thoroughly before they are allowed to enter these restricted areas.

44. Accordingly, the Hon. Minister of Health is hereby directed to redeploy all Port Health Authority employees previously stationed in the Lagos and Abuja Airports to key roads that serve as entry and exit points to these restricted zones.

45. Movements of all passenger aircraft, both commercial and private jets, are hereby suspended. Special permits will be issued on a needs basis.

46. We are fully aware that such measures will cause much hardship and inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a matter of life and death, if we look at the dreadful daily toll of deaths in Italy, France and Spain.

47. However, we must all see this as our national and patriotic duty to control and contain the spread of this virus. I will therefore ask all of us affected by this order to put aside our personal comfort to safeguard ourselves and fellow human beings. This common enemy can only be controlled if we all come together and obey scientific and medical advice.

48. As we remain ready to enforce these measures, we should see this as our individual contribution in the war against COVID-19. Many other countries have taken far stricter measures in a bid to control the spread of the virus with positive results.

49. For residents of satellite and commuter towns and communities around Lagos and Abuja whose livelihoods will surely be affected by some of these restrictive measures, we shall deploy relief materials to ease their pains in the coming weeks.

50. Furthermore, although schools are closed, I have instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to work with State Governments in developing a strategy on how to sustain the school feeding program during this period without compromising our social distancing policies. The Minister will be contacting the affected States and agree on detailed next steps.

51. Furthermore, I have directed that a three month repayment moratorium for all TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni loans be implemented with immediate effect.

52. I have also directed that a similar moratorium be given to all Federal Government funded loans issued by the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and the Nigeria Export Import Bank.

53. For on-lending facilities using capital from international and multilateral development partners, I have directed our development financial institutions to engage these development partners and negotiate concessions to ease the pains of the borrowers.

54. For the most vulnerable in our society, I have directed that the conditional cash transfers for the next two months be paid immediately. Our Internally displaced persons will also receive two months of food rations in the coming weeks.

55. We also call on all Nigerians to take personal responsibility to support those who are vulnerable within their communities, helping them with whatever they may need.

56. As we all pray for the best possible outcome, we shall continue planning for all eventualities.

57. This is why I directed that all Federal Government Stadia, Pilgrims camps and other facilities be converted to isolation centers and makeshift hospitals.

58. My fellow Nigerians, as a Government, we will avail all necessary resources to support the response and recovery. We remain committed to do whatever it takes to confront COVID-19 in our country.

59. We are very grateful to see the emerging support of the private sector and individuals to the response as well as our development partners.

60. At this point, I will ask that all contributions and donations be coordinated and centralized to ensure efficient and impactful spending. The Presidential Task Force remains the central coordinating body on the COVID-19 response.

61. I want to assure you all that Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies with a role to play in the outbreak response are working hard to bring this virus under control.

62. Every nation in the world is challenged at this time. But we have seen countries where citizens have come together to reduce the spread of the virus.

63. I will therefore implore you again to strictly comply with the guidelines issued and also do your bit to support Government and the most vulnerable in your communities.

64. I will take this opportunity to thank all our public health workforce, health care workers, port health authorities and other essential staff on the frontlines of the response for their dedication and commitment. You are true heroes.

65. I thank you all for listening. May God continue to bless and protect us all.

President Muhammadu Buhari
29th March 2020.

I don’t know the best way to address you today but I hope you’ll happily accept all the well-known sobriquets attributed to you since the creation of this world.
As a Supreme Commander of the Universe, you’re the Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotent, Omniuniverse and finally the OmniCopid-(4)19.

Since you know everything in this world and beyond, I won’t tell you that OmniCopid-(4)19 is the ‘botanical’ name for the Corona virus.

As one of your rebellious servants(Tupac Amaru Shakur) once said that he was not angry at anybody but just angry at the system and indeed, only you(God) can judge him, nobody else.

I am angry too at many dysfunctional systems of this world under your watch as if you don’t even exist to stop the sh*t from happening.

Your legendary ‘slow-motion’ attitude continues to give ‘oxygen’ of enhanced disillusion to career atheists to doubt your existence. Can we really blame them?

What are you going to do with this spreading Corona virus? It has affected more than 110 countries in this world at the moment. Copid (4)19 is no longer an epidemic but pandemic.

Do you still need to hear the cacophony of prayers before you find a permanent solution? How long shall we wait for your express remedy since you know the solutions to all human problems? Are you secretly planning to wipe off the entire human race because of a technical blunder of the Chinese people? Then, go ahead to end the universe! End of story!

As my late sweet mother once told me, “If heaven is going to fall, it is not going to be on one man’s head.”

At this critical stage when the whole world is now at the edge of extinction before your very eyes, nothing to fear again!

I am sure many hypocritical religionists and brainwashed believers may see this open letter to you as an affront, heresy, and blasphemy. They love to weep more than the bereaved. That’s their regular trademark. Not my business!

I won’t talk about my country of origin (Nigeria) because you know everything going on right now. It is up to you to fix the country as urgent as possible. I don’t need to tell you that General Sani Abacha’s soul brother is the ‘elected’ President of Nigeria.

Right now, I don’t need to tell you we have many business centres posing as religious centres in Nigeria. I don’t need to tell you the disgusting lifestyles of the so-called religious leaders and politicians.

Nigeria is a great country with abundant natural resources and several talented people but responsible leadership is the number one problem. Where is your solution since 1960?

When will you listen to the daily prayers of Nigerians to have responsible and trusted leaders who must always fear you before embarking on any action against the poor souls?

Nigeria clocks 60 this year but still at a “crawling” stage when compared to other African countries. Must we wait for another 60 years to get the final breakthrough?

When will you hit these deracinated species of Homo Sapiens with your hardest punishment while still on earth?
Maybe you’re waiting for them to repent or die? I repeat again, this your ‘slow-motion’ attitude is not helping the matter at the moment.

Can I talk about the “permanent” crisis in the middle east countries? Palestine/Israel crisis? Syria? Iraq? Iran? Yemen?

Where is your POWER to stop this nonsense in the middle east countries? I am just asking an innocent question!

Oh sorry, if you’re happy with the regular bloodshed and violence in the middle east countries, then let it continue until the end of time. That’s your own unique way to reduce the world population.

Islam and Christianity, those two religions often linked to you are the major causes of problems all over the world. I don’t need to go into details since you know everything.

I still cannot accept the wrongly-footed popular view that you won’t allow the traditional worshippers(with pure hearts!) of gods into your paradise. Where is your fair hearing?

It is a total waste of time to tell you about many braindead people all over the world claiming to be fighting to defend your “holy” name. They have killed many innocent souls in your name! Will you ever forgive such killers, rapists, anarchists?

Personally, I won’t hold any grudge against anybody doubting your existence. It is not my business. You caused it! So deal with it appropriately as urgent as possible.

The revolutionary English musician John Winston Lennon, the “soul” of the Beatles once sang in the “God” track that “God is a concept by which we measure our pain”.

I am passionately speaking on behalf of HUMANITY for you to get a permanent solution to this Coronavirus before the start of the holy month of Ramadan this year 2020. I won’t say it is an ultimatum but as a “merciful” God (Yah LATEEF), you know what to do, you know everything. I won’t explain anything to convince you. It is up to you, not humanity. As simple as ABC.

This Copid-(4)19 is not another conspiracy theory manufactured by the Illuminati clan, this is a serious global crisis. WHERE IS YOUR URGENT SOLUTION?

Get ready to hear plenty of sad stories on your judgment day since you’re the only authentic “Eleti Gbaroye” according to the Yoruba people.

Finally, I am 100 % sure you read this open letter and you must surely take urgent action except if you don’t really exist according to many atheists.

Your Loyal Servant,
Dare Lasisi.
(You know my exact location, I don’t need to tell you again!)

Including Nigeria in the U.S. travel ban is a political and economical mistake for Trump.

It is difficult to come to terms with the United States’ decision to include Nigeria in the extension he made a few weeks ago to the infamous “Muslim Travel Ban”, which already restricted movements of  people from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen. Alongside Nigeria, Tanzania, Myanmar, Eritrea, Sudan and Kyrgyzstan were also added to the list of countries with entry restrictions. Effectively, with the struck of a pen, or a whim, President Trump barred a quarter of the 1.2 billion people living in Africa from applying for residence in the United States.

Officially, the extension made to these nations is based on security concerns. Tanzania and Nigeria, particularly, are named by Washington as having failed to meet U.S. security and information sharing standards. Further, Nigeria is singled out for fears that the country harbors terrorists that could pose risks if they entered the U.S.

Much and more of this is difficult to reconcile with the U.S.-Nigeria long-standing allied relations and particularly with recent programs designed to bring the two nations closer together, but before we go there, let’s look at what the reality shows.

Since 1975, not a single incidence of a Nigerian, or for that case Tanzanian or Eritrean, being involved in a terrorist attack on American soil has been recorded. Boko Haram, the extremist group that has terrorized parts of the North of Nigeria (a region from which few migrants come from) in recent years, has never shown any signs of wanting to expand its territory, much less to open remote branches in North America. In fact, the American and Nigerian forces have worked closely together to address that and other challenges, and the Trump administration itself has recognized Nigeria as an “important strategic partner in the global fight against terrorism.”

Further, while Tanzanians and Eritreans have been excluded from what is known as the green card lottery system, Nigerians have been barred from applying for permanent residence visas in the United States. In 2018, 14 thousand such visas were issued to Nigerians, making it by far the most affected by the ban from all the new entrants to the list.

Beyond the sheer pain that fact must cause to the thousands of Nigerian families that have been waiting for years to be reunited in the U.S., from a security point of view, the decision makes no sense. Only permanent visas have been suspended. Tourist and work visas remain as usual. How does barring access to the most strict and difficult to obtain visas but maintaining the less restrictive short-term ones prevent terrorists from entering the U.S.? It is nonsensical. Even the fact that the announcement of the extension was made by the media before these countries’ authorities were even notified is telling of how lacking in protocol the process seems.

The whole thing is perplexing, but beyond the issues of principle, this decision has the potential to hurt the relations between these countries and the U.S., and when it comes to Nigeria, that risks hurting the U.S. too. Afterall, Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, is the U.S.’s second biggest trade partner in sub-Saharan Africa, is Nigeria’s second biggest export destination and is its the biggest source of foreign direct investment. American companies have extensive investments particularly in the energy and mining sectors in Nigeria, which risk being affected by a breakdown in bilateral relations. Some companies, like ExxonMobil, have been operating in the country for nearly 70 years, since even before the country became independent from colonial rule, and Chevron has also been an active and central participant in the country’s oil industry for over forty years. Both these companies are partners in Nigeria’s mid and long-term strategies to curb gas flaring, develop a gas economy, expand oil production, improve its infrastructure network, raise its people out of poverty, etc.

Nigeria and the U.S., under a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement, sustain an annual two-way trade of nearly USD$9 billion. When the president of the U.S. makes a decision like this, it can affect the relations the country and these companies uphold with Nigeria. Further, it directly clashes with the U.S.’s strategy to counter Russia’s and China’s growing influence in Africa by expanding its relations with the continent.

How does closing the door to Africa’s biggest powerhouse accomplish that?

The policy established under the 2019 Prosper Africa initiative, that was designed to double two-way trade between the U.S. and Africa, seems difficult to reconcile with this latest decision. Over the last couple of years, President Trump has made several statements, at varying levels of political correctness, about how he would like to restrict immigration to the U.S. to highly-skilled highly educated-workers. If that is one of the reasons behind the inclusion of Nigeria, again, it fails completely.

Nigerians represent the biggest African community in the U.S., numbering around 350 thousand, and one of the communities with the highest level of education in the US globally. According to the American Migration Policy Institute, 59% of Nigerian immigrants have at least a bachelor’s degree. That is higher than the South Korean community (56%), the Chinese community (51%), the British community (50%) or the German community (38%), and it is tremendously higher than the average for American born citizens (33%).

More than 50% of Nigerians working in the U.S. hold white color management positions, meaning they have access to considerable amounts of disposable income and contribute greatly to the American economy. Those are the immigrants the U.S. wants, the ones that built the American dream! Which only makes this decision ever harder to grasp, unless of course, if we consider that this might have nothing to do with security concerns, and all to do with a populist decision designed to please the president’s most conservative support base as we approach the presidential campaign. If that is the case, then American foreign policy has truly reached a dark age.

From his side, President Buhari’s government has done what is possible to appease the situation, setting up a committee to address the security concerns with U.S. officials and INTERPOL, and restating its commitment to “maintaining productive relations with the United States and its international allies especially on matters of global security”, Femi Adesina the Spokesman for the Nigerian Presidency said.

Last week, the Nigerian government requested the U.S. administration to remove the country from the travel ban, and also announced a reduction in visa application fees for visiting Americans from $180 to $160, in a symbolic gesture meant to reinforce relations between the two nations.

In the meantime, Nigeria’s and other economies risk suffering from this unexplainable decision, and immigrant Nigerians in the U.S. that had been waiting so patiently for the dream of being reunited with their families in the “land of the free” await a resolution for a problem they did not know existed until a month ago.

NJ Ayuk is Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, CEO of pan-African corporate law conglomerate Centurion Law Group, and the author of several books about the oil and gas industry in Africa, including Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Energy Chamber.

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African Energy Chamber ]]> https://www.darelasisionline.com/the-u-s-is-wronging-nigeria-and-the-energy-industry-with-travel-ban-by-nj-ayuk/feed/ 0