Author: Chief Editor

Cases of coronavirus in Africa nearly doubled over a week as Omicron spread, but hospitalisations in South Africa, where the new variant was discovered, remain low, the UN said Thursday. In a weekly online press briefing, the World Health Organization’s Africa branch said the continent had recorded 107,000 extra cases in the week to Sunday, compared with 55,000 in the previous week. Omicron “is reaching more countries in Africa,” it said, adding that research was being stepped up to see whether the new variant was specifically behind the sharp rise. The biggest surge in numbers — 140 percent on average…

Slams N2m damages against outfit Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday slammed the sum of N2 million against the Department of State Services (DSS) for illegally seizing an iPhone and cash from publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, in 2019. The court found the DSS guilty of violating the rights of Sowore, when it forcefully took the said item and cash during Sowore’s arrest in 2019 for spearheading the #RevolutionNow protest, against harsh economic situation under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Justice Chikere, who made the order in a fundamental rights suit filed by Sowore,…

Mourns ex-Senate President Wayas The Senate has finalised moves to amend its over six-year-old Standing Rules by next week for better running of the legislative arm. This is just as the Red Chamber mourned the Second Republic Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, describing him as a stabiliser of the relationship between the executive and legislature from 1979 to 1983. At Wednesday’s plenary, the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, disclosed that the chamber will next Tuesday amend the 2015 Senate Standing Orders. According to him, the decision to amend the Senate Rules was to ensure an improvement to enable…

Stakeholders, experts divided over decision In a rare and bold move, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, approved the immediate sacking of the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) following industrial action. The announcement made through the Ministry of Power with the purported backing of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) was commended in some quarters, while a number of others opposed it, smelling political move and underpinning interest. Although the government has about 40 per cent share in the utility company the President, according to some stakeholders, may be interfering in the sector and playing the roles of the…

• Cracks down on fake COVID-19 test results, vaccination cards • Unveils plan for containing the fourth wave of pandemic Lagos State government, yesterday, issued guidelines for social events and gatherings within the state during the festive season. Making the disclosure in a statement, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said all social events must be duly registered to obtain Event Safety Clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission website. He explained: “Where possible events should be held in an outdoor space. Occupancy limit at any event must not exceed 60 per cent of the maximum design capacity of the Commission. Every attendee of…

• ‘He should be sincere’ Robert Lewandowski was unconvinced by Lionel Messi’s tribute towards him at last week’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, as the Bayern Munich star labelled his rival’s comments ‘empty words’. Messi, 34, controversially pipped Lewandowski, 33, to the 2021 prize, with many fans and pundits opining that the Polish marksman was more deserving of the award. The Bayern Munich striker was the standout performer of 2020 and was cruelly denied the Ballon d’Or that year as it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his acceptance speech, Messi acknowledged that Lewandowski deserved the prize for 2020, and called…

Saudi Arabia authorities have suspended flights coming from Nigeria into the kingdom due to the outbreak of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. An official of the Saudi embassy in Nigeria who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorized to interface with the media, said the Kingdom took the decision to prevent the further spread of the new infection. Saudi recorded her index case of Omiron from a passenger returning from North Africa. Saudi’s temporary restriction also came when Nigeria equally confirmed her fifth case of the new variant. A reliable source from the National Hajj Commission…

Lauds AFREXIMBANK for medical centre of excellence President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that stronger partnership with the private sector will help in improving health facilities and access in the country, adding that a nation needs a healthy population to prosper. Speaking Tuesday at the virtual groundbreaking ceremony of African Medical Centre of Excellence, a landmark hospital project that will significantly transform the healthcare sector in West African sub-region, the president said the challenges faced in the health sector require collective will, partnership and more resources, especially in tackling brain drain. The health project is being implemented by African Export-Import Bank…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the governor said he updated the president on security and socio-economic developments in his state. He said, in response to his presentations, President Buhari pledged to do more to ensure adequate security of life and property of all citizens in the state and across the country, ahead of the yuletide season. According to him, steps are being taken to address security challenges in the South-East region of the country.…

President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the consideration and approval of the Senate for the Finance Bill 2021. The request by the President seeking the passage of the bill into law was contained in a letter dated December 7, 2021. Buhari, in the letter, explained that the request for the passage of the bill was made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 58 and 59 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). He explained that the Finance Bill, 2021, seeks to support the implementation of the 2022 budget by proposing key reforms to specific taxation, customs,…