COVID-19: Nigeria’ll no longer accept short-shelf life vaccines – FG
Following the expiration of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has announced that the country will no longer accept vaccines with short-shelf life as it mounted to undue pressure on health workers to administer them. This is even as it has disclosed that over 10 million vaccines with short-shelf life received free of charge have been administered so far in the country. “As of today, the 13th of December 2021, 7,894,068 eligible persons have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. This represents 7.1% of the eligible population required to be vaccinated. “The total of fully vaccinated eligible people in Nigeria is 3,969,325 representing 3.6% of eligible population.
Source:Punch
December 14, 2021 16:15 UTC
Pfizer says Covid pill drastically reduces severe disease | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Pfizer said Tuesday that clinical trials confirmed its Covid pill, a new type of antiviral treatment that should withstand the mutations seen with Omicron, drastically reduced hospitalizations and deaths among at-risk people by almost 90 percent. Overall, there were 12 deaths in the placebo group who did not receive the drug and none in the drug group. There were also encouraging results from a trial among people at standard risk of developing severe Covid, the company reported, but that study is ongoing. Another Covid pill, Merck’s molnupiravir, has already been authorized in Britain and is pending authorization in the United States. Pfizer said it had shared its pill data with the US Food and Drug Administration as part of its submission for an emergency use authorization.
Source:The Guardian
December 14, 2021 15:55 UTC
Alarming rate of extrajudicial killings
That is a rate of 1,324 persons per year in needless killings by security agents. Callously, it seems the political and security leadership in Nigeria think nothing of the high rate of killings by state actors. In Nigeria, security agents compete with bloodthirsty non-state actors like Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, bandits, and Fulani herdsmen in massacring Nigerians. Despite the global uproar over the killings that followed the #EndSARS protests of 2020, Washington DC-based NGO, Global Rights, tallied 164 extrajudicial killings between January and September 2021. For instance, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, should lead protests against the high rate of killings by Customs officers in Ogun.
Source:Punch
December 14, 2021 13:00 UTC
NSA names groups backing terrorist organisations | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
The NSA enjoined Islamic preachers and Imams to deploy their vantage positions to canvas support for ongoing counter-terrorism operations. He observed that alliances between the clerics and Security Forces “should be the backbone to rebuilding our terrorism infested communities”. The NSA spoke at the 14th Workshop of the League of Ulamas, Preachers and Imams of Sahel countries in Abuja. “In Nigeria, Boko-Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) dominate terrorist activities, especially in the North-Eastern part of the country. The NSA added further that, “It is imperative to reassess and reset the strategy towards the Sahel, setting aside faulty assumption.
Source:The Guardian
December 14, 2021 10:49 UTC
Local stock market opens week bullish, investors earn N276bn
Trading in the Nigerian equities market kicked off the week with positive sentiments as investors rallied MTN Nigerian and Dangote Cement. This outing pegged the equities market capitalisation of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) at N22.130 trillion as investors gained N276 billion in the session. Market breadth closed in favour of the bulls with 23 counters in the gainers’ chart pitted against 15 counters in the losers’ chart. Unity Bank dominated the volume charts as the top traded stock by volume for the trading session. The content of the article published by these online platforms is not new; it has been recirculated several times and has been debunked.Local stock market opens week bullish, investors earn N276bnLocal stock market opens week bullish, investors earn N276bn
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 14, 2021 10:23 UTC
Infinix Launches All-New Fast and Fun HOT 11
Infinix announced the all-new HOT 11 smartphone featuring fast & fun components with a focus on playing games, watching movies and photography. Stunning DesignThe HOT 11 was designed around trendy colour tones crafted with waves in mind. The HOT 11 comes in four different stylish and modern colour options: Polar Black, 7°Purple, Green Wave and Silver Wave. AvailabilityThe Infinix HOT 11 will be available from the 9th of December, and prices start at ₦89,000 only. To learn more about the HOT 11, visit:For more details, visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/Media Contact:
Source:Punch
December 13, 2021 17:19 UTC
Sylvester: Falana asks police to invite Olunloyo over ‘reckless allegation’
A law firm, Falana & Falana’s Chambers, has asked the Lagos State Police Command to invite blogger and social media personality, Kemi Olunloyo, to explain a “reckless allegation” she made against the late 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Sylvester Oromoni. The law firm owned by renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), therefore, urged the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, to invite the blogger for questioning. One Ms Kemi Olunloyo has just introduced another twist to the incident,” Taiwo Olawanle of Falana & Falana’s Chambers said in a letter dated December 13, 2021. “Apart from attempting to destroy the name of Sylvester Oromoni, Ms Olunloyo has exacerbated the tragedy of his parents, family members and friends without any justification whatsoever. “We are therefore compelled to request the Police to investigate the allegation of false information being circulated by Ms Olunloyo on the gruesome circumstances surrounding the death of Sylvester Oromoni.
Source:Punch
December 13, 2021 16:07 UTC
Nigeria's 5G auction price rises to $209.4m | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
With three operators currently slugging it out in Abuja for Nigeria’s Fifth Generation (5G) network license, the current bid price per lot of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction has now hit $209,497,962.50 as Round Four begins. The price per lot of 100MHz band of the spectrum on offer was $204, 388,256.10 for Round Three. MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Mafab Nigeria Communications Ltd are participating in the live auction. Earlier, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami flagged off the 3.5GHz spectrum auction in Abuja at around 11.00 am today. He said the result of the investigation showed 5G technology had no health hazards.
Source:The Guardian
December 13, 2021 14:54 UTC
Over N77 billion loans, bad governance kill agric bank | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
This is despite threats of arrests by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to farmers who default in paying back the ABP loans. According to the CBN Comptroller, Bauchi Branch, Saladu Idris, bulk of the loan defaulters were particularly among rice farmers. Analysts said the failure is an indication that the bank has completely gone under, with very slim chances of revival. “I think the bank should target farmers who are directly involved in production instead of financing agricultural marketing. “The CBN will hold 10 per cent; the Ministry of Finance, 10 per cent; the private sector operators, 30 per cent.
Source:The Guardian
December 13, 2021 13:35 UTC
Ahead 2023: Where is Ambode? | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
That’s why today, anyone can be right to say Nigeria is an interesting conundrum, a giant dwarfed by its many problems, mostly self-inflicted. What does Nigeria need right now? Ambode attended a unity school, Federal Government College, Warri deep in the South-South region of Nigeria, and as any alumnae of such schools will tell you, they believe in the Nigeria Project, Ambode is not different. In a case of need, Nigeria needs the likes of Ambode; whether Ambode needs Nigeria is another case entirely but 2023 fast approaches and we need a change, not just any change but a paradigm shift, a mindset makeover. Akhibi wrote in from Ogba, Lagos State.
Source:The Guardian
December 13, 2021 11:06 UTC
Ogun proposes 10,000 entrepreneurs in MSMEs business clinic
The Ogun State government says it is focused on helping 10,000 entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses through the second edition of its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Business Clinic. The clinics are scheduled to hold across four other zones in the state after its launch in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Thursday. The governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said in a statement that his administration was already helping the MSMEs sub-sector through the facilitation of access to finance, market linkages, provision of the MSMEs Park, and the creation of electronic market place. Abiodun, who was represented by the Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, said, “Our goal is to ensure this critical sector is engaged proactively and in a sustainable manner. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Source:Punch
December 13, 2021 10:58 UTC
6,000 persons in Sokoto receive cash, free medical care from UN donor agencies
Those selected, according to Isa Ibrahim, a social protection specialist, UNICEF field office in Sokoto, were drawn from three local governments area of the state including Wamakko, Wurno and Bodinga local governments. He said their medical insurance has already been paid for the period of one year under the state government health insurance scheme. He commended the state government for cooperation with the agency so far, saying the residents of the state should take advantage of all the available opportunities for themselves. He commended UNICEF, WFP, ILO and UNDP for their continuous support to the people of the state through different programmes in the state. CLAIM 1: A Twitter user claims UNICEF said any efforts to block children from accessing pornography might infringe their human rights.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 13, 2021 08:32 UTC
20 killed in Bauchi multiple crashes
No fewer than 20 people were killed in multiple crashes that occurred on Sunday. The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Bauchi State, Yusuf Abdullahi, confirmed the crashes to our correspondent. Abdullahi said that the crash which had 10 male adults and six female adults, was caused by speed violation. He said, “There were 16 people involved in this crash comprising 10 male adults and six female adults. “Those injured included five male adults, one female adult, and one female child.”Abdullahi lamented the frequent crashes along routes across the state.
Source:Punch
December 13, 2021 08:09 UTC
India’s Harnaaz Sandhu crowned Miss Universe 2021
Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned Miss Universe 2021 on Sunday, marking the end of a controversial pageant hosted this year in southern Israel. In a speech on stage during the pageant, Sandhu urged young people to “know that you are unique and that’s what makes you beautiful, stop comparing yourself to others. Nadia Ferreira of Paraguay and Lalela Mswane of South Africa were the first and second runners-up, respectively. But Mswane with the backing of the Miss South Africa organization chose to travel to Israel and compete. Other figures, including Miss Israel, Noa Cochva, responded with a common refrain heard from pageant organizers and contestants: Miss Universe should not be about politics.
Source:Punch
December 13, 2021 07:56 UTC
Osasuna vs Barcelona: Osasuna strike late to snatch draw
Barcelona’s nightmare week ended in more disappointment on Sunday as they conceded in the 86th minute to draw 2-2 away at struggling Osasuna. Instead, Chimy Avila drove into the corner to secure a draw for Osasuna that was as dramatic as it was deserved. “Our young players are the positive but in general it’s negative,” said Xavi afterwards. Barcelona struggled to regain their rhythm for the rest of the first half but reclaimed their lead early in the second. Osasuna wanted a penalty when Gavi’s clearance struck the hand of Sergio Busquets but nothing was given and Barca broke fast.
Source:Punch
December 13, 2021 04:44 UTC