Reset Button24042020: Recent Episodes
Willy Thomas
Daily series on COVID 19, it's consequences & collateral benefits for social behaviour, advocacy, conservation and good governance.
The last few weeks have been a season of unfolding and bizzare corruption scandals in Nigeria. Started with the country's anti-corruption Czar, a story of the hunter now hunted plus the marvelous stories of how money meant for the development of the country's oil rich Niger Delta region end up in private pockets.
The phenomenon world wide now is that every patient who goes to hospital for any treatment is first suspected as a Covid 19 case until otherwise proven says Dr Olusola Talabi, Abeokut-based clinicals physician and neurosurgeon.
Raabia Hawa, former Kenyan radio show host now environmentalist responded to an SOS posted on Facebook that a sea turtle that was washed ashore on Victoria Island Lagos was on offer for sale on the main highway. Vendors were offering the turtle for $150 or 60,000 naira.
South African eco journalist and executive director of the African Pangolin Working Group Alexis Kriel says the efficacy of Pangolin scales in Traditional Chinese Medicine lacks scientific evidence. Kriel says the demand by the huge population of China will drive Pangolins to execution. Cover photo. Pangolin Poachers in DRC Congo supply chinese restaurants.
The Chairman of the African Pangolin Working Group in South Africa Professor Raymond Jansen says until China clarifies if the grade A protection accorded pangolins is for all eight species in the world, then its not celebration time yet for Pangolins.
The residents of one of the high density communities in Abeokuta, Ogun state sharing border with Lagos have issued a catalogue of problems they want the state government to solve as soon as possible. They include repair of roads and provision of water.
The chairman of the Erunbe Community Development Association is calling on the state government to provide water
Paul Thomson founder of Save Pangolins and Chairman of the Pangolin Crisis Fund says there is no silver bullet for saving Pangolins despite China's yet-to-cleared announcement of class A protection status for the scaly and shy ant eaters. Talking to the Reset Button on Cowrieradio, Thomson says that the fight to save pangolins will have to be multi-faceted and holistic. China and India on the brink of war. we
Jamborow, Africa's top fintech company set to launch in Nigeria with funds for the poor. Jamborow CTO says mission is digital financial inclusion for the grassroots. And residents of Ogun state demand an end to weekend lockdown say it is a farce that is enriching policemen and other security agency officials enforcing the restrictions.
The Chairman of the Ogunmokun Ifedapo Community Development Association in Adigbe has a catalog of demands he wants from the Ogun state government. Chief Abibu told Cowrieradio that there is no government presence in his community and what was achieved sofar came from self help.
Officials of Conservcongo, main Conservation group in Congo Democratic Republic met the honourable Minister last Monday.
Ayorinde Sotobi Adigbe CDA is worried that children are out of school, wants special attention on education. CDA is its own government providing infrastructure. Biggest challenge is flood during the rainy season
The chairman of the Ifesowapo Onireke Adigbe community development association elder Olawale Sobowale has charged the Ogun State government to come to the rescue of the community. Ifesowapo Onireke Adigbe community has no school nor health facility. Roads are bad and community has to take the challenge of fixing roads, digging drainage, which no sooner gets submerged with each rainfall.
Adams Cassinga of Conservecongo tells Cowrieradio listeners that the trade in wildlife bushmeat has reduced following increased awareness that Pangolins are protected. However conservecongo is on the trail of a syndicate supplying Chinese restaurants.
Residents of Oba Mode Oluwo CDA in the Obafemi Owode LG of Ogun state call on state of Governor to connect with the people. The residents say electricity is available once a week, erosion destroys roads fixed through communal efforts.
The Chairman of the Oba Mode Oluwo Community Development Association Imam Soretire has been speaking on the challenges facing his community, which incude lack of roads and potable water. Imam Soretire says his calling as a religious cleric has been a great asset to his role as Chairman. Imam Soretire was guest on Cowrieradio's daily show focusing on community activities and engagements
Hallelujah Onireke CDA in Adigbe area of Abeokuta lacks potable drinking water, area impassable when it rains and CDA has to construct drainage, fix roads and do more, says the chairman venerable S. Abiodun on the Cowrie Radio daily Programme ATUNTO agbegbe wa.
The Secretary of the Alajapa Traders' coalition Rauf Abiodun has called on the Ogun State government to end extortion and multiple taxation at road blocks in the state.
Most residents of Abeokuta, capital of the Southwest Nigerian state of Ogun still appear in public without mask flouting COVID 19 containment rules. The Abuja medical centre was conceived as a world class facility at the time it was presented to former President Goodluck Jonathan. Maybe it could have been a priority for the government and its successor if both knew that Covid 19 would ravage. Covid 19 is here and has exposed failure of government to invest in health infrastructure.
Abeokuta based Physician Consultant and CEO Health Suites Dr Olusola Talabi has called for a return to regional autonomy to solve the Nigerian problem. Dr Talabi said the uncontrolled influx of people from the poverty ravaged north despite inter border closures means some things are not working.
The Secretary of the Ilogbo community in the capital of Nigeria's Southwest state of Ogun State, Abeokuta is demanding an end to raids by armed Customs officials on the pretext of impounding contraband rice. Olatunji Fajobi said Customs would break into homes at night, leaving naked women scampering for cover. Fajobi said customs should secure the borders and highways to stop smuggling instead of coming to raid shops in town. He said both the customs and smugglers can be classified as thieves.
Chairman of Iporo Ake Community Development Association, an inner city surburb in Abeokuta retired Captain Somorin Kunbi laments the poor condition of roads in the community. Says roads have huge pot holes that become 'swimming pools' when it rains. Capt Somorin said there is no pipe borne water supply and residents have dug wells that run out of water. Says residents wake up as early as 2 am to queue for water at a borehole facility provided by a good Samaritan. Says government must re-order its priorities to focus on provision of infrastructure for communities while citizens must be alive to their responsibilities. Interview conducted in Yoruba.
Love is what Nigerian scammers promise vulnerable women online. A report by 60 minutes Australia exposes the latest tricks to scam women using online dating.
Community leader wants an end to daily raid by customs, says sporadic shooting sends people into panic. Accuses customs of violating privacy rights. Abir el Ghonemy ends Ramadan talk series
Professor of Immunology turn Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State in Nigeria has abolished taxes for farmers, traders, micro businesses and local food bars, saying government did not impact on their lives. Governor Ayade launched an anti tax agency and charged them to ensure the poor wasn't harassed for tax. A 32 year old first class graduate in physics has invented a sanitising chamber that uses electricity and solar. Rwanda launches covid 19 robotester capable of screening between 50 and 150 persons per day
Abir el Ghonemy concludes the Ramadan talk series on worship in islam while a survivor of the 1918 flu recounts. A professor of physics reels out stories on robotics the robodoc, robolawyer and more.
Abir el Ghonemy talks about brotherhood in Islam in her daily Ramadan talk series. The United Kingdom training dogs to sniff out Covid 19 positives upon arrival at airports. UK broadcast regulator sanctions television network of Nigerian pastor Chris Oyakhilome for broadcasting statements that are not duly verifiable.
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina slams World Health Organisation, says WHO is not accepting COVID ORGANICS because its origin is African and not from the west. Abir el Ghonemy speaks on Islam and labour.
Rauf Abiodun Secretary of Alajapas foodstuff traders coalition says extension of lockdown in Ogun state amounts to hoodwinking. Abiodun says factories and industries in Ota, the industrial capital of the Southwest Nigerian state of Ogun are working. Abiodun also dismissed 50 billion naira set aside for MSEs as a story playing sweet only on television and newspaper. Susan Lawani, the Benue supposed Covid 19 index case is heading for the court, issues 7-day ultimatum. Abir el Ghonemy talks about justice Islam.
Dangote truck heading south east caught at border. Interstate border closure ineffective. Abir el Ghonemy talks about intention in todays ramadan talk.
Conservcongo and the Congolese agency for Conservation and nature protection agree to work together to end poaching and trafficking of wildlife.
Conservcongo has handed over wildlife including pangolin scales seized in a string of sting operations across the DRC to the country's environmental and nature protection agency UCCN. Conservcongo also signed a landmark MOU with UCCN to forge a private-public collaboration against wildlife poaching and trafficking. Adams conservcongo arrowhead told cowrieradio he was upbeat about the partnership, saying both sides needed each other to win the war against Wildlife poachers and traffickers. A medic expert says the body's immune system is the best agent to fight COVID 19 infection just as doctors say vitamin d can be a Covid 19 killer. Abir el GH onemy is on with the day's Ramadan talk and Bola Makinde wraps up world news.
Millions of street children Almajiris roaming streets of Northern Nigerian cities are a recipe for disaster in the region says broadcast media chief executive Zubair Idris. Idris calls on States in the north of the country to launch a fund to address the challenges. The media chief says northern rulers are corrupt and this has led to systemic corruption in the region. China faces multiple legal action from victims of COVID 19 across the world Pangolin with Nigeria in the forefront of what WION world is one news describes as the greatest China pushback. Abir el Ghonemy talks about patience in her Ramadan series. Bola Makinde wraps up world events in the Cowrieradio newsbits.
Conservcongo arrow head Adams Cassinga continues his conservation with Cowrieradio says special wildlife courts will speed up trial and prosecution of traffickers. Lake Victoria is full and President Yoweri Museveni warns encroachers to leave the banks and shore areas of the lake or they will be swallowed. Abir el Ghonemy says a little prayer in today's Ramadan talk.
A conservation group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC Conservcongo has intensified the campaign against poaching and trafficking. Conservcongo has carried out successful sting operations in the country resulting in arrests and rescue of endangered animals. Adams Cassinga leads the operations and speaks to Cowrie Radio's Reset Button. Abir El Ghonemy focuses on procastination as subject of the day's Ramadan talk. Bolawola Makinde wraps us global events.
Farmers in an area in Oshun, southwest Nigeria have challenged Chinese investors who brought in excavator to pull down their cocoa and banana trees, saying the king gave them rights over the land . Ada Magaji of Pan Africa Network for development faults the Chinese claim, says it is wrong. Taiwan is a better friend and Africa should learn from her. China crackdown on dissent. Abir el Ghonemy on Ramadan talk plus world news review with Bola Makinde
Sorry state of health facilities expose states of Northern Nigeria and latest victims are Covid 19 patients in isolation centre in Gombe. Protesters took to streets demanding better care and facilities. UK medic recommends vitamin d supplements to fight COVID disease and Indian doctor invokes religious injunctions on plagues. Abir el Ghonemy concludes three-part serial on power and process of personal transformation.
Reports from across the country say mindless extortion by police and army officials manning check points is undermining COVID 19 containment and inter state border closure is a failure. Report by online news despatch stated clearly explains where new viruses come from. Abir el Ghonemy continues her daily ramadan series while Bola Makinde wraps up global events. Forty years since apala music icon Ayinla Omowura was murdered by his band manager.
Uganda government reads riot act to encroachers on Lake Victoria. Get out now. Lake bursting the banks, tourism businesses going under water. Nature reclaiming its space across the world as COVID 19 forces human beings to stay behind cages.
Adams Cassinga of Conservcongo speaks on 8-month long sting operation that led to the arrest near Congo DRC capital Kinshasa of 5 pangolin traffickers with half tonne of scales seized plus Chair of Save Pangolins and Pangolin Crisis fund expressing hope that COVID 19 may deter wildlife consumption. Abir El Ghonemy Ramadan talk is on Becoming.
Environment journalist Nathan Nwakamma answers questions on croaker fish washed ashore Nigeria's Niger Delta Coastline as residents defy government warning fish not safe for human consumption forcing traditional rulers to invoke sanctions. Abir El Ghonemy talks about the four hormones that trigger happiness in humans plus contributions from New York ICU doctor Dave Price on what COVID 19 frontliners must do to be safe.
Focus on Northern Nigeria's street Children Almajaris and the ECONOMIST says COVID 19 may be good news for PANGOLINS plus Ramadan talk with Abir Ghonemy and world news wrap up by Bolawola Makinde.
India expected at least 90 per cent accuracy from Chinese COVID 19 test kits but got 94 per cent inaccuracy reports World Is One News and Nigerian social critic Ada Magaji leads campaign to reset the Africa China button Abir El Ghonemy on Ramadan talk and terrorist bombing of army check point plus Bola Makinde news wrapup
Consultant Physician and Neurologist warns that influx of people from the north especially Kano axis which is epicenter of Covid 19 is timebomb says Nigeria waited too long in closing airspace and shutting borders. Abir El Ghonemy Ramadan talk focuses on the art of active listening while Bola Makinde wraps up global news.
President Donald Trump sends 200 ventilators to Nigeria and Nigerian social critic Ara Magaji says Chinese buying up African land to feed people back home. Abir El Ghonemy says don't judge a book by its cover. Bolawola Makinde wrap up of global events.
Abir El Ghonemy goes prayerful tells each to be self and not someone else. Egypt relaxes quarantine and Senegal producing 4 million $1 COVID 19 test kits. Bola Makinde reviews events around the world.
Abir El Ghonemy in Ramadan talk series on Cowrieradio offers tips on how to deal with panic and fear over COVID 19 while New York ICU medic Dr Dave Price answers questions on COVID testing and health of frontliners. Nigerian Sheik begs criminal gang to release his abducted twins delivered through IVF after 12 years of barrenness.
Abir El Ghonemy on Ramadan Day 3 talks about positive affirmations and hunger bigger killer than Coronavirus in Nigeria plus New York ICU doctor Dave Price on what to do when COVID 19 positive
Abir el Ghenomey on Grief and Loss as topic for today's Ramadan Talk. Bola Makinde's news wrap up plus 500kg pangolin scales seized in Kinshasa and five traffickers arrested. Plus China's history of killer viruses.
Abier el Ghonemy shares her thoughts on the COVID 19 pandemic plus China debt trap for developing countries.