Nigeria
20 OOUTH staff, family of four test positive for coronavirus
Tension has enveloped the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, in Ogun State as no fewer than 20 medical laboratory staff of the hospital and another family of four have contracted coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The family of four was said to have contracted the viral disease from their father who happened to be one of the staff working in the hospital’s main laboratory. A dependable source in the hospital said that the staff of the laboratory started going for the COVID-19 test last week Friday, August 13 following the death of staff from the department while some were already ill and manifesting symptoms associated with Covid-19. The results of the test were said to have started trickling in from last week Saturday to yesterday, Tuesday confirming that 20 out o...
CAN reacts to death sentence on Kano singer
File Photo The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Kano State has reacted to the death sentence passed on a musician, Yahaya Aminu Sharif. An Upper Sharia court had sentenced Sharif to death for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. The court sitting in Kano had sentenced Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, to death by handing for comments against Prophet Mohammad. The trial Judge, Khadi Muhammad Ali-Kani had ruled that the 23-year-old singer’s audio remark against Prophet Mohammad was against Islamic law. Reacting, the Chairman of Kano State chapter of CAN, Adeolu Samuel Adeyemo said the group has no objection to the ruling. Speaking with newsmen in Kano, Adeyemo said CAN has no objection because the ruling was is in line with Islamic jurisprudence. According to Adeyemo: “For us in CAN, the ...
NAN board chairman Wada Maida laid to rest
The remains of the News Agency of Nigeria Board Chairman, Alhaji Wada Maida, was buried at Gudu Cemetery, Apo District, Abuja, on Tuesday in accordance with Muslim rites. Newsmen report that the funeral prayer was led by Imam Rabiu Suleiman amidst tears by his family members, friends, associates and Muslim Ummah. The funeral prayer for the deceased was held at the Shagari Jumma’at Mosque in Area I Garki in Abuja. Speaking shortly after the burial, Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State described the death of Alhaji Wada Maida as a personal loss to him and the great people of Katsina state. Masari said that the deceased was a patriotic citizen who dedicated the whole of his life in the service of the country. “Whenever we lose somebody in Islam, we say to Allah we all come from Him and unto Him...
Internet celebrity Mompha files N5 million suit against EFCC over ‘unlawful arrest, detention’
An Internet personality, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly called Mompha, on Tuesday filed a suit seeking to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pay him N5 million as damages for alleged unlawful re-arrest and detention. Newsmen report that Mustapha, who is facing a N32 billion fraud charge, was re-arrested on Friday, (Aug.14) by the EFCC. He was re-arrested when he went to the EFCC Office, Ikoyi, Lagos, to reclaim his five wristwatches, one Apple airpod, one iPhone, eight mobile phones and one pair of sunglasses seized from him by the anti-graft agency in 2019. The visit followed a ruling given by Justice Mohammed Liman on July 24, in which the judge ordered the release of the seized items on the grounds that the EFCC did not list them as exhibits in court. In the suit...
Benue governor advises appointees not to shun invitations by investigative panels
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised both current and former appointees in the state to always appear before investigative panels, when invited. Ortom gave the advice on Tuesday in Makurdi when the Committee saddled with the responsibility of investigating the current state of the State Teaching Service Board (TSB) presented its report to him. The governor said that when they fail to make such appearance before investigative panels, they would be doing a lot of disservice to themselves. “You will be doing yourselves a lot of disservice when you are invited to come and make explanation on an issue or issues concerning you and you fail to turn up. “The panel avails you the opportunity to come and clear the doubts about you, but if you fail to appear, whatever the outcome may be, it will be...
Aisha Buhari urges urgent action to end malnutrition in children
The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday called for concerted efforts through positive action to end the scourge of severe malnutrition in children in Nigeria. Buhari made the call during a virtual Conference on Malnutrition with the theme: ”Harnessing Innovative Options for Nutrition-Unravelling the Bottlenecks” in Abuja. The first Lady who was represented by the wife of Vice President Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, expressed concern over the rising cases of malnourished children in spite of efforts by relevant stakeholders. ”We have the Federal and State Councils on Nutrition chaired by key government officials who ensure that decisions on nutrition related issues are not delayed. ”We have Policies at federal and state levels addressing various aspects of Nutrition as well” she said. Buhari said g...
NIMASA assures dockworkers of improved welfare
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has assured stakeholders of its commitment to the protection of the rights and welfare of dockworkers as guaranteed in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Decent Work Agenda. The Agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Victor Ochei, gave the assurance in Lagos during a meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC). The meeting discussed a revised minimum wage and improved living standard for dockworkers through the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) initiative endorsed by NIMASA and NJIC in 2018. Ochei stated, “Dockworkers are integral to efficient and effective stevedoring operation and the NJIC has remained resolute in ensuring harmonious working relationships through the ...
Oyo deputy governor empowers 500 youths with farmland
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, has donated 250 acres of land in Oyo North to youths for cassava cultivation. The Coordinator of Oke-Ogun Green Revolution, Mr Bola Olalere, announced the donation in a statement in Iseyin on Tuesday. Olalere said that the donation was the first phase to empowerment gesture for 500 youths in the area by of the deputy governor. “The 250 acres of land located in Iseyin Council area is the first phase of the programme, aimed at engaging 500 youths in Oke-Ogun,’’ the statement read in part. “The support of the Oke Ogun Green Revolution project by Olaniyan is to promote agribusiness among the youths in Oyo North, the food basket of the state.’’ He said that an agricultural entrepreneur, Niji Farms, was also supporting the first phase of the pr...
WASCE commences examination in 521 centres in Nasarawa
West Africa School Certificate Examination WASCE commenced examinations for the final year students in 521 centres in Nasarawa with adequate arrangements in accordance with the Covid-19 pandemic protocols. The State Commissioner of Education, Fati Sabo, while monitoring the conduct of the examination in some public and private centres in the state to ascertain the level of compliance said a total of 521 centres were created for the Senior Secondary school Certificate Examination in the State. The Commissioner while at Government Secondary School, Mararaban Akunza expressed worries over absence of face mask at the WAEC centre, but however expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance and availability of hygienic items. “We provided students and invigilators with face mask, infrared to...
Sebastian Osigwe set to join Swiss Super League side Lugano
Swiss-born Nigerian goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe is on the verge of completing a move FC Lugano in the Swiss super league. Osigwe left his former club FC Kriens back in April after spending six with the club and helped them secure promotion on two different occasions. The 26-year-old also kept 45 clean sheets in 143 matches for the club for FC Kriens during his six-year spell at the club. Former Swiss champions FC Thuns also made contact with the representatives of the goalkeeper according to reports, but Osigwe has already made up his mind to Lugano. Meanwhile, the deal that will make Osigwe become a Lugano player could be announced next week. Osigwe was born in Switzerland and has represented the country of his birth at the U-15’s, 16’s and U-18’s levels, but wants to follow the footsteps...
Niger government warns against violation of coronavirus protocols as schools reopen
The Niger State Government has warned school administrators to ensure students of graduating classes adhere strictly to the COVID-19 Infection Prevention Protocols (IPC) as issued by the Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Muhammad Sani Idris, gave the warning during a working visit to Schools in Tafa, Suleja and Chanchaga Local Government Areas to monitor the commencement of West African Examination Council (WAEC) to ascertain the level of compliance with the established COVID-19 protocols. Idris alongside his counterpart of the Ministry for Education, Hajiya Hannatu Salihu reiterated government commitment to adequate provision for safe reopening of schools in the State. “The government is determined t...
Akwa Ibom enforces compulsory use of facemasks in rural communities
Akwa Ibom State Government said it has directed the state Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, to enforce compulsory use of facemask in all the rural communities in the State. The Secretary to State Government and Chairman, COVID-19 Management Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who announced this on Monday during a press briefing at government house, noted that government instructed village heads, youth presidents and local government council chairmen to ensure compliance. According to the SSG, “We have noticed with dismay, the manifest flouting of the regulation requiring the use of face masks. As a responsible government, we must act to curb the spread of the virus and protect our citizens and residents. “To this end, the Governor has directed the State Commissioner of Police to order ...
