By Abdullahi Yusuf Most stakeholders in the North-Central and Taraba have rejected the law granting life pension to former governors and their deputies, describing it as unfair and economically unrealistic. The citizens expressed their views in a NAN survey conducted in Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau and Taraba. They said such privileges should not be extended to the former political leaders in view of the dwindling resources of the states coupled with the economic hardships being encountered by the people. A section of them, however, supported the gesture, saying it should be implemented provided that the states had the resources…
Author: Editor
By Abiodun Lawal Three persons were on Friday night crushed to death in an accident involving a truck and a motorcycle around Abiola way closer to Iyana mortuary in Abeokuta. Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer, Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the accident in Abeokuta on Saturday. Akinbiyi explained that the motorcycle rider, according to eyewitness, lost control and got crushed in an attempt to overtake the trailer. The eyewitness said that the rider and his two passengers died on the spot. The TRACE spokesman explained that the incident happened around 8p.m. on Friday, but the…
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday told journalists that the UN-backed vaccine initiative, COCAX, has distributed more than 32 million vaccines to 61 countries in just one month, declaring that “COVAX works.” At the beginning of the year, WHO chief, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had called for countries to work together, so that all States could begin vaccinating within the first 100 days of 2021. “177 countries and economies have started vaccination,” he said at a regular press briefing, adding that with just 15 days left before the 100 days are up, 36 countries are still…
A new study, released on Friday by the UN cultural agency, has revealed that more than 100 million more children, than expected, are falling behind the minimum proficiency level in reading, due to COVID-related school closures. According to the study from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNECSO), “One year into COVID: Prioritising education recovery to avoid a generational catastrophe,” even before the pandemic the number of children lacking basic reading skills was on a downward curve. A UNESCO statement said in 2020, instead of 460 million children experiencing reading difficulties, that number jumped to 584 million. The rise of more than 20 per…
By Abujah Racheal The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed three deaths and 113 new cases of CCOVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 162,388. The NCDC made this known on Friday night via its official Twitter handle, and also disclosed that the new cases were recorded in 10 states including the (FCT). “On the 26th of March 2021, 113 new confirmed cases and 3 deaths were recorded in Nigeria,” the NCDC said. “The 113 new cases were reported from 10 states- Lagos (53), Rivers (22), Akwa Ibom (12), Kaduna (12), Ondo (6), Osun…
By Nicholas Dechi Dr Chubby Eze, Senior Programme Officer, KNCV Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has confirmed that 51 out of 609 people screened in Makurdi had symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB). Eze, who fielded questions from journalists on Friday, in Makurdi, said that samples of the people were moved to gene expert sites, across the local government areas (LGAs), in Benue, for testing. Mr Dominic Alamkah, Coordinator, Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, another NGO involved in the screening, advised patients to ensure that they took the complete dose of their drugs, to avoid coming down with drug resistant TB. The patients, who adhered…
By Ibrahim Kado The British Council has trained 150 officials towards a successful implementation of the Adamawa State Anti-corruption Strategy, Dr Ada Chidi-Igbokwe, its Lead Consultant on Anti-corruption, said on Friday in Yola. She spoke at the training of the last batch of officials nominated for the exercise. According to her, the participants were drawn from different Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs). “The goal is to fight corruption in the state. “The state has developed an anti-corruption strategy and also developed the implementation tools. “We are supporting the initiative in the area of capacity development,” she explained. She said that…
By Philip Yatai The OCP Africa Fertiliser Nigeria Ltd., on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three research institutes in Nigeria to solve soil fertility problems and boost wheat production. The MoU was signed at the Inception Workshop orgarnised by OCP Africa to inaugurate the Soil Mapping and Fertility Evaluation for Formulation and Validation of Wheat Specific Fertilizer in Nigeria project. Mr Caleb Usoh, OCP Africa – Nigeria Deputy Managing Director and Country Manager, said at the event in Kaduna, that the project would address the problem of soil and its effect on wheat production. Usoh, who was…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mr Annadif Saleh of Chad as his new Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel. Saleh, 64, who once served as Chad’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, will double as Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). He succeeds Mohamed Chambas of Ghana, who held the position for six years and six months. Guterres’ office said in a statement on Friday that he was grateful to Chambas for his “dedicated service and effective leadership at the helm of UNOWAS”. Saleh brings to the position “extensive national and international experience”,…
By Veronica Dariya The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the use of National Identification Number (NIN) is mandatory for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) and Direct Entry registration. The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, reiterated the requirement on the sidelines of a meeting with Computer Based Test (CBT) centre owners and other stakeholders on Friday in Abuja. “This year, we are going into full partnership with the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC). “Everyone who wants to register with us must have completed their registration with NIMC because this year, all we need is first, your…