The House of Representatives has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to order a partial reopening of schools in order to allow pupils participate in the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.

Hon. Nnolim Nnaji on Tuesday moved a motion at the plenary which was unanimously adoptioned.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had earlier said the Federal Government, in what it called “safe reopening of schools,” approving the resumption of pupils in graduating classes, including Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 and the Senior Secondary School 3.

But the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the President last Wednesday said all federal schools would remain closed until it was safe to reopen them

Latest Update: The deadline for EBSU Post-UTME/DE application has been extended. The new deadline is July30th, 2020

EBSU Post-UTME form, cut-off mark, eligibility, screening dates, deadline application fee and registration details for 2019/2020 Academic Session have been announced. Cut-off mark is 160. Deadline is July 30th, 2020. Application cost is N2000. See full details below;

This is to inform the general public that registration for the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (P-UTME)/Direct Entry Screening Exercise of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, (EBSU), shall commence on Monday, 22nd June, 2020 and end on Thursday, 30th July, 2020.

Interested candidates who must have scored 160 and above in the 2020/2021 UTME and who made Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki their first choice Institution and other candidates willing to change to EBSU should follow the procedure below to generate payment invoice.

Direct Entry Candidates who chose EBSU as their first choice and others candidates willing to change to EBSU are also to participate in this online screening exercise for the purpose of screening/verifying their O’level results by following the mode of payment below to generate payment invoice

MODE OF PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION PROCEDURE

Eligible candidates are required to pay a processing fee of N2,000 only.

To register, follow the steps outlined below:
i. Click on EBSU Post UTME link here: EBSU POST UTME HERE
https://iportal.ebsu.edu.ng/app/
ii. Click on Start Application
iii. Click on STEP1: Click To Generate Payment Invoice then proceed to Bank
iv. Fill the Generate Payment Invoice Form
v. Ensure you choose the right Application Form Category either POST UTME or DIRECT ENTRY
vi. Ensure your “JAMB Registration Number” is correct
vii. After Successful Generation Remita Retrieval Reference Number).
viii. Proceed to any bank of your choice for payment with your
ix. Remita number OR pay with your Credit card, Master Card or Verve.
x. Return to the Application page and start STEP 2 by entering your “Remita Number”.
xi. Proceed with the completion of the form
xii. Submit your application.
xiii. Print out your acknowledgement slip.
For support:

E-mail: [email protected]
Hotlines: 0806 408 7963

Latest Update: This is to inform the general public that the School of Nursing, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State entrance examination earlier advertised to be on the 13th July 2020 will not hold. Applicants will be notified when a new date is fixed.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) School of Nursing programmme for the 2020/2021 academic session.

UMTH School of Nursing Admission Requirements
A. Applicants should possess five 5 credits in SSCE, WAEC, NECO, which must include English language, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry in not more than two 2 sittings. A combination of WAEC and NECO is acceptable.
B. Applicants for School of Nursing should be between Eighteen (18) and Twenty Four (24) years of age.

How to Apply for UMTH School of Nursing Admission
1. Application Form Fee: N3,000 (three thousand naira only).
2. All payment should be made into UMTH Remita Platform “UMTH Schools Account”. Present evidence of payment to the school cashier and obtain hospital receipt and use same to collect the application form.

All completed application forms should be returned to the Coordinator’s/Principal’s office not later than the dates stated below.

Completed application forms must be accompanied with:
i. Two (2) recent passport photographs with white background. ii.Photocopies of all credentials.
iii. Indigence certificate and birth certificate or declaration of age.

Date of Submission of Application Form: 4th May to 26th June, 2020.

Entrance Examination: 13th July, 2020.

Successful candidates will be invited for interview.

All enquiries should be directed to the admissions office through :- 08036789805, 08021461715 or [email protected].

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into the Higher National Diploma (HND) full-time/part-time programmes run by the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa (FEDPONAS) in the 2020/2021 Academic Session as follows:

Federal Poly Nasarawa HND Courses.

HND Full-Time Courses:

1. School of Engineering Technology
Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology with options:
Power and Machines
Electronics and Telecommunication
Mechanical Engineering Technology with option in Manufacturing
Agricultural Engineering Technology with options in:
Farm Power
Post Harvest

2. School of Applied Sciences
Statistics
Science Laboratory Technology with options in:
Applied Chemistry
Physics Electronics
Biochemistry
Microbiology

3. School of Information and Technology
Computer Science
Office Technology and Management
Library and Information Sciences

4. School of Environmental Studies
Architectural Technology
Building Technology
Quantity Surveying
Urban and Regional Planning
Estate Management

5.School of Business studies
Accountancy
Business Administration and Management.
Banking and Finance
Marketing

HND Part-Time Courses.

Electrical/electronic engineering technology (Power Machines option)
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Architectural Technology
Building Technology
Urban and Regional Planning
Banking and Finance
Marketing
Office Technology and Management
Statistics
Computer Science
Science Laboratory Technology
Accountancy
Agricultural Engineering Technology
Quantity Surveying
Business Administration and Management
Estate Management
Library and Information Science

Note to HND PT students – All Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes shall run for six (6) semesters and lectures shall be conducted during the weekends, (Fridays-sundays) and such candidates are not eligible for NYSC mobilization.

Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa HND Admission Requirements.

HND Full-Time Courses.

1. National Diploma (ND) in the relevant fields from recognized Polytechnics with at least Lower Credit plus at least five (5) credits in GCE O’Level, SSCE or its equivalent in relevant subjects including Mathematics and English Language, and minimum of one year post qualification industrial attachment.
HND Part-Time Courses.
2. National Diploma (ND) in the relevant field from recognized Polytechnics with at least Lower Credit plus at least five (5) Credits in GCE O’Level, SSCE, or its equivalent in relevant subjects including Mathematics and English Language. The post ND working experiences are not required for admission in this respect.

How to Obtain Federal Poly Nasarawa HND Form.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY
https://portal.fedpolynas.edu.ng/fedpoly/admission/new-applicant
Application forms are obtainable at a non-refundable fee of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000.00) only for HND full-time programmes; and Six Thousand, Naira (N6, 000.00) only (excluding bank charges) for HND part-time programmes.

NOTE: The deadline for submission of applications is six (6) weeks from the date of publication. Th1s publication was made on 13th July 2020.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into ND full-time programmes run by the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa (FEDPONAS) in the 2020/2021 Academic Session.

Candidates Eligible for Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Post UTME Form.
Candidates that have chosen the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa in the 2020 UTME and scored the approved minimum cut-off points in the appropriate subjects combination are eligible for post-UTME Screening.

Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Courses:

A.School of Engineering Technology

Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology with options:
Power and Machines
Electronics and Telecommunication
Mechanical Engineering Technology with option in Manufacturing
Agricultural Engineering Technology with options in:
Farm Power
Post Harvest

B. School of Applied Sciences
Statistics
Science Laboratory Technology with options in:
Applied Chemistry
Physics Electronics
Biochemistry
Microbiology

C. School of Information and Technology
Computer Science
Office Technology and Management
School of Environmental Studies
Architectural Technology
Building Technology
Quantity Surveying
Urban and Regional Planning
Estate Management

D. School of Business studies
Accountancy
Business Administration and Management.
Banking and Finance
Marketing

How to Apply for Federal Poly Nasarawa Post UTME Form.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY
https://portal.fedpolynas.edu.ng/fedpoly/admission/new-applicant

Application forms are obtainable at a non-refundable fee of Two Thousand Naira (N2, 000.00) only (excluding bank charges).

NOTE: The deadline for submission of applications is six (6) weeks from the date of publication. Th1s publication was made on 13th July 2020.

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into the Full Professional Diploma (FPD) programme in Urban and Regional Planning (Post HND) for the 2019/2020 academic year.

DURATION: TWO YEARS ADMISSION.

Nekede Poly Professional Diploma Admission Requirements.
1. Candidates who had four (4No.) credits and a pass in English Language obtained in not more than two sittings in Senior School Certificate Examination. NECO or NABTEB before 2009/2010 academic year are eligible to apply.
2. Candidates who had five (5No.) Credits and a pass in English Language obtained in not more than two sittings in the above-mentioned examinations before 2010-2011 academic year are eligible to apply for the programme.
3. Candidates must have a Higher National Diploma (HND) of the Federal Polytechnic. Nekede or from any other accredited Polytechnic with a grade of at least a Lower Credit or a University Degree with at least Second Class Lower in any of the Environmental programmes. Geography and a Law Degree. A pass level in Federal Polytechnic. Nekede in HND and Third Class University Degree with not less than 8 years cognitive experience in physical planning is also acceptable.
4. The candidates must show evidence of having served in the National Youth Service Corps or an Exemption Certificate.

How to Apply for Nekede Poly Post-HND Admission Form.
STEP 1: On our site http://www.fpno.edu.ng, click on “Admissions” on the menu or click HERE http://ndapplication.fpno.edu.ng/which will take you to our Application form site.

STEP 2: On the Application site, click on “Application Form”.

STEP 3: Click on “Generate an Invoice for your desired programme” and fill the required information.

STEP 4: Under “Programme” on the page select “Full Professional Diploma”, and complete the required information.

STEP 5: Click on “Generate Invoice” after filling your information correctly and print out your invoice or copy your RRR number from the invoice.

STEP 6: Go to any commercial bank with the Remita Number (RRR number) to make your payment.

STEP 7: Return to the same SITE or click HERE http://ndapplication.fpno.edu.ng/Applicant/Form/PostJambProgramme to complete your Application Form.

STEP 8: After completing the form correctly, submit and print your slip.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned the recently passed bill on sexual harassment and rape, alleging that it is targeted at lecturers.

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting with critical stakeholders in Jos on Monday, July 13, the National President of ASUU Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said the bill which is yet to be signed into law is discriminatory and also targeted at the male lecturers.

Ogunyemi stated that the bill is capable of making male lecturers reject female students. He said;

”Our reaction to that Bill is that, it is discriminatory and is targeted at male lecturers.

“We don’t want a situation, where male lecturers will begin to say they don’t want to teach female students, because they say we should not smile to female students.

“So a time may come, when male lecturer will say, we won’t teach female students, let them get female lecturers, let them get female supervisor.

“l’m not sure, we want that, and that is not also healthy for the society. Because at one point or the other, there will be a point of interface. So, what we are seeing is that, we have laws in the society, that already addressed issues of sexual harassment, issues of rape.

“Another form of victimization is that male students can also be raped in one way or the other and this has not been taken into account or has this type of bill passed.

“We went to the public hearing and we read our objections, well, we have not seen the newly passed bill, but, what we are told is that our views will be taken into account and we said, if they are laws in the society that already addressed the issues of harassment and rape, why are we duplicating efforts?”

“If it meant to cover all and some strata of the educational system, which means it could be a bill meant to cover all genders or both genders, male or female, which we have not seen. Our worries is that, all their talks is centred on the higher institutions, which should stop, because they are stigmatising and is like they are labelling lecturers as criminals or potential criminals.

“We can still raise our voices against that bill to ensure that it will promote equity, fairness and then, that is where we can have justice for all. We are against sexual harassment of our students. We do not support it in any forms.”

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has said that the passage of the sexual harassment bill by the Senate will ensure the safety of students of tertiary institutions in the country.

Lawan stated this in his remarks on Tuesday after the upper chamber passed a bill for an Act to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment of students in Tertiary Educational Institutions.

The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC – Delta Central).

The passage of the bill followed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

Speaking on the bill passed by the upper chamber, Lawan said, “this is a very important and landmark legislation that the Ninth Senate has passed. We have to protect our daughters from predators.”

“In the process we could see clearly that we wanted fair means of determining what offence somebody is accused of, so it is a balanced legislation.

“We want our tertiary institutions to be a very safe environment for everyone, and this is a legislation that will ensure that wish”, the Senate President added.

Earlier in his presentation, the Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central), said the piece of legislation “attracted unprecedented support from not only Distinguished Senators as demonstrated by the 106 Senators that Co-sponsored the bill but an overwhelming number of Nigerians who see the bill as a necessary legislative intervention that will bring sanity and good order to the educator-student relationship in our tertiary institutions.”

According to the lawmaker, “the bill is not targeted at a particular community – the educators and that it does not interfere with the autonomy of the universities – rather, it is intended to reposition and strengthen our tertiary educational institutions to maintain the core values of etiquette and excellence.”

He added that with the passage of the bill, the piece of legislation will bridge the huge gap and give legal backing to any internal rule by educational institutions to check the incidences of sexual harassment.

Bamidele stated that contrary to ASUU’s claim that there are extant laws that can sufficiently address sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, the Committee found that there are no such laws.

“This legislation is meant to address incidence of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions only, as there are other laws that address sexual offences in respect of persons under the age of 18 years such as the Child Rights Act 2003”, the lawmaker stressed.

He added that, “by enacting this bill into law, the Nigerian Government would be fulfilling part of its obligations undertaken through the ratification of the United States Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, amongst others.”

Lawmakers during the clause by clause consideration of the bill, however differed on the retention of clause seven in the bill.

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege who proposed an amendment to clause 7, argued that it was unnecessary for the prosecution to prove the intention of the accused person or the condition under which the act of sexual harassment was carried out.

According to him, the commission of sexual harassment was sufficient to try any educator accused of a sexual offence.

Lawmakers such as the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North) and Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC – Nasarawa West), however, argued on the contrary that should the bill make it unnecessary for the prosecutor to prove the intention of any accused person in a sexual harassment trial, same would lower the requisite standards obtainable in criminal proceedings.

According to Senator James Manager (PDP – Delta South), going ahead to pass the bill without making it compulsory for prosecutors to prove the intention of the accused person in a sexual harassment case, may expose educators to blackmail.

“Laws are being made for the people, and when you make laws with a technical amendment like this, we have to be very careful.

“The rape cases that we have had in recent times, majority of them are outside the universities or the tertiary institutions and they are all strict liability offences. We have not been able to amend that particular part of the law.

“When you isolate, because some of the rape cases are on children who are even five or six years, but the burden of proof is still strict liability. You have to prove, that is for a separate law for a separate group of people.

“Mr. President, we have to be very careful, as we are trying to protect the female students, we must be seen to be protecting some innocent lecturers.

“In this day of the internet, a lecturer can easily be set up. We have to be very careful. For us to isolate by removing the intention, that will not be good enough”, Manager said.

The lawmakers while voting on clause seven, voted for its retention as contained in the bill and recommended by the Committee.

The clause provides for strict liability which makes it necessary for prosecutors to prove the intention of the accused, as well as the condition under which the act of sexual harassment was carried out.

The Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Organisation, Afenifere on Thursday condemned the Federal Government for ordering the continued closure of schools across the Country
Recall that the Education Minister Adamu Adamu had directed that school across the country should remain closed because of the ravaging effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the Secretary-General of Afenifere, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa asked President Muhammadu Buhari “to sack both the minister of Education and his Minister of State for planning to ground education for a year.

Arogbofa said ” Adamu Adamu should be sacked, he can not bring our school system back to the stone age. They had about six months to plan for these children, The last six months all these children have been preparing for the WASCE, what did the Federal Government do?

“I think the two ministers in the ministry should go, why would one minister say the pupils should resume writing their paper in August and the other minister would come and reverse the order and that the school would be closed down for the whole year.

“It is a reality that the COVID-19 is in the country but they should have envisaged what will happen and make necessary arrangements against it for the pupils. Why should education be closed down for a whole year?

According to him” It means the two of them (Adamu and the Minister of State for Education) don’t know what they are doing, so they should go.

…Says, meetings in Govt offices must not exceed four persons
…No date for commencing Int’l flights

The Federal Government has released a 52-page set of guidelines for the reopening of schools in the country as it continues to manage the Covid-19 Pandemic.

While it listed several conditions that must be met, it, however, did not give a specific date as to when schools should reopen.

This was as it warned Nigerians against flouting the Covid-19 safety protocols, specifically stating that meetings by government establishments shall continue to be by virtual means where participants are more than four.

Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha who gave the charge at Monday’s briefing of the Taskforce in Abuja equally urged politicians in Edo and Ondo states to be circumspect in their dealings ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in both states.
“The pandemic would not go away by a wish, neither would it go away if we refuse to keep safe.

“All government offices shall continue to hold virtual meetings in their offices especially where participants exceed four persons and suspend all unnecessary travels for meetings.
“For corporate organizations, Board members, etc, the reopening of the domestic flights should not be misconstrued. The PTF strongly encourages virtual meetings as well.

“We still urge places of worship to cautiously follow the guidelines on public gatherings; and we urge members of the political class particularly in states where elections are scheduled for September and October to exercise utmost circumspection in their gathering for whatever reasons”, the SGF stated.

He said the level of carbon emissions in Abuja has drastically reduced following the initial lockdown imposed on the city and the current partial restriction which has led to fewer people driving on the roads.

Reopening of schools

On reopening of schools, Mustapha said the Federal Government would not do anything to compromise the safety of students and pupils.

He said; “The PTF has assessed the circumstances and has put in place necessary guidelines to be followed while the managers of the sector have the responsibility for drawing up the protocols and determining the dates. We urge Nigerians to follow closely the critical steps being taken by the Federal Ministry of Education in conjunction with other stakeholders.
“Further to this, the Federal Ministry of Education has released Guidelines for Schools and Learning Facilities reopening after COVID-19 Pandemic closure. The guidelines clearly spell out major things to consider before schools and learning facilities shall reopen, the reopening process, sequencing and scheduling of safe reopening and decisions about schools reopening. The Minister of State for Education will elaborate on this.

No Nigerian cure yet

“The PTF recognizes the efforts of our innovators, researchers and research institutions in working to get a solution to the COVID-19, especially its cure. However, we refrain from misleading the public into believing that a cure has been found or certified when indeed the validation processes was still on-going. This call is necessitated by the recent publication that a cure for COVID-19 had been listed by NAFDAC. The Agency has debunked the claim and we advise Nigerians to be vigilant”, he added.

Also speaking, Minister of State, Education, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba who did not give a specific date as to when schools would be reopened said the guidelines contain what managers of schools have to do before they can be reopened and also what they must do to remain opened.

In the guidelines obtained by Vanguard, the Federal Government gave conditions for the reopening of schools. Part of the guideline states; “The Federal and state governments should be guided by recommendations, advice, or directives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for effective risk avoidance and mitigation of the effect of COVID-19.

“Decision making should also involve all major stakeholders, including government at all levels, communities, and civil society. This is to ensure that decisions and planned actions are based on comprehensive analysis, consensus, and adequate consideration for context”.
Also to be considered is the level of community transmission nationwide and level of compliance with the safety guidelines. A team of Readiness and Compliance Assessors would also be dispatched to schools with a checklist to determine their suitability for reopening.

The Federal Government listed several questions that must be answered before schools should reopen in any part of the country. Some of the questions are; “What is the level of compliance by the public with the guidelines? There has to be evidence that this compliance can translate to the education community when schools reopen.

“How much capacity has Nigeria developed for national testing? What is the capacity to test, trace, isolate, and support the schools when cases are suspected? Does Nigeria have the capacity to test all returning staff and learners in (boarding) school facilities?
“What is the capacity of the healthcare systems nationwide to promptly detect and contain an upward surge in the number of coronavirus cases if a second wave occurs? Are schools able and ready to implement infection prevention and control measures?
“What is the capacity of schools and learning facilities nationwide to maintain safe school operations (such as social distancing) to mitigate risks? For example, size of classroom compared to number of learners; cross-ventilation in classrooms/TLCs; availability of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) amenities, including latrines, hand-washing facilities with soap and water?
How does the school population travel to and from school? What’s the risk of using public transportation for teachers, education personnel, and learners?
What are the community-related risk factors to reopening schools for both teachers and learners, considering epidemiological factors, public health and healthcare capacities, population density, and adherence to social distancing and good hygiene practices?
“Federal and States Ministries of Education should decide when to reopen after due consultations with the
Presidential Task Force PTF on COVID-19, Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control NCDC, and other critical stakeholders, including non-state education providers, teachers’ unions, PTAs, and school-based management committees (SBMCs). It is equally crucial that consultations are held and communication exchanged with parents, teachers, learners, and communities to understand and address common concerns.

“Decisions on safe reopening should be contingent on meeting the requirements set out in these guidelines and on a case-by-case basis for each school and learning facility. To this end, a multi-sectoral approach comprising of education, health, environment and, Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) should use the Joint Assessment for Safe Reopening of Schools and Learning Facilities to determine when each school should reopen”, the guidelines stated.
183, 294 tests so far
Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire disclosed that about 183, 294 Covid-19 tests have been conducted so far, adding that the ministry is encouraging all health facilities not to reject patients but to refer them to other institutions where such cases cannot be handled at those levels.

“Nigeria has now carried out 183, 294 COVID-19 tests, 28,296 of them within the week since my last briefing. 32,558 persons in total have been confirmed positive. The high figures within the past week compared to the previous weeks, suggest an increase in the pace of testing but also in infection incidence. From reports of the activation of sample collection sites in FCT, the laboratory throughput will increase, as will the number of positives until, the curve flattens at a yet unknown time. This strategy is to be replicated in other states of the Federation. Increasing bed space at State levels will continue to be advocated

“13, 447 Covid-19 cases have been so far been treated and successfully and discharged in Nigeria and we have regrettably recorded 740 fatalities. Our aim is to further reduce the fatalities by ensuring that those defined as vulnerable are protected with non-pharmaceutical measures and prioritized for admission to observation or treatment centres, even if they do not yet have symptoms”, he added.

Ehanire said the ministry has received news of the local development of Ribonucleic Acid RNA extraction kits and its validation has been relayed to him.
“I am very proud of this development, which I have asked NCDC to evaluate because it will be a further step in reducing dependence on imported commodities. I hope our researchers continue with this trend and can be assured of the support of the Federal Ministry of Health”, he said.

The minister added that the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development NIPRD “has also applied for financial support to continue its research on the efficacy of Artemisia Annua combination in treatment of COVID-19, which I hope will resonate with sponsors”.

No int’l flights yet

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika also stated that the Federal Government has not decided on when to reopen the airspace for international flights, saying the ministry is observing the trend in other countries including those in the region.

“Certainly, you are aware that there are so many countries that have placed a ban on countries and we cannot fly into those countries. Also, in Nigeria we have placed ban on other countries and who cannot also come in here because everybody is trying to keep safe.

“These and many other reasons will make us to be cautious and to liaise with stakeholders and then decide on when we will reopen international flights. In aviation, we personally want to open like yesterday because we are losing revenue, we are bleeding but we must remain alive first before we are able to make money. So, we have to ensure that everybody is safe and whatever decision we are taking has to be in the interest of humanity in general.

“So, this is the guiding principle and we will continue to observe developments internationally and we also have an economic community within which we live, which is ECOWAS. We will also liaise with them and see what is good for us as a country and we will reduce the risk of contaminating our people”.