Wednesday
Minister: Broadband subscriptions increased by 4,061,731 in October
Home Telecom Broadband penetration in Nigeria increased to 45.43 per cent by the end of October 2020, the Federal Government announced on Wednesday. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said the rise was due to an increase of 4,061,731 broadband subscriptions between September and October 2020. He said the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy led to the rise in broadband subscriptions across the country during the review month. Pantami, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by his Technical Assistant, Information Technology, Femi Adeluyi, observed that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 had impacted significantly on broadband penetration. The minister noted that the plan was implemented alongside the harmonisation of Right-of...
Europe to pay less than US for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
The European Union has struck a deal to initially pay less for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate than the United States, an EU official told Reuters News Agency as the bloc announced on Wednesday it had secured an agreement for up to 300 million doses. The experimental drug, developed in conjunction with Germany’s BioNTech, is the frontrunner in a global race to produce a vaccine, with interim data released on Monday showing it was more than 90 percent effective at protecting people from COVID-19 in a large-scale clinical trial. Under the EU deal, 27 European countries could buy 200 million doses, and have an option to buy another 100 million. The bloc will pay less than $19.50 per jab, a senior EU official involved in talks with vaccine makers told Reuters, adding that partly reflected ...
Senator Tinubu hails Governor Sanwo-Olu’s plan to stop ex-governors’ pensions
A former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his plan to repeal the Lagos State law that would ensure life pensions for former governors and deputy governors. The All Progressives Congress chieftain said this in a series of tweets on Wednesday. The former governor tweeted, “Congratulations to Governor Sanwo-Olu over the 2021 budget which he appropriately christened ‘Budget of Rekindled Hope’. This audacious and enterprising budget will empower our people and begin to rebuild Lagos State. “In particular, I would also like to commend the governor for the plan to commence the repeal of the pension law giving pension packages to former governors and their deputies. This is a bold and courageous move by Mr. Governor and I wholeheartedly support him. ...
US election: Donald Trump makes first appearance since ‘defeat’
US President Donald Trump makes his first official post-election appearance Wednesday for what should be a moment of national unity to mark Veteran’s Day, now marred by his refusal to acknowledge Joe Biden’s win. The president visited Arlington National Cemetery around 11:00 am, four days after US media projected his Democratic rival would take the White House. Since then he has not addressed the nation other than via Twitter, and has not conceded to Biden, as is traditional once a winner is projected in a US vote. And with Covid-19 cases shattering records across the country and states imposing new restrictions in a push to contain the virus before winter arrives, Trump seems to have all but shelved normal presidential duties. Instead, he has remained shut up inside the presidential mansi...
Broadband penetration hits 45.43 percent in Nigeria
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, says broadband penetration in Nigeria increased to 45.43 per cent in October. Dr Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant on Information Technology to the minister, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. Adeluyi said that this was due to an increase of 4,061,731 broadband subscriptions between September and October 2020. “This increase in broadband penetration has been as a result of conscientious implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy for the overall benefit of the economy to achieve a Digital Nigeria. “The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), along with the harmonisation of Right of Way charges across the states and protection of critical national infrastructure across the country, had a signifi...
Lagos governor confirms appointment of agric commissioner
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has confirmed the appointment of Ms Abisola Olusanya as the substantive Commissioner for Agriculture. The confirmation was contained in a circular issued on Wednesday by the State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. Sanwo-Olu wishes the new commissioner a successful tenure in office and congratulates her on the appointment. Olusanya was first appointed into the State Executive Council on Aug. 20, 2019, as a Special Adviser on Agriculture. She was similarly appointed as the Acting Commissioner for Agriculture on June 8 upon the resignation and subsequent coronation of the erstwhile Commissioner for Agriculture, HRM Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II as the 15th Oniru of Iru Kingdom. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money E...
President Buhari mourns deceased former Malian leader
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, commiserated with the government and people of Mali over the death of the country’s former President, Toumani Toure. Buhari’s condolence message was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled ‘President Buhari condoles with Mali over passing of former leader, Amadou Toumani Toure’. The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari sends heartfelt condolences to government and people of the Republic of Mali over the passing of former President, Amadou Toumani Toure. “The President commiserates with family of the departed Malian leader, whose ten-year reign in the country contributed to the strengthening of political institutions, and measure of stability, starting with his presiding over a peac...
#EndSARS: We suffered extensive damages – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it suffered extensive damages, vandalisation of offices and facilities across the states during the destruction that trailed the EndSARS protests. The commission said the damages were also felt in areas where bye-elections has been scheduled. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who made the disclosure in a statement, said the commission as a result may have to consult stakeholders before agreeing on specific date for the bye-elections. Recall that the commission had at its meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) suspended the bye-elections indefinitely because of the security situation in the country at the time, promising to review same ...
Cristiano Ronaldo to make Portugal return against France, Croatia
Cristiano Ronaldo was on Thursday named in the Portugal squad to play a friendly against Andorra and Nations League matches against France and Croatia. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner tested positive for coronavirus on October 13 when with the Portugal squad, going on to miss the 3-0 victory over Sweden. The 35-year-old finally tested negative 19 days later, returning to the pitch with a double for Juventus against Spezia in Serie A action on Sunday. The Portugal captain also played in Juve’s 4-1 victory over Ferencvaros in the Champions League on Wednesday. Reigning European champions Portugal take on Andorra on Wednesday before Nations League A3 matches at home against France on November 14 and away to Croatia three days later. The main absentee from Fernando Santos’ 25-man squad is Pep...
Barcelona boss angry with team and individual performances
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman is not happy with multiple aspects of the performance of his team and individuals. The Dutchman once again was critical of elements of his side’s play despite edging out a 2-1 victory over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Koeman told reporters after the encounter, in quotes carried by Marca: “I’m concerned about our performance in attack. “The problem against Dinamo Kiev was our performance without the ball. The problem exists, sometimes you cannot press and when you do, you leave spaces. “We have to talk about this and analyse it as a team, because the whole team has to improve. The game without possession has to improve.” Whilst Koeman did not speak directly about any of his players after the match, it is increasingly evident that he ...
At least 20 massacred during Mozambique initiation ceremony
Suspected militants beheaded over a dozen men and teenagers participating in a male initiation ceremony in northern Mozambique, local sources said on Wednesday, in the latest violent incident in the country’s insurgency-hit northeast. The dismembered bodies of at least five adults and 15 boys were found on Monday, scattered across a forest clearing in Muidumbe district. Islamist militants operating in the area had attacked several nearby villages over the weekend, looting and burning down homes before retreating into surrounding thicket. “Police learnt of the massacre committed by the insurgents through reports of people who found corpses in the woods,” said an officer in the neighbouring Mueda district who asked not to be named. “It was possible to count 20 bodies spread over an area of a...
US election: Oye Owolewa made Nigeria proud – minister
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Thursday, described the feat achieved by 31-year old Oye Owolewa in the 2020 United States election as national pride. The minister tweeted, “Congrats are in place for the 31-year old Adeoye Owolewa for making Nigeria proud by being the first Nigerian to win a seat in the United States Congress.” Owolewa was on Tuesday elected as a shadow member of the US House of Representatives from the District of Columbia, making him the first Nigerian-American to achieve the milestone. According to election results on the website of the District of Columbia Board of Elections on Wednesday morning, Owolewa polled 81.59% of the votes, which represents 164,026 votes against Joyce Robinson-Paul, who scored 18,600 votes, and Sohaer Syed with 15,...
