An estimated 10.4 million children in seven countries, including Nigeria, will suffer from acute malnutrition in 2021, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement on Wednesday., “As 2021 approaches, UNICEF is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of 10.4 million children projected to suffer from acute malnutrition next year in those countries,” the statement said, citing the affected countries as Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan and Yemen. UNICEF said ongoing insecurity in the DRC, socio-economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and limited access to essential services will result in…
Author: Editor
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River on Wednesday signed the state’s 2021 budget of N281.9 billion into law. The budget has N192.5 billion representing 67 per cent earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N88.196 billion representing 33 per cent was for capital spending. Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Governor’s office, Calabar, Ayade said that there was provision for the establishment of a state polytechnic in the budget. He added that the budget also had provisions for social welfare schemes like grants and other financial benefits to help cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on…
The Federal High Court Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted more documents in evidence against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo, in an ongoing alleged certificate forgery suit against him. The All Progressives Congress (APC), tendered the documents to prove its allegation of certificate forgery against the governor. The two documents, included a University of Ibadan degree certificate, belonging to Mr Emmanuel Balogun and a report by a forensic document examiner, ASP Raphael Onwuzuligbo. The documents were admitted in evidence by the court, having been tendered through the lead counsel of the APC, Mr Akin Olujimi, SAN. The first degree certificate in agricultural…
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to deploy all refurbished tractors to farmers to boost agricultural activities in the country. The Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, told State House correspondents that the president gave the order when he updated (Buhari) him on the activities of the agency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. Haruna stated that the presidential directive was in line with the Buhari administration’s efforts to revamp the agricultural sector. President Buhari had on December 29 assured Nigerians that his administration would keep a keen eye…
Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have rescued 23 kidnapped victims comprising 18 women and five children in Katsina State, the Defence Headquarters has said. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Wednesday, said the rescue operation took place on Tuesday at Wurma Village in Kurfi local government area of the state. Enenche said the troop also recovered 75 rustled livestock during the operation. He said troops in conjunction with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force swiftly mobilised to the location following credible information on the bandits activities in the village. According to him, the troops…
Dr Emmanuel Opowoye, a Public Health Physician in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), warns that COVID-19 virus has mutated and built a lot of resistance. Opowoye, who gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, advised Nigerians to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 guidelines as the second wave of the global pandemic emerges in the country “COVID-19 virus has mutated and built a lot of resistance toward most preventive measures, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical,” he said. According to the public health expert, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is more…
Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello has sent a delegation led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane to Kagara, headquarters of Rafi local government, over recent cases of banditry in the area. He reassured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to reinstate peace and security to the areas experiencing distress as a result of armed banditry and kidnapping. The delegation was in Kagara to condole with the Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Salihu Tanko, and the people of the emirate over the unfortunate killing of the District Head of Madaka, Malam Zakari Yau Idris and…
Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho is set to undergo knee surgery after sustaining an injury during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Eibar, the Spanish club said on Wednesday. Coutinho, 28, started the game on the bench and came on in the second half but limped off the pitch during stoppage time as Barcelona finished the game with 10 men having made all their substitutions. “The tests carried out on the first team player Philippe Coutinho have shown that the midfielder has an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee,” the club said in a statement here. “Treatment will necessitate arthroscopic…
The Lagos State Government says it has earmarked N500 million in its 2021 budget as Disability Fund. Gov. Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known at Lagos House, Marina, on Wednesday during an Interactive Session with People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs). Sanwo-Olu said that the fund would help to cater for the necessities to make life more meaningful for the PLWDs. “You have spoken your mind, you have corrected us as government where you think we have not done well, you have commended where you think we have done so very well. “You have also admonished us, you have encouraged us,…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says no date has been fixed for the commencement of sales of the application documents for its 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos. Benjamin, who was speaking against the backdrop of reports in some sections of the media that the board had already commenced the sales of forms for 2021 application, said that the board had since distanced itself from such report. According to him, the report is totally false, misleading and malicious. ”The board’s…