Author: Chief Editor

The Lagos branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has reversed its sit-at-home order following intervention by the state government and the Nigeria Police Force. Announcing this in a statement Thursday, the Chairman, NMA Lagos, Dr. Saliu Oseni said it had gotten the assurance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the top hierarchy of the police that no health worker will further be harrassed while doing their job. The body had Wednesday commenced an indefinite sit-at-home to protest harrasment by security agencies enforcing COVID-19 curfew in the state. Oseni said: “The leadership of the association has followed the turn of events…

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, wednesday advised Nigerians to be wary of fraudsters using the raging coronavirus pandemic to defraud unsuspecting victims. He said fraudsters were on the prowl promising innocent Nigerians access to palliatives from the government in a bid to manipulate their banking details against them. “Do not accept calls from unknown person purporting to be in charge of distribution of palliatives on behalf of the federal government or asking you to send details of your bank account,” he said. Magu, who spoke through the Head, Advance Fee Fraud,…

The Nigeria Protein Deficiency Awareness Campaign, tagged the Protein Challenge, has officially kicked off in Nigeria. Protein Challenge, a protein-pull media campaign supported by the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and other partners, seeks to create awareness about the prevalence, status and impact of protein deficiency in Nigeria. A key feature of the launch of the nation-wide campaign is the unveiling of the Nigeria Protein Deficiency Report. The report is the result of a nationwide survey that was conducted in 2019, to empirically determine the current status and dimensions of protein deficiency in Nigeria. Highlights of the report indicate,…

Niran Adedokun I imagine that someone would regard this headline as dramatic, even hyperbolic, and that would be totally understandable. Given the statistics of accomplishments that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 reels out during its daily press briefings and most especially last Monday, it is quite tempting to conclude that Nigeria is on the way to repeating its 2014 performance against Ebola. Mustapha listed achievements of the preceding two weeks to include: Increase in the number of laboratories from 15 to 26; cumulative testing of 35,098 people; Increase in the number of trained personnel to 11,409; procurement and distribution…

Abimbola Adelakun Madagascar has been touting a herbal therapy developed by its Malagasy Institute for Applied Research as a cure for COVID 19. Now bottled and labelled COVID-Organics, the therapy is said to be both curative and preventive. Their President, Andry Rajoelina, has been promoting COVID-Organics based on their country’s record. They have only 326 reported cases of COVID 19, 119 recoveries, and two deaths. Yet, when you really think about it, there is nothing particularly unique about the much-touted success of Madagascar’s battle against COVID 19. Palestine has 391 cases and two deaths too. Nepal has 402 cases, and…

Former France international Franck Ribery is back in training with Fiorentina after missing almost six months with a serious ankle injury. The 37-year-old took part in an individual session on Wednesday after Serie A clubs were given the green light to resume group training this week. Ribery, who joined Fiorentina this season after 12 years with Bayern Munich, returned to Italy a fortnight ago after spending several weeks in Germany during the coronavirus lockdown. He scored twice in 11 games for Fiorentina before undergoing surgery on his right ankle after suffering the injury in a game against Lecce on November…

Spain coach Luis Enrique says playing behind closed doors is “sadder than dancing with your own sister”, as football faces the prospect of games without supporters for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic. Germany’s Bundesliga became the first major European league to resume last weekend following the two-month shutdown, with strict hygiene measures enforced at all matches across the country. “(Playing without fans) is sadder than dancing with your own sister. It’s not attractive,” Luis Enrique told the “Colgados del aro” (“Hanging from the hoop”) basketball show on Wednesday. “I watched the German football and it’s a sad…

• PDP, others seek probe into allegations • Groups fault move against perm sec • Contractors picket office over N17b debt The allegation of over N48 billion fraud in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has exposed “monstrous corruption in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration,” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared yesterday. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said “the confession by the queried former permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Umar Bello, that the duplicitous purchase of an ordinary carcass building for a humongous cost of N7.044 billion passed through the…

One player and two staff at Watford and Burnley Assistant Manager, Ian Woan, are among six positive Premier League tests for Covid-19. The other two are at a third club, the details of which have not been revealed. Players and staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for seven days. It comes as squads started non-contact training yesterday as the Premier League steps up plans for a restart. A total of 748 players and staff from 19 clubs were tested. Norwich City did their tests on Tuesday. Burnley said Woan was “asymptomatic” and “currently safe and well at home”.…

Neymar’s agent has appeared to shut down rumours linking the Brazilian superstar with a return to Barcelona – claiming his client is likely to stay with PSG because of the impact of the coronavirus. The forward joined the Ligue 1 outfit in 2017 for a mouth-watering £200million from the Nou Camp after allegedly falling out with his teammates and seeking fresh scenery, but in recent years he has looked disillusioned with life in France. Barcelona are said to be interested in reunited Neymar with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, a trio which caused chaos for opposition teams…