Agency
US election: Donald Trump makes first appearance since ‘defeat’
US President Donald Trump makes his first official post-election appearance Wednesday for what should be a moment of national unity to mark Veteran’s Day, now marred by his refusal to acknowledge Joe Biden’s win. The president visited Arlington National Cemetery around 11:00 am, four days after US media projected his Democratic rival would take the White House. Since then he has not addressed the nation other than via Twitter, and has not conceded to Biden, as is traditional once a winner is projected in a US vote. And with Covid-19 cases shattering records across the country and states imposing new restrictions in a push to contain the virus before winter arrives, Trump seems to have all but shelved normal presidential duties. Instead, he has remained shut up inside the presidential mansi...
Tech is the new ‘oil’ – NITDA chief
The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, has said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the new ‘oil’, because of its increasing contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). The DG who said this while delivering a remark at a virtual conference also said his agency is actively accelerating digital inclusion in Nigeria by taking advantage of the speed of existing infrastructure across the country. “Technology is the way forward in communications and other activities like meetings, prescriptions by doctors, conferences and other related activities which has aid the implementations of policies and strategies for the growth and development of our country. “It is the next oil, simply because of...
France’s economy minister contracts coronavirus
Getty Images French economy minister Bruno Le Maire announced Friday he has tested positive for COVID-19 but said he had no symptoms and was working from home as cases soared again in France. Le Maire, who is responsible for reviving a French economy battered by the months-long pandemic, is not the first member of President Emmanuel Macron’s government to have been diagnosed with the disease. “I tested positive for Covid-19 this evening. I immediately placed myself in isolation at home in line with the health regulations issued by the government,” Le Maire said in a tweet. “I show no symptoms. I will remain in isolation for seven days. I continue to exercise my duties,” the 51-year-old minister said. On March 9, the former culture minister and current minister for external trade, Franck Ri...
Auditor-General denies illegal withdrawal of N10 billion from NHIS account
The Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Anthony Ayine, Monday, described as false and mischievous, allegations that he connived with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to illegally withdraw N10 billion from the account of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. In a statement from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, OAUGF, in Abuja, Ayine said in the allegation, it was stated that the first withdrawal of N5 billion from the NHIS account was made by Osinbajo and himself, in December 2016, noting that he actually resumed office in January 2017. According to him, the whole allegation, therefore, is not only illogical, highly embarrassing, scandalous, frivolous and unreasonable, but it is also calculated to smear the OAuGF and the person of the Auditor-General for the Federat...
LASEMA raises alarm over distressed three-storey building
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, Friday, raised the alarm, over a distressed building in the state. LASEMA Director-General Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the building situated at No 7, Sule Close, Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area of the state, was physically unfit when the attention of the agency was drawn to it. He said the agency’s response team alongside Lagos State Building Control Agency LASBCA, and Lagos State Material Testing Agency will be carrying out a full inspection and additional testing on the building. LASEMA said the results will determine whether the building will be allowed to remain standing or be leveled to ground zero. The Agency advised residents to exercise caution, and where possible, seek alternate lodging until the integrity of the build...
