The African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) on Tuesday in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, inaugurated a No-Fault Compensation Scheme (NFCS) programme for COVID-19 vaccines in participating countries in Africa and the Caribbean. According to it, AVAT NFCS provides eligible individuals with prompt, fair and transparent compensation for unlikely adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines procured or distributed under the AVAT initiative. The AVAT NFCS is the first of its kind to be created by an African Consortium andis driven by the African Union (AU), Afreximbank, Africa CDC and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Other partners include ECONET and its…
Author: Newsdesk
UN Secretary General António Guterres, says it is time for a diplomatic solution to be found to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, amidst signs of hope that progress can be made to end an “unwinnable” and “indefensible” war. Guterres said this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York. The secretary general told journalists about his own outreach efforts with “various actors”, “elements of diplomatic progress coming into view on several key issues.” He said there was “enough on the table” for an immediate ceasefire, and the start of serious talks to…
A new research has revealed that there is enough groundwater for most African countries to survive at least five years of drought and another 50 years. The study, ‘Groundwater: The World’s Neglected Defence Against Climate Change’, was released by WaterAid and British Global Research (BGS) as Heads of State meet at the World Water Forum in Senegal, West Africa. It showed that groundwater, which exists almost everywhere underground, in gaps within soil, sand and rock, has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives and be the world’s insurance policy against climate change. According to the report, groundwater could…
Nigeria’s Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Ramatu Aliyu has said that groundwater is critical to Climate Change adaptation. Aliyu stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the commissioning of hand-pump borehole, organised by the FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA). The event, with the theme “Groundwater: making the invisible, visible”, was held to commemorate the 2022 World water day and further take action on the pollution and over exploitation of this hidden treasure. “In the driest parts of the world, groundwater might be the only water people have to survive on. “Exploring, protecting…
Kaduna state government has confirmed the killing of two military personnel and 32 other persons as well as injuring seven other people in the attack on communities in Kaura local government area of the state. It also confirmed that over 200 houses and 32 shops were burnt, seven people while three vehicles and 17 motorcycles were vandalized in Tsonje, Agban, Katanga and Kadarko communities of the local government area. The Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affair, Samuel Aruwan in a statement on Tuesday said the number deaths, destruction and vandisation was ascertained after search operations by security agencies.…
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) says it shared a total sum of N590,546 billion for the February 2022 revenue to the federal government, states and local government councils. According to a communiqué issued at the end of the committee meeting held for March 2022, the N590,546 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N337,432 billion; distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N165,635 billion and Excess Bank Charges of N7,479 billion and Non Mineral Revenue of N80,000 billion. The communiqué said in the month of February 2022, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) increased significantly while Oil and Gas…
An independent investigation panel on fixed March 30 for the suspended DCP Abba Kyari to appear in a petition of alleged unlawful arrest filed by three persons. The Panel is investigating the allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police. The petitioners, Ambrose Mairungu and Blessing Dung in a petition marked 2020/IIP-SARS/ABJ/205 alleged that Yakubu Danjuma, Ibrahim Daniel and Choji, Dung’s husband were unlawfully arrest, detained, tortured and received inhuman treatment by Kyari. The panel on March 11 ordered the Chairman, National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa…
MultiChoice has increased the prices of its DStv and GOtv packages in Nigeria effective from April 1. The entertainment channel, which announced this in a statement on Tuesday, attributed this to the rising cost of business operations in the country. The DStv package will now cost as follows: Premium (N21,000), Compact + (N14,250), Compact (N9,000), Confam (N5,300), Yanga (N2,950), Padi (N2,150), Business (N2,669), Xtraview + PVR access fee (N2,900). While the GOtv packages are as follows: Gotv Max for N4,150, GOtv Jolli for N2,800, GOtv Jinja for N1,900, GOtv Lite for N900. “In light of the rising costs of inflation…
The Senate will debate the ruling of Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia state that nullified the controversial Section 84 (12) of the amended Electoral Act. Justice Evelyn Anyadike held on March 18 that the section “was unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever”, further holding that it was a violation of the provisions of the Constitution. The section requires ministers, head of agencies and other political appointees to resign before participating in primaries, convention and other electoral activities. But Sen. George Sekibo (PDP-Rivers) raised a point of order during plenary on Tuesday and invoked Senate Orders…
Nigerian government says fully vaccinated travellers coming into the country will no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR COVID-19 test. The chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee, Boss Mustapha made the comment during a briefing of the PSC announcing a revision of International Travel Protocols on Monday. He however said that passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated are still expected to take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure, or do a Day 2 and day 7 test on arrival. Such passengers, he said, will be expected to pay for their PCR tests through the Federal…