The West African nation of Ghana on Wednesday became the first country to receive COVID-19 vaccines from the humanitarian vaccine distribution mechanism Covax. The arrival represents the start of a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign encompassing 20 African countries. “This is a momentous occasion, as the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines into Ghana is critical in bringing the pandemic to an end,’’World Health Organisation (WHO) Ghana representative Francis Kasolo and UNICEF Ghana representative Anne-Claire Dufay said in a joint statement. The 600,000 Covax-sponsored vaccines are part of an initial tranche of deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine coming from the Serum Institute of…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
By Harrison Arubu, Unarguably, expectations are high across Africa following the emergence of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). For a continent that has struggled over the years to be relevant in the world market, it is a big deal that one of its own will now sit at the `head of the table’ where critical decisions are taken. “To say her appointment has raised hopes on the continent would be an understatement,” says Toyin Umesiri, a U.S.-based international trade expert and convener of the Annual Trade with Africa Business Summit in the United States.…
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja. A minute silence in honour of former Kwara State Military Administrator retired Brig.- Gen. Ahmed Aboki Abdallah, who died recently, was observed by the cabinet members. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, called on the cabinet members to stand in honour of the departed, who was a former Minister of Communications. Late Abdallah served as Minister of Communications and later Minister of Social Development, Youth and Sports during the military regime, when…
The first thing he did was to remind that cryptocurrency is enabled by a technology with applications far beyond the disputed virtual currency. “The world is fast evolving,” he said, “But there’s no plan to stifle any technology or innovation in Nigeria.” If Nigeria were a startup, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, as the Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), would function as a leading technical officer and this made me yield to the temptation to engage him when we caught up last Tuesday. The week before, I wrote about the outright ban of cryptocurrency in Nigeria, and this encounter…
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele has explained that the banking and financial sector regulator acted in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians by ordering banks, non-banking and other financial institutions to stop facilitation of trade and dealings in cryptocurrencies. The governor stated this while briefing a joint Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, ICT and Cybercrimes, and Capital Market, on why it gave directives banning cryptocurrency trading. Emefieke described the operations of cryptocurrencies in the country as dangerous and opaque. “Cryptocurrency has no place in our monetary system at this time…
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, on Tuesday said virtual assets and cryptocurrencies are risky for implementation in Nigeria. Prof. Owasanoye made this known in his presentation to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions during its hearing on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to stop financial institutions from transacting in cryptocurrencies and matters arising therefrom. He said, “Virtual and cryptocurrencies pose serious legal and law enforcement risks for Nigeria. The current National Identification Number registration and linking with SIM cards is a pointer to…
Hours after military troops successfully recaptured Marte and cleared its environs from ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists, heavy explosions have engulfed some parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. PRNigeria gathered that suspected Boko Haram fighters launched multiple motar bombs at the outskirt of the city. The explosions occurred at Gwange, Layin Bori and Bulabulin axis of Maiduguri city. The terrorists were suspected to have sneaked into Ngomari through Kaleri, forcing residents of the area to scamper for safety. A team of special forces headed by one Lt. Col. Ponfap Wuyep, Commander 195 Battalion Jere engaged the terrorists around Baram Karwa…
Nigerian troops have recovered New Marte and adjoining communities in Borno, killing scores of Boko Haram/Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who had laid siege on the area for some days. The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima said in a statement that the feat was achieved on Tuesday at about 3 p.m. Yerima said the troops achieved the success in less than the 48 hours, after the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, had given the troops a 48-hour directive to recover the town. He said the troops, backed by air cover from the Nigerian Air…
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has directed Commanding Officers across all formations of the Corps, to commence immediate clampdown on rickety vehicles plying Nigerian roads. This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the Corps, Bisi Kazeem on Tuesday. According to him, the riot act to operators of rickety vehicles gives Zonal Commanding Officers and Sector Commanders, express directive to commence nationwide arrest, impoundment and prosecution of owners or operators of such vehicles. FRSC said the operation is aimed at creating safer motoring environment in the country as well as realise its 2021 strategic goals of reducing…
…Terrorists’ infiltration of civilian population hampers air bombardment In less than 48 hours after receiving the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru’s order to get rid of Marte and its neighbouring communities of Boko Haram elements, the Nigerian troops have successfully destroyed several mines laid on their paths by terrorists. PRNigeria investigation revealed that apart from landmines, the terrorists’ infiltration of the civilian population in Marte prevented the military Air Task Force from launching aerial bombardments, to avoid collateral damages. The troops have de-mined some communities and villages on the major routes to Marte. Recall that Attahiru…