Here are the areas that scientists are watching closely: Whether the vaccines will clear safety trials. What efficacy is achieved: makers are aiming for the vaccines to stop at least 50% of vaccinated people from getting symptomatic COVID-19, but are hoping for an efficacy of 60% or greater. Whether any vaccine will reduce severe disease and death. Study protocols revealed that the trials are designed to test whether the vaccines reduce cases of symptomatic COVID-19, not cases of severe disease. The level of transparency about any adverse effects experienced by trial participants. The Oxford–AstraZeneca trials remain paused in the United…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rivers state, has suspended a senior lecturer, Dr. Rowland Igwe, for allegedly impregnating a student of the institution. A statement signed by the vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele on Friday said Dr. Igwe, who of the Department of Sociology would embark on indefinite suspension until the committee, constituted to investigate the allegation submits its report. “Igwe’s suspension is hinged on an allegation of serial intimidation, sexual harassment and undue canal knowledge of a female undergraduate, which resulted in her being impregnated and suffering health complications,” the statement reads…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) has commended the positive development in the Nigeria’s criminal justice sector especially in the Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal High Court. Mr Auwal Musa, Executive Director of the centre, gave the commendation during CISLAC’s one-day stakeholders workshop on Friday in Port Harcourt. The workshop tagged ‘Effective Use of Criminal Justice and Complaint Channels’ was conducted in line with the group’s determination to ensure transparency among government establishments. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for the passage of the Nigeria Police Bill 2020, adding that the…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has nullified the purported suspension of Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State by the party’s state chapter. Mr Yekini Nabena, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja, while reacting to the development. “The attention of the APC national secretariat has been drawn to a purported and widely reported suspension of Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, as well as an earlier reported indefinite suspension of some other party members in the state. “The actions are a nullity as the party’s national secretariat is yet to receive communication…
The Federal Government has approved the deportation of 10 Egyptians and seven Sri-Lankans with immediate effect. Mr Sunday James, Public Relations Officer, Nigeira Immigration Service (NIS), disclosed this in a statement made available to news men on Friday in Abuja. James said that the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbeshola, had signed the deportation order in pursuant to section 45, subsection 2, section 46, subsection 1 and Section 47, subsection 1 of the Nigeria Immigration Act 2015. He said that the 10 Egyptians had violated the conditions for their entry and the Minister had ordered their deportation with immediate effect. “Seven…
By Mohamed Adow Covid-19 is pushing Africa into an education crisis. Of the 39 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, full learning is only taking place in six of them. Asurvey, by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Children’s Agency UNICEF, found that of the 33 countries where learning is curtailed, in 14, of them it is completely closed. Millions of children across the region who have been forced to stay home since March now face the prospect of being part of Africa’s lost generation. Africa is the world’s youngest continent and we are in danger of failing our young…
By Attahiru Gusau Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity, have killed 21 armed bandits and recovered AK47 magazine in their continued fight against bandits in the the North West states. A statement by the Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier-General Bernard Onyeuko said three soldiers were however killed. “On 24 September 2020, based on credible information on bandit attack in Unguwar Doka village of Faskari local government area of Katsina state, gallant troops of Operation Sahel Sanity, responded swiftly and immediately mobilized to the general area where they successfully cleared the village of the marauders to the admiration…
By Abu Shekara Harmony with the traditional institutiin, for service to citizens and subjects is symbolised in the Administration of Governor Aminu Tambuwal in Sokoto state. And the most recent product of that is the installation, by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, of 15 new District Heads last, which took place on Saturday. Of the number, one is the Head of the new District of Asara that was created after consultations between the government and the Sultanate Council, which Governor Tambuwal explained, was based on the Caliphate’s historical antecedents. He addressed the Adiya Clan, descendants of Sultan Atiku, son of Sheikh…
Youths, united under Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, on Friday rallied across the world to demand urgent action to halt catastrophic climate change, in their first global action during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisers made references to wild weather wreaking havoc across the world, from fires ravaging the U.S. West, to abnormal heatwaves in the Siberian Arctic and record floods in China. They said the protests would remind politicians that while the world was focused on COVID-19, the climate crisis has not gone away. Demonstrations were planned in over 3,100 locations, with Australia, Japan and Fiji among the first to kick…
By Abu Shekara Named after a river that flows astride its landmass, Nigeria has an eventful history – a tale that reads like “The Tempest”, with all the trappings. If compressed to a two hour tale, the story of our country would be a true thriller and what’s more, it’s all true. What haven’t we gone through, what haven’t we seen? On our soil was the tumult of war; genuine, extreme nationalism and supreme sacrifice against the murderous, insatiable hunger of alien expansionist treasure hunters. There were the years of alien subjugation, when the citizens’ lives were far less worthy…