Automate issuance of passport, national identity card overseas, Reps tell FG
Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Wednesday tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to fully automate the process of issuance of passports and National Identity Cards across the globe. Obinna Chidoka who expressed grave concern over various challenges faced by Nigerians in the Diaspora. “The House also notes that the Embassies and High Commissions are safe havens for Nigerians in diaspora, whether living abroad or travelling abroad. “The House is also concerned also that there have been reported incidents of extortion and fraudulent intimidation by Embassy and High Commission officials in the past. The lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to streamline the activities of the nation’s Embassies and High Commissions towards efficient service delivery to Nigerians abroad.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 09, 2021 02:07 UTC
Buhari did not order AEDC management sack – Presidency
The Presidency Wednesday said contrary to reports, President Muhammadu Buhari did not order the sack of the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). A statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) said the news credited to the Minister of State for Power that President Buhari has ordered the sack and replacement of the management is not true. Since the privatization of the Power Sector in 2013, the management of the successor companies has reverted to the new owners. “The Presidency, therefore, wishes to state expressly and reassure investors in the economy that President Buhari did not order the sack of the management of AEDC, neither does he intend to interfere in the running of the affairs of private business entities. 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 09, 2021 01:33 UTC
Man commits suicide after losing company N150,000 bet
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Tuesday said it was investigating the death of a man identified as Adegbite, who allegedly committed suicide after losing N150,000 to sport betting. Adegbite was said to have placed a bet with the money which his boss gave him to pay his colleagues, hoping to replace it after winning. One of his colleagues at work, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Adegbite committed suicide after he lost the money. He was given the money to pay some people at his place of work. They alerted the police, who removed his body.”The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident.
Source:Punch
December 09, 2021 01:20 UTC
British PM under fire over video of staff joking about lockdown party
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was under fire Wednesday after a video emerged of his senior aides joking about holding a Christmas party at Downing Street last year when social gatherings were banned under Covid rules. The video, obtained by broadcaster ITV News, shows Johnson’s then press secretary Allegra Stratton, advisor Ed Oldfied and other staff joking about “a fictional party” during a rehearsal press conference on December 22, with no media present. In the leaked footage, Stratton is seen answering questions about a Downing Street Christmas party the previous Friday — when the alleged rule-breaking gathering took place. “This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced,” she laughs over joking exchanges about “cheese and wine”. In response to the video, Downing Street insisted: “There was no Christmas party.
Source:Punch
December 08, 2021 21:33 UTC
Gold, diamond are good investment, says Shyllon Adeola
Hear her: “Honestly, gold and diamond are both very good commodities to invest in, you can’t leave one for another as they both have huge market appreciation value. I tell people you can never go wrong buying gold , it’s a lifetime asset,” she said. Buying jewelry ( gold & diamonds precisely ) for keeps is a huge investment. Both gold and diamonds are difficult to mine and require skilled tradesmen to hone and create treasures from raw materials. At Houseofamearypearl she sells Italian gold jewelry and diamonds of all kinds.
Source:The Guardian
December 08, 2021 06:52 UTC
HIV/AIDS no longer death sentence, says LSACA CEO
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Mosurat Adeleke, has said people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS can now heave a sigh of relief, saying that disease is no longer a death sentence. Adeleke at the flag-off a statewide free HIV testing in Ikeja said early detection was key in treating the ailment. We’ve reiterated several times that HIV is no longer a death sentence. “We decided to start the flag off at Ikeja LGA, because that is part of our targeted intervention. “Ikeja LGA has the second highest burden of HIV in Lagos State.
Source:Punch
December 08, 2021 04:22 UTC
Lai Mohammed raised formidable information machinery, says Buhari
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), has joined family and friends in congratulating the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on his 70th birthday. Buhari hailed Mohammed “on the milestone, heralded by many years of diligent service to the country, working as a lawyer and businessman, before getting into politics where he served as Chief of Staff in Lagos State, and National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress.”This is as he noted the sacrifices and contributions of the minister in “raising formidable information machinery that went a long way in bringing change in the country.”This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Friday. According to the statement, “The President believes Mohammed works assiduously to create understanding and enhance the image of the country by bridging the gaps in information, commending his ingenuity, resilience and emotional intelligence. “President Buhari joins members of Federal Executive Council, All Progressives Congress and the media industry in wishing the Minister of Information good health, strength and longer life.”
Source:Punch
December 08, 2021 04:19 UTC
Omicron: NCAA lists new boarding rules, airlines risk ban
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority says international airlines will be made to pay $3500 fine on each passenger flown into the country not complying with the Federal Government’s Revised COVID-19 Provisional Quarantine protocol. The NCAA said non-compliance with the COVID-19 protocol requirements could also lead to an outright ban of the non-compliant airline. “Non-compliance to these pre-boarding requirements by any airline will attract a penalty of $3,500 per passenger. Airlines who consistently fail to comply with these requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria.”Copyright PUNCH. Contact: [email protected]
Source:Punch
December 08, 2021 03:48 UTC
Nigeria, Belarus move for mutual ties
Nigeria and the Republic of Belarus are to partner for mutual benefits, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. He spoke yesterday while receiving the Special Envoy of President Alexandar Lukashenko of Belarus, Gen. Victor Sheiman, at the State House, Abuja. After listening to his visitor, Buhari said: “I’m impressed with the progress you have made as a country. He said his country was fully sufficient in agriculture and sells surplus food products worth up to $7 billion yearly. The envoy added that Belarus was ready to cooperate with Nigeria in mechanised agriculture and anti-terrorism fight.
Source:The Guardian
December 08, 2021 03:34 UTC
Two students killed, 12 injured in Lagos truck accident – Police
The Lagos State Police Command has said two students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, in Ojodu, Lagos, were killed when a DAF truck driver, Bolaji Kabiru, rammed into some pedestrians on Tuesday afternoon. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Fatal Motor/Pedestrians Accident At Ojodu Involving Students’. “They also attacked the Ojodu Police Station in their large number, demanding the release of the driver for jungle justice. In the process, they destroyed four vehicles parked in the premises of the police station and another mobile truck on the highway. “To avoid total breakdown of law and order, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, immediately ordered the deployment of policemen comprising tactical teams, Rapid Response Squad and others to the scene to maintain law and order.
Source:Punch
December 08, 2021 00:29 UTC
End the apartheid, FG, Adesina, Ishola slam UK’s travel ban | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Nigeria became the 11th country to go on the UK’s red list for international travel. PRESIDENT of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has also said the travel ban on some African countries over Omicron is “very unfair, non-scientific and discriminatory.”Adesina, who said this through his verified Twitter handle @akin_adesina, urged the western countries to lift the travel ban on African countries. He queried why the travel ban was not placed on non-African countries where Omicron had also been found. And Britain has clamped a travel ban on us. The rush to punish Africa suggests that African countries have now become the epicentre of COVID-19, when this is far from reality.
Source:The Guardian
December 07, 2021 22:23 UTC
Omicron: Student, work visa applications will be processed despite travel restrictions — UK
The United Kingdom on Monday said that student and work visa applications will be processed despite travel restrictions imposed on Nigeria amid the outbreak of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. The British High Commission, Abuja, made this known in a statement titled, ‘Statement from British High Commission on UK visa applications’. The High Commission had on Sunday said it will “pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted”. But in an update on Monday, the UK said visa applications in other categories such as for persons who wish to study, work or live permanently, will continue to be processed. “To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from COVID 19 and associated variants of concern, UK Visas & Immigration have paused making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries until travel restrictions are lifted.
Source:Punch
December 07, 2021 20:35 UTC
Students risk losing $17trn in lifetime earnings to COVID-19, says report
Analysis shows that in some countries, on average, learning losses are roughly proportional to the length of the closures. For example, results from two states in Mexico show significant learning losses in reading and in math for students aged 10- 15. “The estimated learning losses were greater in math than reading, and affected younger learners, students from low-income backgrounds, as well as girls disproportionately”, said the Report. “Younger students had less access to remote learning and were more affected by learning loss than older students, especially among pre-school age children in pivotal learning and development stages. Learning losses were greater for students of lower socioeconomic status in countries like Ghana, Mexico, and Pakistan.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 07, 2021 20:33 UTC
Bandits Block Major Road In Zamfara. 7 Killed, Properties Destroyed
Gunmen suspected to be bandits operating along Shinkafi-Moriki-Kaura Namoda road in Zamfara State have blocked the road, attacking passengers where they killed no fewer than seven people and set many vehicles and food items on fire. A resident of the area, Musa Shuaibu confirmed to The PUNCH that the bandits have succeeded in attacking 15 vehicles and set five of the vehicles ablaze. He maintained that the bandits have been on the road since Wednesday last week, lamenting that “they have set ablaze five vehicles and goods worth millions of Naira and also damaged many vehicles”. Shuaibu also stated that the road was almost deserted, explaining that, “Nobody can pass through that road unless it becomes absolutely compulsory”. “You will hardly see motorists plying the road because of the heavy presence of the bandits under their leader Bello Turji.”Efforts to reach the Police Command failed because the spokesperson of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached on phone.
Source:Punch
December 07, 2021 19:22 UTC
Omicron variant: Why Ramaphosa’s visit was not stopped
He said it is wrong to impose such punishment on a population of 200 million people because of a few cases of Omicron variant that did not originate in the country. This is as a result of the discovery of COVID-19 cases, Omicron variant, in Nigeria. Britain now joins other countries, including Canada, that have taken a similar action against Nigeria over Omicron. Whereas British citizens and residents are allowed to come in from Nigeria, non-residents from the same country are banned. This is why this decision to ban travellers from Nigeria, who are neither citizens nor residents, is grossly discriminatory and punitive.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 07, 2021 08:36 UTC