August
Ministry: All virus-infected WASSCE candidates have recovered
The Ministry of Education announced on Monday, August 31, 2020 that all final year secondary school students who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. Pulse reported last week that at least 33 students in four states had tested positive for the novel disease two weeks after the commencement of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). In the first week, 11 students in Gombe and one in Kwara tested positive, while 20 tested positive in Bayelsa, and one Akwa Ibom last week. The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, announced during a media briefing on Monday that all the students have recovered. “We’ve confirmed that all of them are back in class. They have now been tested negative. “We do not have any further cases,” the minister said. Nwajiuba said ...
South West NULGE disowns former secretary over inauguration of caretaker committee
File Photo The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) weekend disowned a retired Deputy National secretary of the Union, Comrade Rasaki Lawal, for putting in place a caretaker committee. It expressed worries over Lawal alleged activities to create unnecessary leadership crisis in the Union even after his retirement. This was contained in a communiqué issued by the Southwest leaders of the union at a meeting attended by the six Presidents in the zone in Akure. In a Communiqué signed by the leaders, the Zone explained that despite the hands of brotherhood extended to Rasaq Lawal, he never rescinded on his anti-union actions of allegedly creating rancour within the rank and file of the union in the zone and throughout the country in general The Southwest Leaders, therefore, enjoi...
Akanu Ibiam International Airport ready for flight resumption – minister
The Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, says the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu is ready for resumption of flights. Sirika said this on Saturday in Enugu after the final round of inspection of rehabilitation works in the airport prior to the official reopening of the complex. The Federal Government had in August 2019 shut down Akanu Ibiam International Airport over security reasons. Some of the reasons include its bad runway and landing aids, the presence of market close to the airport attracting birds, leading to constant bird strikes. Others are also included the wrong placement of the state radio station mast directly facing the runways. However, the minister, who landed at the airport on Saturday evening with a private jet, No.5N-PAZ said that he was delighted to have been ...
FIFA ‘requests suspension’ of Ivorian federation election
FIFA have called on the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) to halt its election campaign after Didier Drogba’s bid was rejected, a letter seen by AFP on Friday showed. FIF’s election has turned into a soap opera marred by incessant infighting and on Thursday the former Chelsea forward’s candidacy was thrown out as he had only received the official support of two of a required four Ivorian clubs. “We request the suspension of all action in relation to the election process until further notice,” the document dated August 27 and sent to FIF said. Drogba’s election team said on Thursday it expected FIF’s decision which claimed he was ineligible to run for the position. “Drogba’s staff isn’t surprised by this decision to reject the bid. But we remain unfazed. We will react to conform to the ...
Former Oyo lawmaker arrested over ‘assault’ on APC leader
A former Oyo State House of Assembly member, Mr Wasiu Lafioye Akinmoyede, has been arrested by the police for allegedly assaulting a leader of the All Progressives Congress in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State. Akinmoyede, who represented Lagelu State consistency in the 8th Assembly, reportedly broke a chair on the head of a former House of Representatives member and chieftain of APC in the local government, Mr Remi Adebayo. He was reportedly arrested yesterday by one SP. Bolaji from Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State. Newsmen gathered that the incident took place on Wednesday, August 13, during the APC elders meeting held in the local government. A source who did not want his name in print told Vanguard that, in the course of the meeting, Mr. Adebayo observed and mentioned the names of s...
Edo guber: APC petitions CJ over suit seeking to disqualify Pastor Ize-Iyamu
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has filed a petition against Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of accelerating hearing of a suit that is seeking to disqualify its governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The ruling party, in the petition it forwarded to the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requested the immediate withdrawal of the suit from Justice Taiwo to enable another judge to take over and hear the matter. In the petition dated August 20, which was signed by the National Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, the party, alleged that Justice Taiwo unnecessarily expedited hearing on the suit by granting abridgement of time to the plaintiffs when motion for such relief had not bee...
Abia governor to honour virus frontline workers, others
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has directed the organizing committee of the 29th Anniversary of Abia State to celebrate frontline workers and honor them for their sacrifices during the coronavirus pandemic. Ikpeazu ordered the celebration in order to encourage others to make similar or even greater sacrifices in service to humanity. He listed those to be honored as; 1. Dr Stanley Okerulu 2. Dr Ijeoma Nduka 3. Lady Peace Nwaogwugwu 4. Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi 5. Nurse Lilian Anyanwu 6. Nurse Kemi Olowoniyi Governor Ikpeazu also commended a staff of Transport and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMAAS) who has distinguished herself in the task of controlling traffic, particularly at FMC junction of Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia. The staff turns up every morning before rush hour...
NHRC: Modern slavery must end in Nigeria
The National Human Rights Commission has called for an end to slavery which it says still thrives in modern forms in Nigeria despite the official abolition of the scourge many decades ago. NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, was quoted as saying this in the commission’s statement marking this year’s International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade which is observed on August 23 annually. The statement signed by the commission’s Assistant Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages Department, Fatimah Mohammed was titled, ‘International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slave Trade: NHRC Seeks End to All Forms of Modern Slavery’. It read in part, “As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2020 International Day of Remembrance of...
MFM Pastor Olukoya decries link with fraud
General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, has denied involvement in any fraudulent activities as being portrayed in some sections of the media, which he accused of being bent on churning out malicious stories against him and the church. Defending Dr. Olukoya, in a statement, his media aide, Mr. Collins Edomaruse, said the seven allegations laid against the general Overseer and the MFM were without foundation, but intent to damage his reputation and destroy the global image of the church. Edomaruse also said “It has become pertinent for the purpose of clarity to respond to the false allegations being peddled against the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries and our General Overseer – Dr. D. K. Olukoya in the social media particularly...
Kaduna Muslim lawyers to boycott NBA conference
Pool Photo The leadership of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) in Kaduna has directed its members to Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following the withdrawal of Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s invitation by the NBA. Governor El-Rufai was one of the speakers billed to speak at the 60th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association. But the National Executive Council of the NBA withdrew the governor’s invitation after a group of lawyers protested against the governor’s presence at the conference. The lawyers had argued that inviting El-Rufai to speak at the event is a ‘reward for misrule,’ adding that the governor does not represent what the NBA stands for. However, the decision to remove the governor from the list of speakers that ...
UK offers free visa replacement for Nigerians
Y-Axis The British High Commission in Nigeria has said it will replace, for free, the 30-day visa of individuals that were supposed to travel to the UK before the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 global pandemic. It said the free visa replacement, which will be open till December 2020, covers those who will be travelling to the UK for work, study or to join their families. This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the commission titled, ‘Update on VAC Services From The BHC Nigeria’ posted on its verified Twitter handle, @UKinNigeria. The statement read in part, “as a result of the disruptions to travel caused by COVID-19, we are experiencing high demand for replacement vignettes for 30-day visas to travel to the UK for work, study or to join family. “If an individual’s 30-da...
Police arrest nine for ‘armed robbery, cultism’ in Enugu
Nine persons have been arrested by the Police in Enugu state for involving in offences of conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearm, cultism, and receiving of stolen property. Their arrest followed a renewed charge by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman, that police operatives should increase the tempo to rid the state of criminal elements. The suspects according to the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Daniel Ndukwe are, 21-year-old Victor Obute (a.k.a. “Choiyi”) from Igbo-Etiti local government; Ebuka Omene (a.k.a. “OPEC”) aged 21 of Edemani Nsukka; Chekwube Alumona (a.k.a “Electric”) aged 22 of No. 1B Aludele Street, Nsukka; Chibuike Onoja (a.k.a. “Ginger”) aged 24 of Enugu-Ezike; and Odoh Nnaemeka (a.k.a “Pastor”) aged 24 of Enugu-Ezike. Othe...
