COVID-19
Union Bank to provide potable water to six geo-political zones in Nigeria
File Photo Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) said on Friday that it would provide potable water to the six geo-political zones in the country as part of its support and Corporate Social Responsibility to Nigerians. Mrs Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem, Head, Strategic Corporate Communications and Marketing, UBN, made the disclosure at a Virtual Media briefing organised for Financial Correspondents in Lagos. According to her, citizenship is a key pillar of how we want to build up our brand and support Nigerians. “What we want to do for our employee volunteer year this year is with the token our employees will donate and the small donations which the bank will bring. “We want to give the gift of potable water to the six geo-political zones in the country. “We will be working with a non-governmental organi...
NFF adopts points per game, new league season to start September/October
Following resolutions passed at an online meeting of the NFF Football Committee, which had in attendance the Chairpersons of all the National Leagues and the President of the Nigeria Referees Association, the Executive Committee of the NFF has, after a holistic consideration of all the issues affecting the leagues (including the status of the leagues before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic), the impact of the pandemic-induced disruptions, the health, safety and movement restrictive measures in the country, the potential protocols for football resumption, the costs, the financial status of the leagues and clubs, CAF calendar and resolutions of the various leagues as conveyed to the NFF, approved the following: 1. NPFL – The league ends at current Matchday 25 and the Points Per Game (PPG)...
Benue university pro-chancellor, other staffers test positive for coronavirus
Juju Films/File Photo The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Benue State University, Makurdi, Prof. Zacharys Gundu has tested positive for COVID-19. Prof. Gundu made his status known in a letter he wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the institution and university community. This came after the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Msugh Kembe last week announced he tested positive while the Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Administration, Prof. Godwin Achinge lost his life to the virus. In the said letter the Pro-Chancellor wrote “This is to write and inform you that samples collected from me and sent to Abuja for COVID-19 testing returned a positive test result to me on July 9, 2020. “A few days after the samples were taken and sent to Abuja, I went into one of the isolation facilities ...
Benue Assembly suspends plenary for members to undergo coronavirus tests
The Benue House of Assembly has suspended its plenary sessions to allow lawmakers and members of staff to subject themselves to COVID-19 screening. Mr Tertsea Gbiseh, the Chairman House Standing Committee on Information and Orientation, announced this in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Makurdi. The statement said the decision to undergo COVID-19 screening by members was arrived at after the noticeable spike in cases around the state. “Going by the nature of the Assembly’s functions which warrant us to interact closely with constituents at the grassroots on one hand and top government functionaries in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, on the other hand, it has become imperative to embark on regular COVID-19 tests due to the risk of exposure encountere...
US envoy inaugurates emergency health operation facility in Bayelsa
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art public health Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Leonard said during the virtual event on Thursday that the facility, which was upgraded by the US, would enable “centralised real-time monitoring and predictive modelling for enhanced coordination of activities.” She commended the federal and state governments as well as other stakeholders for their efforts toward curtailing the coronavirus, stressing that the EOC would also help in making informed decisions about the pandemic and similar public health emergencies. The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, described the establishment of the EOC as a welcome development that would improve healthcare delivery in the state. He said the cen...
AGF Malami: Inmates on death row may get life
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), said on Tuesday that the Federal Government was planning a process of commuting the death penalty of condemned inmates with over 10 years on death row to life imprisonment. Malami who said this in Abuja at a press briefing on the achievements of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion, also said inmates awaiting trial for upwards of five years might be released. But he said considering the increasing number of incidents of sexual and kidnap cases, inmates who had been convicted for such offences would not be considered for release during the proposed exercise. He stated, “Also, to be revisited is the issue of condemned convicts on death row for over ten (10) years wi...
Sokoto government meets stakeholders on review of budget
The Sokoto State Government on Tuesday met with stakeholders on how best the state’s 2020 budget could be reviewed to include provision of Isolation Centres, screening facilities, and other costs in the management of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The Town Hall Meeting which was organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning had in attendance various Non-Governmental Organisations, Traditional and Religious Leaders in the state. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Malam Abubakar Shekara, said that the aim of the forum was to involve the public in the fiscal process on how best the state’s 2020 budget could be reviewed. “As we are all aware, the economy of states, the country and infact the entire world is adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Therefore, budget had ...
Axl Rose’s Worst Nightmare: Maskless Revelers Dance to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” at Packed Michigan Lake Party
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Axl Rose has been one of the staunchest proponents of social distancing, even getting into Twitter spats with government officials who’ve seemingly downplayed the protective practice. Now, the singer’s worst nightmare has manifested itself: a sea of unmasked revelers dancing to the Guns N’ Roses hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine” at a Fourth of July lake party in Michigan. In recent weeks, Rose has ripped into Sen. Rand Paul, Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams after each made statements that seemed to contradict recommendations by the CDC and health leaders to practice social distancing. Mnuchin and Adams even replied to Rose’s tweets, leading to the GN’R singer further condemning their comments. Mnuchin was dubbed an “asshole...
COVID-19 Safety Measures Ignored in Massive Secret Las Vegas Desert Rave on 4th of July
According to footage obtained by local Las Vegas NBC affiliate KSNV News 3, a massive secret North Las Vegas desert rave took place on the 4th of July in which COVID-19 safety measures were categorically ignored. Once tickets were purchased online via a sponsor called “Malum Geminos,” the secret location of the event was revealed and people were explicitly told not to post about it on social media in order to keep the clandestine party out of the scope of authorities. A copy of the flier, which promised a “multi-stage event,” can be found below. Lauren Clark After the News 3 team caught wind of the event, they arrived on the scene to find an enormous illicit party. Footage obtained by the outlet displays a full-fledged rave with mosh-pits, gigantic speaker...
Malta to Host Three Large-Scale Music Festivals This Summer
The majority of music festivals worldwide have been on the chopping block in 2020, but on the Mediterranean island of Malta, a series of live music festivals are beginning to take shape. With one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates throughout Europe, Malta is in a favorable position as the nation begins to reopen. Soon after, the country hopes to welcome festival-goers for three separate events: Escape 2 the Island, BPM Festival, and Rhythm + Waves. Tickets have already hit the market for Escape 2 the Island, which features artists such as Charlie Sloth, Ms Banks, and Unknown T. A week later, the island will host Rhythm + Waves, a festival featuring numerous drum & bass heavyweights, including Andy C,Chase & Status, and Netsky. Finally, the follow...
Lagos Assembly urges governor to probe highway workers protests
The Lagos House of Assembly has urged Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to investigate the recent protest by street sweepers engaged by Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) over non-payment of their salaries. The resolution followed a motion, entitled; “Need to Enhance Waste Management In Lagos State,” moved by Mr Desmond Elliot (Surulere Constituency I) during plenary on Monday. Newsmen report that highway workers had on June 23 embarked on protest over non-payment of their three-month salaries. The sweepers also took to social media to express their grievance. In a video posted on Twitter, the sweepers were seen removing their uniforms and dumping them on the floor, which formed a huge pile. Elliot said the House condemned those behind the videos that went viral on the issue of non-payme...
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Tests Positive for COVID-19
Source: BET2020 / Getty The coronavirus pandemic is anything but a hoax. Today (July 6), Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms revealed that she has tested positive for COVID-19. COVID-19 has literally hit home. I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive. — Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) July 6, 2020 Mayor Bottoms took to Twitter to reveal her diagnosis. “COVID-19 has literally hit home,” she tweeted this evening. “I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive.” Lance Bottoms has been in the thick of it, guiding Atlanta through the coronavirus pandemic and countless protests after the murder of George Floyd as well as Rayshard Brooks. Soon after breaking the news, she was a guest on MSNBC and spoke about the ramifications of her predicament. “This is startling for me because we’...
