Monday briefing: 100k Gang. Metering Failure. Amotekun Headache.
What you need to know.
Good morning.
We are focused on Nigeria’s rising Covid cases, a botched mass-metering program and multiple allegations against South-west security outfit, Amotekun.
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Nigeria crosses 100,000 mark
Covid cases in Nigeria crossed the 100,000-mark on Sunday after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported another 1,024 cases. With the cases expected to rise and vaccines in short supply, the federal government has repeatedly advised Nigerians to avoid large crowds, maintain social distancing in public places and wear face masks.
Meanwhile, branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) across the country have suggested it may be too soon to re-open universities as the pandemic marches on. The National Universities Commission (NUC) had earlier directed universities to resume academic activities on January 18.
“COVID-19 is very real and this second wave is as real as described,” Dr Adeola Egbedokun. ASUU chairman at the Obafemi Awolowo University said. “We cannot afford to toy with our health and the health of our dear students in the name of resumption, which is politically motivated.”
While some institutions - for example, the University of Port Harcourt - have set a date for resumption, others like the University of Lagos are still mulling options.
Lagos: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday said the state has activated an oxygen plant at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba. The plant is expected to supplement oxygen supply to about 300 cylinders per day and 6 cylinders per hour.
Related: Registration for the National Identity Number (NIN) is expected to resume nationwide today after NIMC workers called off a strike. The workers had downed tools over the spread of Covid among its members, among other unmet demands.
Pope Francis: The clergy’s personal doctor, Fabrizio Soccorsi, has died after battling complications arising from Covid. The Pope is expected to take a vaccine shot this week.
A disastrous meter policy?
Last November, President Muhammadu Buhari said funding had been made available to electricity distribution companies (Discos) to roll out one million meters across the country, at no cost to consumers.
Deployment, the President said at the time, had started in parts of Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Abuja.
But a new report has revealed that, of the one million meters to be distributed, only 16,308 were installed between October and December, representing a 1.6 per cent success rate.
In fact, with the current installation pace of about 8,000 per month, it will take at least 10 years to complete the first phase of one million meters. Nigeria has a deficit of at least 6.5 million meters.
Context: Without prepaid meters, the electricity market will remain toxic as consumers continue to lament estimated billing and suppliers struggle to collect fees.
Is Amotekun another time-bomb?
The South-west security outfit has been enmeshed in a series of extra-judicial killing allegations in the past one month. On Saturday, reports emerged that Amotekun officials had clashed with a Fulani community in Oyo state and killed a father and two sons.
Amotekun officials in Oyo denied there was no clash, insisting that its operation in the area, targeted at suspected bandits and kidnappers, was in collaboration with Fulani leaders.
However, the Sarkin Fulani of Oyo, Alhaji Salihu Abdulkadir said the man who was killed alongside his two sons - Alhaji Usman Okebi - was an unarmed herder who had lived in the community for more than 45 years.
This is a familiar script with Oyo Amotekun allegations. The security outfit says one thing while eyewitnesses and/or concerned actors report another.
Context: Amotekun is a form of community policing conceived by South-west states to help the police combat the rising cases of criminal activities in the region. But there are concerns about the recruitment and training of Amotekun officials and how their powers are regulated.
Seyi Makinde: The Oyo State Governor says his administration is already investigating the reports of alleged highhandedness among some Amotekun personnel.
Wole Soyinka: The Nobel laureate, a huge supporter of Amotekun, has offered to help in the training of the local security officials. “I have told them anytime you want us to come and assist, we will come even if it is just on the ethical session so that as you are training them to defend us, we are also training their minds so that Amotekun does not become another SARS, very important,” he said. “We must do everything together.”
What else is happening?
Black weekend: At least 37 persons died in two road crashes in Bauchi and Nasarawa over the weekend.
Ohaneze Ndigbo: A former Nigerian ambassador, George Obiozor, has been elected as the new President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
NIS: The immigration service said a fire incident occurred at its Abuja headquarters on Sunday.
NIN: The Federal Road Safety Corps has made the presentation of the identification number a necessary requirement for vehicle registration.
Ethiopia: The European Union has urged national authorities to allow unrestricited humanitarian access to conflict-hit Tigray region
Crash: The black box and debris of the Sriwijaya Air jet which crashed in Indonesia on Saturday have been found. About 50 passengers and 12 crew members — all Indonesians — were on board the plane which is said to be a 27-year-old Boeing 737-500.
US: House Democrats have moved to commence the impeachment process for President Donald Trump. The White House has dismissed the impeachment as a "politically motivated" move that would "only serve to further divide our great country".
And that’s it for today. Thank you for starting your day with me. See you tomorrow.