Daily Watch – Schools to remain shut over COVID-19, ISWAP kills 23 soldiers

An explosion at the NPDC’s Benin River Valve Station killed seven people during the installation of a ladder on a platform, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said Wednesday. The accident occurred at OML 40, operated by a subsidiary of state-owned oil firm and Elcrest joint venture. NPDC did not say whether production was affected, though detailed investigation of the cause of the explosion has commenced. An NNPC spokesperson, Kennie Obateru, said the BRVS explosion happened at Gbetiokun, OML 40, operated by NPDC. Mr Obateru said that a detailed investigation of the cause of the explosion had commenced. He named the employers as Weld Affairs and Flow Impact, consultants to the NPDC, and that all personnel on board the platform had been fully accounted for. Finally, Mr Obateru added that the Department of Petroleum Resources had been duly notified and documentation was being prepared for the industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature.

At least 23 Nigerian soldiers were killed and two injured in an ambush carried out by the Islamic State West Africa Province on Tuesday at Bulabulin in Damboa LGA of Borno state. This attack occurred after a similar incident on 27 June when soldiers and the Civilian Joint Task Force members escorting commuter vehicles were ambushed in the area and soldiers killed, including Lieutenant Sino Malgwi. Military spokesman, Major-General John Enenche, said “two soldiers paid the supreme price” during the attack. According to Mr Enenche, the troops of 25 Task Force Brigade deployed at Damboa with elements of Sector 2 Special Forces were attacked by the ISWAP while the soldiers were on clearance operations along Damboa-Maiduguri Road. He said “the valiant troops outflanked and engaged the criminals with an overwhelming volume of firepower forcing them to withdraw in disarray. 17 Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province criminals were neutralised while a cache of arms and ammunition were equally captured by the troops.

The FG has announced that schools under its control will not be reopening for the end of session West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams. According to a tweet by Tolu Ogunlesi a spokesman for President Buhari, education minister, Adamu Adamu, said that WAEC should suspend exams and also urged state governments not to reopen. While addressing the media after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, Adamu said that none of the schools under the control of his ministry will resume until schools are considered safe enough. He appealed to the State Governments that have already announced the resumption of schools to reconsider that as it is not safe and the students should be protected. Adamu said that he would prefer that students lose an academic year than expose them to dangers. He also denied an earlier report that claimed that the junior education, Emeka Nwajiuba, announced that schools will be resuming on 4 August. Going further, Adamu pointed out that WAEC will not determine what Nigeria will do as he will rather have the country lose a school year than exposing the students to danger.

The penalty and interest waiver window on tax debts, owed by businesses and persons, earlier due on 30 June would now run out by 31 August, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said Wednesday. The extension forms part of the buffers offered by the fiscal authority, FIRS chair, Muhammadu Nami,said, to support persons and businesses impacted by the coronavirus crisis. “The latest extension applies to tax audit, tax investigation and desk review assessments, approved instalment payment plans under Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme yet to be fully liquidated.” There will be no further extension after the August ending deadline. Mr Nami noted that businesses and persons wanting to leverage the government benevolence must settle their tax liabilities first, saying they should approach their local FIRS Debt Management Office for further information.