Author: Chief Editor

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said the country should start a discussion on how to ramp up capacity to be able to manufacture vaccines locally. Nigeria – and most African countries – has been largely left stranded as countries such as the US, UK, Russia, and China roll-out mass vaccination programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is expected to take delivery of some 100,000 vaccine shots by the end of January, but that is a drop in the ocean, in relation to the population. Nigeria is estimated to be home to over 200 million people. “We…

The World Health Organization’s emergency committee met, two weeks early, on Thursday to discuss the urgent threat from rapidly-spreading new coronavirus variants. Newly identified mutations of the virus, which appear to be significantly more infectious, come as spiking case numbers force many countries to enforce new restrictions. The committee normally gathers every three months but the WHO brought the meeting forward to discuss the mutations. “There are two urgent issues which need particular attention, and for which we seek your advice,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told members, in his opening remarks. “The first is the recent emergence of new…

The World Health Organization’s European branch on Thursday said 95 percent of vaccine doses so far administered worldwide were limited to 10 countries and called for a more equitable distribution. In terms of total doses the top countries are the US, China, the UK, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Russia, Germany, Spain and Canada. “Collectively, we simply cannot afford to leave any country, any community behind,” WHO’s regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, said at an online press conference. Kluge said the WHO was working to get the vaccine to every country but, “it needs every country capable of contributing,…

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the security agencies to ensure the safety and security of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah. In a statement signed by CAN General Secretary, Rev. Joseph Daramola, the Christian body said: “We have been watching the unfolding scenario since Bishop Kukah spoke his mind on the State of the Nation in his Christmas homily and how some groups of people have been threatening him with fire and brimstone while all relevant security agencies are pretending as if nothing unusual is happening. ‘We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and…

Sequel to the uncertainty generated by his remarks during a recent press briefing where he said government would review the January 18 school resumption date over rising cases of COVID-19, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has announced that January 18 resumption date still stands. In a statement signed by the Director of information and public affairs, Mr. Ben Goong, the Federal Ministry of Education said it had undertaken a comprehensive appraisal of the situation hence its conclusion on the January 18 date. The statement reads: “After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including state governors, commissioners of education, proprietors and…

Neymar scored on his return to action for Paris Saint-Germain as they beat arch-rivals Marseille 2-1 to win this season’s Champions Trophy. The Brazilian rolled home an 85th-minute penalty to put PSG two goals ahead following Mauro Icardi’s first-half opener to give new coach Mauricio Pochettino the first trophy of his reign in the French capital, and managerial career. “I hope to win more titles, but the first will always be special,” said Pochettino. “We deserved this victory, we paid a good match.” The Champions Trophy is the French equivalent of a Super Cup, usually contested at the start of…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus and Romelu Lukaku’s Inter Milan clash on Sunday in what could be one of the defining matches of the Serie A season. The game in the San Siro is between the top two in Serie A last season when Juventus won a ninth consecutive league title just one point ahead of Inter. It also pits the division’s top two scorers against each other. Ronaldo has 15 goals; Lukaku has 12. Both teams are favourites this campaign with Inter second, three points behind leaders AC Milan, with Juventus fourth, seven points adrift of top spot with a game…

The Federal Government is targeting over 160,000 poor and vulnerable rural women, to benefit from the N20,000 cash grant, across the country to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, made the disclosure at the launch of the grant, on Wednesday, in Katsina, where 6,800 rural women would benefit. “We are targeting over 160,000 poor and vulnerable rural women in Nigeria for the N20,000 grant, to uplift their economic status. Our rural women with a disability will also be included. “It is my hope that the beneficiaries…

By Olusegun Adeniyi Succession does not come easy for despots. Which is why elections under their watch are most often conducted as a mere formality to validate assured ‘victory’ – regardless of how the people exercise their franchise. The President of the United States, Mr Donald Trump, was not supposed to be a despot. But by proceeding from electoral defeat to the incitement of mobs, he behaved like one. In the process, Trump has inflicted damage on the image of his country that will take years to repair. Given what transpired yesterday in Congress, Trump will also go down in…

Cash-strapped Barcelona will still have to fork out a massive £170,000 per week to Lionel Messi until 2025 even if he does eventually leave in the summer, according to reports Spanish media. Messi was desperate to leave the Spanish giants for free in the summer after becoming disillusioned with proceedings on and off the pitch, but Barcelona blocked any move by insisting suitors – particularly Manchester City – would have to pay his £629million release clause. Messi’s future is now up in the air – with it still being expected that he will leave in the summer – and if…