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Coronavirus Deadly, Hunger Deadlier…Nigerians Lament

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By Eric Elezuo

Desperate expressions such as ‘I prefer to die of COVID-19 instead of hunger’, ‘I can’t be running from unknown disease and die of hunger’ and many more have emanated from the Nigerian public as they battle the double tragedy of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic and a more internal crisis in the guise of hunger.

For close to four weeks now, the metropolitan cities of Abuja and Lagos in addition to Ogun State, have gone on lockdown mode, bringing to standstill commercial and social activities that make the locations thick. Following suit were other states of the federation, which declared internal lockdown, thereby putting the entire nation to sleep. And in its wake, reducing the average Nigerian to a beggarly sack of pity.

In the times past, Nigeria, which had received the inglorious honour of being the world’s poorest capital, had survived from hand to mouth as a generality of its citizens live based on whatever their hands to lay on as the unfolds and collapses. In other words, the populace, or rather a good number of it live from the proceeds of their daily hustle. This is because many residents are majorly artisans and traders. They therefore, lamented that they have been deprived of their livelihood, and burdened with lack of funds to take care of basic needs, which to every meaning aggregates to food and drinks. Nothing else seems to matter anymore as the lockdown lasts.

While not taking refuge at the wrong side of the law, a cross section of respondents, who bare their frustrations before The Boss said they don’t have a problem with the government enforcing lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, but insisted that palliative measures should have been provided for all and sundry. Most respondents also noted that the centralization of distribution of relief packages in the north leaves a lot to be desired in a country where diversity and ethnicity always take centre stage.

Mr Ugochukwu Maduabum, who is a commercial taxi driver told The Boss that it was more like manageable when the first 14 days of lockdown was announced. “Though the pains were unbearable, but the fact that an end was foreseeable in a forthnight, it was encouraging to bear the pains. But things took a drastic turn when at the end of the 14 days, another 14 days were added. Honestly, that was the height of breakdown. I was shattered. I practically did not have any form of sustenance anymore. The worst part was that the so called palliatives as proposed by the government were only felt on television on social media channels. Up till today, I have not seen a grain of rice not to talk of pack.”

Maduabum’s experience is echoed in almost every part of the country, especially Lagos, which has been described as the epicentre of the disease with close to 600 of the total 1095 cases.

A woman, who gave her name simply as Iyabo at the Iyana Isashi area of the Badagry Expressway, asked The Boss if there had been anything like palliatives in answer to a query if she had received any form of assistance from the government. She maintained that ‘not a single government personnel has come to the area with or without palliatives.

Corroborating her stance, a bread seller at the same area hinted that “about a week ago, the baale came out with something like a bag of rice, and gathered the entire community. You need to see the stampede as people struggle to get some grains. Honestly, there is hunger in the land.”

The bread seller wondered why the government deem it fit to send only less than a bag of rice to a whole community of thousands of inhabitant, saying it is possible that community leaders, baales inclusive, may have tampered with the bulk before sending out pittance to every other persons to struggle for. He added that “the baale and his cronies stood at alert, daring anyone to take pictures of the materials or the situation.”

While many Nigerians wallow in hunger, the Federal declared that palliatives will only be made available to the ‘poorest of the poor’, dashing hopes of as many that had expectations. As if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, another pronouncement was released, suggesting that those that have more than N5,000 in their bank accounts will not receive the Federal Government’s palliatives to mitigate the effects of the present lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Throwing more to a suggestion most Nigerians have described as insensitive, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Farouq, disclosed that her Ministry intended to focus on the urban poor as it carries government’s directive on the distribution of palliatives.

“You are aware that the president in his broadcast of Monday, 13th April, directed that we expand the beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer by one million and in this regard, we are going to focus more now on the urban poor.
“These are people who depend on the informal sector to earn their livelihood; they are daily wage earners and these are the people that we are really going to focus more on as well as people living with disabilities.”
She stated that the ministry is considering three ways to select the beneficiaries of the schemes, saying: “Well, we have three options; one, we are going to use the national social register that we already have; two, we are also going to focus on the urban poor as I mentioned, by using their verified BVN accounts to get them, that is, people that have an account balance of N5,000 and below.
“We are also using the mobile networks to know people that top up the credit units for their phones with maybe N100 or less.
There are palpable fears that as Nigerians await the end of the second 14 days lockdown by Tuesday, April 28, 2020, the strength to remain indoors for another period, no matter how long or brief may have dissipated. Consequently, in the bid to seek whatever it is to quench the excruciating hunger, a form of civil disobedience is most likely. It has been hinted in many quarters that no one may be willing to obey any rules ordering another lockdown without adequate, non-discriminatory palliatives.
The story on the lips of every Nigerian in recent times has remain, ‘it’s better to die of the coronavirus than to die of hunger’.
As at press time, Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases have risen to 1095 with Lagos, the epicentre recording over 600 cases. About 208 has been cured and discharged with another 32 has been lost to death. Coronavirus was first noticed in Nigeria on February 27, 2020 when an Italian index arrived Lagos. The index case has since been cured and discharged to reintegrate into the society.

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KFC Reacts As FAAN Shuts Down Its Operations in Lagos Airport

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The Management of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has reacted to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s move to shut down its branch at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, for violating laws protecting the rights of people with special needs.

The action was confirmed through a statement released on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah.

The official statement, titled ‘FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at MMIA,’ highlighted that the closure was in response to the outlet’s breach of the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, specifically referencing Part C, Section 55 of the General Provisions on Discrimination.

Responding to the development, KFC posted on its official X account that it opposes bias and discrimination, stressing that the incident did not reflect its standards.

The organisation disclosed that it had embarked on efforts to address the situation and urgently implemented sensitivity training for all its employees.

The statement read, “KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values.

“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation and extend apologies and deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest.

“In response, we are urgently implementing sensitivity training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.

“We are actively exploring solutions to equip our team members and establishments better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”

KFC had during the week, denied Adebola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, access to their facility at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport  because of his disability.

Daniel had recounted his experience at the KFC outlet of the airport in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday via his X handle, @DebolaDaniel.

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Ezekiel Bolarinwa Ajayi: Mentor, Philanthropist Revels at 80

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By Eric Elezuo

The ancient town of Ile-Ife was agog weekend, when Professor Ezekiel Bolarinwa Oladele Ajayi, a renowned educationist, accomplished mentor and elder brother of veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, pulled all the stops to mark a resounding entry into the octogenarian club, celebrating his 80th birthday with fanfare, pomp and class.

The event, which attracted family members, colleagues in the academic world, friends and well wishers, was another testament in the expression of influence, clout and connection.

Held at the Rock Rehoboth Cathedral in the centre of Ile-Ife, the event brought out the best in the Stanford trained PHD holder, as beamed with contagious smiles, absorbing accolades from a crowd of well wishers and dignitaries, most of whom traveled half  way across the world to felicitate with the newest octogenarian.

A lavished reception followed after heartfelt prayers were said for the celebrant flanked by his wife of many years, children and grandchildren. The reception witnessed guests savoring the best of continental and local delicacies as well as dancing happily to the old school tunes.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the gigantic cake by the birthday boy around whom were dotting family members.

As guests expressed their profound, hearty and sincere congratulations towards the octogenarian, whose event changed the landscape of Ife, many recalled how they have come a long way from their very humble beginning in Gbongan Olufi.

Fondly called Ladele, Prof Ajayi was born on March 23, 1944 in Gbongan, Osun State, where he had his earliest beginnings.

He statted his education at the Saint Paul’s School Gbongan, before moving on to Saint Judes School, Ebute Metta, and later to Saint Stephens School, Ile-Ife, where he completed his primary education.

After his elementary education, he was admitted into the Government College lbadan, where he was described as having  ‘passed out in exceedingly bright colours’. As many that knows him has confirmed that Prof Ajayi was a walking encyclopedia, and vibrated with intelligence while at school.

It was not therefore, surprising that he later proceeded to the United States of America, after his secondary education, where he attended various prestigious Universities including Stanford University. It is worthy of note that all his appearances for university education were on different scholarships. It was also at Stanford that he bagged his PhD honours.

On the completion of his PhD programme in Stanford, Prof Ajayi was recruited by the University of Ife, as it was then known, before its transmutation to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he later became a Professor of Physics, a position he jealousy guarded until retirement from active classroom duties.

According to a very close family member and confidant, Bola Adeyemo, who spoke glowingly about their fond relationship, Prof Ajayi “also became active in things of God. Like a proverbial gold fish, he has been recognized as a Pastor. Ladele played a mentoring role in the final years of school for my twin daughters who both graduated from the medicine program in the same University.

“The mutual fondness between Ladele and I remains very much intact. Ladele and l share common ancestry. His father who was the Otun Olufi of Gɓongan was a much older cousin to my mother and was fondly referred to as baba mi ile ASORO. They both had the same tribal marks. Ladele can be classified as belonging to the royal class as his father was the OTUN OLUFI while his mother was the daughter of the ÒOSA, first class chief in Gbongan.”

A life of Prof Ajayi without a mention of prolific publisher of the Ovation brands,  Chief Momodu, remains incomplete. It is worthy of note that apart from both sharing the same mum as siblings, the Prof was instrumental in shaping and mentally mentoring Momodu on the path of education. His 80th birthday was a reminder of how it used to be in times past as it marks a form of reunion for the Ajayi extended household.

Among those who attended were his daughter, Kemi Ajayi-Ingram, who flew in all the way from the United States of America, with her entire family; his niece, Yejide Ajayi among a host of others.

We wish the ebullient octogenarian a splendid birthday, and many ore years of splendid celebrations.

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Easter, Ramadan: Adeleke Releases March Salaries, Pension, Palliatives, Approves Promotion for Personnel

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the release of salaries, pensions and palliatives for the month of March for all public servants in the state, as well as approved the promotion of service personnel due for promotion from 2023.

Adeleke’s show of love for the entire workforce, is in spite of the fact that the State allocation from the Federation account is yet to be released, according to a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

The Head of Service, Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina confirmed the approval of the March salaries, pension and palliatives, noting that the fast tracked approval covered all categories of state and local government employees including tertiary institutions in the State.

“I can confirm that Mr Governor has approved the March salaries, pension and palliative wage awards, including the usual payment of the outstanding half salary for retirees under the contributory pension scheme yet to obtain their bonds. Mr Governor requested for the file and granted immediate approval.

“Any moment from now, alerts will be landing in our peoples’ accounts. This is a preemptive step on the part of Mr Governor to meet the needs of our people”, the Head of Service explained.

Governor Adeleke who has been hosting inter faith leaders at the Government House said he approved the early payment to ease the burden of the workers ahead of the Easter period.

“As I wish muslim and christian faithfuls blessed fasting season, the early payment is a gesture of support for workers whose welfare remains the number one priority of our administration”, the Governor noted.

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