Ebola Outbreak Triggers New Directive On Border Control And Other Newspaper Headlines Today

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) ‎has directed the Ministry of Health to step up surveillance at the nation’s borders, following reports of a fresh outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The outbreak in Bikoro town, northwest of the DRC, has already recorded two confirmed cases of the virus and 17 deaths. According to THE GUARDIAN, more than 11,000 died of the disease in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in 2014.

IGP Idris shuns invitation for the Third time as Senate vows to deal with him heads DAILY INDEPENDENT and THE PUNCH. The Senate on Tuesday passed a vote of no confidence in Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, the Inspector General of Police and vowed to take a decision on him before disrespect for the National Assembly would become widespread. It also declared him an enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office. The vote of no confidence passed by the upper legislative chamber in the nation’s police boss was the lawmakers’ reaction to his refusal to appear before them to explain why Dino Melaye, a serving senator, was humiliated by operatives of the police over a matter already before a court of competent jurisdiction.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE, DAILY SUN and NEW TELEGRAPH reports that nPDP may pull out of APC this week. Former leaders of the PDP who defected to the APC in 2013 have written to the national chairman of the ruling party to demand an urgent meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari “within seven days”. They did not state their next line of action, although TheCable understands that they may pull out of the party which is already bedevilled by crisis following rancorous congresses nationwide last weekend.

The bloc, known then as the new PDP (nPDP), helped in dislodging the PDP from its 16-year rule in the 2015 general election. They teamed up with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to form APC.

VANGURAD, NEW TELEGRAPH and THE NATION also reports that ex-PDP leaders in APC give seven-day deadline for talks. n a four-page letter dated April 27, 2018 and signed by  Baraje and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and addressed to the National Chairman, they alleged that despite their contribution to the success of the APC, their members had been relegated to the background in the party and the government. Copies of the letter were sent to President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The letter said the only seat that went to members of the new PDP in the Federal Executive Council was given to a member whose state contributed virtually no vote to the APC in the 2015 presidential election. There were strong indications that the letter was a smokescreen to lay the foundation for the exit of former PDP leaders from APC. Those who may leave include Senate President Bukola Saraki,  House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex-Governor Danjuma Goje,  ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako and Oyinlola.

BUSINESS DAY draws the curtains on headlines today revealing that Japaul pulls plug on $350m Milost deal as stock slumps 8%. It’s been two months since BusinessDay first published an article raising a red flag over the announced investments in some Nigerian companies by a purported US-based private equity firm, Milost Global Inc, and the dust hasn’t settled. A number of those announced deals have gradually collapsed since then, with oil and maritime services firm, Japaul being the latest to back off on a planned $350 million (126 billion at N360 per US dollar) deal, citing numerous red flags associated with the proposed equity injection”, in a statement filed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on May 9,2018.