Friends
Ex-Nigerian ambassador Bolere Ketebu passes on
Dr. Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland is dead. She was 66 years old. Her death was made known by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday. In a statement, Buhari condoled with the Ketebu family, the Bayelsa State government, as well as friends and professional colleagues of Dr Bolere Ketebu, The President said the former ambassador served her country creditably in several capacities. She was at one time President National Council of Women Societies, Secretary to Bayelsa State government and a member House of Representatives between 1992 and 1993. In September 2001, she was elected Advisor, Habitat to the International Council of Women (ICW). She was elected in 2003 as International Board Member to ICW, position she held till 2009. As a board member, she coordinated...
Lagos governor: Coronavirus not a hoax, cases rising
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has cautioned Nigerians against the belief that the existence of coronavirus is a hoax. Instead, he said that COVID-19 cases are rising in Lagos State in a social media post on Sunday. The governor said the Lagos government has activated a new oxygen plant to ensure that more patients recover from the virus. Sanwo-Olu said, “Lagosians, #COVID19 is not a glamorous disease, neither is it a hoax. You need to follow the safety guidelines to safeguard your friends and loved ones. “In the midst of increasing #COVID19 cases, we have some good news from our Infectious Diseases Hospital. “We have activated a new oxygen plant which will help by providing much-needed oxygen to patients. The plant will supplement oxygen supply to about 300 cylinders per day an...
Coronavirus: Nigeria now at tipping point – PTF
The Federal Government, yesterday, took stock of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic vis-a-vis the attitude of Nigerians to embracing safety precautions, and concluded that the country was now at a tipping point. This came as government announced its decision to establish oxygen plants in all states of the federation as part of measures to resolve the “oxygen crisis” that had engulfed some of the isolation and treatment centres in the country. Meanwhile, Edo State has recorded 28 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 270, as the state government cautions residents to abide by the precautionary health and safety guidelines. Vanguard, meanwhile, gathered that former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe and th...
Diego Simeone welcomes back Kieran Trippier after FA explains betting ban
Kieran Trippier’s 10-week ban for betting offences is on hold as FIFA considers an appeal, although the FA has explained its decision. Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone welcomed Kieran Trippier back to training after his 10-week suspension for betting offences was put on hold by FIFA. The 30-year-old defender was issued with the ban and a fine of £70,000 on December 23 after the Football Association (FA) found him guilty of four of seven alleged breaches of rule E8(1)(b). Atletico appealed against the punishment to FIFA, and world football’s governing body has cleared Trippier to play while its appeal committee considers the matter. In the written reasons explaining its independent regulatory commission’s decision, which the FA published on Tuesday, it was revealed Trippier told a friend,...
Alibaba: Coronavirus is real, not a scam
Stand-up comedian Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as “Alibaba”, has urged Nigerians to be cautious and keep safe, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic is real. Alibaba said that having just survived the deadly virus Nigerians should desist from describing the COVID-19 pandemic as a scam. The comedian thanked Govenir Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Prof Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health, and other caregivers who worked tirelessly to keep him alive at the Yaba Isolation Centre where he was quarantined. ‘COVID-19 is real. Don’t let anyone tell you it is a scam. I just came out of isolation, several people died, while I was there. Some of my close friends know and they were very supportive. ‘I thank the Lagos State governor, the Commissioner of Health, Managing Director of the COVID...
Nigerian singer BigLo dies of kidney failure
Popular Nigerian singer Lotanna Udueze, more popularly known as BigLo, has passed on. According to close friends, the singer who was down with a kidney ailment died on Christmas day. Biglo’s kidney ailment was diagnosed in 2018 and last year, he began undergoing dialysis at a nursing home in California, U.S three times a week. He also tried raising funds for treatment. His UK based cousin, Zuby Udezue tried to raise £50,000; about N23 million at that time. Biglo who was popular especially in the early 2000s with fellow musicians, 2shotz and StylPlus, shot into limelight with the hit ‘Delicious’ which featured 2shotz. Although the track earned him a HipHop World Award for Best Rap Collabo, the chubby rapper however, went underground after the buzz died down. Some of his colleagues have take...
Former Real Madrid player Antonio Gento dies at 80
Former Real Madrid player Antonio Gento has died at the age of 80, the club said on Saturday. Antonio is the brother of the six-time European Cup winner Paco Gento who is still honorary president at the Spanish club. Antonio Gento played for Real Madrid during the 1961-62 season and won a Spanish league title and a Spanish Cup. “Real Madrid, its president and board of directors, are deeply saddened by the passing of Antonio Gento,” a statement said. “The club wishes to extend its condolences to all his family, especially our dear Francisco Gento, his friends and loved ones, and all the clubs he represented.” Antonio Gento, a centre-forward, also played for Levante, Racing Santander and Oviedo. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dat...
Christmas celebrated under pandemic’s shadow
Hundreds of millions across the world celebrated pared-down Christmas festivities on Friday due to coronavirus restrictions, as Pope Francis called for vaccines for everyone, describing them as “glimmers of hope in this period of darkness and uncertainty”. The pandemic has claimed more than 1.7 million lives and is still running rampant in much of the world, but the recent launching of mass vaccine campaigns has boosted hopes that 2021 could bring a respite. Like so many across the globe, the pope was forced to break with normal Christmas tradition, holding his annual “Urbi et Orbi” speech by video from the apostolic palace, to prevent a crowd from gathering in St Peter’s Square. “I call on everyone, on leaders of states, on businesses, on international organisations, to promote cooperatio...
Yuletide: NSCDC chief orders deployment of personnel to flash points
SIGNAL The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has ordered the deployment of personnel to all nooks and crannies of the country in order to maintain peace, order and effective security of lives, property before, during and after the yuletide season. This is done against the backdrop of various reports of kidnapping, bandit attacks, assassinations and other forms of criminal activities in recent times. In a statement issued yesterday, DCC Emmanuel Okeh, CDPRO, said Gana reiterated that the determination to make the yuletide season hitch free is upper-most in the scheme of things as lots of Nigerians will be traveling to different parts of the country to celebrate with family and friends hence, the need for citizens’ safety. H...
President Buhari salutes Judith Ameachi at 50
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the wife of the Minister of Transportation, Dame Judith Amaechi, as she turns 50 December 24th. He lauded the former First Lady of Rivers State for being a strong pillar of support for her husband, who has variously been a two-term Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term Governor of same State, Chairman, Governors Forum, and now two-term Minister of Transportation. In a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari noted that without the robust domestic support provided by her, the Amaechi persona may not have loomed as large as it does today on the nation’s political landscape. He wished the Urban and Regional Planning graduate greater successes in her endeavours as wife, mother, entr...
Bisi Fayemi urges Nigerians to stop seeking medical care abroad, come to ABUTH
The First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has called on rich Nigerians to stop seeking medical treatments abroad, saying the multi-system nature of Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) can rival any hospital in the world. Fayemi added that ABUTH is well equipped with personnel and instruments with indisputable capacity to offer quality healthcare delivery that any hospital in India, United States of America, Britain and other advanced nations could offer. The state first lady stated this at her office in Ado Ekiti yesterday, while playing host to the family of Miss Precious Sodeinde, who suffered brain tumour, and was taken to the hospital by her for treatment. The operation done on Precious, who had gone partially blind before the issue was reported to the first lady,...
Governor Tambuwal’s coronavirus test returns negative
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State Monday night said he had tested negative for coronavirus. Tambuwal disclosed this on his official Twitter handle. It can be recalled that Tambuwal went into isolation due to his close physical contact with personalities who tested positive for COVID-19 during his recent official trips. According to the governor, during the isolation, he subjected himself to repeated tests by relevant agencies in order to ascertain his status, as required by the COVID-19 protocols. “It is with gratitude to Almighty Allah, that I inform the general public, particularly the good people of Sokoto State, that the outcome of the several tests I have gone through have all been negative”, he added. “I wish to express my gratitude to my Deputy, Hon Manir Muhammad Dan’i...
