Author: multiplat

By Idowu Bankole

A former Aviation minister and Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday, on a tour of Oyo state, South-West, Nigeria to inspect ongoing projects in the state describing the ongoing projects as “massive and very impressive.”

Oyo state became the next stop for the Ex-Aviation minister, after touring the Northern part of Nigeria, and the South-South region of the country.

Recall that Vanguard had reported how the Former Minister was conferred with a chieftaincy title in the Shinkafi Emirate, in Zamfara State.

Also read: Fani-Kayode remains best running mate for Atiku – Yoruba Alliance Group

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard on the tour of Oyo state by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the Special Assitant to Governor Makinde, Alhaji Azeez Akeem said Chief Fani-Kayode was impressed with the level of development in the state so far. He told Vanguard that Fani-Kayode was in the state to Inspect ongoing projects and not to commission projects.

“The former minister, Chief Femi Fani Kayode is not commissioning, its visitation and inspection of projects that are scattered all over the state, and others expanded by this administration led by Engr Seyi Makinde. His manifesto called Accelerated For Rapid Development. The administration manifestoes include Education, Healthcare, Economic Development and Security. So we have visited some newly built school in Ibadan, we have also visited new CCTV control room at security trust fund building where all the cameras were mounted in strategic places in Ibadan are being controlled These are things we have done in the area of security.

On health facilities, Makinde’s Aide told vanguard that Fani-Kayode visited some Health centres in the state and was impressed by the level of work going.

“We went to the health centre in Awe, we call it primary health centre, we also visited the Farmers academy in Awe. What the state did is to help create an enabling environment for the youth to engage in agric-preneur, we did something by asking the youths to apply and 9000 of them applied online but we selected 400 to be able to manage them properly to create opportunity in tomato growing business so they will teach them on how to grow tomato, how to manage themselves and how to be profitable with the agricultural produce.” Alhaji Azeez said.

On infrastructure development in the state, Azeez was swift to say, ” Let me shed more light on the Iwo road and landscaping.

“We are building the first of its kind bus terminal in that area, which is going to rival anyone in an advanced country.”

“We have terminal A, terminal B in Iwo road which they will connect each other. Our terminal here has the capacity of 150 buses at a time, so it’s a very massive infrastructural development. As we speak, in other to decongest people and its vehicular movement in some part, especially airport road. We are constructing new Ajia Airport road as we speak they have started the work. The tenure is supposed to be one year six month and (drive work) was done by his Excellency governor Seyi Makinde on August 5 and we believe and hope it will be completed before the duration ends. The four-terminal we are building, two in Iwo road, one in Ojoo and one in Challenge as no rival right now with the concept we put in place.”

Also read: Choose Fani-Kayode as running mate, group tells Atiku, PDP

Speaking on other areas visited by the former Aviation Minister, Chief Fani-Kayode,  Alhaji Azeez said,  “The food basket of the state is Oke Ogun, we produce almost all the food we eat there and unfortunately the successive government in Oyo state have abandoned the only major road that connects Oke Ogun with the state capital for years. The previous administration will tell you they awarded the repair of the road for a contractor who has abandoned the project but immediately Governor Seyi Makinde government was inaugurated, one of the first major areas he started working on was that iseyin Ibadan road and now if you go there you will see over at least 50% of completion of the job in there, on getting to the site, The Former Minister was full of praise because he could see we are on the right path to progress.”

“Then there is this 10,000 metric tonnes silo sited in Awe, the report have it that, aside funtua village in the northern part of the country, that is where you have the largest in Nigeria, the next green market you have is Located in Oyo and the best to do is to give them silo so they can have a storage facility for those green produce not to be getting infested. The first of its kind in the south-west which is even bigger than what the federal government has done is the construction of 10,000 metric tonnes silo in Awe. The former minister, Chief Femi Fani Kayode also visited the site and he saw it all, it’s an ongoing project. Oyo state is being turned to the project site and it’s marvellous to behold.”

On insecurity, Alhaji Azeez said, “Security is one of the four major programs of this administration. when we came on board, we discovered that we just have to tackle the security head-on.

“That was what made his Excellency requests for the additional mobile post in Oyo state which the inspector general has graciously approved, which I can tell you it’s already cited Oke Ogun for a strategic reason, most of the time herdsmen and farmers clashes are always in that side, so there are so many reasons why he cited the new mobile force station in Oke Ogun he gave them the necessary equipment. He is doing a lot in the arear of security as I said earlier, the city of Ibadan is having CCTV camera in strategic places and also there is what we call to light up, you know criminals always hide under the darkness. From Ibadan to everywhere you go is light up, there is connectivity between bright light, illuminated by street light and reduction in the issue of criminal activities in the recent time, so everything interconnected and they are doing the best.”

Reacting to the ongoing project, the former Aviation Minister and Chieftain of the PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode told Journalist that the administration of Engr Seyi Makinde has embarked on an Impressive and massive project in the state and that was part of what attracted the visit in the first place.

According to Makinde’s Aide, Alhaji Azeez Akeem, “The first thing the former Minister said was impressive, massive and I think he was impressed with what he saw and he said he will not expect anything less because he has seen Engr Seyi Makinde as a forthright, efficient and effective leader.”

When asked if there is a second term Agenda on the cards, he said, “You can’t blame people who said Engr Seyi Makinde should go for the second term if you see something good, nobody wants to live in mystery, nobody wants to continue living in the terrible situation they found themselves before this administration. You will agree with me that everybody wants a better life for themselves. Since we came on board, he has made education free for the children of the masses, so they no longer pay any amount for their wards to be educated. He is providing over 7,000 employment opportunities for teachers in Oyo State, the health worker in Oyo state hospital management board is recruiting about 1,000 new employees to the civil service employment, then also the OYO state service commission is also employing any moment now to reduce the effect of COVID-19. So it’s a marvellous thing and it’s massive.”

Vanguard News

Engr. Michael Ale

The National President, Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners Practitioners, AWDROP, who doubles as the Founder/CEO, Global Initiative for Nigeria Development, GIND, Engr. Michael Ale, has called on Nigerians to shun calls for the withdrawal of the Water Resources Bill by various political and socio-cultural groups, noting that many are just rejecting the bill without keenly understanding its content.

While speaking to newsmen in Lagos, weekend, Ale urged Nigerians not to advance political or ethnic sentiments by discouraging the water bill from becoming law, adding that the nation stands to gain more economically and otherwise if the bill is properly assessed and scrutinised before it is passed by the legislature.

He urged all state assemblies to urgently consider the bill in such a way that it meets the peculiar needs of their respective states; in the same way the Operation Amotekun law in the South-West was passed.

The Sustainable Development expert advised that instead of calling for its death,  the Water Resources Bill could be amended.

ALSO READ: CAPPA, AUPCTRE urge FG to dump ‘anti-people water bill’

He said: “Some portions considered controversial would be expunged and the harmless portions will be passed. Such exercise should be replicated at all state levels with a regulatory commission at the Federal level.

“Why should we jettison the whole bill just because some parts of it have been greeted with controversy tainted with political and ethnic sentiments? It is like throwing away the baby with the bathwater.

“In line with international best practices, water law is germane to protecting our water resources, just like we have laws governing the airspace and land activities.

“The current practice along the water sector is the Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, which requires that the water resources must be governed and managed well for the sake of sustainable and equitable use of this common resources by all, irrespective of political affiliations, race, gender and sociological or cultural beliefs and interpretations.

“But the current political atmosphere and the bad naming of the bill is creating unnecessary apprehension in our polity, leading to misconception and distortion of the process that has gone through legislative proceedings.

“Frankly speaking, rejecting the proposed Water Resources bill is akin to rejecting development projects like provision of water, construction of roads, markets and other projects being executed by the government.

“Those misinterpreting the bill now do not even have the authority to do so because they do not have the professional understanding.”

Speaking further, Ale counselled that the proposed bill could help check the perennial flooding ravaging the nation, saying “water resources is causing war in some countries now.

“Imagine the flooding we experience yearly; and nothing has been done to curb it.  This bill gives direction as to who takes responsibility and how things are done.

“Let us take a critical look at the petroleum industry. For example, the Federal Government controls who establishes petrol stations and the state government is still part of that activity.

“Do we have any controversy over that? There could be synergy between federal and state governments on this.”

VANGUARD

Vice-President of the CNSP (National Committee for the Salvation of the People) Colonel Malick Diaw (C) takes a seat with other military leaders during the opening of two days of talks aimed at validating the terms of reference for a transitional government in Mali, on September 5, 2020, in Bamako. – Mali’s military junta began talks with opposition groups on September 5 on its promised transition to civilian rule after mounting pressure from neighbours to yield power in the weeks since it overthrew the nation’s leader. The West African country has long been plagued by chronic instability, a simmering jihadist revolt, ethnic violence and endemic corruption, prompting a clique of rebel colonels to detain the president last month. (Photo by MICHELE CATTANI / AFP)

Mali’s military junta began talks with opposition groups on Saturday on its promise to hand power back to civilians, after mounting pressure from neighbouring countries in the weeks since it overthrew the nation’s leader.

The West African country has long been plagued by instability, a simmering jihadist revolt, ethnic violence and endemic corruption, prompting a clique of rebel soldiers to detain president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last month.

They pledged to step down after a transition period, but the putsch has prompted Mali’s neighbours and former colonial ruler France to demand a swift transfer of power to civilian rule, with fears the crisis could impact neighbouring states.

The talks in Bamako are being held under junta chief Assimi Goita but he was not present Saturday, a military source said.

“Since August 18, we are charting a new history for our country,” junta number two Malick Diaw told the opening session.

The summit was originally planned for last weekend but was called off at the last minute after a quarrel between the military and the June 5 Movement, which spearheaded the protests that led to the toppling of president Keita.

The opposition coalition of civil and religious leaders has demanded that the military rulers give it a role in the transition to civilian rule, but was not invited for the transition talks last Saturday.

It was then included for the rescheduled talks, along with political parties, former rebels, unions, civil society organisations and media representatives.

However, a mostly Tuareg coalition of armed rebel groups known as the Coordination of Movements of Azawad (CMA) was not present on Saturday.

The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), as the junta is known, said parallel talks were taking place in regional capitals, led by regional governors.

ALSO READ: Ousted Malian president hospitalised after mini-stroke

But in Kidal, a city controlled by the CMA, “consultations were postponed for lack of compromise between the CNSP and the CMA,” an administrative official told AFP on Saturday.

The CMA, which signed a peace accord with Keita’s government in 2015, said in a statement that it expected “the implementation of the agreement resulting from the Algiers process with the previous government to remain in force”.

The 2015 peace deal was meant to disarm rebel groups and integrate them into the national army, but its implementation has dragged on for years despite international pressure.

– Closed borders –


The CNSP said members of the Malian diaspora would also have their say in this weekend’s talks.

One of the key issues will be the length of the transition to civilian rule.

Originally the junta proposed a three-year transition, before bringing that down to two years.

The June 5 Movement has said it wants a transition period of 18 to 24 months.

The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc, which has imposed sanctions and closed borders to Mali as part of efforts to press the junta into handing over power quickly, has called for elections within 12 months.

West African leaders will meet via videoconference on Monday with the Mali situation at the top of their agenda.

Keita, who is under house arrest in Bamako, is preparing to leave Mali after being treated at a hospital this week for a mini-stroke, sources told AFP.

Keita may now head to the United Arab Emirates for further treatment, they said.

VANGUARD

Professor Yemi Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine should be done in an equitable and affordable manner rather than on the basis of the highest bidder.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Saturday, said the vice-president spoke at the virtual 2020 EURAFRICA Forum with the theme, “Towards a Realistic Euro-African Partnership During and Beyond the COVID-19 Era”.

The vice-president said that such approach would effectively contain the global spread of COVID-19.

The summit featured presentations from notable global leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres and the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr Ulisses Correia Silva among others.

The EurAfrican Forum aims to foster stronger collaboration between Europe and Africa, and better promote a shared green and inclusive growth, among other objectives.

“Europe should work closely with Africa to ensure that when a vaccine is finally deployed, it should not be on the basis of the highest bidder but rather be made available at an affordable and in an accessible manner.

“This is a matter that should not be taken for granted. We saw during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in richer parts of the world, that orders for test kits and reagents by African countries were deemed too small and tended to be ignored.

“Although Nigeria does not have the resources or means to pre-pay for a COVID-19 vaccine; we are fortunate to be a GAVI supported country.

“We urge the EU to lend support to GAVI’s effort to ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX initiative. This way, poorer countries and their citizens will get the vaccines they need at the same time as the rest of the world,” he said.

Osinbajo said the summit offered an opportunity for Europe and Africa to share perspectives on matters of mutual interest.

According to him, a global crisis calls for global partnerships.

He said that if COVID-19 existed in any part of the world, it remained a significant threat to every part of the world.

ALSO READ: Internet Fraud: Unilorin student to sweep road, clear gutter for three months

“The partnership between Africa and the European Union is good platform for both sides to work together on economic recovery and rebuilding of health systems.

“It is also equally important that we become even stronger advocates for closer international cooperation to tackle the fall out of COVID-19.”

The vice-president also spoke about Nigeria’s efforts in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, adding that the priority was to ward off a deep recession.

He said that the Economic Sustainability Plan consisted of measures to support local businesses, retain and create jobs and to improve the circumstances of the most vulnerable.

Osinbajo said that the plan bolstered Nigeria’s interventions and promoted the use labour-intensive methods in key areas like agriculture, light manufacturing, housing, and facilities management.

On debt relief for Africa in the era of COVID-19, Osinbajo said given the continent’s previous structural vulnerabilities and limitations, debt relief involving commercial debts was desirable.

He said that Africa continued to experience huge financing gaps, huge debt servicing obligations and foreign exchange shortages; therefore needed all the help it could get.

“The Debt Servicing Support Initiative of the G20 is welcome and will no doubt bring some relief to relevant African countries.

“However, it remains inadequate because it does not address the problem of commercial debt service obligations.

“The share of commercial debt is almost two-thirds of debt service in Africa so any debt relief arrangement not involving this segment is unlikely to succeed.

“Getting relief on commercial debt servicing will require the cooperation of bondholders and ratings agencies which is why the African Union Special Envoys on COVID-19 are engaging with them actively.

“Nigeria calls on the EU to lend its weight to this initiative which is very important for Africa,” he said. (NAN)

VANGUARD

By Aliyu Dangida – Dutse

Jigawa State Emergency and Management Agency (SEMA) has announced that death toll in the state has risen to twenty-person with thousands of houses and farmlands destroyed as a result of a devastating flood that ravaged the state.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Yusuf Sani Babura, told Newsmen in Dutse, that annual flood affected 17 out of the 27 local government areas of the state throwing the lives of the communities into chaos, added that the death involved mostly children as a result of building collapse.

His words; “Annual flood has destroyed 50,000 houses while farmlands were submerged crops include maize, millet, guinea corn and rice perished in most of the LGA’s of the state as a result of a heavy downpour occurred last week”.

ALSO READ: Jigawa Flood Disaster: Buhari directs NEMA to provide relief to victims

According to the Executive Secretary, the state government has directed the agency to as a matter of urgency provide relief materials to the affects communities. “the affected victims temporarily relocated to various schools, mosques and relatives houses.”

He explained that relief materials were provided to the victims which include assorted food items, medicine, beddings, canoes and temporary shelter, stated further government is doing it’s best to avert the situation to other parts of the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state has expressed deep concern over the devastating flood that ravaged some parts of the state resulting in the death of scores of people with thousands of houses and farmlands destroyed.

Vanguard News Nigeria.

The incumbent House of Representative Member Representing Ogoja Federal Constituency, Hon. Jarigbo Agom has emerged the winner of the keenly contested Cross River North PDP Senatorial Primary.

Agom defeated four other contestants.

ALSO READ: Edo 2020: Obaseki plans technology park for repentant internet fraudsters

Honourable Jarigbe Agom scored 381 votes to beat his closest challenger Stephen Odey who scored 71 votes.

INEC Monitoring Team from Abuja and Members of PDP congress Committee observed the process which had large delegates turn out.

VANGUARD

The post Jarigbo Agom emerges winnner of PDP Primary for C/River North Senatorial Election appeared first on Vanguard News.

…As they discuss fostering the African culture forward

K2O Entertainment is still strongly pushing it’s worthy agenda of expanding the Nigerian music and ensuring they play a significant part in spurring it’s evolution.

Previously, the label had conducted a couple of IG live sessions with different international icons. Most recently concluded, was one held with veteran Rapper Tahmac, concluding with a promise to have more iconic stars on.

Yesterday, Hotyce, the label’s artiste and a Headies nominated rapper, had a session with Redman. Redman is a Grammy-nominated rapper under Def Squad, he spoke with Hotyce  on several music centred issues  to including the death of Rap icon, Notorious B.I.G.

READ ALSO: Rapper Nicki Minaj announces pregnancy

The conversation saw Hotyce, who has for a while been fervently growing the Hip Hop Culture in Nigeria asking Redman which era he found most challenging. The ”Oooh’ rapper Redman,  stated that it had to be the 90’s as that was the year, adding that the Hip Hop game lost a lot of its acts in said year to include the legendary B.IGG and Tupac Shakur.

In a second, Redman went on to reveal one thing not many knew before now, he spoke to Biggie just two hours before the rapper got shot. Biggie was shot on March 9, 1997, bringing immense despair not only in the Hip Hop community but around the globe.

Vanguard

The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed four persons killed and over 5,200 houses destroyed due to flooding in Rogo and Danbatta Local Government Areas of the state.

Mr Sale Jili, Executive Secretary of the Agency, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kano.

NAN reports that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted flooding occasioned by heavy rainfall in 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

Jili disclosed that two persons lost their lives and 200 houses destroyed in Rogo, while two other persons and over 5,000 houses were destroyed by flood in Danbatta.

“We deployed assessment teams to the affected areas. We also visited Rogo and Danbatta to sympathise with the victims over the disaster.

READ ALSO: Jigawa Flood Disaster: Buhari directs NEMA to provide relief to victims

“There are reports of flooding in the 44 LGAs of the state due to heavy rainfall this season,” he said.

According to him, the displaced persons are currently taking shelter with their relatives in the affected communities.

Jili said the Agency had distributed relief items worth N3.5 million to the affected persons to alleviate their sufferings.

He listed the items to include he items distributed include bags of cement, food items, roofing sheets, blankets, Mattress and toiletries among others.

The Secretary urged residents of the state to clear drains and desist from indiscriminate dumping of waste on water ways to control flooding in the state.

Vanguard

Charges electorates to vote candidate that can change narrative

By Gabriel Ewepu – Abuja

Following the dangerous trend of financial induced approach used by politicians during elections, a non-profit making organization, One Love Foundation, OLF, Saturday, called on security agencies to criminalise vote buying and selling ahead of the Edo State Governorship Election.

This was stated by the Founder, OLF, Chief Patrick Eholor, while speaking on the strategic position and role security agents are expected to play to make the electoral process smooth and credible.

Eholor: “The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies should discourage vote buying and selling by tagging it a criminal offence.

READ ALSO: Edo 2020: Obaseki vows to bury dictatorship

“Security agencies should be neutral and non-partisan and avoid being compromised before, during and after the Election Day. I am stating this because of past experiences, and I am charging them to be very professional as they are known to be.

“Their integrity is now being tested and the result on their conduct and performance will be given during and after the election. We believe and hope that they would not perform below average.”

He further stated that security agents should ensure there is no breach of the electoral process and all forms of hooliganism and intimidation of voters should be addressed.

He therefore charged young people to think out of the box and not on sentiments that politicians uses to blindfold gullible youths with drugs and few Naira notes at their own detriment as most of them at the end of the day are abandoned and criminalized.

“Shun electoral violence and go out there and cast your vote for someone who will turn your lives around for the better because what is not worth living for is not worth dying for”, he stated.

Meanwhile, according to Eholor, the electorates in Edo State are well informed, enlightened, and exposed, which no political party and their candidate can easily prey on or make them gullible with false promises that cannot be fulfilled.

The social crusader further stated that the power to make a change in the lives of the people is with the people and not with the politicians or candidates and so they should be very careful not to full into the wrong hands before, during and after the election.

He also added that the constitutional power and right electorates have to choose their leader through the ballot box, and that back up by the constitution should make electorates in Edo State to critically assess and make their right choice on a candidate who will meet their health, education, employment, electricity, security and other needs, and not based on sentiments or being cajoled to choose who they know cannot meet their needs.

“The electorates are getting wiser by the day. It is their right to assess the candidates to see what they have in place for them before voting as everyone has a reason to vote.

“Like some persons who cannot pay school fees will be interested in a government that can provide an opportunity for their children to go to school. Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory provided free education.

“There are also those that have interest in farming, so they look forward to a government that can be responsible enough to provide soft loans for them either to farm or trade. Those that have health challenges will pray to have a government that will provide good and accessible healthcare”, he said.

He also asserted and expressed optimism that INEC will conduct a credible election, particularly on preparedness, which he said there is no excuse of the period before the election was shortage of electoral materials and problem of logistics, because it gave the date and guidelines at a record time that makes them to be fully ready to conduct an acceptable election in the history of Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.

He also cautioned INEC on reliable biometrics and proper display of voter register for voters to confirm their names and polling units accurately in order to avoid disenfranchisement.

“Am sure INEC has their template already and they still have two weeks and some days to go. They should be responsible enough to say that there was no shortage of materials because if they do that, they will be depriving some persons from exercising their Civic rights.

READ ALSO: Christian leaders in Edo endorse Obaseki, Shaibu for second term

“Let us give INEC some credit because they have improved. No matter how bad, it has not been easy but one day we will get there because this demonstration of madness is not us. We have our own way of doing things, since we want to live on borrowed cultures and want to be civilized it takes time to master civilization”, he added.

However, he argued that Nigeria after 21 years of returning to democracy should be of age to monitor its own elections and not to invite foreign observes to give report of its own elections.

He also pointed out that there has never being an election conducted in the United States of America, USA, United Kingdom, UK, Germany, and others.

“I think it’s a shame for Nigeria after 21 years of democracy to rely on foreign umpires as election observers. It’s uncalled for. We can observe our elections ourselves.

“I do not recall the last time Europeans and Americans called African countries particularly Nigeria to monitor elections in their countries. Election is coming up in America on October, am sure Donald Trump or Joe Biden will not be inviting Nigeria as an umpire”, he stated.

Vanguard

…says many projects awarded by immediate-past govt not in favour of people

Makinde

By Adeola Badru

THE administration of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said it would not leave any inherited project undone, just because his immediate predecessor, late Abiola Ajimobi overlooked many projects initiated by former Governor Alao Akala.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, stated this while featuring on a radio interview programme in Ibadan on Saturday, saying the present administration would rather complete the projects to impact positively on the people of the state.

The commissioner was reacting to insinuations in some quarters that Governor Makinde has been completing projects started by the Ajimobi’s administration without initiating new ones.

He said road projects and school construction projects, as well as healthcare facility projects that were entered into by the immediate-past administration, were either hastily done without recourse to quality or enduring capacity of the facilities, with the state being at the receiving end.

He said: “Imagine the agreement entered into with the contractor handling the Moniya-Iseyin road and the quality of work done then, had this administration not terminated that contract and given it to another contractor, would that road not have collapsed totally today? Go there and see the quality of job done there by the new contractor.”

“Many of the contracts awarded by the Ajimobi administration did not favour the people. Governor Makinde had to sit down with the contractors to renegotiate, based on the quality of projects and amount, so they have no basis to say he is not doing new projects.”

“If late Ajimobi had completed the state health facility projects at Ogbomoso and Oyo township started by former Governor Alao Akala, would the present administration still have to use the state fund to do that?”

“He deliberately ignored those projects due to his hatred for his predecessor, the eight years of Ajimobi left the state health facility at Oyo town without attention, the whole roof and other fittings were carted away by hoodlums.”

ALSO READ: Commercial flights resume in Enugu airport Monday

“Governor Makinde is not doing that, he has entered into an agreement with the people of the state to improve their wellbeing in education, healthcare, urbanization and other sectors of human life, he has no axe to grind with anybody.”

He expressed the state government’s resolve to spend the loan obtained for infrastructural development on recurrent expenditure like payment of salary, pension and gratuity of retired civil servants.

Meanwhile, Dr. Olatubosun hinted that officers of the state Vehicle Inspection Department (VIO) that were accused of extorting motorists and hindering free flow of traffic would henceforth be punished as the government has a mandate for the officers to enforce and not for them to become terror on the road.

He said the directorate under which the Vehicle Inspection Officers work would be briefed and necessary monitoring would be done to get to the root of the allegation, so as to single out the erring officers that wanted to tarnish the name of the inspectorate.

The commissioner added that despite the cancellation of curfew in the state, safety protocols against COVID-19 in public places like churches and mosques were still in place.

“There is still the regulation of churches not to allow more than 25% of total capacity of congregation at every service, the same goes for mosques, we still use this opportunity to appeal to our market women and traders to let us take personal responsibility and stay safe.”

“Okada riders have been told not to take more than one passengers, public vehicle drivers should not overload their passengers to avoid passing the virus from those that already have it to others,” the Commissioner said

VANGUARD

refinery

Alhaji Popoola Ogundoyin, an Executive Member of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), says that unless Nigeria produces petroleum products through its refineries, the problems in the petroleum sector will persist.

Ogundoyin stated this during an interview on Saturday in Ile-Ife.

He expressed displeasure with the failure of public and private sector stakeholders to establish standard refineries across the country that would produce enough petroleum products for the citizenry.

According to him, Nigeria is the only country in the world that has crude, yet we are still importing petroleum products.

ALSO READ: Accidents claim 109 lives in Ogun in 8 months – Official

“On crude, we have almost 18 by-products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene among others.

“If we are producing these by ourselves, surely the problem of unemployment will be solved, for many will be employed and this will improve the economy as well,” he added.

Ogundoyin urged Federal and State Governments to rise up to the tasks ahead of them for the welfare of Nigerians.

“Both Federal and State Governments should construct new ones and renovate all spoilt refineries for the betterment of the nation,” he charged.

He appealed to Nigerian leaders especially the politicians to try as much as possible to fulfill all promises made during their campaigns.

According to him, without the masses voting for them, none of them can attain the post they are today.(NAN)

VANGUARD

Lai MohammedLi

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the Friday judgment of a UK Commercial Court suspending the execution of a 9.6 billion dollar judgment debt against Nigeria is “a huge relief”.

The Minister, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the court decision “is a big victory and Nigeria can now breath a sigh of relief“.

NAN reports that a UK commercial court on Friday granted  Nigeria’s appeal for stay of execution of the award of 9.6 billion dollar, (about N3.5 trillion) to an Irish company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. (P&ID) over a botched gas contract.

READ ALSO: Imbibe culture of doing more with less, Lai Mohammed charges new CEOs

Specifically, the Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London granted the stay of execution order in the arbitrary award, following the review of written submission by the Federal Government which contained new evidence.

The presiding judge, Justice Sir Rose Cranston held that the court decided to “grant Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanction” in the matter in dispute.

Reacting to the court’s decision, the minister said the judgment has afforded Nigeria the chance to challenge the arbitrary award to prove that the entire contract award with P&ID was a scam.

“The ruling is a big victory for Nigeria because it does not only grants Nigeria only stay of execution but also suspends any penalty against Nigeria.

“For more than a year now, Nigeria has been restless in its search for justice because we have always believed that the P&ID gas supply contract was nothing but a sham.

“We pursued the case relentlessly both in the court of public opinion and in the court of law.

The minister recalled that one of the challenges the administration faced as soon as it came on board for the second tenure was the slamming of the judgment debt on the country.

“The world and Nigeria were gripped with the fear that our foreign assets, our oil  will be attached and investors were panicked, that was when we started our campaign.

“We were quite cleared on our mind that this matter will be won not just in the court of law but also in the court of public opinion,” he said.

The minister said they took proactive steps to assure investors that the government would contest the ruling and no dime would be paid.

He said the steps were to instill confidence in the investors that Nigeria is safe for investment and they should not disinvest in the country.

“After that we held several press conferences in which we, once again, assured Nigerians that we were going to robustly challenge  the judgment.

“As soon as we finished with the domestic audience, we moved to the UK in a team to let the world know that the entire P&ID contract was a sham.“

The minister gave kudos to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) for a  very brilliant team he set up to prosecute the case.

NAN recalled that on Aug. 16, 2019, a UK Business & Property Courts (the Commercial Court), presided by Justice Butcher, had approved that P&ID should enforce a March 20, 2013 award against Nigeria by a District Circuit Court in Washington DC.

READ ALSO: Buhari will leave legacy of massive Infrastructural development – Lai Mohammed

The court ordered a whopping 9.6 billion judgment debt against Nigeria over the botched  20-year Gas and Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) with P&ID.

In a ruling,  the court authorised the (P&ID), a little known Irish engineering and project management company, to seize 9.6 billion dollars in Nigerian assets over the failed contract.

The court ruling was a fallout of the contract purportedly entered into in 2010 between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and P&ID and the subsequent award made in July 2015 in favour of the P&ID, by an arbitration panel sitting in London.

In the failed contract, the P&ID was to build a gas processing facility to refine associated natural gas into non-associated gas to power the national electric grid.

For its part, the Ministry was to build pipeline to supply gas to the P&ID facility to be located in Adiabo, Odukpani LGA, Cross River state.

The agreement went sour because the company, which, did not build any facility at the agreed site, blamed the Ministry for not constructing the pipeline for gas supply alleging that it had committed 40 million dollar into the contract.

Vanguard

By Shina Abubakar

The Proprietor of an Orphanage home in Ile-Ife, Mrs Elizabeth Oroyemi slumped as Osun State Government officials sealed the social facility over suspected illegal activities, including being used as baby factory.

The woman who was resuscitated begged the officials not to seal the property, located at Opa Area of the ancient town, being her only legacy of over 18 years.

However, the Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Affairs, Mrs Bukola Olaboopo while stating the reason behind the closure said the factory’s operation constituted a danger to the well-being of the orphans residing therein.

She also said apart from not taking adequate care of the children at the orphanage, the environment where it operates is completely untidy while those working there lack the adequate knowledge to so do.

According to her, “we suspected that the facility is used for activities such as baby factory which is completely unacceptable to Osun State Government. And the operator had earlier been given the opportunity to address the shortcomings observed by a committee set up about five years ago, though she moved to a new facility, the activities in the facility is still the same.

READ ALSO: Children’s Day: Sanwo-Olu donates food items to orphanages, others

“The social workers working in the facility are unprofessional, the environment where it is operating is totally untidy, while most children in her care were malnourished and exceeded the number approved by the Child Right Law 2013 of the State among others”.

She disclosed that 42 persons were evacuated from the facility, comprising of 24 toddlers, three adults, and those with physical disabilities.

She added that the move became imperative to give the children the best education, nutritious meals required for Healthy growth and proper shelter by the State Government.

“All the evacuees were given food and other confectionaries before they were relocated in batches to various standard orphanage centres across the State for best care”, she said.

Olaboopo while urging orphanage operators in the state to ensure they fulfil the statutory obligations and operate within the ambit of the law, she disclosed closing the facility would deter others from operating against the existing laws.

Vanguard News Nigeria

Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State

…says many projects awarded by immediate-past govt, not in favour of people

By Adeola Badru

THE administration of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was said, would not leave any inherited project undone, just because his immediate predecessor, late Abiola Ajimobi overlooked many projects initiated by former Governor Alao Akala because of hatred.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, stated this while featuring on a radio interview programme in Ibadan on Saturday, saying the present administration would rather complete the projects to impact positively on the people of the state.

Also read: Absence of Boko Haram in Gombe, another gain of Buhari’s administration – Goje

The commissioner was reacting to insinuations in some quarters that Governor Makinde has been completing projects started by the Ajimobi’s administration without initiating new ones.

He said road projects and school construction projects, as well as healthcare facility projects that were entered into by the immediate-past administration, were either hastily done without recourse to the quality or enduring capacity of the facilities, with the state being at the receiving end.

He said: “Imagine the agreement entered into with the contractor handling the Moniya-Iseyin road and the quality of work done then, had this administration not terminated that contract and given it to another contractor, would that road not have collapsed totally today? Go there and see the quality of the job done there by the new contractor.”

“Many of the contracts awarded by the Ajimobi administration did not favour the people. Governor Makinde had to sit down with the contractors to renegotiate, based on the quality of projects and amount, so they have no basis to say he is not doing new projects.”

“If late Ajimobi had completed the state health facility projects at Ogbomoso and Oyo township started by former Governor Alao Akala, would the present administration still have to use the state fund to do that?”

“He deliberately ignored those projects due to his hatred for his predecessor, the eight years of Ajimobi left the state health facility at Oyo town without attention, the whole roof and other fittings were carted away by hoodlums.”

“Governor Makinde is not doing that, he has entered into an agreement with the people of the state to improve their wellbeing in education, healthcare, urbanization and other sectors of human life, he has no axe to grind with anybody.”

He expressed the state government’s resolve to spend the loan obtained for infrastructural development on recurrent expenditure like payment of salary, pension and gratuity of retired civil servants.

Meanwhile, Dr Olatubosun hinted that officers of the state Vehicle Inspection Department (VIO) that were accused of extorting motorists and hindering the free flow of traffic would henceforth be punished as the government has a mandate for the officers to enforce and not for them to become a terror on the road.

He said the directorate under which the Vehicle Inspection Officers work would be briefed and necessary monitoring would be done to get to the root of the allegation, so as to single out the erring officers that wanted to tarnish the name of the inspectorate.

The commissioner added that despite the cancellation of curfew in the state, safety protocols against COVID-19 in public places like churches and mosques were still in place.

“There is still the regulation of churches not to allow more than 25% of the total capacity of the congregation at every service, the same goes for mosques, we still use this opportunity to appeal to our market women and traders to let us take personal responsibility and stay safe.”

“Okada riders have been told not to take more than one passengers, public vehicle drivers should not overload their passengers to avoid passing the virus from those that already have it to others,” the Commissioner said

Vanguard News

By James Ogunnaike

The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun on Saturday disclosed that no fewer than 109 persons lost their lives while 665 others sustained various degrees of injuries in various road accidents across the state between January and August this year.

The Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a statement issued and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Akinbiyi said that there were 527 road traffic crashes during the period under review which comprised of motorcycle and motor vehicle accidents.

He added that out of the 109 death recorded during the period, 83 were male while 26 were female, adding that


out of the 665 injured, 487 were male while 178 were female.

Akinbiyi also disclosed that 35 persons died from motorcycle accidents while 74 persons died from motor


vehicle accidents.

He stated that most of the accidents were caused by excessive speeding, tyre burst, dangerous driving, non


use of seat belts, wrongful overtaking among others.

READ ALSO: Road accident: Obaseki commiserates with Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu

The TRACE spokesman said that the command would continue to ensure safety on the roads through continuous sensitisation of motorists.

He advised motorists to continue to abide by safety rules and regulations and always be careful at road diversion areas.

Vanguard News Nigeria

Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, on Thursday, September 4, 2020 sentenced 24-year old undergraduate of University of Ilorin, Salau Olumide to three months of sweeping road and clearing of gutters for internet fraud.

The convict was prosecuted by the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) on one-count charge of attempting to cheat by criminal impersonation.

The charge read, “That you, Salau Olumide (a.k.a Rick Freeman) between November, 2017- August, 2018 at Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, attempted to cheat by personation by pretending to be one Rick Freeman, a white Caucasian with an email account; salauolumide@gamil.com and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 and 321 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 324 of the same Law.”

Olumide is to sweep Tanke Road, starting from GTB junction to Abulennla Furniture, University Road, Tanke, Ilorin, starting from September 7 to December 7, 2020 or pay N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) option of fine.

READ ALSO: Court remands man over alleged defilement of 3 girls

Justice Oyinloye further stated ordered the convict to make himself available to the non-custodial service unit of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Madala, Ilorin for profiling and documentation, failure of which would attract six months imprisonment and “to provide notes on or immediately after 7th of December 2020 to the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Kwara State, confirming that the convict actually performed or observed the non-custodial sentence.”

Troubles came for the convict when he was arrested by operatives of the EFCC for attempting to cheat by impersonating a Caucasian, Rich Freeman. He was arraigned before the court and pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against

Vanguard

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 157 pharmacies and 791 patent medicine shops in Kano and Lagos in August over alleged operational misconducts.

Dr Elijah Mohammed, PCN Registrar disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday while giving an update of the council’s activities in August 2020.

He noted that the council, in the course of its National Enforcement activity visited Lagos and Kano States respectively and shut down a total of 948 medicine shops.

He said during the exercise, 116 pharmacies and 152 patent medicine shops were sealed for various operational misconducts, in Lagos while 18 compliance directives were issued for other minor offences.

Mohammed further noted that Kano state enforcement exercise led to the sealing of 41 pharmacies and 639 patent medicine shops, while 15 compliance directives were issued for the same reason.

He explained that the enforcement activity of the council was in a quest to ensure good pharmacy practice environment and the provision of quality pharmaceutical service to Nigerians.

READ ALSO: PCN seals pharmacies in Kwara for professional misconduct

The registrar, however, said while ensuring improved pharmacy practice and provision of pharmaceutical services, pharmacists and vendors must equally ensure that pharmacies and patent medicine shops were properly inspected, registered and licensed by PCN.

“They must ensure that the license issued for the pharmacies and patent medicine shops are conspicuously hung in the premises and shops respectively.

“Ensure that the superintendent pharmacist of the pharmacy is properly registered and licensed to practice by the PCN and most of the time, be available in the premises to carry out his professional responsibilities to clients.

“Also ensure the person who owns the Patent Medicine Shop is properly licensed by the PCN to operate the medicine shop and always available to offer his service.

“Ensure that the pharmacist is always up-to-date by attending Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCPD) programme in order to sharpen his skill, while the vendor is also up-to-date with the Continued Education Programme of the PCN.

“Ensure that the premises or shop only stock drugs that are approved by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),” Mohammed noted.

NAN

Vanguard News Nigeria

By Michael Eboh

The deregulation of the downstream petroleum industry, despite the opposition to its implementation, evidence suggests, comes with a number of opportunities and benefits for the Nigerian economy, in the medium to long term.

While it has been agreed by everyone that the policy would, in the short term, come with an initial pain, especially in the form of rising price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, which is presently around N162 per litre, experts in the oil and gas industry are unanimous in their views that the policy would in the long run, benefit the ordinary Nigerians, and positively change the fortunes of the industry forever.

The opposition to this policy is that its implementation is coming at a time when majority of Nigerians are already facing financial difficulties, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced down the value of the country’s currency; necessitated a hike in prices of utilities and essential commodities, and inhibited income of Nigerians among others.

However, the case against subsidy is enormous, ranging from the widespread corruption that trailed its implementation few years back; the loss it had caused the economy, to the opacity that had trailed the regime.

It has also been stated that government was subsidizing the product for the rich, who owns fleets of cars and run their businesses and homes with generators, compared to ordinary Nigerians, who use public transportation to go about their businesses, and who use petrol sparingly with their generators.

To start with, there was no subsidy in the 2020 budget, meaning it would have been an illegality for the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to continue to pay or make provisions for it in its finances.

In addition, the removal of subsidy, it is agreed, would free up funds which could then be used for other developmental purposes, such as for the building of critical infrastructure and for investment in agriculture, education and other critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Specifically, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, had in a briefing with newsmen on Thursday, stated that over N1 trillion had been saved by the country since the decision to remove subsidy and fully deregulate the sector.

According to Sylva, N500 billion was saved from the decision to expunge the same amount earlier earmarked for subsidy in the 2020 budget, while another N500 billion was saved from the discontinuation of foreign exchange differentials.

He had also stated that the government had spent about N1 trillion annually to subsidise petrol, depriving the country of funds that could have been used for other developmental projects.

Furthermore, the policy is expected to address the country’s refining challenges, as more investors would be attracted to investing in building refineries in the country, thereby, increasing the country’s petroleum products refining capacity and helping the country to end fuel importation, saving the country huge foreign exchange loss and creating jobs.

Also, it has thrown up another opportunity for the Nigerian economy, as the Federal Government is driving the National Gas Expansion Programme, NGEP, which would see gas being  used as fuel for vehicles across the country, creating a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol.

The NGEP would create enormous job opportunities and attract investments for Nigeria, as investors would set up firms that would convert vehicles from utilizing fuel to utilizing auto gas.

Already, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, had partnered in setting up a N250 billion intervention fund to finance projects under the NGEP.

Stakeholders have also called for understanding from Nigerians, especially when petrol prices continue to go up, when crude oil prices go up; or when the prices go down, when crude oil prices dip.

Also, announcement of ex-depot prices or pump price by government would no longer be a normal, as the government had resorted to allowing market forces determine prices, while it plays its traditional role of regulating the industry and ensuring that consumers are not exploited.

Despite the deregulation since March 2020, up until now, oil marketers were yet to resume fuel import, because of the prevailing uncertainty, especially hinged on concerns that threats by labour would force the government to reverse the decision and return to the fuel subsidy era.

Continuing with subsidy, especially as the bulk of the product is imported, would contribute to the depletion of the country’s foreign exchange reserves, impact negatively on the value of the naira, and promote job losses in Nigeria, as the country would continue to subsidise production in countries where the products were imported from, creating jobs therein.

READ ALSO: DPR generates, remits N673bn to FG in 6 months

Confirming this in a statement issued weekend, Chairman of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, said with the downstream sector deregulation, Nigeria had been presented with a historic opportunity to get it right this time as a country, to rebuild its economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.

He said: “We welcome government’s action in allowing the market to determine prices as we believe it will prevent the return of subsidies while allowing operators the opportunity to recover their costs. This will in the long run, encourage investments and create jobs.

“We all must remember the country is broke and can no longer afford subsidy. There is no provision for it in the budget.  With this, the incentive for smuggling will be reduced. More funds will be available to the government for investments in infrastructure, roads, health, education and power.”

Also speaking, Professor Wumi Iledare, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation’s Chair of Petroleum Economics at Institute of Oil and Gas Studies, IOGS, in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, however, stated that with the current economic reality, petrol should be selling at N200 per litre.

He argued that the NNPC was actually doing the country a favour by fixing the ex-depot price at N151.56 per litre, while he described it as a socially optimum price.

He said, “The reality on the ground is not pretty at all with respect to what the price ought to be. At the current official exchange rate of $1 to N385, N200 is about right because of the level of demand driven by population and quality of life. Keep in mind that any attempt to invoke subsidising petroleum has unintended consequences.

“Of course, the opportunity was missed at lower crude oil price. We suggested not to set the price then, but fear of unrest predominate government action then. The economy is highly dependent on oil revenue. Salaries are low and not paid. It is double whammy for petrol to go up, but no budget to subsidise it.

“We all need to adjust and perhaps pump more money to the economy. Invoke patriotism, if the government has to, with carrot and stick to those owing government money.

“If Ghana is surviving, Nigeria’s exchange rates call for at least N200 per litre in Nigeria. In Ghana, a litre is about N325-N350 equivalent. Like Nigeria, PMS consumed are imported. Lessons can be learnt from Ghana.”

Commenting on the initial impact of the policy, Uche Uwaleke, Professor of Finance and Capital Market of Nasarawa State University, Keffi and former Commissioner of Finance of Imo State, warned that the hike would heighten inflationary pressure and worsen the living standards of Nigerians.

He said: “This is clearly a downside risk to inflation. In the coming months, I expect inflationary pressure to heighten as crude oil price recovery in the International market necessitates a hike in domestic pump price of imported fuel. This situation will be compounded by naira devaluation.”

However, Uwaleke stated that the alternative would be to return to the era of petrol subsidy which the government cannot afford now, especially as this may not have been provided for in the 2020 budget.

He said: “Again, expecting a government already saddled with huge debt to borrow to subsidize price of petrol does not make economic sense. With all the economic headwinds, there is no question about a spike in cost of living in the coming months.”

The financial expert, however, stated that the solution remained the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, into law to pave way for investors in the oil refining sector.

This, according to him, would also put a stop to the importation of petroleum products well before Dangote refinery takes off to fill the gap.

Vanguard

Two communities in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday signed a peace agreement as part of efforts to bring an end to the wanton destruction of lives and property in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communities involved are Dangoma and Takau in Kannikon and Zipak chiefdoms respectively.

Speaking at the event held in Kafanchan, Mr Peter Averik, chairman of the local government, said that the peace deal was brokered following series of dialogue between the two communities.

“We met and deliberated successfully on the way forward and, thankfully, the two communities resolved to sheath their swords and give peace a chance.

“This is a milestone for us and we want to use this opportunity to let the world know that we want peace and we are for peace,” he added.

He said that the peace pact was informed by the attacks of July 24 in Zikpak which left several people dead while many houses were burnt.

“Findings revealed that the incident resulted from a misunderstanding between the two communities.

“There was an attack in Zipak and we tried to get to the root of the matter and found that there was a misunderstanding between Dangoma and Takau.

“That misunderstanding may have led to the attacks and so we decided to bring the two communities together to try and iron out the issues,” he said.

READ ALSO: Gov El-Rufai should name, prosecute leaders fuelling Southern Kaduna crisis — Magaji

According to him, the communities agreed to always resort to all available lawful means of settling disputes.

“They have agreed that all issues be resolved through the appropriate channels.

“They have also pledged to be their brother’s keeper and protect each other’s property in the event of any eventuality or unforseen circumstances,” he said.

In his remarks, Isiyaku Zaman, youth leader of Dangoma, expressed hope that the peace pact would put an end to the mindless bloodletting in the region.

Zaman vowed that all trouble makers in their midst, who violated the pact, would be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.

A youth leader in Takau, who also spoke, said the cost of peace was far much less than the cost of violence as no meaningful development could take place without peace.

He pledged the resolve of the youths to abide by the peace accord, adding that time had come for both sides to give peace a chance.

He commended the council chairman for his efforts at exploring ways of achieving and sustaining peaceful co-existence in Jema’a Local Government and its environs.

NAN reports that the peace pact was signed by representatives of both sides with district heads, religious leaders and security agencies serving as witnesses.

Vanguard News Nigeria

…As Pre-clinical studies show promising safety and immunogenicity

…Over 400 participants being enrolled in Phase 1/2 study

…If Phase 1/2 data positive, companies aim to move into a Phase 3 trial by end of 2020

…Sanofi and GSK are scaling up manufacturing of the antigen and adjuvant with the target of producing up to one billion doses in 2021

Sanofi and GSK announce today the start of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for their adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine candidate, developed in partnership by Sanofi and GSK, uses the same recombinant protein-based technology as one of Sanofi’s seasonal influenza vaccines with GSK’s established pandemic adjuvant technology.

The Phase 1/2 clinical trial is a randomised, double blind and placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity (tolerability) and immunogenicity (immune response) of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate. A total of 440 healthy adults are being enrolled in the trial across 11 investigational sites in the United States.

The Companies anticipate first results in early December 2020, to support the initiation of a Phase 3 trial in December 2020. If these data are sufficient for licensure application, it is planned to request regulatory approval in the first half of 2021.

Sanofi is leading the clinical development and registration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Pre-clinical data showed an acceptable reactogenicity profile and data based on two injections of the adjuvanted recombinant vaccine showed high levels of neutralising antibodies that are comparable to levels in humans who recovered from the COVID-19 infection. Pre-clinical results will be published later this year. In parallel, Sanofi and GSK are scaling up manufacturing of the antigen and adjuvant with the target of producing up to one billion doses in 2021.

READ ALSO: Philippine vows strict screening of Covid-19 vaccine

Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Sanofi Pasteur, said: “Sanofi and GSK bring proven science and technology to the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic, with the shared objective of delivering a safe and effective vaccine.

The initiation of our clinical study is an important step and brings us closer to a potential vaccine which could help defeat COVID-19. Our dedicated teams and partner continue to work around the clock as we aim to deliver the first results in early December. Positive data will enable a prompt start of the pivotal phase 3 trial by the end of this year.”

Roger Connor, President of GSK Vaccines said: “Moving this vaccine candidate into clinical development is an important moment in the progress towards addressing the global pandemic we are all facing.

This builds on the confidence shown by governments already in the potential of this protein- based adjuvanted vaccine candidate, which utilises established technology from both companies, and can be produced at scale by two of the leading vaccine manufacturers globally. We now look forward to the data from the study, and if positive, beginning a Phase 3 trial by the end of the year.”

The development of the adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate is being supported through funding and a collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Sanofi and GSK are committed to making the vaccine available globally

In July 2020, Sanofi and GSK announced a collaborative effort with the U.S. government to supply up to 100 million doses of their COVID-19 recombinant protein-based vaccine to meet the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed goal of making hundreds of millions of doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States as quickly as possible. The U.S. government has a further option to discuss the purchase of up to 500 million doses longer term. Both companies also agreed (subject to final contract) with the UK government to supply up to 60 million doses of recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.

The partners plan to supply a significant portion of total worldwide available supply in 2021/2022 to COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the ACT-Accelerator (Access to COVID‐19 Tools), a global collaboration of leaders of governments, global health organisations, businesses and philanthropies to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.

GSK commitment to tackling COVID-19

GSK is collaborating with companies and research groups across the world working on promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates through the use of our innovative vaccine adjuvant technology. The use of an adjuvant is of particular importance in a pandemic situation since it may reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose, allowing more vaccine doses to be produced and therefore contributing to protecting more people.

GSK does not expect to profit from COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic phase, and will invest any short-term profit in coronavirus related research and long- term pandemic preparedness, either through GSK internal investments or with external partners.

Vanguard