January 20, 2017
Breaking: African forces suspend military operations in Gambia for final talks
African forces suspended Thursday a military operation to force The Gambia’s leader Yahya Jammeh to hand over power in favour of final talks to convince him to leave the country, the president of ECOWAS said.
Talks will be led by Guinean president Alpha Condé in Banjul on Friday morning, said Marcel Alain de Souza, head of the Economic Community of West African States.
“If by midday, he doesn’t agree to leave The Gambia under the banner of President Condé, we really will intervene militarily,” he added.
January 19, 2017
Adama Barrow Sworn-In As Gambian President
With the barking of ECOWAS, Mr. Adama Barrow, winner of the December 1 presidential poll in The Gambia, has been sworn in as president. He however took his oath of office at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.It would be recalled that the parliament had extended the tenure of President Yahya Jammeh for another three months. The situation is looking like a political/constitutional logjam.
Botswana officially cuts ties with Mr Jammeh
The Government of Botswana says it will no longer recognize Yahya Jammeh and his government following his refusal to handover executive power after the expiration of his mandate.
The Southern Africa nation becomes the first country to openly denounce Jammeh’s continued stay in power contrary to what they described as the ‘‘expressed will of the Gambian people.’‘
A statement released by the Government on Thursday read in part, ‘‘This decision which takes effect immediately is consistent with Botswana’s position as articulated through the Press Release of 16th December 2016.
‘‘Mr. Jammeh’s decision not to respect the will of the Gambian people undermines the ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. This is also in direct contravention of the spirit and aspirations of the African Union Constitutive Act,’‘the statement added.
They also continued to make appeals to the international community to do all within its power to exert pressure on Mr. Jammeh to hand over power in order to ensure a smooth transition.
The opposition coalition led by President-elect, Adama Barrow, have scheduled his swearing-in to take place in the Gambian embassy in neighbouring Senegal. Barrow has been in Senegal for over a week now after regional mediators flew out with him after a second round of inconclusive talks with Jammeh.
The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has deployed troops close to the Gambia with the high possibility of an intervention.
Nigeria's Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Strike
Rising from the National Executive Council ( NEC) meeting held at the National Trauma Centre, National Hospital Abuja, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a 7- day warning strike starting from today, Wednesday January 18, 2017 through Midnight of Tuesday January 24, 2017. NARD urges all centres to participate and to ensure compliance.
This is due to federal government’s insensitivity and arrogance towards the genuine NARD demands for the soul of the Nigerian Health sector.
Here are the doctors' demands:
-Roadmap and timeline for the implementation of the National Health Act signed into law in 2014
-Timeline for the revamping of THI’s facilities and equipments
-Immediate release and implementation of the white paper on residency programme without any ill intended alteration of the recommendations of the committee, by FMOH
-Payment of December 2015 salary to doctors in FMC Owerri who were not on strike but locked out by FMOH.
-Rescind selective application of no work no pay rule and work without pay punishment to only resident doctors and for equity, justice and fairness, pay affected centres before 31st December 2016 or close of fiscal year as government paid JOHESU currently on strike in FMC Owerri, NOH Enugu, lecturers who recently embarked on strike, nurses while on nationwide strike and centre based strike in UDUTH Sokoto etc. The centres affected include, FMC Umuahia, ESUTH Enugu, UPTH Portharcourt, UBTH Benin,FNPH Uselu, FNPH Aro, FMC Owo, LAUTECH Osogbo, LUTH Idi araba, FMC Lokoja, FMC Bida, UITH Ilorin, JUTH Jos, ABUTH Zaria and FMC Birnin Kebbi.
-Pay with immediate effect all outstanding salary arrears, percentages or shortfalls to centres especially FMC Yenogoa since April and UCH Ibadan, ABSUTH Aba, IMSUTH Owerri, NOH Enugu, LAUTECH Osogbo, LTH Ogbomoso and DELSUTH Oghara.
-Release the circular on house officers/medical officers entry level as agreed since 2013 but yet to be released even when very recent agreements with others have been transmitted into circular by NSIWC which is still a major source of crisis in many centres.
-Immediate release of the directive to PENCOMM, BOF and chief executives of THI’s to abide by Pension Reform Act 2004, deduct the pension of residents both the counterpart funding by BOF and employees contribution by respective hospitals and remit same duly to our respective PFA’s
-Appropriate placement of newly employed doctors/correction of the wrongful placement of previously employed doctors to maintain seniority and annual incremental step within the period JOHESU skipped in line with NICN judgement of 2013 on skipping that rendered CONHESS 10 equivalent of CONMESS 2 nonexistent and the myriad of circulars and letters from government since 2013 that entitled doctors to skipping and lateral skipping.
-Forthwith stop all attempts to remove relativity between the salary of doctors and other health workers as well stop all moves to revert/reverse skipping for doctors.
-Immediate reinstatement of members sacked unduly without recourse to the circular on the employment/tenure ship of resident doctors and the 2010 high court judgement on tenure ship of resident doctors in favour of OOUTH shagamu
-Stop forthwith all victimization of unions, union leaders and members in line with the high court judgement above, the labour law, circulars on relationship with unions and membership to unions in the interest of industrial harmony.
-Immediate enrollment of residents into IPPIS with their appropriate skipped salary grade level.
Abridged-Minimum end points
-White paper on residency training program
-Implementation of NHA
-Payment of full salary
-Appropriate placement of house officers and residents
-Pension deduction and remittance
-Uniformity in the no application of the circular vis-a-vis no work no pay
-Reinstatement of sacked residents
-An end to victimization of our colleagues and the unions
-Immediate enrollment of residents into IPPIS with appropriate skipping.
Buhari Writes Senate, To Go On Medical Vacation For 10 Days
ABUJA- PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday wrote the Senate that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will act on his behalf as President for the 10 days that he would be on medical vacation.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, President Buhari said he was writing in line with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
According to the letter which was read at plenary today, Tuesday by Saraki, President Buhari said he will be away from Monday 23rd January to Monday 6th February.
The letter read, “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, I wish to inform the Distinguished Senate that I will be away n a short medical vacation from Monday January, 23 to February 6th, 2017 and while I am away, the Vice President (Osinbajo) will perform the functions of my office.
“Please, accept, as always assurances of my highest esteemed consideration.”It would be recalled that President Buhari had last year written to the Senate to go on vacation on a short medical vacation from 6th-16th of June, 2016.
My Soldiers, I Will Surrender If… – Gambian Army Chief
Gambia’s army chief, Ousman Badjie said he would not order his men to fight other African troops if they enter Gambian territory.
He spoke Wednesday as Senegalese and other troops massed on his nation’s borders.
The Senegalese troops backed by Nigerian Air Force and other African troops were on standby to move into The Gambia as President Yahya Jammeh approached a midnight deadline to stand down or face military action after refusing to leave at the end of his term.“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute,” Chief of Defence Staff Ousman Badjie said, after eating dinner in a tourist district close to the capital, Banjul, eyewitnesses told AFP.
“I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men,” he added, stopping to pose for selfies with admirers while dressed in fatigues, beret and green t-shirt, according to those present.
We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute…I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men.
“If they (Senegalese) come in, we are here like this,” Badjie said, making a hands up to surrender gesture.
Badjie is no stranger to controversy after appearing to declare support for president-elect Adama Barrow and then switching back to Jammeh.
He was recently barred from visiting Gambian peacekeepers in Darfur due to the sensitivity of The Gambia’s ongoing political crisis, which has seen Jammeh repeatedly refuse to step down despite losing a December 1 election to opponent Barrow.
“Our troops are on alert… The ultimatum takes effect at midnight,” when Jammeh’s mandate is due to expire, Senegal army spokesman Colonel Abdou Ndiaye told AFP ahead of the deadline.
Jammeh’s presidency officially over, declares Barrow
The in-coming Gambian President, Adama Barrow has told The Gambians that the presidency of embattled Yahaya Jammeh is officially over.
Borrow who took to his twitter handle to announce this also said that a new era for The Gambians has begun.
Barrow also announced to his people that his inauguration Ceremony would no longer take place in Gambia but would be taking place in Dakar, Senegal at Gambian embassy.
The country’s national stadium was initially the choice venue for the swearing in. But Barrow’s spokesman Halifa Sallah said he would be sworn in an undisclosed location.
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz who initiated a last minute effort to break the political deadlock by visiting Jammeh on Wednesday said Jammeh was adamant about hanging on to power..
Mr Abdel Aziz flew in to the Gambian capital Banjul on Wednesday evening to meet Mr Jammeh before flying on to Dakar airport for further discussions with Mr Barrow and Senegal’s President Macky Sall.
Aziz left Gambia shortly before midnight, when Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh’s presidential mandate expired, according to a Reuters correspondent.
After the talks, Aziz’s plane left Dakar at about 1:45 a.m.(0145 GMT), a Reuters witness saw. Aziz spoke with Barrow and Sall at the airport in Dakar. About 30 vehicles with tinted windows then sped away from where the talks took place.
“I am now less pessimistic [that Mr Jammeh] will work on a peaceful solution that is in the best interest for everyone,” Mr Abdel Aziz said.
The BBC reports that Senegalese troops remain stationed at the Gambian border, and it is not clear whether they have begun a move into the country.
The threat of military action is supported by Nigeria and other states in the region.
However Gambian army chief Ousman Badjie said his troops would not fight Senegalese forces should they enter into the country, AFP news agency reports.
“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily, this is a political dispute,” he said. “I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men.”
African troops on standby as Gambia deadline expires........
African forces were poised to enter The Gambia Thursday after President Yahya Jammeh refused to leave office, ignoring a midnight deadline to stand down or face military action.
Jammeh’s army chief said his troops would not fight their entry into the country, as the Mauritanian president flew out of The Gambia following hopes of a last-minute deal to convince Jammeh to hand over power.“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute,” Chief of Defence Staff Ousman Badjie said after eating dinner in a tourist district close to the capital Banjul, eyewitnesses told AFP.
“I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men,” he added. “If they (Senegalese) come in, we are here like this,” Badjie said, making a hands up or surrender gesture.
Jammeh’s mandate ended at midnight (local and GMT) but he has steadfastly refused to leave office after losing elections last month to Adama Barrow, prompting west African states to ramp up pressure on the president following weeks of failed diplomacy.
Nigeria sent troops and fighter jets to Senegal, whose own forces massed on the Gambian border.
Witnesses said the situation was calm in Banjul overnight, although troops had been deployed in the city.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet Thursday to adopt a statement on West Africa that will reaffirm the demand for Jammeh to hand over power, diplomats said.
“If a political solution fails, we will engage” in operations in The Gambia, Senegal army spokesman Colonel Abdou Ndiaye told AFP ahead of the deadline.
Unsuccessful attempts by the 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) led Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to fly into Banjul at the 11th hour for a final round of talks.
Following the discussions he was hopeful of reaching a peaceful solution, he was quoted as saying by Gambian state broadcaster GRTS.
Mauritania is not part of ECOWAS and diplomats have previously reached out to the conservative desert nation in hopes of brokering an asylum deal with Jammeh.
Shortly before midnight Aziz’s plane landed in Dakar, where he was met by Barrow — who is currently sheltering there — and Senegal’s President Macky Sall, the private Senegalese radio station RFM reported.
Senegal has also requested UN backing for regional action against the long-time president. However, a vote on the draft resolution has yet to be scheduled, according to diplomats.
– State of emergency –
Barrow and his team maintain his inauguration will go ahead on Thursday on Gambian soil, and his spokesman said late Wednesday “we do not feel any threat” from Senegalese troops on the ground.
However, the inauguration’s head organiser James Gomez said plans for the transfer of power in a huge stadium outside the capital were now cancelled.
The 51-year-old Gambian leader announced a state of emergency on Tuesday, saying it was necessary because of interference from foreign powers in the country’s December 1 election, but the declaration has had little effect on attempts to remove him.
The country’s vice-president Isatou Njie-Saidy resigned Wednesday, family sources said, along with the environment and higher education ministers, in the latest of a string of cabinet members deserting Jammeh’s government.
– Tourists flee –
As tensions rose, Britain and the Netherlands issued travel advisory warnings, with around 1,000 British tourists expected to leave on special flights on Wednesday alone, leaving the small airport near Banjul struggling to cope.
Brian and Yvonne Souch, from Witney in southern England, told AFP they were unaware of the potential risk of flying to the country 10 days ago and felt tour company Thomas Cook should have kept them better informed.
“We didn’t know anything until we came down for breakfast,” Souch said, sitting in shorts and sleeveless T-shirt in the lobby of a hotel in the Kololi tourist strip as he awaited a bus to the airport.
Thomas Cook said additional flights into Banjul airport would bring home 1,000 package holidaymakers, followed by up 2,500 more at the “earliest possible flight availability”.
But holidaymakers were told that Thomas Cook flights would cease in a few days time, leaving them at risk of being stranded.
The panic caused by the state of emergency could prove financially devastating — experts say up to 20 percent of the economy relies on tourism.
Gambians were taking precautions and stocking up on food and supplies in the few shops that remained open in districts near the capital, with roads quiet and street hawkers notably absent.
A source told AFP that patients at Banjul’s Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, which sits opposite Jammeh’s seat of power, were removed for security reasons. Only those in intensive care remained.
Gambia’s Female Vice President Resigns
President Yahya Jammeh is losing more aides and associates. Ahead of a scheduled hand-over to President-elect, Adama Barrow on Thursday, Gambia’s Vice President, Isatou Njie-Saidy has resigned from office.
Her resignation will be a big blow to President Jammeh who has vowed to stay in office despite the intervention of West African leaders. Eight cabinet members have also resigned.
January 18, 2017
I Am Going Nowhere, Says Ekweremadu
DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has described reports that he was on his to dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC to save his job as not false, but baseless.
Ekweremadu who noted that he was not going to anywhere, said that at the moment, he was more concerned about fixing the country’s biting economic and security conditions and other challenges than saving his job as the Deputy President of the Senate.
A statement in Abuja by the Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the Deputy President of the Senate on Political Affairs, Hon. Okey Ozoani, described the reports as “a fantasy of those peddling it”.
He assured the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faithful and Nigerians that “Ekweremadu is going nowhere”.
The statement read, “The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has dismissed as false, insinuations and reports that the Senator could be on his way to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to save his job.
“Senator Ekweremadu is not contemplating leaving PDP. He is more concerned about fixing the country’s biting economic and security conditions and other challenges than saving his job as the Deputy President of the Senate.
“It is his view that Nigeria has to first exist for us to have political parties to belong to or political offices to occupy. Studies have shown a direct relationship between economic conditions and survival of democracy.
“The primary responsibility our Constitution places on our government is to cater to the wellbeing of the citizens as well as security of their lives and property. When such are threatened, everyone should necessarily get serious and preoccupied with contributing his or her quota to salvaging the country.
“Besides, he is most grateful to his colleagues for the confidence they continue to repose in him and the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. He is grateful for the solidarity that the Senators have continued to accord them”.
Hon. Ozoani, while appreciating Ekweremadu’s supporters and well meaning Nigerians who have continued to contact the Office over recent media reports, assured them that there was no cause for alarm, however urged them to continue to pray for the Senate leadership, the Senate, the National Assembly, and indeed the government and the entire nation, adding, “By strength alone shall no man prevail. Therefore, let us get down on our knees and continue to present the government and the country before God.”
It would be recalled that Senators elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, were on Wednesday last week lobbying the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP to dump his party and come to the APC.
This came barely twenty-four hours after the Senate adopted the change in the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the red chambers as it affirmed the replacement of Senator Ali Ndume with Senator Ahmad Lawan as the Senate majority leader.
The call on Ekweremadu to join the party may be seen as a joke, but it was presented yesterday on the floor of the Senate during approval of the Votes and Proceedings of last week Tuesday.
The call for cross carpeting came when Senator Kabir Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central was called to move a motion for the adoption of the votes and proceedings.
Instead of going straight to the business of the day, Senator Kabir Marafa said it was high time that the Deputy Senate President crossed to the ruling party.
Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) while seconding the motion, re-echoed the position of Marafa and stressed the need for Ekweremadu to decamp to the APC.
In a swift reaction, Senator Sunny Ogbuoji (PDP, Ebonyi South) said such a joke was uncalled for and that the Deputy Senate President was not done with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yet.
While ruling on the motion, Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary, however put the question that the votes and proceedings for the previous legislative day be adopted while the second clause which was related to the overture from the APC “be duly removed”.
The entire Senate voted in affirmative to the views of Nigerians who watched the live broadcast on National television.
It would be recalled that Senator Ekweremadu was re-elected on the platform of PDP in 2015, to represent the people of Enugu West and he later emerged the Deputy Senate President of the 8th Assembly in an overwhelming election.
Ekweremadu was also the Deputy Senate President in the 6th and 7th Senate under the leadership of Distinguished Senator David Mark.
Our future starts tomorrow, Barrow tells Gambians
The Gambia’s President elect Adama Barrow has said that his countrymen are at the brink of making another world history tomorrow, after defeating Yahya Jammeh in the 1 December election.
” We made history on the first day of December. Our future starts tomorrow”, he said in a tweet this morning.
We made history on the first day of December. Our future starts tomorrow. #Gambia Pic.twitter.com/kSxUcROONJ
— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) 18 January 2017
Although he is now sequestered in Dakar, Senegal, leaders of the regional bloc ECOWAS have said he would be sworn in tomorrow on the Gambian soil, meaning they would drive away President Yahya Jammeh whose tenure expires midnight today.
The ECOWAS leaders, in a mediatory efforts led by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari failed to convince Jammeh to voluntarily leave office after losing the 1 December election to Barrow, a real estate businessman.
Jammeh instead embarked on a time-wasting effort to get the court to order a new election and stop Barrow’s inauguration. He failed on the two efforts as the Supreme Court could not form a quorum to decide his cases.
In a last gambit on Tuesday, after shutting down four private radio stations, he declared a three-month state of emergency, starting from Tuesday.
In a televised address on state TV on Tuesday evening, Jammeh announced that the 90 days state of emergency started from January 17 and will end April 17, 2017.
“Under this state of public emergency, civil liberties are to be fully respected while all citizens and residents in The Gambia are banned from any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement to violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace,” he said.
Jammeh gave reasons for the state of emergency including “the need to prevent a constitutional crisis and power vacuum pending the determination of the petitions at the Supreme Court and the application for an injunction against swearing in Mr. Adama Barrow,until the Supreme Court decides on the 1st December 2016 Presidential Election results”.
He also ordered the security forces, who pledged allegiance to him, to maintain law and order in the country during the period.
The resolution was passed by the country’s National Assembly after a motion was tabled by Majority Leader Fabakary Jatta on Tuesday morning as indicated by the order paper made available to the media.
Breaking: Gambia’s parliament extends Jammeh’s tenure by 90 days
The Gambia’s parliament has extended President Yahya Jammeh’s term, which is due to end on Thursday following his defeat in elections, by 90 days.
It also approved his decision to declare a 90-day state of emergency in the tiny West African state.
Regional leaders have threatened to use military force to oust Mr Jammeh if he refuses to hand power to President-elect Adama Barrow on Thursday.
Thousands of UK and Dutch tourists are being evacuated from The Gambia.
The country is popular with European holidaymakers because of its beaches.
The Gambia was plunged into crisis after Mr Jammeh rejected Mr Barrow’s shock victory in the 1 December election.Regional leaders have been unsuccessfully trying to persuade him to step down.
Nigeria has deployed a warship to put further pressure on Mr Jammeh to step down.
Regional bloc Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States, has prepared a Senegal-led force but maintains that military intervention would be a last resort.
In his televised announcement on Tuesday, Mr Jammeh said “any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement of violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace” were banned under the state of emergency.
He said security forces were instructed to “maintain absolute peace, law and order”.
The parliament passed a motion condemning what it called the “unlawful and malicious interference” of the African Union and neighbouring Senegal in The Gambia’s affairs.
Senate probes 4-month non-payment of Federal Judges
WORRIED by the non-payment of salaries to federal judges for four months, the Senate, yesterday, took steps to probe the development, to ascertain why a government would allow such to happen.
Consequently, the Senate, yesterday asked its Committees on Finance and Judiciary to as a matter of urgency, investigate the claims and ensure that the salary arrears of federal judicial officers were paid promptly, just as it frowned at the alleged refusal by the Federal Government to pay the judges.
Meanwhile, the Committees which have Senators John Enoh (PDP, Cross River Central) and David Umaru (APC, Niger East) as chairmen will report back to the Senate next week Tuesday for further legislative action.
The decision of the Senate was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent national importance and moved by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South).
Speaking, Senator Na’Allah, noted that the non-payment of the judges was unhealthy for the country, urging other Senators to intervene and act swiftly to ensure that incidence such as these do not occur, going forward.
Senator Na’Allah said: “I am aware that some judiciary workers, especially judges have not been paid for about four months. I do not think this is good. I felt it is important for me to bring it to the notice of the Senate. We need to find a way to resolve this issue.”
In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said that if what had been raised was found to be true, there was an urgent need to guide against it in the future.
According to Ekweremadu, the National Assembly placed the judiciary on first line charge in order to guide against cases such as this, just as he mandated the two committees to intervene on behalf of the Senate, adding that the refusal to pay judges was inimical to the success of the ongoing anti-corruption war.
He said: “If it is true that judges have not been paid for four months, then it is very worrisome. The reason why we placed the judiciary on first line charge is to guide against things like this. The committees on Finance and Judiciary should within one week, look into the issue. They should ensure that the judges owed are paid within one week.”
“This is not good for our judiciary. You cannot fight corruption if you do not pay people who disperse justice. This is unhealthy for the system. The two committees should speak with the relevant people. This is not good at all.”
It will be recalled that the Department of State Services, had in October last year, arrested seven judges for over their alleged involvement in corruption.
The DSS had then said that a total of 15 judges were currently under investigation over allegation of corruption.
Army places N500,000 reward on insurgents
Yesterday, continued to trail Monday’s bombing of worshippers in the University of Maiduguri mosque in Borno State, as the Islamist militant group,
Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the act.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and All Progressives Congress, APC, have joined other Nigerians to condemn the attack, in which a professor of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Aliyu Mani, and six others were killed.
Also yesterday, some students of the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, called for proactive security measures to contain the frequent attacks on their campus by Boko Haram terrorists.
A video featuring an audio recording, purporting to be that of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, was posted on social media late on Monday.
“The bomb that exploded on Monday morning; our brothers are responsible for it,” the recording said.
CAN, while condemning the bombing, commiserated with the families of the victims and expressed optimism that the terrorist menace will soon be history.
CAN President, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said only satanic agents could perpetrate such acts and wondered when worshipping God has become a crime.
He said: “What offence did these worshippers commit to warrant this? Only demon-possessed individuals can be behind this type of act.
“CAN commiserates with the family of the victims of the terrorist attack and prays for the comfort of the Holy Spirit for them.
“The Association as well prays for quick recovery for those that were injured.”
Ayokunle tasked the security agencies to go after the terrorists, who have been dislodged from their strongholds, but are going about attacking soft targets with a view to ending the menace as soon as possible.
He urged members of the public to compliment the efforts of the security operatives by reporting suspected people to them.
APC
Similarly, APC also, yesterday, condemned the bomb attack. In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party condoled with the families of victims.
”Even as we mourn with fellow citizens, who have fallen victims to the terrorists, we are consoled by the knowledge that Boko Haram ’s days are numbered and these indeed are its dying days,” the party said.
It also condemned “this cowardly act by Boko Haram,” saying it views “this latest act of terror as another confirmation of the group’s desperation to remain in the national consciousness, having lost its former stronghold to the Nigerian Army.”
Meanwhile, some UNIMAID students have called for proactive security measures to contain the frequent attacks on their campus by the insurgents.
The students, who made the call yesterday in Maiduguri, said they would not be intimidated by the insurgents.
They urged the management of the university to put in place “proactive security measures’’ to protect students and staff from further attacks.
UNIMAID students react
One of the students, Malam Ibrahim Sale, said Abubakar Shekau had been making empty threats in the past just to scare people.
He said: “This is not the first time Shekau has been making empty threats on UNIMAID. You will recall he even said he would take over the campus sometime ago, but nothing happened.”
Goni Mahmoud, another student, said: “We in Borno have seen it all. Since the university has never been closed even for once, what made him (Shekau) think anyone will take him seriously?
“We believe his (Shekau) days are numbered; the army will be on his trail until he has no more hiding place.”
Speaking on the same vein, Salamatu Bashir urged the military and school authorities to take proactive measures to forestall future occurrence.
NLC raises alarm
Also, Nigeria Labor Congress, NLC, yesterday, warned that the bomb attack on UNIMAID was an indication that the Boko Haram insurgents had regrouped among residents to engage in soft targets.
NLC, in a statement by its President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, warned that the insurgents resorting to soft targets “is as dangerous and frightening as asymmetry warfare is more threatening to lives and properties than can be imagined. Nowhere in the country is safe under asymmetry warfare.”
Congress called on Nigerians to be vigilant as various vigilante groups in the North-East evidently played commendable roles in the battle against terrorism.
Bounty
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has declared a cash reward of N500, 000 for any person that volunteers information that can lead to the arrest of suicide bombers and their accomplice.
The Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Brigadier General Usman, yesterday, said it was visibly worried at the current state of suicide bombings in the country.
The statement read: “The spate of suicide bombings in the North-East and in particular, Maiduguri and Madagali metropolis, is assuming a disturbing proportion.
“Consequently, the Nigerian Army is offering a reward of N500, 000 for any information that leads to the arrest of a suicide bomber, the guide to the suicide bomber, or discovery of the transit house or factory of the suicide bombers.”
NNPC crude oil pipeline set ablaze in Delta
4 injured as herdsmen, farmers clash in Anambra
AFCON: Egypt goalkeeper makes history
Essam El Hadary became the oldest player ever to appear at the Africa Cup of Nations as Egypt drew 0-0 with Mali on their return to the tournament on Tuesday.
The 44-year-old goalkeeper came off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Ahmed El Shennawy and beat the old mark set by compatriot Hossam Hassan, who was 39 when he played at the 2006 Cup of Nations.
Otherwise, the Pharaohs’ return to Africa’s biggest stage after a seven-year absence proved to be something of an anti-climax with neither side creating many chances on a terrible playing surface in Port-Gentil.
The result means Ghana are in control of Group D following their 1-0 win against Uganda earlier in the day at the same venue. Ghana meets Mali next on Saturday while Egypt faces Uganda later the same day.
“It was a very difficult game. In the second half we played better but our players were very tired towards the end,” said Egypt’s Argentine coach Hector Cuper.
“We would be much happier of course if we had won but this will not really change too much what we need to do in our coming games.”
Egypt had not been seen at a Cup of Nations since winning a record seventh title, and third in a row, in 2010.This was always going to be a big test for them against a Malian side that may as well have been playing at home.
The large Malian community in Port-Gentil — an oil-rich seaport perched on Gabon’s western tip — turned out to give their side colorful and vociferous backing and made up most of the crowd of 12,600.
Mali might have won an early penalty when Moussa Marega was bundled over by Ali Gabr in the box but South African referee Daniel Bennett waved play on.
El Shennawy then touched a Lassana Coulibaly header around the post before having to be replaced in the 25th minute by El Hadary, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Sunday.
The veteran did not have much to do and it was Egypt who had the best opportunities from then on, Tarek Hamed setting up Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny for a first-time effort that went narrowly over.
Some Malian fans performed their evening prayer in the stadium concourse at half time before returning to witness a stodgy second period.
Egypt could have opened the scoring on the counterattack in the 54th minute, pouncing on a fresh-air swipe by Sambou Yatabare at the other end of the field.
Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim’s cross from the left was met by a flying header from Marwan Mohsen, but Mali’s goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko produced a superb reaction stop to turn the ball over.
January 17, 2017
Boko Haram: Fighter jet misfires, shoots civilians, ICRC staff, others, in Borno
The Army said a fighter jet had misfired and shot some humanitarian aid workers of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), the Medicines Sans Frontiers and some civilians in Kala Balge in Borno during an operation.
Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
“This morning, we received a report about the gathering of Boko Haram terrorists around Kala Balge area of Maiduguri.
“I coordinated and I directed that the air component of the operation should go and address the problem.
“Unfortunately, the strike was conducted but it turned out that other civilians were somewhere around the area and they were affected.
“So far, it is a little bit disturbing; death has occurred. There are casualties; there were deaths and injuries but on the actual number of casualties, we would get back to you later.
“I am yet to get the number of casualties of civilians killed, but two soldiers were also affected.
“Some humanitarian staff of Medicines Sans Frontiers and some staff of International Committee of Red Cross(ICRC) were also affected.
“We are sending helicopters to evacuate those that were critically wounded, including our wounded soldiers,” Irabor said.
Gambia: Morocco offers President Jammeh conditional asylum
Morocco has offered The Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh asylum in return for accepting election defeat and stepping down, a local news website reported Tuesday.
The small west African country has been plunged into political turmoil since Jammeh disputed president-elect Adama Barrow’s December election victory and refused to cede power.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and the North African kingdom’s foreign intelligence chief Yassine Mansouri have been conducting “a delicate mission in Banjul”, the Gambian capital, for several days, Le Desk website reported.Morocco wants Jammeh “to accept his election defeat in return for a golden retirement in Morocco”, the website said.
The initiative comes after an international outcry over Jammeh’s refusal to step down.
Even the prospect of military intervention in The Gambia has been floated in recent days, following declarations by the United Nations and African Union that boots on the ground could get the green light without a rapid resolution of the crisis.
The Moroccan foreign ministry did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on the authenticity of the report.
The report came ahead of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa at the end of January, which will see Morocco return to the regional bloc decades after pulling out in 1984.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI visited The Gambia in 2006, and the two nations have long held strong ties.
A spokesman for The Gambia’s opposition leader Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, has vowed that the president-elect’s inauguration will go ahead as planned on January 19.
Southern Kaduna crisis: Army to conduct “Exercise Harbin Kunama II”
The Nigerian Army will conduct “Exercise Harbin Kunama II’’ in Southern Kaduna State in April as part of efforts to address the current security challenges in the area.
Maj.-Gen. David Ahmadu, the Chief of Training and Operations of the Army, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference while reviewing the exercises conducted by the army in 2016.
Ahmadu also said that the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship (NASAC) would take place in the Sambisa forest in March, the first in seven years.
“The NASAC will also be accompanied by concentration of fires from direct and indirect weapon systems of the Nigerian Army.
“In addition, the Roland Missile Weapon System in the Nigerian Army inventory will also be test-fired during the NASAC,’’ he said.
On Harbin Kunama II, Ahmadu explained that the exercise would cover Birnin Gwari, Kyambane forest in Kaduna State and “contiguous areas in Plateau, Lame Burra forest in Bauchi State and Falgore forest in Kano State’’.
He said both NASAC and Harbin Kunama would entail massive movement of personnel and military hardware.
The chief of training and operations, therefore, urged the public not to panic as their safety would be guaranteed.
Responding to questions, Ahmadu said, that the army did not immediately respond to crisis in Southern Kaduna was not a failure on its part.
He explained that it was the responsibility of the police to deal with internal crisis.
According to him, the army comes in to deal with internal crisis after due process when it is certain that the crisis is beyond the police.
Ahmadu also allayed fears and doubt that the NASAC would hold in the Sambisa forest in spite of pockets of suicide bombings and other attacks being witnessed in the North-East.
He recalled that in 2016, “hybrid Command Post Exercises and Field Training Exercise’’ nicknamed “Shirin Harbi’’ were conducted at Alkaleri forest in Bauchi state.
Others, he said were Exercise Harbin Kunama I held at Dansadau forest in Zamfara, Crocodile Smile in South-South and Python Dance in South-East.
“The objectives of these exercises were to sharpen the skills of troops with respect to specific environments and to rid the geo-political zones of prevailing security challenges at the time such as armed robbery, armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, illegal oil bunkering and oil theft, amongst others,’’ he said.
According to Ahmadu, the exercises were assessed as hugely successful.
He called on the general public to remain on high alert and be security conscious.
Ahmadu said this was necessary as insurgents fleeing from military operations in the North-East had started “infiltrating to hibernate in the midst of innocent communities’’.
SPORT: Agents Robs Iheanacho Of N120m Deal
MANCHESTER City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has missed out on an endorsement deal with American sportswear giants Nike that would have seen him net a contract worth £200,000 (approximately N120 million).
The kit manufacturers pulled out of the deal because of uncertainty over the identity of his bonafide intermediary, with American-based First Eleven Management and Stellar Group claiming to be his representative at the same time.“When Kelechi turned 19, Nike were in the United Kingdom to negotiate a fresh contract with him that would have paid him over 100,000 pounds and another 100,000 pounds in kits and products, “ a Nigeria Football Federation insider said. “Nike set up a meeting but he didn’t attend, so they had to pull out of the deal when they discovered that he breached the contract with his American agent. “
While Iheanacho has claimed that he was introduced to Stellar Group by City teammate Patrick Roberts, who is on loan at Celtic, it is known that some English-based Nigerian agents were the ones that convinced him to tear up his contract with First Eleven Management.
SPORTNFF targets Everton’s Lookman for Eagles’ call up
Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Bitrus Bewarang, is optimistic that Everton new kid on the block Ademola Lookman will pledge his international future to the Super Eagles rather than his country of birth, England.
The Southwark-born striker has been sounded out about the possibility of representing Nigeria at senior level, and a source close to the situation informed that he would love to continue playing for the English youth teams for now, with the next big event on the Fifa calendar, the U20 World Cup, on the horizon.
But Bewarang has insisted that Lookman is in the plans of the Nigeria Football Federation, and a call-up to the national team appears imminent.“The Super Eagles coach has been combing Europe for youthful players and players on current form who are playing for their clubs, “ Bewarang told reporters.
“We will soon start the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, most of these players will be exposed. We are taking the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers seriously. “
He added : “I saw Lookman against Manchester City, he scored a beautiful goal. We are taking note of him because he can be called up.
“Selection is done by the coach, we will try to draw his attention to the player if he doesn’t know him already.
“We have to talk to him and convince him to play for Nigeria, it’s a good development for Nigerian football. “
The 19-year-old Lookman first played for England at U19 level before he was promoted to the U20 squad.
SPORT:Ugandan Cranes aim to pluck down Black Stars
POLITICS: Nnamani, Nwobodo, others to undergo APC registration in Enugu
ENUGU —Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and former governor of Old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo are new members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State, who will from today undergo registration as members of the party in the state.
The party’s registration is an exercise being conducted in the south east states, to update its membership, particularly with the new members who have indicated interest or have already joined the party.
Among other new entrants into the party who are also expected to undergo registration either at their various wards, local government or state party secretariat are: the immediate past Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odoh; former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Uchenna Ekwe and wife of the former governor of old Enugu state, Dr. Dorothy Nwodo, among others.
Chairman of APC in Enugu state, Dr. Ben Nwoye who brief newsmen in Enugu about the exercise, noted that the party does not exclude anybody who wishes to enter the party, including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Nwoye denied a claim that the party barred Senator Ekweremadu from joining APC, saying that the national office of the party never gave such directive.
“I will personally issue party card to anybody from Enugu state who wishes to come into the party in this state.”Meantime, over 500 members of the PDP, in Abia State also defected to the APC in the state.
Those who defected include former Minority leader, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Humphrey Azubuike; Major Gen. Ogbonna Okoro (rtd); former Transition Committee Chairman, Bende council, Mr Ben Kalu; former member of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Nwosu and Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu, among others.
Speaking on behalf of other defectors, Chief Akwukwaegbu said they decided to leave PDP for the APC because the party has failed Abia people.
According to him, “We sympathize with Abians, we regret being party to the mess they’ve been through particularly in the past nine years and that is why we have come today to apologize to them. We believe in the masses and insist that the right things must be done. The immediate past government in the state was horrible and terrible.This present government should be independent of itself and work towards tidying up the arrears of workers salary. This is why we have abandoned PDP to join APC, the moving train.
“All of us have joined the APC with 1000 supporters from the PDP. With this, only the carcass of the PDP remains in Abia. “
5 Imo PDP Reps to dump party for APC
Similarly, about five members of the House of Representatives on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Imo State may soon dump the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Vanguard investigations revealed.
The defection according to investigations was being championed by the chairman of Imo State caucus in the House, Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe who represents Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency of the State and also member of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP.
Rep. Igbokwe accused some PDP stalwarts in the state of trying to shut him out of the party’s meetings and activities, alleging that a former federal lawmaker in the area was making things difficult for others.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed report has it that two PDP senators from the state were part of the plot to dump the party for the APC.
Troops kill boatman, recover sack of rifles in Bayelsa
Yenagoa— Two persons, who were allegedly in possession of a sack of rifles, were reportedly shot dead last Thursday at the riverside town of Polaku in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by soldiers attached to Operation Delta Safe.
According to sources, the deceased boat driver, fondly called Mike, was approached by some boys suspected to be pirates to ferry them to Igbedi community in Kolokuma-Opukuma Local Government Area to retrieve a consignment.
The boat driver, it was learned, was unaware that rifles were concealed in the sack.
Sources claimed that the suspects were shot dead on arrival at the jetty with the boat driver jumping into the river, while shouting out his innocence, but was shot by the soldiers.
An eyewitness said: “We (indigenes) were surprised by the arrival of some patrol team of soldiers at Polaku Waterfront. When they arrived, they took positions. Upon sighting the boat, they opened fire.
“We suspected that the soldiers acted on a tip-off. But we were worried that the boat driver was shot instead of being arrested. Some arrests were also made in the process and they recovered the sack of rifles.”
Attempts to get the comment of the spokesman of Operation Delta Safe ODS, Lt.-Col Laolu Daudu, proved abortive as his line was not going through.
EDUCATION: FG begs SSANU, NASU, NAT to suspend strike
ABUJA—THE Federal Government, has pleaded with the three striking non teaching staff unions in the universities that embarked on strike yesterday to suspend their action in the interest of the nation.
The three University unions, the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, Non Academic Staff Union and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, had yesterday, started a five-day warning strike over the inability of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 Agreements with the unions.
The Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the unions in a statement in Abuja, stated that the warning strike had become necessary to make government take necessary action to fully implement the 2009 FGN/Non-Teaching Staff Unions Agreements it freely entered into with the unions.
But the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige in a statement appealed to the three unions to suspend their action in the interest of the nation.
Ngige said, “I wish to assure that the Federal Government is ready and willing to fully dialogue with the members of these Trade Unions, operating under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee. Government has already opened an unhindered channel of communication with all stakeholders and shall maintain this.
Stakeholders meeting
“Yesterday, I convened a meeting of all stakeholders in the dispute for us to ventilate all issues and reach amicable settlement. Unfortunately, the Trade Unions requested for a different date and the meeting now re-scheduled for January 18, 2017. The Federal Government therefore, expects that the Trade Unions should suspend the strike before the re-scheduled meeting to make way for untrammeled discussions.
“It is important for Trade Unions to embrace dialogue in the pursuit and attainment of the economic and social interests of their members anchored on equity and natural justice.
“I hence thought it necessary to remind the Trade Unions that there is nothing like a “warning strike” in our National Industrial Relations System, NIRS, a strike is a strike and is subject to all the rules governing strike in the world of work.
“Accordingly, the provisions of Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, CAP. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN, 2004, will apply regarding the law of “no work no pay by workers/employees notwithstanding any other circumstances in any section of the Act.
“Once more, I wish to appeal to the trade unions to embrace dialogue as the Federal Government is fully committed to peaceful resolution of what the unions termed “Full Implementation of 2009 FGN/Non – Teaching Staff Union’s Agreement.”
Nigeria tops hypertension rates in Africa – Study
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has revealed that 46 percent of adults in the African region countries are hypertensive with adult males tending to have a higher mean systolic blood pressure than adult females.
The report has Nigeria topping the list of males and females with highest percentage of adults followed by Ghana, Seychelles, Sao Tome and Principe, and Cabo Verde.
The gender comparison data rated Nigeria adult high with 51 percent for males and 49 percent for female hypertension, followed by Ghana with 41 percent male and 38 percent female.
“Seychelles has 44 percent male and 36 percent female; Sao Tome and Principe has 41 percent male and 36 percent female while Cabo Verde record 44 percent male and 34 percent female.” The global average for the number of people suffering from the condition was about 40 percent, the WHO said.
The WHO blamed increasing urbanisation and unhealthy lifestyles for the rise in cases.
The study reaffirms that hypertension remains a major problem, with the percentage of adults who are hypertensive ranging from 16 to 40 percent with a median of 31 percent in 36 STEPwise surveys conducted in the region.
The five countries with the highest prevalence of hypertension were Seychelles (40 per cent), Cabo Verde (39 per cent), Sao Tome and Principe (39 per cent), Ghana (37 per cent), Niger (36 per cent) and Nigeria (35 per cent). Meanwhile, the five countries with the lowest prevalence of raised blood pressure were Mali (16 per cent), Eritrea (17 per cent), Democratic Repulic of the Congo (Kinshasa, 17 per cent), Cameroon (17 per cent) and Togo (19 per cent).
High blood pressure was often detected too late and was a silent killer, it added. If lifestyles do not change, more people in Africa could die from chronic illnesses, including diabetes and cancer, than infectious disease by 2030, the WHO said.
Surprising result
The report’s author, Abdikamal Alisalad, said the level of unhealthy habits in many African nations had come as a shock.
“We were surprised because we thought we would not see this kind of situation currently. We were expecting it maybe 30 or 40 years from now.”
He attributed the rise in non-communicable diseases to changes in developing societies.
“People are moving from the rural areas, going to urban, metropolitan areas. The middle-income group is growing, life expectancy is also growing.”
“Treating non-communicable diseases is costly, so it is in the economic interest of every country to support prevention campaigns.”
Uncontrolled hypertension or high pressure can result in more serious health issues including memory loss, heart attack, brain damage, eyes damage, stroke, atherosclerosis, and kidney damage.
January 16, 2017
IMF Affirms Nigeria’s Recovery From Recession, With 0.8% Growth Forecast
IMF affirms Nigeria’s recovery from recession, with 0.8% growth forecast
ON January 16, 2017 9:46 PM / IN Business , News /
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By Babajide Komolafe
INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund, IMF, yesterday affirmed that Nigeria will this year recover from economic recession, projecting that the nation’s economy will grow by 0.8 percent in 2017.
Citing increased crude oil production due to security improvement, the IMF in its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) released, Monday, said that Nigeria Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 0.8 percent in 2017 and 2.3 percent in 2018.These represent 0.2 percent and 0.7 percent improvement from what the IMF projected for Nigeria in its October 2016 World Economic outlook. The IMF also projected that Nigeria’s economy grew by 1.6 percent in 2016, notwithstanding the decline in economic growth recorded from January to September. “Nigeria’s forecasts were also revised up, primarily reflecting higher oil production due to security improvements”, the IMF said.
The forecast, though 0.2 percent lower, corroborates the 1.0 percent growth forecast for Nigeria’s economy in 2017 by the World Bank in its World Economic Report released last week. While the IMF retained its forecast of 3.2 per cent growth for the global economy in 2017, it, however, raised its forecast for advance countries to 1.9 percent from 1.8 percent. It downgraded its growth forecast for Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs) and sub-Saharan economies, respectively to 4.5 percent from 4.6 percent, and to 2.8 percent from 2.7 percent.
Potential changes
The IMF said: “Global growth for 2016 is now estimated at 3.1 percent, in line with the October 2016 forecast. Economic activity in both advanced economies and EMDEs is forecast to accelerate in 2017-18, with global growth projected to be 3.4 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively, again unchanged from the October forecasts.
Advanced economies are now projected to grow by 1.9 percent in 2017 and 2.0 percent in 2018, 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points more than in the October forecast, respectively. As noted, this forecast is particularly uncertain in light of potential changes in the policy stance of the United States under the incoming administration.
“The projection for the United States is the one with the highest likelihood among a wide range of possible scenarios. It assumes a fiscal stimulus that leads growth to rise to 2.3 percent in 2017 and 2.5 percent in 2018, a cumulative increase in GDP of 0.5 percentage point relative to the October forecast. Growth projections for 2017 have also been revised upward for Germany, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom, mostly on account of a stronger-than-expected performance during the latter part of 2016. These upward revisions more than offset the downward revisions to the outlook for Italy and Korea.
“The primary factor underlying the strengthening global outlook over 2017-18 is, however, the projected pickup in EMDEs’ growth. As discussed in the October WEO, this projection reflects to an important extent a gradual normalization of conditions in a number of large economies that are currently experiencing macroeconomic strains. EMDE growth is currently estimated at 4.1 percent in 2016, and is projected to reach 4.5 percent for 2017, around 0.1 percentage point weaker than the October forecast.
A further pickup in growth to 4.8 percent is projected for 2018.
“Notably, the growth forecast for 2017 was revised up for China (to 6.5 percent, 0.3 percentage point above the October forecast) on expectations of continued policy support. However, continued reliance on policy stimulus measures, with rapid expansion of credit and slow progress in addressing corporate debt, especially in hardening the budget constraints of state-owned enterprises, raises the risk of a sharper slowdown or a disruptive adjustment. These risks can be exacerbated by capital outflow pressures, especially in a more unsettled external environment.”
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Gambian President-elect Barrow's son dies after dog bite
Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow has lost his son who died on Sunday after he was bitten by a dog.
8-year-old Habibou Barrow is reported to have died on the way to the hospital after a dog bit him in Manjai near Banjul.
Gambian journalist Fatu Camara confirmed the incident on Twitter saying “he was rushed to the hospital but couldn’t make it.”The president-elects’s media team confirmed the news to local Gambian news portal Freedom Newspaper on Monday.
“Yes, Habibou Barrow passed away last night after being bitten by a dog. He was the 8 years old son of the second wife of Adama Barrow. He will be laid to rest today at 2 pm,” they quoted an unnamed member of Barrow’s team.
Adama Barrow is currently living in Dakar since Sunday at the request of the ECOWAS chairperson Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Senegalese President Macky Sall agreed on Saturday to host Barrow until his inauguration on Thursday when he will be escorted by some African leaders to the event.
It is not clear if Adama Barrow will return for the funeral ahead of his inauguration which is being contested in court by outgoing President Yahya Jammeh who has petitioned the Supreme Court to annul and rerun the December 1 polls.
Jammeh talks law as he 'begs' ECOWAS to help solve impasse
Nigerian Army releases 257 suspected Boko Haram members.
Nigeria: Bring Back Our Girls activists join tour of former Boko Haram HQ
Court Order: Amnesty urges Nigeria to release El-Zakzaky
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