The hottest and most trending news articles for this week in all categories are captured in one shot. Find articles ranging from News to Sports, to Politics, to Entertainment, to Economy, to Metro plus, and many other categories. See below the top news for the week:
NEWS
- Recovered Abacha loot hits $334.7m, US condemns corruption
The amount of money stolen by late General Sani Abacha and his cronies which have been repatriated to Nigeria by the United States has hit over $334.7 million, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, said on Tuesday. According to her, the US government had been keenly aware of the devastating impact of corruption on societies, including eroding trust and the ability of governments to deliver to their citizens. “It distorts the economies and access to key services. It hinders development, pushes citizens towards extremism and makes countries and their officials susceptible to malicious foreign interference”, the US Envoy emphasised.
Leonard expressed these views during the signing of an agreement with the Federal Government for the repatriation of $23 million, being assets looted by Abacha and his cronies. Leonard, in her speech, said the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, seized the stolen funds because Abacha and his associates violated US laws, when they laundered the funds through the US and into accounts to the UK. She promised that the United States would continue to do its part to facilitate the recovery and return of the proceeds of corruption to the Nigerian people.
While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), signed the agreement on behalf of the Nigerian government, Leonard signed for the United States.
He added that in line with the agreement, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the use of the funds for the on-going presidential development infrastructural funds (PIDF) projects, which included the Abuja-Kano road, Lagos-Ibadan express way and the second Niger bridge, which are being supervised by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
- NLC calls for downward review of media operating licenses
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called for a downward review of media operating licenses in line with the socio-economic realities in the country. Congress also blamed the recent withdrawal of the operating licenses of 52 media houses especially television and radio media houses by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, for failing to renew their licenses on the harsh operating environment. In statement by NLC’s President, Ayuba Wabba, NLC however, commended the NBC, for rescinding the withdrawal and allowing the affected media houses to continue to operate.
According to the statement, “It was with disbelief that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) received the news of the withdrawal of the licenses of 52 media houses including both electronic television and radio media houses. “In defence of the media, democratic and economic rights of Nigerians, we had called on the NBC to rescind this decision to withdraw the operating licenses of the affected 53 media houses. In light of our foregoing concerns, we urge that the media operating licence be reviewed downwards as information dissemination is a social service.
The reason given by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was that the affected media houses failed to pay for their license renewal. The most palpable reason for the failure of many of the media houses to pay for the renewal of their operating licenses could be easily found in the deteriorating economic conditions in Nigeria. Albeit, we received with some relief new reasoning by the NBC to allow the affected media houses to continue to operate. This is commendable. Yet, our concerns conveyed in the foregoing subsist.”
- Governors Should Account For State-Level Emergency Funds Collected —Presidency
The Presidency, on Tuesday, posited that calls for the Federal Government to respond to all outbreaks of natural disasters in states show a lack of understanding of the law, noting that the states and local councils are the first responders. According to a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), the Federal Government should only step in to directly address national-level emergencies.
The statement, however, noted that as many communities continue to reel under floods across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari assured that the situation is under continuous monitoring and the government at the centre will keep sending teams to assess the situation with a view to rendering all necessary help.
It said the President extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the nation to communities in towns and villages, many of whom, it said, have lost dear relatives, suffered extensive damage to property, and endured the destruction of crops and farmlands.
While expressing his concerns over the hardships being faced by people due to this natural calamity, the President noted that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had written to each of the 36 states of the federation through the states’ respective Governors advising on the appropriate action to take in view of the gloomy forecasts of the rains this year.
- Court nullifies suspension of NBA’s General Secretary, Joyce Oduah
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, reversed the suspension Joyce Oduah as Secretary General of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Mrs Oduah’s suspension by the NBA national officers was based on allegations of “gross misconduct” and dereliction of duty. Principal among the allegations levelled against her was her recent unilateral withdrawal of notices for the amendment of the association’s constitution.
The constitution amendment, by the earlier notices, was meant to be considered at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which began on 19 August in Lagos. The NBA president, Olumide Akpata, had issued a disclaimer reversing the withdrawal of the notices for the constitution amendment.
Fighting back to overturn her suspension from office, Mrs Oduah filed a suit before Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the court’s order reversing her suspension. On Tuesday, the judge set aside the action of the NBA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on the grounds that it constituted an affront to the rule of law and overreaching court’s proceedings in the suit.
Mr Mohammed, while ruling on an application filed and argued by Ayotunde Ogunleye on behalf of Mrs Oduah, held that the NBA-NEC which gave legal effect to the General Secretary’s suspension acted in “bad faith and in utter disregard for the proceedings of the court.” The judge agreed with Mr Ogunleye that the ratification done on 21 August ought not to have been carried out by the NEC in view of the pendency of a suit challenging Mrs Oduah’s suspension.
- NBA to prosecute lawyers involved in conference vandalism
The outgoing Nigeria Bar Association President, Olumide Akpata, has said that any lawyer found complicit in the vandalisation of conference booths, theft of phones, and assault on officials will be prosecuted. Akpata stated this on Thursday, during the ongoing Annual General Conference. He further explained the circumstances that surrounded the delayed distribution of conference bags during the event. “No one said we will not encounter difficulties in life but the hall mark is how quickly do we resolve such difficulties.
In a viral video on Wednesday, lawyers were seen destroying conference booths and looting conference materials on Tuesday night. Lawyers attending the ongoing 62nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association had on Tuesday protested over the inadequate supply of conference materials, as some of them could not get the conference bag. Some of the Lawyers decried the unavailability of conference materials despite coming to the accreditation center frequently, and this, according to many delegates, was frustrating them.
However, the distribution process was slow despite a large number of lawyers being on the queue waiting for their bags. The lawyers later became impatient and they led a charge which even the bouncers couldn’t hold off, and the accreditation center not only became overcrowded, but was destroyed and vandalised with lawyers looting and carting away Conference materials.
The Lawyers and Delegates at the NBA-AGC went berserk over the distribution of conference bags, destroying registration booths and looting other Conference materials. In a video sighted, lawyers were seen destroying registration booths and picking items of their choice due to the unavailability of conference bags.
- Why I wore sneakers to NBA conference – Shettima
The All Progressives Congress vice-presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, has explained why he wrote sneakers to the Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Lagos State on Monday.
Shettima, who represented APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, at the event, was dressed in a black suit and red tie, accompanied by a pair of gym shoes, which stirred reactions from social media users. The event was attended by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party, Peter Obi, respectively. But justifying his style in a video clip shared on social media on Thursday, Shettima, who is a former Borno State governor, stated that he deliberated wore sneakers to the event.
“I was in Lagos for the NBA conference. It was held in Eko Hotels, it was largely funded by the Lagos State Government, the APC government of Lagos State. Subsequently, they moved to Eko Atlantic city, a product of an idea conceived by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. When I sent my recce team… One of the presidential candidates, his team held meetings for three consecutive nights to commit mischief. “When I was told it was a hostile crowd. I’m a banker, trained by one of the best bankers in the world. I’m a Jim Ovia boy. I deliberately wore sneakers to the NBA to mock at them.”
- Gold not discovered in Anambra – Soludo
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has denied the news of the discovery of a large deposit of gold in a part of the state. An online medium had through a report alleged that the discovery of gold reserve estimated over 20 million tonnes and worth over $900tn in Ehamufu, Anambra State. The report also alleged that Soludo, in his capacity as the chairman of the South East Governors’ forum, briefed journalists at the end of a meeting of the forum on the development.
But reacting to the claims, the governor in a press statement through his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, on Friday, described the report as fake and misleading. The statement was titled ‘Purported discovery of gold reserve of over 20 million tonnes worth over $900tn in Ehamufu, Anambra State’.
The governor advised the general public to completely disregard the report and every material therein as a fake news item, saying the state government has specific channels where it churns out information to the public.
- SERAP, Afenifere demand transparency spending Abacha loot
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the Federal Government to be open and accountable to Nigerians on the recovered Abacha loot. Recall that the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, had said the looted fund repatriated to Nigeria by the United States had hit over $334.7m. Speaking in an interview with newsmen, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the government to be transparent with previously and currently received funds. According to him, Nigerians reserve the constitutional right to be duly informed on expenditures of the government.
He said, “In respect to the Abacha loot, there is need for adequate accountability. Every administration has not been forthcoming in being transparent and accountable about how those funds recovered were spent. Government should not only recover funds but should clearly tell Nigerians how the recovered funds have been used. And that is not enough, those funds should be monitored to be sure that they are used for their purpose for to ensure they do not end up in private pockets. But what we have seen with this administration, in line with the posture and the stand of government on accountability has not really been encouraging.
The SERAP deputy director added that the regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari had not shown commitment towards the against corruption. “Government should obey the constitutional provision that mandates it to proactively disclose information and to ensure that the people are part of the government.” In the same vein, the Secretary General, Afenifere, Sola Ebiseni, expressed concern over the management of the recovered Abacha loot.
- NBC suspends shutdown of indebted Broadcast stations
The National Broadcast Commission, NBC has temporarily suspended the shutdown of the indebted Broadcast stations. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Director General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah
The suspension it said was sequel to a follow-up meeting held with Executives of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and other critical Stakeholders in the industry. It expressed profound appreciation to the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, the affected licensees and Broadcast Stakeholders for their responses and interventions.
The Commission however, noted that it was not unaware of the difficulties the shutdown must have caused the operators and other stakeholders, and stated that it will always operate within the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap. N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
POLITICS
- Tinubu, Wike meet in UK, PDP talks wobble
There are strong indications that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, is intensifying efforts to get the support of the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for the 2023 presidential poll. Contrary to some online reports that the duo met in France on Tuesday, multiple sources confirmed to newsmen on Tuesday that Tinubu and Wike met in London, the United Kingdom, on Monday as part of moves to work together ahead of the election. It was gathered that some APC and Peoples Democratic Party governors also attended the crucial meeting. Also present at the meeting was a former Ekiti governor and PDP member, Ayodele Fayose.
Prior to the Monday meeting, the ruling party had attempted to cash in on the crisis in the PDP over the presidential primary won by former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, which left Wike aggrieved. On July 8, three APC governors, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State visited Wike at his Rumueprikon country home in Port Harcourt, as part of moves to woo him.
The PDP set up a reconciliation panel to resolve the crisis between Atiku and Wike. The crisis began after the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, emerged as Atiku’s running mate. After several postponements, the panel met Wike in Port Harcourt last Friday but the meeting ended in a stalemate following the insistence of the Rivers State governor on the removal of the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, over the role he played in the emergence of the former vice-president as the party standard -bearer.
Sources at the meeting disclosed that Wike’s representatives at the meeting said Ayu could not be an impartial chairman because he took sides during the special convention. It was gathered that the failure of the reconciliation panel to assuage Wike’s anger had put Atiku’s peace moves on a shaky ground, leaving room for Tinubu to court the governor. Confirming the meeting between Wike and the APC presidential candidate, a source in Tinubu’s camp said the parley was held in London.
- Wike’s UK meeting with Obasanjo, Obi, Atiku heightens 2023 puzzle
Exactly a week after former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his Abeokuta home, he, yesterday, led the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, to meet the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, in London, in what political watchers believe is high-stake negotiation ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Wike attended the meeting with his allies, including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, among others. This came 48 hours after Tinubu’s London meeting with Wike and associates became public knowledge and hours before another strategic meeting between Wike and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, also in London.
Thursday night, the long-awaited meeting between Atiku and Wike finally held in London. Details of the meeting between the two PDP gladiators were not disclosed but it centered around reconciliation, the need to move the party forward and seeking Wike’s support for Atiku in the forthcoming general election. The meeting, which had been long expected since after the duo fell out in aftermath of the PDP presidential primary, had four other PDP governors in attendance.
Present at the meeting was Governor Ahmed Umaru Fintiri of Atiku’s home state of Adamawa, and the trio of Wike’s allies, Ortom, Makinde and Ikpeazu.
Earlier, an official of a support group for Tinubu had disclosed that both Asiwaju and Wike met in London to discuss a “strategic alliance ahead of the presidential election and acknowledged the need to work together to ensure that Tinubu becomes president in 2023.” Before Thursday’s meeting in London, there had been apprehension in the PDP that the crisis between Atiku and Wike may affect its chances in the presidential elections. Also, party leaders were already expressing concern about the growing relationship between Wike and influential members of the ruling APC, describing the development as worrisome. Wike is yet to throw his weight behind Atiku and there are fears he may work against the PDP.
ECONOMY
- Nigeria recovers N86.2bn stolen oil in one month
Different government security outfits operating across the country have recovered stolen oil worth N86.2bn in August, according to The Punch’s findings. A total of 16, 000 litres of diesel valued at N800/litre (N12.8m) were on Monday reported to have been recovered by members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Cross River. Speaking with the media, Rivers State NSCDC Commandant, Samuel Fadeyi, said the stolen products, which were mainly Automotive Gas Oil also known as diesel, were recovered within the last two weeks.
Also, last Wednesday, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Seme Area Command, said it intercepted 3,998 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, in 30 litres each, equivalent to 119,940 litres. The products, according to the Customs Area Controller, Bello Mohammed Jibo, were about four tanker loads of 33,000 litres each.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, recently approved a price of N191 per litre of PMS ( highest range). An estimation of how much Nigeria would have lost had the 119, 940 litres made it to the Republic of Benin would have been N161m. The seized petroleum product had a Duty Paid Value of N28.9 million. Again, last week, the Nigerian Navy confirmed the arrest of a supertanker, MV HEROIC IDUN, by Equatorial Guinea forces over alleged crude oil theft in Nigeria. The arrest was made after it fled from Nigeria’s AKPO Oil Field when its activities were uncovered by operatives of the Navy.
Spokesperson for the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Clement Isong, President of the Independent petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, and the National Operations Controller, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, Mike Asatuyi, had vindicated their members of being partakers of smuggling of petrol to neighbourhood countries.
A startling revelation by the Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigeria Council and a professor of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Benin, Olalekan Olafuyi, last Sunday, put the loss of crude oil in Nigeria at 2000 trucks daily.
- Troops intercepted N3.7bn stolen crude oil, says DHQ
The Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, said a combined troops of Operations Delta Safe, Octopus Grip and Dakar Da Barawo, intercepted petroleum products worth N3, 708,259,338.00 from suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta within two weeks. The military high command also said troops of the Nigerian Army’s Guards Brigade raided suspected terrorists’ hideouts at Deidei Abattoir in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and in Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, disclosed these while briefing journalists on the activities of the troops between August 11 and 25. Giving a breakdown of the volume of petroleum products recovered from the suspects, he said, “25,977.15 barrel of crude oil; 3,236,130 litres of Automotive Gas Oil; 26,575 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, and 2,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene were recovered. Also, troops arrested 21 pipeline vandals. Also, troops recovered four tankers, two speed boats, one generator, one outboard engine, 14 pumping machine and three AK47 rifles.”
Danmadami noted that during the operations, troops also discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites. He added that eight suspected terrorists were arrested, and also eight guns and other items were recovered during the operation by the Guards Brigade.
- FG defends foreign borrowings with infrastructure projects
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said yesterday that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has justified foreign borrowings with construction of infrastructure projects across the country, compared to previous administrations. The Minister, who stated this during the opening ceremony of the 28th National Council of Works meeting holding in Kano, said: “Our first budget [in 2016] was over N250billion, up from the N18billion we met in 2015, that was an increase of over a thousand per cent, even though the price of crude oil was dropping, we did not raise taxes.
He said the government had been able to deliver more than 1,800 kilometers of roads across the six geopolitical zones of the country so far, adding that it was determined to complete all ongoing projects before the expiration of its tenure in May next year.
Earlier, Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said there was need for synergy between the federal government and states on highways. Ganduje, who commended the government for initiating projects in his state, said: “I would like to express the appreciations and gratitude of government and the good people of Kano State to President Muhammadu Buhari and the minister over the provision of various federal government’s interventions across the state, namely: Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri road, construction of Kano Western Bypass road, Dualization of Kano – Katsina road and rehabilitation of Kano – Zaria – Kaduna – Abuja road which are all progressing by the day.
EDUCATION
- ASUU: Parents propose N10, 000 support levy for varsities
The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria has sought audience with the Federal Government over the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The association is also proposing the payment of N10, 000 per session for each parent to assist government in making more funds available for universities.
NAPTAN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo, disclosed this during an interview with journalists on Tuesday. Ekundayo, who lamented continued closure of universities in the country, said parents were at the receiving ends of the disagreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.
He said, “We have submitted a letter to the Office of the Education Minister, seeking for audience where we hope to discuss a proposal. We are proposing a sum of N10, 000 per parent every session that will be directly paid to the universities. That will be our own contribution apart from other statutory payments in making more funds available to the universities. It can be called parent support levy for universities. We are at the receiving end of the industrial action. We plead with the ASUU and Federal Government to immediately resolve their differences.”
A philanthropist and founder of Opeyemi David Falegan Foundation, Opeyemi Falegan, has called on the past presidents and military rulers to intervene in the lingering ASUU strike. He also called on the Federal Government and the striking lecturers to consider making necessary sacrifices to end the strike.
- Nigerian students from Zamfara expelled by Cyprus university
No fewer than 91 students from Zamfara state have been expelled by Cyprus International University over the failure of the Northwestern state government to pay the tuition and other fees.
The students who are on state-sponsored scholarships in the university were evicted because Zamfara has not fulfilled the agreement for the scholarship signed some years ago.
Reports have it that some of the students who spoke to BBC Hausa Service, on Monday, cried out that they are faced with hunger, starvation and threat of arrest, in addition to the fact that their residence permits have expired and they could be arrested by the authorities for being in the country illegally.
One of the students who pleaded anonymity said, “We started having the problem between the school and the Zamfara state government since our first year in school but we thought it could be resolved without raising our voices.
According to reports, the Zamfara state government when contacted on the issue confirmed the situation of the students in Cyprus, and it has started working on how to address the challenges.
Commissioner for Information, Zamfara State, Ibrahim Dosara, confirmed to BBC Hausa Service that part of the funds being owed to the university and the students were paid recently.
- ASUU rejects EKSU resumption order, UNIOSUN tackles union
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, has rejected an order given by the management of the institution for the resumption of academic activities. The Chairperson of the union, Dr Kayode Arogundade, who made this known on Friday, however, said the university’s Registrar, Ife Oluwole, was free to reopen the university which he closed following the industrial action.
Arogundade, who spoke in reaction to a statement on Wednesday by the registrar directing fresh students for the 2021/2022 session to resume on Monday for screening, registration and orientation programmes and as well as directing the striking workers to resume, said EKSU-ASUU was not part of the school’s resumption order. He said, “As far as we are concerned, we are still on strike. We have just finished our congress. We are not comfortable with the position of the Federal Government. We have communicated our resolutions at the congress to our national body.
Meanwhile, the university’s management had in a statement by the Head, Directorate of Information, Bode Olofinmuagun, on Friday titled, “EKSU not a quack university: ASUU president’s statement, reckless,” lambasted the ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, for referring to some state universities as quacks, saying the denigrating remark was “unfortunate, reckless and unwarranted”.
- Akeredolu approves primary school teachers’ promotion
The Ondo State Government has approved that serving primary school teachers can henceforth reach the status of Permanent Secretaries like other civil servants. The Chairman, Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Victor Olabimtan, disclosed this during his interactive meeting with the headteachers across the three senatorial districts of the state in Akure, the state capital.
Olabimtan, who distributed promotion letters to 2,111 teachers, out of which about 85 of them were upgraded to level -16 (PS status), reiterated the government’s genuine intention to create a conducive atmosphere for teaching. He commended Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for providing the UBEC counterpart funds which had hitherto been neglected for about five years, paving way for the massive reconstruction of schools, renovations as well as provision of furniture items.
The SUBEB chairman also condemned in strong term the attitude of some teachers taking their biological children to private schools and ruled that it had become an offence for any public school teacher to take their wards to private schools. He said, “The teachers will henceforth be held responsible for any drop in primary schools’ enrolment.”
Olabimtan also tasked the Education Secretary in the 18 Local Government Areas of the state “not to hesitate at reporting any teacher found wanting in their duty post for possible sanction.” In his remarks, the state Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association, Alhaji Abimbola Omoloja, commended the governor for showing interest in lifting education from foundation. The PTA chairman solicited for the return of extra curricular activities to schools.
HEALTH
- Locally-made COVID-19 vaccine for trial November
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Federal Government is set for trial by November
Reports ave it that the project, which is a mega research grant intervention tagged, ‘Accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines using innovative technological approach’, is a collaborative effort involving cluster researchers from five different institutions to consolidate problem-solving research and promote innovation in the country. Tertiary Education Trust Fund awarded a total of N1.25bn to four clusters of researchers. One of the clusters, which is the Vaccine Production Cluster, got a total grant of N450m.
According to a statement by TETFUND and made available to our correspondent in Abuja, the VPC is made up of researchers from the National Veterinary Research Institute Vom; Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos; Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos; and National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria.
The statement titled, ‘TETFund-sponsored COVID-19 vaccine ready for trial November’ read in part, “The Vice Chancellor of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof Lawal Bilbis, who led the team of researchers to brief the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, on the progress so far explained that they were able to make the breakthrough through the maximum support of the fund. He recalled how the COVIC-19 pandemic ravaged and unleashed untold hardship on humanity globally, noting that Nigeria was only saved by divine intervention, since the nation was not prepared for such eventuality.
A presentation by Dr Bashir Bello of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, revealed that it had become a matter of urgency for Africa to join the rest of the world in the production of its own vaccine, as it was estimated that the continent currently imports 99 per cent of its vaccines and consumes 25 per cent of global vaccine supply.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, assured the German-based mRNA vaccine manufacturer, BioNTech, of Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate towards the local production of vaccines. Buhari said he looked forward to receiving a commitment from the company to expand collaboration to achieve Nigeria’s goal of developing capacities for research, development and manufacturing.
- First vaccine against malaria not for adults — FG
The Federal Government has said that the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), will be administered in four doses to 5-month-old babies. WHO also said the vaccine will be effective against the deadliest parasite, especially common in Africa and it’s not for adults. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Ministerial bi-weekly meeting on the update of COVID-19 response and development in the country’s health sector. Reports have it that the 2021 World Malaria Report (WMR 2021), indicates that Nigeria contributes 27 per cent of the global malaria cases and 32 per cent of global malaria deaths.
The minister said that the country witnessed a total of 57 million clinical cases per year and annual deaths of about 100,000. He said that vaccines for malaria were still under review with the first one known to have reduced the risk of malaria by 40 per cent in children in Africa as of 2020.
Also that efforts were in place to combat the malaria scourge. The objective of the National Malaria Strategic Plan was to seek to improve access and utilisation of vector control interventions to at least 80 per cent of the targeted population by 2025Ehanire added
According to the 2010 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS 2010), there has been a continuous decline in malaria from 42 per cent in 2010 to 27 per cent in 2015. In the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2018), there was a further decline in malaria cases from 27 per cent to 23 per cent. This decline was believed to have resulted from a thorough programme implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan.
The country is currently implementing the National Malaria Strategic Plan of 2021 to 2025, with the intent to achieve a parasite prevalence of less than 10 per cent. It is also expected to reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by the year 2025. It will take about N1.89 trillion to implement this five-year plan
- Intensify fight against cervical cancer, FG told
As Cervical cancer remains a major killer of women, a group, Project Pink Blue, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government, FG, to intensify efforts in the fight against cervical cancer. This, they said, would enable the country to attain the global target of 70 percent screening by the year 2030, as set up by the World Health Organization, WHO. The group, however, said the realization of the goal will be enabled by strong political will and robust awareness among the eligible women.
Speaking during the film screening of conquering cancer, in Abuja, the Programme Coordinator, Project Pink Blue, Gloria Okwu, while bemoaning the poor level of sensitisation of the devastating disease, said there is need for the federal government to make screening of women for cervical cancer a project. She, therefore, called for an immediate deployment of cervical cancer vaccine, adding that there are currently several preventive measures against the devastating disease.
- While Nigerian hospitals lament insufficient personnel, 13,000 leave for UK in one year
While Nigerian hospitals continue to suffer from insufficient doctors and other health personnel, over 13,000 healthcare workers left the country for the UK in the past year. A new report by the UK government showed that the 13,609 Nigerian healthcare workers granted working visas within the period are second only to the 42,966 from India.
According to the UK immigration report released Thursday, Nigeria is second only to Indians in the number of visas granted for the ‘Skilled Worker – Health & Care’ with 14 per cent (13,609) of the total. India has the highest in this category with 45 per cent (42,966) of the total while The Philippines is third with 11 per cent (11,021).
However, it is not only healthcare workers that are leaving Nigeria to work in the UK. Nigerians are also the second highest recipients of the ‘worker visa’, second only to Indians. In the year ending June 2022, Nigerians made up 15,772 of the ‘worker’ visas granted; a 303 per cent increase when compared to the 3,918 worker visas granted in 2019. India, which ranked first, received 102,981 work visa grants. The Philippines ranked third with 12,826; Zimbabwe fourth with 8,378 and the United States fifth with 7,748.
According to the report by the UK Home Office, “in the year ending June 2022, ‘Worker’ visa grants increased by 96 per cent (+108,794) to 222,349 compared with 2019, and now represent 67 per cent of all work visas.” It added that there were 87,266 grants of ‘Skilled Worker’ visas and an additional 96,249 grants of ‘Skilled Worker – Health & Care’ visas. The top three nationals granted ‘Skilled Worker’ visas are Indians, accounting for 39 per cent (34,186), followed by United States nationals with 6 per cent (5,637) and South Africans with 4 per cent (3,578).
WORLD
- US Warns Russia Not To Divert Power From Ukraine Nuclear Plant
Washington on Thursday warned Russia against diverting energy from a nuclear plant Kyiv says was cut off from its grid, as calls for an independent inspection of the facility mount. Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is under occupation by Moscow’s troops and was disconnected from the national power supply on Thursday, the state energy operator said. The United States cautioned Russia against redirecting energy from the site.
“The electricity that it produces rightly belongs to Ukraine and any attempt to disconnect the plant from the Ukrainian power grid and redirect to occupied areas is unacceptable,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. No country should turn a nuclear power plant into an active war zone and we oppose any Russian efforts to weaponise or divert energy from the plant.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Ukraine had informed it the plant temporarily lost connection — “further underlining the urgent need for an IAEA expert mission to travel to the facility”. “We can’t afford to lose any more time. I’m determined to personally lead an IAEA mission to the plant in the next few days,” the organisation’s Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged Russia to agree to a demilitarised zone around the plant and “allow the IAEA to visit as soon as possible to check on the safety.” The Zaporizhzhia plant — Europe’s largest nuclear facility — has been occupied by Russian troops in southern Ukraine since the opening weeks of the war, and remained on the frontlines ever since.
- Zelensky: Russian Strike On Ukraine Rail Station Kills 22
A Russian strike on a Ukrainian railway station killed 22 people and wounded 50 others, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday as his country marked six months of war with Moscow. “I have just received information about a Russian missile strike on a railway station in the (central) Dnipropetrovsk region… At least 15 people were killed and around 50 injured,” Zelensky said in a speech to the UN Security Council.
Zelensky said the strike was “right on the wagons at Chaplino station. Four passenger cars are on fire”. Rescuers are working on the spot, but the death toll may rise unfortunately. This is our daily life,” Zelensky said.
The strike comes as Ukraine marks Independence Day, commemorating its separation from the Soviet Union in 1991. It also comes as the country enters its seventh month of war against Russia, launched on February 24. Zelensky said earlier Wednesday that Ukraine would fight “to the end”.
While most fighting is now taking place in eastern and southern Ukraine, where neither side appears to be making progress, Russia regularly strikes Ukrainian cities with long-range missiles, according to Kyiv.
ENTERTAINMENT
- Showcase yourself, Don Jazzy advises upcoming artistes
Nigerian music icon, Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has encouraged upcoming artistes to showcase their talents on their social media pages. The Mavin Records boss, who is famous for his talent hunting on social media, revealed that three of his most recent signees were discovered via their Instagram pages.
Sharing a screenshot of his first chat with the rising stars, Don Baba as he is also known, said he contacted Ayrra Starr, Boyspyce and most recently, Bayanni, because he could see promising samples of their works on their various pages.
“Dear upcoming artistes, from these 3 screenshots you can see I reached out to Ayra, Boyspyce and Bayanni myself,” he wrote in a letter posted via his Instagram page on Thursday. I won’t have reached out to them if I didn’t see a sample of what they can do on their Instagram pages. For the umpteenth time, showcase yourself on your page.
“I know it seems uncool to post a lot, but then again you would be an uncool artiste if it’s only your family that gets to hear your beautiful music till you give up.” aThe music executive unveiled a new singer, Bayanni as an addition to his star-studded record label on Tuesday.
- Mo Abudu makes directorial debut with two films
Media entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, is set to direct two short films. Though her company has been the executive director of some films, she stated that this will be the first time she will be in charge of the entire filmmaking process. Mo Abudu attended the London Film School in 2017, where she completed a course in directing.
In a statement sent to newsmen, Abudu said, “I believe in learning and understanding any major assignment I undertake. Directing is an art form that takes years to master, so I’m beginning with baby steps. I have written two short films that I will be directing– ‘Her Perfect Life’ and ‘Iyawo Mi (My Wife)’. The latter is a predominantly Yoruba language film.
“Although the stories are fictional, they highlight the mental health challenges, hardly spoken about in Nigeria, but which many people deal with all over the world. Mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, income or social class, and they are on the increase.”
‘Her Perfect Life’ is about a woman who seems to have the perfect life— a flourishing career, a growing business, a loving husband and two beautiful children— yet is contemplating suicide. It stars actors such as Pearl Thusi, Joseph Benjamin, Omawunmi Dada, Uzo Osimpka and Mary Lazarus.
On the other hand, ‘Iyawo Mi (My Wife)’ is about a man who arrives home one night to find a horror awaiting him. His wife, Eniola, seems to have gone mad; hallucinating, screaming at their children and neighbours, and threatening to kill everyone. He then takes matters into his own hands, with tragic consequences. It features Adedimeji Lateef, Bolaji Ogunmola, Segun Arinze and Jude Chukwuka.
SPORTS
- CHAN 2023: Salisu Yusuf Releases Super Eagles 22-man List Ahead Ghana Clash
Super Eagles B head coach, Salisu Yusuf has released the list of 22 players that will travel to face Black Galaxies of Ghana in the 2023 Championship of African Nations Cup (CHAN). The list consists of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and five strikers completed the squad that will trade tackles with Ghana in the double header qualifying matches.
Top on the list are Goalkeepers, Adewale Adeyinka and Ojo Olorunleke and Bankole Kayode, defenders Gbadebo Samson, Tope Olusesi and Ebube Duru as well as the Nigeria Professional Football League ((NPFL) top scorer, Chijoke Akuneto, Andy Okpe and Ossy Martins.
Salisu invited 35 players to camp and 13 have been dropped after selecting the best legs for the final round of the qualifier. The team that wins on aggregate scoreline of the two matches will qualify for the 2023 Championship of African Nations Cup.
- Amusan Finishes Second In Lusane Diamond League
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan on Friday finished second in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Athletissima Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. The world champion and world record holder was beaten to the first spot by Puerto Rica’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who ran a meet record of 12.34 seconds.
Amusan had to settle for silver with a time of 12.45 seconds while United States’ Tia Jones finished third with a personal best of 12:47 seconds. The hurdles marked Amusan’s return to the track after she broke the world record in July by clocking 12.12 seconds in the semi-final of the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon before further extending the record when she won the final in 12.06 seconds.
She was also victorious at the Commonwealth Games where she also claimed the gold medal in 12.29 seconds. The world champion had inspired Team Nigeria to a seventh place finish with 35 medals, 12 gold, nine silver, and 14 bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
In 2021, Amusan became the first Nigerian to win the 2021 Diamond League final, clocking 12.42 seconds, ahead of Dutch Nadine Visser, who finished second with 12.51 seconds and Jamaican Megan Tapper who finished third with 12.55 seconds. Amusan will not be at the Brussels Diamond League on September 2, but she is expected to be at the Diamond League final in Zurich on September 8.
- Court Awards $31m To Kobe Bryant’s Widow Over Crash Photos
Los Angeles County must pay $31 million in damages to Kobe Bryant’s widow and a co-plaintiff over graphic photos taken at the site of the helicopter crash that killed the basketball star and eight others, a jury ordered Wednesday. Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters who rushed to the scene of the January 2020 crash snapped pictures of the carnage, including the mangled remains of the Los Angeles Lakers legend and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.
A trial in Los Angeles heard how some of these first responders showed the photographs to members of the public — including a bartender — while one deputy texted them to a friend as the pair played video games. Vanessa Bryant and Chris Chester, whose wife, Sarah, and daughter, Payton, also perished in the crash, sued for emotional damages over the pictures, which they said they feared would one day surface on the internet.
The civil jury ordered the county to pay $16 million to Bryant, and $15 million to Chester, after deliberating for just a few hours. The award represents redress for past and future suffering.
Bryant wept while the verdict was read and left court without speaking to waiting reporters. She later posted a picture on Instagram of her with her late husband and daughter, with the caption: “All for you! I love you! JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi!”
METRO PLUS
- UK to spend £15m on nutrition in North-East
The United Kingdom on Tuesday announced a plan to spend £15 million to address the food and nutritional needs of vulnerable people in three states in the north-east of Nigeria, which are Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe. According to a statement by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, the gesture is meant to deliver life-saving activities for vulnerable people, including malnourished women and children.
The statement partly read, “The UK has announced that it will spend £15 million of emergency humanitarian funding to provide vital food and nutrition assistance for vulnerable people in the north-east Nigerian states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe. The money will fund the United Nations Children’s Fund and World Food Programme to deliver life-saving activities to respond to crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity and malnutrition for vulnerable people, including malnourished women and children.
“This food assistance funding is part of the UK’s wider commitment to prioritise life-saving humanitarian aid to communities around the world who are most vulnerable due to the ongoing combination of crises.”
Acknowledging the UK’s assistance, the Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford, said, “Millions of people across the Sahel and West Africa are unimaginably suffering from hunger and malnutrition.
“That’s why the UK will step up with an urgent £38 million of humanitarian funding, reaching those most vulnerable and saving lives across the region. Also, the Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, noted that the funds from the UK will crush starvation.
- 4 kidnapped Catholic Reverend Sisters freed in Imo
The four Catholic Church Reverend Sisters kidnapped last Sunday at Okigwe-Umulolo axis in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State have been released. Secretary-General of Sisters of Jesus The Saviour (Generalate), Zita Ihedoro, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, yesterday.
The freed Reverend Sisters, Johannes Nwodo, Christabel Echemazu, Liberata Mbamalu and Benita Agu, were kidnapped on their way to a thanksgiving mass of one of their colleagues.
Announcing their release, Sister Ihedoro said: “With hearts full of joy the sisters of Jesus the Saviour wish to announce the unconditional and safe release of four of our sisters, who were abducted around Okigwe-Umulolo axis on August 21, 2022.
However, at press time, Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Michael Abattam, was yet to respond to the report of the release of the Reverend Sisters.
- Ogun ‘hook-up’ girl sells baby for N600,000
The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 23-year-old woman, Mary Olatayo, for allegedly selling her three-week-old baby boy for N600,000. The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspect was arrested following a complaint from the father of the baby.
He said, “The man said Mary got pregnant in the process and he rented an apartment for her where she lived till she delivered a baby boy. He explained further that the lady suddenly disappeared with the baby from the apartment three weeks after delivery, only for her to be found in a hotel where she went to ‘hook-up’ with another man. All efforts to know the baby’s whereabouts proved futile. On the strength of his complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Mowe Division, SP Folake Afeniforo, detailed detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested and brought to the station.
“On interrogation, Mary Olatayo, confessed to the police that she sold the baby to someone in Anambra State at the rate of N600,000. She confessed that it was her friend, Chioma Ogbonna, who led her to the buyer in Anambra State, and that they both shared the money equally. Her confession led to the arrest of Chioma Ogbonna, who also corroborated Mary’s claims. Further investigation revealed that Mary Olatayo, a native of Omu-Aran in Kwara State, is a call girl, who sees the baby as a disturbance to her business, hence she decided to do away with the baby.
Oyeyemi said the state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had ordered the transfer of the suspects to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation. He said the CP also directed that everything possible must be done to recover the baby.
