The Presidential Task Force PTF on COVID-19 has blamed Nigerians for the continued non-compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols, saying it would have flattened the curve by now but for the lackadaisical attitude of Nigerians towards containing the pandemic. It also lamented the increasing COVID-19 case fatalities in the country, disclosing that of the 985 deaths recorded so far, 14 were medical doctors who contracted the virus in the line of duty. “In coordinating this national response, I can assure you that our biggest challenge has been the attitude of some Nigerians. That is our biggest challenge. ‘’Everything to fight Covid-19…
Author: Doris Emmanuel
Mali, tensions in the Mediterranean and measures to control the coronavirus are expected to be on the agenda on Thursday when German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at his Mediterranean residence of Fort de Bregancon. Despite Merkel’s strong relationships with several French presidents during her time in office, it’s the first time she has been invited to the traditional summer retreat of the French presidency. The last visit to the seaside fortress by a chancellor was in 1985, by Helmut Kohl. The two are expected to discuss the coronavirus crisis, especially since they were both instrumental…
Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation on live television in the early hours of Wednesday morning following a military coup. “I’ve decided to leave my post,” he said, clad in traditional clothing and a medical mask to protect against the coronavirus. The president and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were arrested by the military after a mutiny on Tuesday, following months of street protests in the volatile West African state, which is also battling an Islamic insurgency. “The president and his prime minister have been arrested. “They are being taken to Kati military camp,” army officer Sidi Gakou told…
Manchester United were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as Sevilla enjoyed another special night in the Europa League by coming from behind to reach Friday’s final with a 2-1 win in Cologne. Bruno Fernandes’s early penalty was cancelled out by Suso’s strike for Sevilla in a fiercely contested first half. But United made and wasted almost all the big chances after the break as Bono produced a string of stunning saves until substitute Luuk De Jong turned home Jesus Navas cross 12 minutes from time. United had already secured their place in the Champions League…
A day before the start of the Democratic national convention where Joe Biden is expected to be formally nominated presidential candidate, an NBC News and Wall Street Journal poll on Sunday shows Biden leading U.S. President Donald Trump by 9 points. Fifty-one per cent of polled voters said that they would vote for Biden over Trump, while only 41 per cent said that they would vote for Trump. Biden had an 11-point lead in the same poll conducted the month before. Half of the NBC News and Wall Street Journal poll was conducted after Senator Kamala Harris was announced as…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 298 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of infections in the country to 49,068. The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle late on Sunday. According to it, one death was recorded in the country. According to the health agency, 36,497 patients have now been discharged, with a total of 975 patients losing their lives to the virus. The centre added that Plateau had the highest number of infections recorded for the day with 108 cases, followed by Kaduna with 49 cases. Lagos, still with the…
The automaker is recalling 559 thousand 2015 through 2018 Ford Edge models and 2016 through 2018 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The Ford Motor Company is recalling 562,000 vehicles due to a potential problem with their brake systems. The automaker is recalling 559,000 2015 through 2018 Ford Edge models and 2016 through 2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. According to Ford, there is a problem with the SUV’s brake system that could cause brake fluid to leak. If too much leaks, stopping distances could increase. Ford is also recalling around 3,000 2020 model Lincoln Corsair Crossovers because they may have been assembled without proper…
The Big Brother Naija housemate, Lucy has waded into Friday night tension between Erica and Wathoni. A mild drama ensued in the house when Erica had a face-off with Wathoni over Kiddwaya. Erica had claimed she does not like to chase guys but Wathoni disagreed, saying Kiddwaya who’s Erica’s love interest did not chase any girl in the house. The drama got more tensed when Erica got pissed, broke down in tears after Kiddwaya failed to defend her. After the argument, Erica confronted Wathoni to discuss the issue but Wathoni walked out on her for insulting her son. Erica had…
A man in Oyo State wants to go separate ways with his wife of seven years, and his reason is that she beats him frequently. Gbade Olaniyi, on Wednesday, petitioned an Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve the union with Olubunmi, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Testifying, Mr Olaniyi, an electronic trader, said “my wife has emasculated me. She has sent my friends and family away. “Anytime we have a minor misunderstanding, she gives me dirty slaps. In fact, she slapped me on Sunday, August 2, 10 days ago, and tore my skin with her fingernails.” He…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has shifted the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) screening for the 2020 admission processes till Sept.7 in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country. The board said the shift in the date of the admission process from the earlier announced Aug. 21 was to accommodate candidates who would be taking part in this year’s school-based Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Board Registrar, made this known on Monday, after a consultative virtual meeting with Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of tertiary institutions. According to him, the view of…
TV Reality TV Show BBNaija held it’s second eviction which saw the exit of Eric and Tochukwu for the Night. Host Ebuka started the evening by calling out the names of the housemates up for eviction this week, including Kaisha and TrickyTee who completed the four housemates. Tochi’s Eviction Amidst high tension the host announced the names of the housemates to be evicted with Eric being the first to leave the BBNaija house. Eric who had a 2-week relationship with fellow evicted housemate Lilo from the first eviction last week said to Ebuka that he looks forward to reuniting with…
The founder and General Overseer of the Church of the Lord, Olomore, Abeokuta, Prophet Ebenezer Ajigbotoluwa, has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly defiling and impregnating two underage female siblings in his church. The suspect was reported to have procured abortions for the victims (aged 16 and 13) who followed their mother to the church over a spiritual attack. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday. Oyeyemi noted that the suspect was arrested after the victims’ mother reported to the police. He said…
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said that the planned strike by Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos would start on Monday as its meeting with Lagos State Government ended in deadlock. The South-West Chairman of NUPENG, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday. Aboyeji said the issues which forced the drivers to initiate an indefinite strike was not addressed during the four-hour meeting with officials of Lagos State Government on Sunday. “They only promised to get back to us after we have told…
The remains of late Buruju Kashamu, a former senator have been buried. He was buried at about 12:55pm on Sunday 9th August at his home in Ijebu-Igbo. Earlier, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, was at the Ijebu- Igbo home of the late Buruji Kashamu to pay tribute. It was also gathered that a crowd of sympathisers and loyalists of the late Senator, who represented the Ogun East Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019, thronged Kashamu’s Ijebu-Igbo home Kashamu died on Saturday, due to COVID-19 related complications at age 62. According to reports, the remains of Kashamu arrived from…
Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels and her husband, Ned Nwoko, have finally revealed their baby’s face. The welcoming of a new baby into the Ned and Regina family has been making headlines about 4 weeks ago. Some news outlets had earlier circulated a picture of a child claiming that it was the Nollywood actress newborn, But this claim was debunked by Regina and her Husband. Regina Daniels released the photos of her child in the 7th Episode of “Our Circles” captioned “Baby Reveal” in which the face of her baby was fully revealed together with her husband.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said he met representatives of Pfizer and BioNTech on Coronavirus vaccine development. A statement by the spokesperson of the VP, Laolu Akande said: “VP Osinbajo met promoters of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate pushing for how Nigeria will be prioritized in Africa once a good vaccine is ready.” “He told representatives of Pfizer & BioNTech that what is critical in the vaccine development is the health & safety of Nigeria citizens.” There are no details about any dosage ordered by the government.
Broadcasting stations in Nigeria that broadcast materials considered to be hate speech will pay between half a million and five million. This was revealed by the Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Tuesday in Lagos The minister, who made the disclosure in the company of the acting DG of NBC, Professor Armstrong Idachaba during the unveiling of the amended portion of the 6th edition of NBC code, also said stations that rebroadcast foreign news materials that endanger national security or national interest will be penalised. Other provisions of the new code include the prohibition of the backlog of…
Retail giant Shoprite has denounced reports making rounds that it intends to fold up businesses in Nigeria. An earlier report stated that the retail outlet has started a formal process to consider the potential sale of all or a majority of stake in its supermarkets in Nigeria. However, The Country Director for Chastex Consult, Ini Archibong, in a telephone conversation with Vanguard, said: “Shoprite is not leaving Nigeria. “We have only just opened to Nigerian investors which we have also been talking to just before now. We are not leaving, who leaves over a $30billion investment and close shop? It doesn’t…
Nigeria’s largest modern retailer, Shoprite said it will be selling its stakes in the Nigerian operation after the operating fortunes dwindled. Shoprite had exited Kenya recently for the same reason. In a statement by the company the group said: “Following approaches from various potential investors, and in line with our re-evaluation of the Group’s operating model in Nigeria, the Board has decided to initiate a formal process to consider the potential sale of all, or a majority stake, in Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Shoprite International Limited. “As such, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited may be classified as a…
The European Union has removed Algeria from its updated list of countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the bloc during the coronavirus pandemic. Algeria has recently experienced a resurgence in coronavirus cases, with the current total number of infections at 29,229 according to the WHO. The EU safe list has countries considered as having a “sufficiently good epidemiological situation,” and the capacity to manage the pandemic. The updated list now has Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. The list acts as a guideline for the bloc’s member states as they seek…
Popular OAP, Tolu Oniru-Demuren aka Toolz, and her husband, Captain Tunde Demuren, are proud parents again, as they have welcomed their second child, a boy. The excited mum shared a video from her maternity shoot as she announced the good news via her Instagram page. Toolz and Tunde, who got married in June 2016, welcomed their first child in December 2018.
The highly influential nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mamman Daura, has suggested that Nigeria needs to consider qualified candidates regardless of the region the candidate comes from in the 2023 presidency. He noted that Nigeria had tried rotational presidency for three consecutive times and it’s now time to focus on unity and not regions. Mamman Daura made the suggestion in a rare interview he granted the Hausa Service of the BBC, which was monitored in Abuja, on Tuesday. He said: “Rotation has been done once, twice and three times; it is important that this nation is united as one; the…
The Federal Government has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Muslim faithful and all Nigerians at home and abroad on the occasion. In a statement signed by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior, Ms. Georgina Ehuriah, the minister called on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad. He enjoined Muslims to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability…
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended members of the Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee for the work they are doing in repositioning the governing party. A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Tuesday said Buhari made the commendation during a virtual interaction with the governors of the APC-controlled States with the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in attendance. President Buhari expressed delight over the work that the Caretaker Committee has been doing. He said: “I am pleased with the Chairman and the work of the committee. He…
It’s fair to say that the last few months have presented US President Donald Trump with challenges he could never have envisaged when he was inaugurated in January 2017. The coronavirus pandemic has rocked the world and brought life as we know it to a complete standstill. As one of the biggest and highest populated countries in the world, it was always likely that the US would struggle to contain the virus, but an alarming death toll and questionable Covid-related policies have led some to point the finger at Trump. Indeed, with the 2020 Presidential Election beginning to loom large…
Streaming services make it much easier for us to enjoy the TV shows and movies that we like the most. Thanks to almost universal device compatibility and the on-demand nature of streaming, we can watch whatever we want, whenever we want, regardless of where we are. Now it’s easy to watch our favourite shows on the move, giving us the opportunity to catch up with the latest boxset on the bus, the train, or even a plane. Nigerians are spoilt for choice when it comes to streaming services, with many of the major players operating in the country along with several smaller…
Respected US lawmaker, John Lewis, who was pivotal to civil rights and struggle for equal rights in America, died Friday at age 80. He had been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis that was announced in the last days of 2019. Lewis’ death was reported by the Associated Press. “I have been in some kind of fight — for freedom, equality, basic human rights — for nearly my entire life,” Lewis said when he shared news about the cancer in December. “I have never faced a fight quite like the one I have now.” If there were a Mount…
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has told Nigerian doctors seeking to relocate to countries like the UK, to reconsider such plans as they would lose out on getting hazard allowance. Ehanire said there is no need for doctors to leave the country as the government was working on ensuring better welfare for them. He said, “I think we are one of the few countries giving hazard allowance. This UK where they are going, there is no hazard allowance, they don’t give doctors hazard allowance but you just get your salary, that is all because I have spoken to…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal Government, through the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), is set to implement a number of schemes to keep Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) afloat. The vice president listed Survival Fund including payroll support for three months, guaranteed off-take scheme among others as part of efforts to support small businesses in Nigeria to survive the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the vice president spoke at the 2020 edition of the Micro MSMEs Awards which held via video conference. He said that locally,…
Nigeria on Monday night recorded 575 fresh COVID-19 cases. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which confirmed this on its Twitter handle, said the fresh cases were recorded in 19 states of the federation and Abuja. It added that nine persons died from complications resulting from the virus on Monday. Consequently, the number of COVID-19 fatalities increased from 645 to 654. Also, the total number of confirmed cases increased to 29,286. Cross Rivers also appeared on the NCDC COVID-19 update for the first time since February when Nigeria recorded its index COVID-19 case. However, Cross River’s appearance on the…
