The Brief: Dead in isolation; unknown gunmen; Petroleum bill

The story of “unknown gunmen” has pervaded the southeast of the country following attacks on security formations – and now Ebonyi governor says there is nothing like “unknown gunmen” and blames south easterners for killings in the region.

The Petroleum Industry Bill has gotten presidential assent, but what do Nigerians really know about it. Join the Nigerian Daily podcast to find out.

Ibrahim Mantu, a former deputy president, is dead. A family source, who confirmed the demise to our correspondent, said he died at a private hospital in Abuja after nine days of sickness and isolation.

He said the former deputy senate president died at about 2am on Tuesday. “He fell ill about nine days ago and was receiving treatment at home but he was rushed to the hospital when there was no sign of improvement,” the source said adding that the funeral prayer would hold later on Tuesday, in Abuja.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted heavy rainfall in some parts of the country from Tuesday to Thursday. The agency said the development might have effect on smooth flight operations across the country.

A renowned Islamic scholar and leader of the Tijjaniya sect Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi has called on the Plateau State Government to compensate the families of his followers who were killed in Jos on Saturday.

The cleric who stated this during an interview with BBC Hausa monitored by our correspondent said those that killed the travellers, who were members of Tijjaniya sect, should be punished.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has blamed some persons in the South East for the widespread violence in the region. The governor said this while reacting to the sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The outlawed group had declared a weekly shutdown of the South East in protest of the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader. But Umahi warned residents against observing the order, threatening to sack any worker who obeys IPOB’s directive.

There is fear and apprehension that the mandatory isolation being observed by President Muhammadu Buhari may put his aides and other workers in the State House, Abuja, at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Although his spokesperson said the president was going to observe self-isolation on return from the UK on Friday, but it seems that the president has moved on with work, which required mingling with people, contrary to federal government’s guidelines.

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The Bill for an Act to Provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiscal Framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, otherwise known as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), has finally been signed into law.

President Muhammadu buhari assented to the Bill on Monday, August 16. On Nigeria Daily, we look at what the law says and how it will affect the common man. Listen or download the podcast here.

The federal government has called for applications as it seeks to concession the four “most profitable” airports in Nigeria.

The Federal Ministry of Aviation in compliance with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and National Policy on Public-Private Partnership (N4P) advertised for qualification for the concession of four international airport terminals and related services.

A consultant pediatric cardiologist, Dr Habibat Suberu, has advised against giving glucose water to children suffering from jaundice as a form of treatment. She said the practice is wrong and  one of the myths about the disease. She said other myths include the belief that using yellow clothes causes jaundice.

She added that putting a child suffering from jaundice under the sun does not treat the disease. She noted that all the practices do more harm than good.