The EU on Wednesday urged social media platforms to do more to counter harmful health hoaxes and conspiracy theories linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of it from Russia and China.
According to a new communication from the European Commission, EU experts have observed a massive wave of poor health care advice, false claims and online scams, and attempts by foreign actors to intervene in domestic EU debates.
“For example, some groups have pushed dangerous assertions that drinking bleach could cure the new coronavirus.
“Belgium’s Poison Control Centre has recorded an increase of 15 per cent in the number of bleach-related incidents,” the experts said.
Brussels has pushed social media platforms to promote official information sources and remove dangerous misleading content.
However, it expected companies like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube-owner Google to do more, such as compiling monthly reports.
Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said, “we know only as much as platforms tell us, which is not good enough,” said on Wednesday in Brussels.”
The EU has been actively raising attention about misinformation since 2015, with a programme that mainly focuses on pro-Kremlin sources.
However, in the wake of Covid-19, the EU started expressing concern about China’s official narratives surrounding the pandemic.
The new report names “foreign actors”, namely Beijing and Moscow, that took part in campaigns to undermine the democratic debate in the EU, sometimes focused on polarizing debates and at times, trying to promote their own image.
Author: Online Editor
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EU accuse Russia, China amid flood of virus disinformation
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Improper parenting, leading cause of child abuse- Rotary Club President
The President, Rotary Club of Okota, District 9110, Lagos, Aderonke Jones-Adewale, has identified improper parenting as a leading cause of child abuse.
Jones-Adewale told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, that it was not sufficient to find out the causes of child abuse, and only put all the blames on the culprits.
“We are making our children more vulnerable whenever we heard of child abuse, offer our condolences for a while and then switched off our channels without actually ever analysed ourselves.
“Nowadays, both parents are striving to earn money for better quality education for their children, and thus, children spent less time with their parents.
“They feel neglected; I am not saying that parents should not strive for bright future for their children; they must do so, but all within the ambit of spending quality time with them and listening to what they have to say,” she said.
Jones-Adewale said that in some cases, children actually meet with their parents only at the dinner table and spend the entire day with the caretakers.
“It really hurts me when I observe such children. The lack of attention by parents to their children often leads them to become victims of abuse.
“The second cause is that we don’t educate our kids about the good and the bad touch.
“If they try to tell us, we keep them quiet, thereby discouraging them from talking about the issues, since it is considered more or less a taboo to talk about rape and abuse in our culture.
“Nothing should be more important to us than our children. It’s our God-given job to protect them, make them aware and to listen to them,” she said.
Jones-Adewale, however, appealed to parents not to rely on caretakers, because in most cases, these caretakers were involved in rape and kidnapping of children.
“If you, as a parent, have no time for your kids, then, how can you expect someone else to provide them with the love and care they need.
“The third cause is parenting style. Unfortunately, most parents practice authoritarian styles.
“Sometimes, kids don’t open up to parents, because they have this underlining fear that they would get scolded.
“To avoid miscommunication, be friendly with your kids so that they could share everything with you,” she said.
The Rotary president urged parents to ask children, whenever they return from an outing, if they were fine, if they met a stranger, anyone called them and if they experience something unusual.
Jones-Adewale said whatever parents invest today would be their reward in the future, adding that these abuses do not only mentally harm the child, but also cause physical distress.
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COVID-19: CSOs urge FG to assist Bauchi State Govt. with facilities, palliative
The Bauchi Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Covid-19 Situation Room has urged Federal Government to assist the state government with equipment and palliative to curb the spread of the global pandemic.
The Chairman of Executive Directors Forum, Mr Sodangi Chindo, made the call in a statement on behalf of the CSOs Covid-19 Situation Room in Bauchi on Wednesday.
The Bauchi CSOs’ Covid-19 Situation Room is a coalition of CSOs and NGOs in the fight against the pandemic in the state.
Chindo said “Bauchi State is one of the states with high records of coronavirus patients in the country.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to assist the state to help cushion the high cost of treatment and lifestyle of the people.”
He also urged the Federal Government to assist the state to widen the scope of the testing index, and called on the state government to buy more testing kits to improve the capacity.
“This is necessary because it has been reported that the virus is at community transmission I the state,” he said.
He also encouraged the state government to put more stringent measures on border lockdown as the ban has not been lifted to further curb the spread.
The chairman advised the government to involve CSOs in the distribution of palliatives around the state and reiterated the commitment of the CSOs to support government toward curbing the spread of the pandemic.
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AEDC, Aquivis Technologies deploy electrical fault locator
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in partnership with Aquivis Technologies Ltd. have deployed a smart high-tension overhead line fault circuit locator to detect electrical faults in its installations.
Aquivis technologies is a leading company in Africa’s energy sector.
Mr Oyebode Fadipe, AEDC’s General Manager, Corporate Communications in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday said that the infrastructure would eventually be integrated as a distribution management system Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).
Fadipe also said that the Smart Grid Outage Management solution deployed by the company was the first of its kind in the country, adding that it was a pilot programmed for AEDC.
According to him, industry players hold the view that the infrastructure cannot have come at a better time than now in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) when customers are becoming increasingly concerned about the service delivery.
“Especially, in the area of feeder/grid management where outages trigger the loss of power supply to numerous customers of different categories including homes, offices, medical and educational facilities.
“Which are just beginning to recover from the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,’’ he said..
Speaking on the deployment, the Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Ernest Mupwaya said that the successful implementation of the smart overhead fault detection monitoring solution had enabled AEDC to address the operational challenges of incessant tripping.
Mupwaya said that the equipment had also assisted AEDC on fault detection and prolonged outages on both the 11Kilo Volt (KVA) and 33KV feeder infrastructure where it was deployed.
He said that the detection solution would substantially reduce the time required to repair faulty lines and reduce operational expenses, improve network reliability and operational efficiency, provide safer work environment for line crew and ultimately better customer satisfaction.
According to the managing director, AEDC has continued to show great commitment to the reinforcement of its distribution network and the improvement of its services to customers.
“The engagement of Aquivis to deploy the high-tension faults clearing solution forms part of AEDC’s initiative to reduce its Aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses.
“As well as improve network reliability of the 11kV and 33kV overhead feeders as well as customers’ satisfaction.
“The deployment of the solution by AEDC is part of its network reinforcement programme.
“The deployment of the real-time overhead fault detection monitoring solution has brought about improved network visibility, reliability and operational efficiency in AEDC,’’ he said.
Mupwaya said that with the completion of the first phase of the project, AEDC would be extending this deployment to other parts of its network to achieve increased level of distribution automation.
He said that the deployment of the infrastructure would bring about clear grid visibility and a platform for the improvement of operational efficiency and service to AEDC’s esteemed customers.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Aquivis Technologies, Mr Jimi Kolawole disclosed that the grid management solutions addresses the technical and commercial challenges currently plaguing distribution link of the Nigerian power sector.
Kolawole said that the infrastructure would also create a ubiquitous, dedicated and highly reliable machine-to-machine communication network where all solutions could leverage upon.
According to him, AEDC has been in search of real-time monitoring solution with two-way communication that will not only improve the company’s ability to monitor remotely, but also the ability to perform remote interventions.
“ Together with our partner, Trilliant UK, we carefully reviewed their requirements and selected our award-winning communication platform, the wireless secured Mesh AMI platform to achieve the two-way machine-to-machine communication objective.”
“With this solution, AEDC will quickly and easily identify and resolve faults, resulting in more efficient operation and safer conditions for line crew, and monitor feeder status in near real-time.
“It will also prevent unscheduled downtime and safety risk, increase meter uptime, improve reporting to regulators, capture and analyse critical distribution data to further enhance reliability and efficiencies.
“It will also ensure quicker integration of other smart grid solutions like AMI smart metering) on the back of the established communication network,’’ he said.
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Senate confirms 6 nominees for appointments as RMAFC Commissioners
The Senate on Wednesday approved six out of the seven nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as Commissioners for Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RAMFC).
The Senate’s approval of the nominees followed the presentation of a report by its Chairman, Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs Sen. Adetunmbi Olubunmi (APC Ekiti North).
The report was also for the consideration at the Committee of the Whole.
The approved nominees are: Salamatu Bala, representing Adamawa, Alfred Egba (Bayelsa) and Alhaji Adamu Dibal (Borno).
Others are Oladele Gboyega (Osun), Bello Wammakko (Sokoto) and Ahmed Yusuf (Taraba).
The Senate, however stood down the confirmation of Mr Emmannuel Nwosu, representing Imo, following a security report against the nominee, by the Department of State Security Services (DSS).
Senate also at plenary, approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Mr Lamidi A. Yuguda, as Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Other nominees confirmed to serve as full time Commissioners for SEC are :Mr Reginald C. Karawusa representing Imo, Mr Ibrahim Boyi representing Katsina and Mr Obisan Joseph, representing Lagos.
Their confirmation was also sequel to the presentation of a report from the Committee on Capital Market by the Chairman, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (APC-Ogun ) and consideration of same at the Committee of the Whole.
Senate at plenary also considered for first reading five bills.
The bills are : 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 by Sen. Ovie Omo -Agege (APC Delta Central) and Criminal Code Act CAP P30 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2020 by Sen.Uche Ekwunife (PDP-Anambra).
Others are, Federal Audit Service Commission Bill, 2020 by Sen. Mathew Urhoghide (PDP-Edo), among others.
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Coronavirus situation in Seoul seen reaching worst point
The coronavirus outbreak in Seoul appears to have reached its worst point over the past week, an analysis of official data showed on Wednesday.
It however, reached worst largely due to a recent string of cluster infections traced to crowds and sports facilities.
The capital’s average daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases recently already surpassed the previous high point reached in the middle of March, when the number of new infections linked to a call centre in the southern ward of Guro was spiralling.
“The number of coronavirus patients isolated in Seoul’s hospitals for medical treatment is also approaching the previous high point,’’ the analysis showed.
It found that the daily average of locally transmitted cases per week, or the seven-day moving average of daily cases, stood at 18.9 persons in Seoul on Sunday and 19.3 persons on Monday, compared with 17 persons recorded on March 14.
The daily average for Tuesday is estimated to hit 18.9 persons.
Yonhap used the moving average method in its analysis to reduce statistical loopholes caused by decreases in the number of tests conducted on weekends.
The number of hospitalised coronavirus patients, including those who arrived from abroad, rose to 359 people as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, compared with the previous high point of 408 people recorded on April 5.
Considering the recent spike in new cases, the number of patients requiring hospital treatment is expected to continue to grow for the time being.
The number of hospitalised patients was in excess of 200 between mid-March and late April before declining, however, beginning in late May, the figure has risen above the 200 mark.
In contrast to a steady decline in imported cases, locally transmitted infections traced to clubs, churches, warehouses, call centres, indoor sports facilities and a health product retailer have broken out throughout the Seoul metropolitan area.
Since May 2, the capital’s reproduction rate of the coronavirus, which reflects the average number of people getting infected by a patient, has remained above 1, meaning the virus is steadily spreading in the city.
The number of cumulative COVID-19 infections in Seoul reached 1,027, while South Korea reported 50 new cases on the day, raising the total caseload to 11,902.
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Renovate Golf facilities, Emehelu tells course managers
Sam Emehelu, a golf consultant, on Wednesday advised that with ongoing lockdown of recreational centres, golf course administrators should focus on revamping the golf courses across the nation.
Emehelu gave the advice in an interview with the Nigerianews24 in Lagos.
He said that the Coronavirus pandemic and restrictions should encourage stakeholders to look inwards and focus on the positive.
“I think this is the right time to ensure that we all put our golf courses in perfect shape, there should be a lot of renovations going on.
“So that by the time life returns to normal, the golf courses will not be looking unkempt.
“If we put in the work now and renovate, the pressure won’t be much before government lifts ban on hotels and resorts.
“I think this whole pandemic thing will reshape our thinking eventually. It will make us notice the things that we probably took for granted,” he said.
Emehelu told our correspondents that the effect of the pandemic cuts across every area of human life and not just peculiar to golf.
“Everything has to change, we all need to put on our thinking caps and make the best out of a bad situation, we can channel our energy on the positive.
“Focus on what is important and continue to look for ways to improve the game,” he said. -
COVID-19: Commuters decry checkpoints, say discrediting social distancing policy
Some Commuters have expressed displeasure over activities of security personnel at the checkpoints linking Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The commuters who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Abuja, said the operation was inimical to the social and physical distancing policy, causing traffic jams and inconveniences.
They also alleged that the operatives were also engaged in extortion, causing hardships for commuters and making mockery of a policy that was aimed at protecting citizens.
They noted that going by the alleged illegal activities of the security personnel at the roadblocks, the desired results would not be achieved.
The commuters therefore, called on the Federal Government to review security arrangements at the area.
They also described as unusual, the number of military, paramilitary and police personnel at the checkpoints on all the routes leading into Abuja from Nasarawa State.
Mrs Aina Adesida, a civil servant who resides in Masaka, Nasarawa State, noted that the presence of security agents on the road was causing more problems, rather than solving any issue.
According to Adesida, she always gets to the checkpoint by 6.30 a.m. and it will take her between one to two hours before she could drive through the check point.
She attributed the delay to the care-free attitude of the security personnel at the checkpoints points.
“The problem is that they are too many at the check points, and so they issue different contradicting directives.
“At a time an officer will say block the road while another will say narrow it to one lane, while another will come and divert the motorists to another direction, causing lots of confusion,’’ she said.
Mr John Bamaiyi, a civil servant, also complained of alleged maltreatment of people on the road by the security personnel, causing people to spend one to two hours at the Checkpoints.
Bamaiyi said it was unfortunate that a journey that should have ordinarily taken 15 minutes from Mararaba Orange market, to the checkpoint would take more than an hour.
Also, a top government official who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said the indiscriminate police checkpoints on the highways and adjacent roads from Nasarawa to FCT, was causing a lot of problems.
He said the situation was worse mostly in the evening when civil servants and other road users were returning from their work places.
He said towards the closing time when the traffic would be high, road users would be subjected to temperature checks for hours unending in the sun.
NAN also observed that in the afternoon the four lanes would be narrowed to one lane, creating long queues.
Another user, a medical personnel who simply identified himself as Dr. Boniface, noted that the activities of the personnel was detrimental to government’s efforts at curbing spread of the coronavirus.
Boniface said relevant agencies at the checkpoint must review their operations to save the public from inconveniences and spread of the virus.
He urged the Federal Government to abolish the checkpoints or design another method to alleviate people’s suffering and the spread of the virus.
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Philippines cash transfer programme gets 500m dollar support
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday approved a 500 million dollar loan to the Philippines to further support the government’s conditional cash transfer programme for impoverished families.
The expanded social assistance project will help families maintain health and educational gains for their children under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (Help for the Filipino Family) Programme or 4Ps, first implemented in 2008.
Under the programme, cash payments are provided to about 4.3 million households every two months, as long as children go to school and have regular health check-ups, and women take advantage of pre- and post-natal care.
According to the ADB vice president Ahmed Saeed, the Philippine Government is boosting social investment in Filipinos to break the decades-old intergenerational cycle of poverty.
“The 4Ps programme provides vulnerable households with an income supplement to help their children become educated, stay healthy, and leave poverty for good.
“Our evidence shows that this is working. The 4Ps programme has helped 1.5 million people escape poverty since it began in 2008.
“Through this project loan and technical assistance support, ADB is helping the Philippines expand these gains,” Saeed said.
In April 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law that made the 4Ps a permanent government programme and increased cash grants to households.
The Manila-based ADB said it was also providing a 3.1-million-dollar technical assistance to update the list of eligible poor households, provide a package of livelihood and other support for up 3,000 beneficiaries and implement information technology reforms.
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Gov. Bello will meet Niger people expectations in second tenure -CPS
The expectations of residents of Niger will be met during the second tenure of Gov. Abubakar Bello, an official has disclosed to Nigerianews24.
Mary Noel-Berje, Chief Press Secretary to Bello, made this known to Nigerianews24 on Wednesday on the sideline of the first year of the second tenure of the governor in Abuja.
She said that the governor would continue to build on the achievements recorded in the first tenure for the upliftment of the state and people.
“With the Governor Abubakar Bello’s second tenure in office which began May 29, 2019, the residents expect a continuation of the laudable achievements which characterised his first tenure.
“In the sectors of health, education, agriculture and infrastructure development, the governor will surely continue to uphold the trust of the people that gave him a second term. The state deserves better and he will do it,” she said.
She said the governor showed dexterity in the handling of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in the state and the country through the measures taken to contain it in the state.
“With the emergence and outbreak of the scourge, Gov. Bello responded promptly and instituted measures and strategies to contain it. He constituted the State Taskforce on COVID-19 chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane.
“Through the Taskforce, the state government reactivated its Isolation Centre at the General Hospital, Minna and isolation rooms in General Hospitals across the state. It also established Quarantine Centres in major cities across the state, purchased respiratory machines and prepositioned drugs, medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment to the Isolation Centre in Minna.
“The state government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has continued to enforce all preventive measures, especially the physical distancing and hand washing routines.”
She added that other measures include the imposition of curfew and lockdown; closure of public, private and Quranic schools and institutions as well as prohibition of all public gathering of more than 20 persons.
Similarly, other healthcare successes by the administration are provision of qualitative healthcare services especially at the Primary Healthcare level and the addressing of infrastructure deficit through the renovation and remodelling of over a 100 healthcare facilities.
She said that the administration also upgraded and reconstructed some health facility like Primary Healthcare Centres in Beji, Paiko, Chanchaga and Maito in Wushishi Local Government Area.
Noel-Berje added that it embarked on the reconstruction and upgrade of IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna; the Neonatal Wing of Minna General Hospital; the School of Nursing, Bida as well as the rehabilitation of General Hospitals in Minna, Kontagora, Bida, Suleja, Kutigi and Nasko.
In the agriculture sector, she said the governor prioritised agriculture for three reasons; to guarantee self-sufficiency, improve Internally Generated Revenue and reduce over-dependence on Federation Allocation as well as to generate employment.
“The governor conceived and is developing the RUGA MODEL through the establishment of the massive 31,000 hectares, multimillion-Naira Bobi Grazing Reserve to boost meat and dairy production, generate revenue and curb insecurity amid increasing Farmers/Herders clashes. Already, 5,000 hectares of land is being developed at the Reserve by WAMCO Nigeria Ltd.
“While government is funding the Tagwai Livestock farm and fisheries, the Dangote Group is constructing one of the biggest Rice Mills in West Africa, in Wushishi. The administration also joined effort with the Federal Government to sustain the CBN Anchor Borrowers scheme towards food security.”
The education sector, she pointed out also formed the bedrock of the administration’s development plans, adding that “it hinged its development commitment to education”.
“Since assumption of office, the Governor has constructed and renovated over 2,500 schools across the state, 22 of which were completely overhauled under the administrations pragmatic Whole Schools Development Approach.
“Through the State Universal Basic Education Board, the state government recruited 2,600 teachers and also established the Teacher Professional Development Institute (NSTPD) in the three geopolitical zones of the state.
“In addition, the state government has distributed vehicle loans to over 10,000 Teachers and provided utility vehicles to all Education Secretaries in the state. It has fulfilled all its obligations in respect to the payment of counterpart fund and have accessed over N6 billion from the Federal Government, since 2015, for the execution of UBEC projects,” she said.