The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has reiterated its belief in the safety of the Astra Zeneca vaccines for COVID-19. This is contained in a communiqué signed by NGF Chairman and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at the end of 28th meeting of the forum held physically and virtually on Wednesday in Abuja. The communiqué said that the governors deliberated on issues affecting the country, particularly on the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines and the attendant issues. It said that Fayemi congratulated his colleagues for accepting to be vaccinated, declaring that so far the vaccines had not shown any…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Health to ensure effective utilisation of Global Fund’s generous provision of $890 million, over the next three years. The fund is meant to support Nigeria’s fight against HIV-AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria. The president issued the directive at the virtual inauguration of the $890 million grant, for the period of 2021-2023, which would also support the establishment of resilient and sustainable systems for health in the country. ”Let me also emphasise here that this administration has zero tolerance for corruption and inefficient use of resources. ”In this regard, I hereby direct the…
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume a certificate of return within 72 hours in the Dec. 5, 2020 Imo North Senatorial By-election. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a judgment, said having been declared as the valid candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which had won the election, Ararume remained the winner of the poll. According to him, with regard to the Appeal Court judgment in Abuja, the 3rd defendant (Chukwuma Ibezim) remains disqualified. While Ararume is the plaintiff; INEC, APC and Ibezim are 1st to 3rd defendants respectively. Araraume had…
Transactions in the equities market on Thursday rebounded by N109 billion following buying interest in banking and industrial goods stocks. Consequently, the market capitalisation, which opened at N20.251 trillion, rose by N109 billion or 0.54 per cent to close at N20.360 trillion. Also, the All-Share Index rose by 208.71 points or 0.54 per cent to close at 38,914.84 from 38,706.13 recorded on Wednesday. The market gain was driven by price appreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which were; Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Eterna and UACN. The market breadth was positive with 22 gainers against…
Much of the progress achieved in recent years in education, health and poverty eradication has been halted or reversed by the COVID-19 pandemic, says the Economic Commission for Africa. Hopestone Chavula, Officer-in-Charge, Macroeconomic Analysis Section, Macroeconomics and Governance division of the ECA, stated this at the ongoing 39th ECA Committee of Experts of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The event, holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was monitored through a webinar on Thursday in Lagos. Chavula said that fiscal deficits of African countries had widened due to increased governments’ expenditure to halt the spread of the…
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr Adedeji Zacch as the Executive Secretary of National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) for an initial term of four years. Buhari made the announcement in a statement on Thursday by Mr Willie Bassey, Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The statement said that Zacch’s appointment was in accordance with the provision of Section 5 (1) of the National Sugar Development Council (Establishment Act, 1993). The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Zacch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Accounting and Masters degree…
By AfricaNews Samia Suluhu Hassan is a soft-spoken, Muslim woman thrust from the obscure role of vice president to become Tanzania’s first female leader after John Magufuli’s sudden death. Under the constitution, Hassan, the country’s 61-year-old vice president, will serve the remainder of Magufuli’s second five-year term, which does not expire until 2025. She will also become the first female President in East Africa. After consulting with her Chama Cha Mapinduzi ruling political party, Suluhu will propose her possible successor as Vice-President – with the official appointment being confirmed by the National Assembly via votes of no less than 50%…
The African Union Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, of the African Union, AU, has conferred two awards on Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal in recognition of his sterling leadership qualities, futuristic perspectives and championing of women/girls rights. The awards presented in Abuja on Thursday are: “AU African Role Model and Envoy of Good Governance” and “Ambassador for the New Decade 2020-2030 African Women Financial Inclusion in Nigeria”, scheduled to be inaugurated on March 30. The Nigerian Representative and Chairperson of the Council, Dr Tunji Asaolu, who was accompanied by the Special Adviser on Political Affairs and the head, Women and…
The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, says it came out of a fruitful meeting with officials of MultiChoice, operators of DSTV/GOTV brokered by the Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to settle the issue of non-inclusion of northern-based television channels on the DSTV platform. A statement by the spokesperson of the group, Abdazeez Suleiman on Thursday said the meeting held at the boardroom of the Commission, had in attendance all NBC magagenent officials, top national officials of the CNG and representatives of DSTV. “The meeting accepted three northern based television channels, Liberty, Tozali and Rahama for consideration by…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC)/ Transparency International – Nigeria has thrown its support behind the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s directives that operators in the Nigerian financial system, particularly bankers, should declare their assets as from June 1, 2021. This is contained in a statement by the Executive Director, Musa Rafsanjani on Thursday. The Centre called on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the National Assembly, NASS, and other stakeholders to also support the anti-corruption agency on the nobel course. According to him, the directive by the chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr Abdulrashed Bawa is “in…