Taliban kills eight Afghan resistance fighters in firefight | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
The Taliban killed eight resistance fighters from a national opposition group in a firefight in the north of Afghanistan, police said on Friday. Fighters from the National Resistance Front (NRF), a group led by the son of legendary late anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, fought Taliban forces in Balkh province. Waziri said Taliban forces also seized ammunition and machine guns from the NRF fighters. The fighting comes less than two weeks after Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held talks with Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, in Tehran. Its most revered figure is Ahmad Shah Massoud, known as the “Lion of Panjshir”, who was assassinated by Al-Qaeda in 2001, two days before the 9/11 attacks.
Source:The Guardian
January 21, 2022 14:14 UTC
17 dead, 59 injured as explosion rocks Ghana town
At least 17 people were killed and 59 injured Thursday by an explosion that devastated part of a town in western Ghana after a truck carrying explosives collided with a motorcycle, the government said. “A total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued,” Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released overnight. A truck carrying explosives collided with a motorcycle in western Ghana Thursday, causing an immense explosion and a huge “loss of lives”, the Ghanaian president said. Ghana has suffered a series of gas explosions in recent years caused by leaking fuel. In 2017, at least three people were killed and dozens injured after a tanker truck carrying natural gas caught fire in Accra, triggering explosions at two fuel stations and killing three people.
Source:Punch
January 21, 2022 11:54 UTC
I won’t delay signing convicted kidnappers’ death warrants – Lalong
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has said he will not hesitate to sign the execution warrant of anyone convicted of kidnapping in the state. The governor made his position known on Thursday in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut. Lalong regretted that the state is witnessing an increase in cases of kidnapping in the state. He noted that a similar situation had also happened when three students of the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, were rescued shortly after being kidnapped from the school in Heipang. The statement read, “Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has commended security personnel in the state for rising up to the occasion and thwarting attempts by kidnappers to create fear among citizens.
Source:Punch
January 21, 2022 11:32 UTC
UN commends Nigeria over first piracy conviction in Africa | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
In response, President Muhammadu Buhari, on June 24, 2019, passed the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences (POMO) Bill. By the POMO Act, Nigeria became the first country in the West and Central African sub-regions to promulgate a stand-alone law against piracy. In July 2021, under the POMO Act, the Federal Government secured the successful prosecution of 10 pirates for the first time anywhere in Africa. The ONSA is committed to ongoing national, regional and international collaboration to strengthen legal, administrative and operational efforts in line with national maritime security objectives. All Stakeholders are, therefore, encouraged to continue to set high standards in the prevention and prosecution of maritime crimes.
Source:The Guardian
January 21, 2022 09:58 UTC
COVID-19: Lift international travel bans, WHO urges countries
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked countries to lift or ease international travel bans, noting that bans currently contribute to the economic and social hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The global health agency gave this charge at the 10th meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the international health regulations. “Lift or ease international traffic bans as they do not provide added value and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress experienced by states parties,” WHO said. WHO further urged countries to ensure a larger percentage of their population are vaccinated and sufficient COVID-19 clinical care and post are provided. “Countries should recognise all vaccines that have received WHO Emergency Use Listing and all heterologous vaccine combinations as per SAGE recommendations, including in the context of international travel.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
January 21, 2022 08:59 UTC
Bulls sustain lead as capitalisation rises further by N248b | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Market capitalisation of listed equities increased by N248 billion or 1.01 per cent from N24.476 trillion to N24.724 trillion. On the price movement chart, 27 stocks appreciated, while seven others constituted the losers’ chart. On the activity chart, CWG was the most active stock during the day, exchanging 517.576 million shares valued at N300.194 million. Dangote Cement followed with an account of 102.917 million shares valued at N28.779 million. FBNHoldings traded 54.041 million shares cost N647.958 million, Sovereign Trust Insurance traded 20.985 million shares cost N4.886 million.
Source:The Guardian
January 21, 2022 08:55 UTC
24-year-old undergraduate jailed over N74m Internet fraud in Kwara
A 24-year-old undergraduate of Kwara state University, Malete, Alonge Toyyib, was on Thursday sentenced to one-year imprisonment by Kwara State High Court over offences bordering on cybercrime and possession of fraudulent funds. Alonge pleaded guilty to the charge. Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Rasheedat Alao, presented a witness, Kamaluddeen Yahayah, to review the facts of the case. Yahayah, who is an operative of the EFCC in his evidence, narrated the circumstances that led to Alonge’s arrest. Justice Akinpelu, in her judgement on the case, sentenced Alonge to six months imprisonment on each of the two counts with N100,000 as fine on each count.
Source:Punch
January 21, 2022 06:50 UTC
2022 expectations from Nigerian power sector | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
With a fortnight gone from this year 2022, it’s time to ruminate on Nigeria’s expectations from its’ power sector. Thus, it’s the best time to revitalize the commission by injecting new blood into the Nigerian power sector. The available mix is an evolving landscape for solar, wind, battery storage and new technologies in the power sector. The challenges of power supply are negatively affecting industrial and agrarian growth and hindering the industrialization of the Nigerian economy. However, the planned sale of five power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) this year will boost efficiency and augment effective power supply to Nigerians.
Source:The Guardian
January 21, 2022 03:55 UTC
National carrier: Uganda leads, emerges world youngest fleet operator | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Without the pandemic alibi, ch-aviation’s database showed that Uganda Airlines has paraded the world’s youngest fleet for the second year on the bounce. Like Nigeria Airways, old Uganda Airlines bit the dust in 2001 after years of aerial woes. On the morning of 28 August 2019, Uganda Airlines had its first commercial flight. Behind Uganda, according to ch-aviation, Chile’s SKY Airline has the youngest fleet in South America and the second-youngest fleet globally. Oman’s Salam Air claims the crown as operating the youngest fleet in Asia, a title which means it has the world’s third-youngest fleet.
Source:The Guardian
January 21, 2022 03:54 UTC
Reps pass electoral bill without compulsory direct primary clause
The House of Representatives passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill on Thursday. However, the lawmakers revised the compulsory direct primary clause. The bill was passed after the removal of clause (84) requiring political parties to only select candidates through direct primaries. Both chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives, however, deleted compulsory direct primaries from the bill. Buhari had last year vetoed the electoral bill and sent it back to the National Assembly over the restriction of political parties to direct primaries.
Source:Punch
January 21, 2022 03:12 UTC
ATM changes 2022 dates to accommodate new UAE working week
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said “We are looking forward to welcoming the global travel and tourism community to the UAE on Monday 9 May 2022. After joining remotely for ATM 2021, this year will see both the ARIVALDubai@ATM forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) participate live in Dubai for the first time ever. GBTA, the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organisation, will deliver the latest business travel content, research and education to help drive the sector’s ongoing recovery and support growth in business travel. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has endorsed its pandemic management, awarding the city a ‘Safe Travels’ stamp. He assured that the company was working assiduously to ensure project completion and take off before the end of March 2022.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
January 21, 2022 00:16 UTC
PVCs: Tinubu tenders apology over misleading claim
A leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has apologised for a misleading claim he made concerning the Permanent Voter Cards. While addressing some of his supporters in Abuja, Tinubu had encouraged them to register ahead of the 2023 elections because their PVCs had expired. To me, I look at it closely and you look at other elections being held, you will see that it’s diminishing because those cards expired. “At the meeting convened at the behest of the women, Asiwaju emphasised the need for people to fully participate in elections so we strengthen our democracy. He urged them to continue to mobilise voters to update their PVCs and help thwart the prevailing voter apathy.
Source:Punch
January 20, 2022 19:18 UTC
Govt confirms killings in bandits attack on Niger community
The Niger State government has confirmed the terrorist attack on Ukuru village in the Bobi district of Mariga local government of the state, saying an unspecified number of people were killed during the attack. Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Idris, also confirmed that many houses and vehicles were also burnt by the terrorists. It was reported that the terrorists on Wednesday evening went on a rampage, killing an unspecified number of people and setting houses ablaze. Eyewitnesses said that the terrorists also burnt vehicles and shops in the village in addition to abducting a large number of villagers. Additional information has it that the first place of attack was at the Ukuru market where traders had brought their goods for sale before the actual market day which is Thursday.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
January 20, 2022 18:24 UTC
Covid cases 'drop significantly' in Africa: WHO | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Cases of Covid have plummeted in Africa and deaths are declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak, the UN said Thursday. Describing the 56-day flareup as Africa’s “shortest upsurge yet,” the World Health Organization’s African regional office said newly reported cases fell by 20 percent in the week to Sunday, while notified deaths dropped by eight percent. Only North Africa reported an increase in cases last week, “with a 55 percent spike”, it said. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa, warned however: “The continent has yet to turn the tables on this pandemic. The continent, with a population of 1.2 billion, has been relatively unscathed by the pandemic, reporting 234,913 deaths from 10.5 million cases, according to AFP tallies.
Source:The Guardian
January 20, 2022 17:07 UTC
‘Dangote Refinery to reduce Africa’s petroleum product imports by 36%’ | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
The African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) has said that Dangote Oil Refinery would reduce importation of petroleum products production into the continent by as much as 36 per cent. “Currently, Africa’s daily petroleum demand is 4.3 million barrels per day (mbd). When Dangote is fully operational, the percentage of Africa’s products imported shall drop to 36 per cent. Dangote shall be supplying over 12 per cent of Africa’s products demand. Indeed, we see petroleum products prices rising steadily in the next few years for at least two decades.
Source:The Guardian
January 20, 2022 14:17 UTC