I am glad to announce that Abuja & Lagos airports will resume domestic operations on the 8th of July, 2020. Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri & Maiduguri to resume on the 11th. Other airports on the 15th. Date for international to be announced in due course. Bear with us, please

The Yobe State Government has declared a zero case on admission after discharging all patients, who initially tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.

Vice Chairman of the state committee on COVID-19 and Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammed Lawan Gana, made the revelation at the end of the committee’s 14th meeting held on Wednesday in Damaturu.

He said the remaining three patients in the state isolation center had been discharged after meeting clinical criteria.

“We don’t really need negative results to discharge patients. There are clinical criteria for discharging patients.

“So as it is when patients meet the discharge criteria, we actually discharge them based on the clinical guidelines and then follow them up according to the guidelines,” he said.

Meanwhile, the committee’s chairman and deputy governor of the state, Idi Barde Gubana, announced the reopening of schools in Yone in line with the Federal Government’s resolution of opening schools for final year students.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says his ministry will create two million additional jobs within the next three years in line with the Buhari administration’s determination to move 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

Mohammed made this known to State House correspondents at the end of the sixth virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister had earlier presented to the Council, the Ministerial Performance Report of the ministry, covering the period Aug. 2019 to June 2020.

According to the minister, the Cultural Industrial Centres, which are scattered all over the country, are capable of creating 500,000 jobs within the next three years, as the nation can have some 100,000 jobs from the restoration of  museums, especially in Lagos, Plateau and Kwara.

He said: “But the good news, as contained in today’s presentation, is that the Ministry of Information and Culture is set to create over 2 million jobs within the next three years.

“We are doing this through the implementation of deliverable number seven, which mandates us to collaborate with the private sector to create jobs for the youth.

“The number one job creator under the Ministry of Information and Culture is the Digital Switch Over (DSO) in broadcasting, which is set to create one million jobs in the next three years through the manufacturing of set-top-boxes (decoders) and TV sets, TV and Film production, as well as TV and Online advertising and Data, among others.”

According to minister, the DSO will also fetch 100 million dollars from the collection of TV licences and Digital Access Fess, as well as one billion dollars from the sale of the spectrum that would be vacated once the Analogue to Digital migration has been completed.

He disclosed that the ministry had so far rolled out the DSO in five states (Enugu, Osun, Kwara, Kaduna and Plateau) as well as the Federal Capital Territory, while efforts had been intensified to extend the rollout to all parts of the country.

Muhammad, who noted that the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy had affected all sectors in Nigeria and around the world, said the Creative Industry had been hit harder than any other sector.

According to him, this is so because the industry is the most people-centred, and with social distancing and the ban on mass gathering, the industry is now grappling at straws.

He explained that the ongoing reform of the Broadcast and Advertising Industries was aimed at strengthening the industries so they could live up to their billing and generate more job opportunities.

The minister expressed optimism that the ongoing reform in the broadcast industry would, among others, propel revolutionary advantages in the area of promoting entrepreneurship in the local industry.

“As for the Advertising Sector, bringing Nigeria’s TV advertisement market to what it should be, which is three times its current size, could result in additional $200-400 million dollars revenue to the industry, in addition to creating thousands of jobs,’’ he said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello, who also addressed the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, said the Council approved about N6.7 billion for the construction of roads in Abaji Area Council of the FCT.

He revealed that the N4.6 billion of the amount would be expended on the construction of a road linking Yaba to Gurdi road in the area,  while the remaining N2.1 billion would be spent on the third phase of the construction of township road within the Abaji city centre.

The minister said: “During the Federal Executive Council, I presented two memos on the FCT and both were on infrastructure projects in the satellite towns.

“The first one is the award for the construction of a road linking Yaba to Gurdi road in Abaji Area Council and that contract was approved for N4,648,255,381.42 with a completion period of 20 months.

“Already the company is constructing the road linking Yaba town to the main Abuja-Lokoja expressway; so this road is meant to open up the rural community which is very agrarian with a lot of water resources. As a matter of fact, it is the area where we usually have the FCT fishing festival.

“The second contract is for the third phase of the construction of roads within the city of Abaji which is in the southern tip of the FCT.

“This is about 8.4 kilometres and is intended to complete and complement the other roads that are already there.

“The contract is in the sum of N2,128,176,102.50 with a completion period of six months and this will upgrade the infrastructure in Abaji town.”

On his part, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, disclosed that the Council approved N2.2 billion for the extension of the runway at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to him, the approval will serve as a revised estimated total cost for the project.

He said: “Today in Council, Aviation presented a memo for a revised estimated total cost for the extension and asphalt overlay of the Murtala Mohammed Airport runway, which was re-scoped to reconstruct and rehabilitate the taxiway bravo.

“The sum involved is N2,272,838,724.84 and it has completion of twelve months.’’

Sirika said the extension and rehabilitation of the runway was essential for the smooth operation of the airport, saying the project when completed would improve the safety of the airport.

“This central taxiway bravo is very critical to the operations of Lagos; it improves the efficiency and safety of that particular airport.

“It has been abandoned for the last 16 years or thereabout and in our own efforts to ensure that all projects are completed for the benefit of the country, its future and its fortune, in the wisdom of the Council chaired by the President, we approved that project.

“God willing that project will be delivered by this time next year,” he said. (NAN)

The President, Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has named an indigene of Abonnema local government area of Rivers State, Mrs. Opunimi Akinkugbe, as an ambassadorial nominee for Ondo State.

Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe’s name was listed under Ondo State on the list announced by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday.

The nominee is the daughter of the late F.I Ajumogobia, a former Chief of Mission at UNESCO who died in the ADC flight 086 crash en route Lagos from Port Harcourt on November 7, 1996.

She is married to Yinka Akinkugbe from Ondo State and they are blessed with three children.

The nominee, who is a renowned columnist, has over 23 years of experience in the banking sector having worked at Stanbic IBTC, Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank where she is currently a non-executive director.

She attended the London School of Economics and Political Science and IESE Business School where she bagged an MBA.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, the state Chairman, Ondo Youth Coalition, Ademario Emmanuel, said Ondo had prominent sons and daughters that could take up the appointment.

Emmanuel, who is also the National President, Youth Advancement Initiative, said the appointment would not stand.

He said, “The person that was nominated is not from Ondo State. We are doing more research to know those behind the recommendation of that appointment and we will send a letter to the Presidency and the governor. Ondo State cannot be short-changed and manipulated by some greedy set of persons because of power.

“It is insulting that we have people that can represent this state well in national affairs. Why are they not being given appointment? Ondo State has prominent sons and daughters who are well to do and can represent Nigeria and the state anywhere in the world. This appointment will not stand. When we have made up our mind, we will take the next step.”

Also speaking, the President, Yoruba Afenifere Youth Organisation of Nigeria, Eric Oluwole, called on Buhari to reverse the appointment within 48 hours.

Oluwole said an indigene of Rivers State cannot represent the people of Ondo State.

He added, “We call for the cancellation of Ondo state ambassadorial nominee within 48 hours. Someone cannot be nominated from Rivers State to represent us in Ondo state as an ambassador, when there are many qualified indigenes.

“I urge Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state as a lovely person to play neutral selection on this, I want to believe the nomination was a mistake.”

However, the lawmaker representing Ondo-Central senatorial district, Senator Patrick Akinyelure, said there was nothing wrong with the appointment of Mrs. Akinkugbe as long as the governor supports her.

Akinyelure told The PUNCH that since the nominee was legally married to an indigene of Ondo State and had given birth to “Ondo children” she was qualified to represent the state.

The senator said, “You can claim your husband’s state. As long as she has married our people, we accept her. However, if the people of Ondo State kick against it, we will reconsider. She is the mother of Ondo children regardless of where she is from.

“I don’t believe in standing in the way of someone’s success. If the governor approves of her appointment, then there is no problem.”

790 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Delta-166
Lagos-120
Enugu-66
FCT-65
Edo-60
Ogun-43
Kano-41
Kaduna-39
Ondo-33
Rivers-32
Bayelsa-29
Katsina-21
Imo-20
Kwara-18
Oyo-11
Abia-10
Benue-6
Gombe-4
Yobe-2
Bauchi-2
Kebbi-2

June 30 https://www.nairaland.com/5961600/561-new-covid-19-cases-344

COVID-19: Obaseki calls for caution as confirmed cases exceed 1000, deaths rise to 39

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed worry over the alarming rate of community spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state, urging residents to be cautious and observe precautionary measures against the spread of the infectious disease.

In a statement, the governor noted that the state has exceeded the 1,000 threshold and recorded 39 COVID-19-related deaths, which he said called for caution from all citizens to be safe and alive.

Obaseki also announced the recovery and discharge of 21 more COVID-19 patients who have now tested negative for the virus, following their treatment at the state isolation facilities.

Governor Obaseki said: “We have discharged 21 more persons from our isolation centres after they tested negative for COVID-19. So far, 288 persons have recovered from the ailment. However, the number of deaths has risen to 39. The rise in new cases is alarming, so we must all be cautious”

The governor stated that the recovered patients have now been cleared to reunite with the society, adding that the government will continue to intensify efforts to contain the pandemic in all communities in the state, and protect the Edo people.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, said the state has recorded a total of 1,105 confirmed cases, 5,986 suspected cases, 2567 line-listed contacts and 346 persons of interest (POIs).

Okundia noted that while the suspected cases were recorded in 17 local government areas (LGAs) of the state, the confirmed cases were recorded in 15 LGAs, including Oredo, Esan West, Egor, Ovia North East, Ikpoba-Okha, Uhunmwode, Etsako Central, Esan South East, Akoko-Edo, Esan Central, Ovia South West, Owan East, Esan North East, Etsako West and Etsako East.

The commissioner added: “We urge residents to support the government's efforts at containing the pandemic by complying with all guidelines. Stay at home and observe all precautionary measures against the spread of the infectious disease, including regular handwashing with soap under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Cover your mouth and nose properly when sneezing and/or coughing”.

Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, said that it has adopted internationally-accepted safety protocols in curbing the spread of the Coronavirus across the State, just as it launched the deployment of 100 units Hand Washing Stations produced by the State Government, in collaboration with Procter and Gamble (P&G) Nigeria, for deployment to strategic locations in the 20 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who disclosed this at the commissioning and deployment of the Hand Washing Stations, said that the initiative would complement several other efforts of the State government already deployed for the containment of COVID-19.

He stated that the establishment of various Isolation Centres, the initial State-wide lockdown, as well as other ongoing enlightenment campaigns on how Lagosians can protect themselves from being infected are some of the initiatives already adopted since the identification of the index case of the disease in Lagos last February.

Dr. Hamzat commended members of the Organised Private Sector for identifying with the State government in its efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19, saying that many private organisations have provided one facility or the other to assist the State Government.

The Deputy Governor, however, charged Lagosians to stay safe and take responsibility for their safety against the virus by observing all protocols and directives stipulated by the government and health officials.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale explained that the handwashing stations are in three variants, noting that Type A, has a mounted water tank and is meant to service areas where there are no reticulated water sources; Type B will be installed where there is a reticulated water source that can be connected directly at public places such as markets, bus stations, hospitals and many other identifiable public places so that members of the public can have access to water and dispensable soap to wash their hands; while Type C was designed in view of the fact that schools would be partially opened anytime soon.

Revealing that the Office has also designed and produced a prototype Hand Washing System for primary schools in the State to serve both junior and senior school pupils, Adebowale maintained that this approach will further foster the culture of good hygienic practices among the citizenry, as regular handwashing with soap and water has been identified to be very helpful in reducing the spread of the virus amongst the people.

In her remarks, the Senior Director, African-Global Government Relations, Procter & Gamble, Dr. (Mrs.) Temitope Iluyemi said her organisation would continue to support the Lagos State Government in the fight against the pandemic as 8000 packages of soap are being made for the scheme in addition to the Hand Washing Stations.

She, therefore, enjoined Lagosians to make judicious use of the stations at the different locations across the State.

New voters would not be registered ahead of the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

During a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure on Wednesday, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Rufus Akeju, said only accredited voters that had voted in past elections would be allowed to vote.

The INEC official also disclosed that the commission will not conduct any Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise and distribution of permanent voters card (PVCs) in the state before the governorship poll.

“It is important for me to inform you that the commission has suspended the CVR exercise and the implication is that, the window of opportunity for new voters to register, distribution of PVCs, transfer of registration and replacement of lost or defaced PVCs has been shut for the meantime due to COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Akeju assured the people that INEC would organise a free, fair, and credible governorship election in October. He, therefore, enjoined politicians and security agencies to support INEC in its bid to organise a credible poll.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 19 Edo election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will know his fate today when he appears at the Federal High Court, Benin City.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ize-Iaymu is being arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N700 million reportedly deployed to prosecute the 2015 general elections.

The former Secretary to the Edo Government is standing trial alongside four others before Justice J. M. Umar, who is the presiding judge.

The other four defendants are Lucky Imasuen, former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, PDP chairman in Edo State; Tony Aziegbemi, and Efe Erimuoghae.

The anti-graft agency, in the suit marked FHC/BE21C/ 2016, said the gubernatorial candidate and the other accused allegedly collected the public funds for the polls, contrary to the provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu and other defendants were first arraigned before Justice P. I. Ajoku on an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering on May 24, 2018.

The defendants were alleged to have some time, in March 2015, in Benin City directly taken possession of the sum of Seven Hundred Million ( N700, 000,000) without any contract award which sum was allegedly part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: fraud and corruption.

One of the counts read: That you Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, Tony Azigbemi, Chief Dan Orbih, Efe Erimuoghae Anthony and Chief Anthony Anenih (now at large) sometime March 2015 in Benin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly take possession and control of the sum of 700,000,000.00 (seven hundred million naira) only without any contract award which sum you reasonably ought to have known form part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit; fraud and corruption; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3)of the same Act.

Frank Lampard bemoaned the repetitive nature of Chelsea's mistakes this season after his side's defeat to West Ham at the London Stadium.

An 89th-minute strike from Andriy Yarmolenko saw the Blues throw away the chance to overtake Leicester and move up to third in the Premier League table after the Foxes' defeat to Everton earlier on Wednesday.

The 3-2 reverse saw Lampard rue his side's lack of concentration and the Blues boss challenged his players to step up mentally in similar fixtures in the future.
'It's been a good season but there have been so many of these moments,' he told Sky Sports.

'We had an opportunity today to go third but you have to do every part of the game to get results. If you switch off or make one or two errors then you will encourage teams. Players have to show an extra mentality to get through these games.

'I get to see this group closely and I've seen us play great games then have moments where there's the opportunity to capitalise and that's the difference at the moment. We have work to do.'
Lampard was however keen to put the result in perspective of the whole season which has seen the Blues remain in the driving seat to secure Champions League.

But the former West Ham and Chelsea midfielder also admitted that his squad cannot look beyond the fact that it was ultimately a match they should have won.

'There's without a doubt a good group of players in there but then when you analyse the consistency, you feel a game like this is coming. Again, that shows there's work to do,' he continued.


'If we are opening up to try and score that winning goal then we have to be prepared to run back the other way and defend. And defend better.

'We are two points ahead of Manchester United, who have been playing fantastic and are on a great run, Wolves are having a great season and they're behind us, Leicester have had a great season and we're just behind them.

'It's about perspective. We are upset because we wanted to win the game, we're footballers and we're in a good position. So there's no point in being down but I can't help but say the truth today which is that it's a game we should have won tonight.'

The Strike Force of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in Zone ‘A’, said it has raised a Debit Notes (DN) worth more than N1.104 billion from importers of cargo that pays lesser Customs duties into the Federal Government coffers from the six area commands of the service in the South West.

The Co-ordinator of the Strike force, Assistant Comptroller Abba Kakudi, in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday said the amount generated through the Debits Notes was in the last six months.

According to him, “the seizures were between January 1 and June 11, 2020, adding that in spite of COVID-19 pandemic, which affected movement of goods, the Strike force team were able to raise DN to the tune of N1.104 billion.”

Speaking on the seizures, he said in the last two weeks, the Strike force team has given a hard chase to smugglers who were desperate to unleash economic dislocation on the country.

Giving the details of the seizures, he added that, “Our seizures include; 1000 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice with the Duty Payment Value (DPV) 13.252 million; 10 Tokunbo vehicles with DPV N31.184 million and 30 bales of second-hand clothing with DPV of N2.160 million. It is important to say that in order to help the economy to grow, there is no need to import what we can produce here in Nigeria or bringing in prohibited items.


“The Federal Government has encouraged a lot of rice farmers in the country, where local rice is being produced in large quantity and even healthier than foreign rice. Traders should avail themselves of this opportunity to market our indigenous products in such a way, as to grow the economy maximally.

“You will be surprised that in a bid to police the smugglers from bringing in these prohibited products, our officers face a lot of dangers as most of the smugglers are armed, sometimes not necessarily with rifles but machetes, charms and other dangerous weapons, but we are not overwhelmed.

“This ugly situation is experienced more around the creaks where inhabitants mobilise some under-aged people against us, to the extent of calling us names as well as some stoning us, all in a bid to prevent us from making or securing seizures.”

He, therefore, appealed to those who believe that smuggling is very lucrative to desist from it as Customs officers are always a step above them in all their plots and strategies, saying that a smuggler is an economic saboteur and such trade cannot be the best means of livelihood due to inherent dangers as well as loses to those behind it.

He lamented that smuggling ruins the economy of any nation, adding that a lot of incentives have been provided by the Federal Government to revamp the nation’s economy and it should not be allowed to be reversed.

No fewer than 13 members of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State have reportedly indicated interest in contesting for the by-election to fill the Lagos East Senatorial District at the Senate.

The former occupant of the position, Bayo Osinowo, died on June 15, 2020 after a brief illness said to be connected with COVID-19.

Our correspondent learnt that among leading candidates for the position in the APC are a former Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; a former occupant of the position, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, a former House of Representatives member, Dayo Alebiosu-Bush, a former Lagos commissioner, Tola Kasali; and the Director General of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri.

For the PDP, the leading candidates include a former governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party, Babatunde Gbadamosi; the last PDP flag bearer for the position, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi; and a public relations expert, Adedipe Shobajo.

The spokesperson for the Lagos PDP, Taofik Ganiu, said his party would ensure it fielded the best candidate.

He said, “What is operating in the PDP Lagos now is that we are set for any election. For the Lagos senatorial district by-election, we want to field our strongest candidate who will not be rejected by Lagosians. There are seven aspirants already.

“We are also happy to note that a lot of the APC chieftains are making plans to have us as a platform. We are aware that the APC national body is endorsing somebody and other aspirants are aggrieved. So, our doors are wide open for them to take advantage of it.”

Ganiu said the greatest asset of his party was its plan to end godfatherism in Lagos, adding that the coming by-election would be an opportunity for the PDP to showcase its best hands before claiming the state come the 2023 general elections.

However, the APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said the ruling party was still mourning the death of Osinowo, aka Pepper.

He said, “At the level of the party, nothing is happening now. It’s barely two weeks that we lost Pepper. Humanity should come into play here irrespective of anybody’s ambition. So, nothing is happening.

The Gov. of Kano State, H.E. Dr. Abdullahi U. Ganduje has been appointed by the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to chair the Party’s high-level National Campaign Council for the Edo St. Governorship Election.

The Governor of Imo State, H.E. (Sen) Hope Uzodinma will serve as Deputy Chairman and Hon. Abbas Braimoh as Secretary of the 49-member APC National Campaign Council.

This followed the approval for the constitution of a National Campaign Council for the 19th September, 2020 Governorship Election, by the National Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, H.E. Mai Mala Buni.

The campaign council will be inaugurated on Monday, 6th July 2020 at the Party’s National Secretariat.

Members
1.H.E. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje - Chairman
2. H.E. (Sen.) Hope Uzodinma - Deputy Chairman
3. Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege - Member
4. H.E. Inuwa Yahaya - Member
5. H.E. Alh. Yahaya Bello - Member
6.H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu - Member
7.H.E. (Chief) John Odigie-Oyegun - Member
8. H.E. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole - Member
9. Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko - Member
10. H.E. Sen. Godswill Akpabio - Member
11. H.E. Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu - Member
12. H.E. Sen. Owelle Roachas Okorocha - Member
13. H.E. Timipre Sylva - Member
14. H.E. Dr. Pius Odubu - Member
15. Sen. Degi Eremiemyo Biobaraku - Member
16. H.E. Prof. Oserheimen A. Osunbor - Member
17. H.E. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan -Member
18. Sen. John Owan Enoh - Member
19. Rt. Hon. E.J. Agbonayiman - Member
20. Engr. Babachir Lawal - Member
21. Prince  B.B. Apugo - Member
22. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere - Member
23. Hon. Peter Akpatason - Member
24. Hon. Patrick Alsowleren - Member
25. Hon. Johnson Oghuma - Member
26. Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere - Member
27. Hon. Pally Iriase - Member
28. Hon. Dennis Idahosa - Member
29. Mrs. Rachel Akpabio - Member
30. Mr. Bolaji Afeez - Member
31. Engr. Gabriel Iduseri - Member
32. Chief Cairo Ojougboh - Member
33. Patrick Obahiagbon - Member
34. Chief Ayiri Emami - Member
35. Hon. Abubakar Adagu Suberu - Member
36. Usman Nahuche - Member
37. Engr. Chidi Orji - Member
38. Dr. Almajiri Giadam - Member
39. Sen. Sa’idu Umar Kumo - Member
40. Chief Pius Akinyelure - Member
41. Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi - Member
42. Chief Solomon Edebiri - Member
43. Prof. Ebegue Amadasun - Member
44. Hon. Saturday Uwulekue - Member
45. Hon. Osaro Obaze - Member
46. Chief Samuel Ogbuku - Member
47. Miss. Rinsola Abiola - Member
48. Theresa Tekenel - Member
49. Hon. Abbas Braimoh - Member/Secretary

SIGNED:
@ynabena
Deputy National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)

Hundreds of elephants have mysteriously dropped dead in Botswana in what is being described as a 'conservation disaster'.

More than 350 elephants have died from unknown causes, with aerial photos showing their carcasses scattered across the Okavango Delta and other northern parts of the country.

The first unusual deaths were reported in May when 169 elephants died in a short period at the Okavango Delta, a marshy and lush wildlife habitat.

That number had almost doubled by mid June, with 70 per cent of the deaths occurring around waterholes, according to local sources.

Botswana's government has not yet tested the animal's bodies for traces of poison or pathogens, however Anthrax has been ruled out - Cyanide poisoning has previously been used by poachers in Zimbabwe.



Dr Niall McCann, director of conservation at National Park Rescue told The Guardian: 'This is a mass die-off on a level that hasn't been seen in a very, very long time. Outside of drought, I don't know of a die-off that has been this significant.'

Scientists have urged the government to test the animals to ensure they do not pose a risk to human life, as human to animal pathogen transmission is at the forefront of the world's mind.

Locals in the area had reported seeing the elephants walking in circles suggesting they have been neurologically impaired either by a pathogen or a poison.

Dr McCann added: 'If you look at the carcasses, some of them have fallen straight on their face, indicating they died very quickly. Others are obviously dying more slowly, like the ones that are wandering around. So it's very difficult to say what this toxin is,'

In response to The Guardian Dr Cyril Taolo, acting director for Botswana's department of wildlife and national parks said: 'We are aware of the elephants that are dying. Out of the 350 animals we have confirmed 280 of those animals. We are still in the process of confirming the rest.'

He blamed covid-19 restrictions for the slow processing of the elephant's tests and said the tests have been sent to another country for analysis.



The lack of vultures on the carcasses also caused locals to suggest something outside of a natural phenomenon was causing the deaths, with covid-19 also posed as a possibility.

Although Africa's overall elephant population is declining due to poaching, Botswana's numbers are growing.

The southern African country is home to a third of the continent's elephants and has grown a population of 80,000 to 130,000 because of well-managed reserves.

There are about 15,000 elephants in the Okavango delta, and the pull of tourists to the country's wildlife is thought to bring in around 12 per cent of its GDP.

However elephants are still under threat, farmers see them as a nuisance for destroying crops and poaching is still prevalent.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi last year lifted a five-year ban on big game hunting imposed by previous president Ian Khama.

But coronavirus travel restrictions meant that the hunting season did not take off this year.

Dr McCann said the recent deaths were a 'conservation disaster' as the country fails to protect one of its most valuable assets.