News Headlines for the 11th of April 2021.

Expect more delays in COVID-19 vaccine supplies, WHO tells Nigeria

• The World Health Organisation has asked Nigeria and some other African countries to expect delays in the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines.
• The WHO Africa Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said this during a press conference with select journalists on Thursday.
• She, however, said Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Niger, Cameroon and Comoros should still expect their shipments.
• Last week, it was reported that the Federal Government had asked all states administering COVID-19 vaccines to stop immediately they have exhausted half of the dosage given to them.
• The move, it was learnt, had become necessary due to a shortage of the AstraZeneca vaccine on the international market caused by a surge in the demand for the vaccine including in India which is experiencing a second wave of COVID-19.
• Some states like Bauchi, Benue and Ogun had already complied with the directive.

FG enlists Interpol’s help over fleeing prisoners

• The Federal Government has asked  the International Criminal Police Organisation to be on the alert and lookout for the inmates who escaped in the recent jailbreaks in the country, including the most recent in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
• It added that the Nigerian Immigration Service had also been issued an alert, noting that the data of the inmates were being compiled and would be sent to the relevant organisations in batches so as not to delay the manhunt.
• A senior official with the National Correctional Service on Saturday told one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity that the number of “dangerous” inmates on the loose officially was 3,471, including those who escaped in Owerri.
• The source noted that the inmates included hardened criminals, kidnappers, armed robbers and condemned criminals awaiting execution. “Suffice it to say that the bulk of those who fled Owerri correctional centre are hardened criminals,” the source added.

Councillors suspend Lagos LGA boss for alleged N60m fraud

•  The Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Lagos State, Tajudeen Ajide, has been suspended for alleged financial impropriety and spending N60m without budgetary approval.
• In its resolution contained in a document, the councillors alleged that the chairman awarded all contracts to only two companies, a development which was described as suspicious.
• They also accused Ajide of awarding bogus and inflated contracts, appropriating funds for the purchase of two buses without buying the vehicles.
• It was alleged that Ajide refused several invitations extended to him by the councillors.
• The councillors explained that the chairman refused to make available documents and details of all contracts from the inception of the current administration.
• They also accused Ajide of awarding bogus and inflated contracts, appropriating funds for the purchase of two buses without buying the vehicles.
• It was alleged that Ajide refused several invitations extended to him by the councillors.
• The councillors explained that the chairman refused to make available documents and details of all contracts from the inception of the current administration.
• The resolution was also communicated to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police by the nine councillors at the local government.
• They asked both the police commissioner and the area commander, Area C, to deploy policemen in the local government secretariat to prevent hoodlums from attacking them.

JAMB finally begins registration of candidates for 2021 admissions

• The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Saturday announced the commencement of registration of candidates for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry to tertiary education institutions in Nigeria.
• The decision came barely 48 hours after it had stopped the exercise over technical challenges of the National Identification Number.
• But a terse statement issued by the spokesperson for JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said registration for the examination had now commenced in full swing as all the issues had been resolved.
• On Thursday, Benjamin apologised for the delay in the commencement of the registration exercise which, he said, was “speculated” to begin the same day.

• According to him, the delay was caused by some unforeseen circumstances occasioned by its determined effort to have NIN integration.

FG defers subsidy removal for six months, to pay N720b

• Indications, yesterday, emerged that the Federal Government will retain subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the next six months, and the deferred removal may cost the country a whopping N720b.
• Our correspondence exclusively learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that petrol subsidy should remain in place for the next five to six months to enable government to carry out wide consultations before reaching a final decision on the issue.
• Making the disclosure, a top government official that is familiar with the issue described the impending widespread discussion with stakeholders as a departure from previous practice, stressing that there will be no decision to remove the subsidy until the last quarter of the year.
• Given the current development, the Federal Government would spend as much as N720b in the next six months to retain the current pump price. This situation will further limit allocation into the Federation Account, and thereby, cripple revenue accruing to the 36 states from the oil and gas sector, which accounts for the country’s major revenue source.