April 7, 2021

Reps Call For Tighter Security Around Nigerian Prisons

April 7, 2021 11:22 pm

Following last Monday’s attack of Owerri Custodial Centre by Unknown gunmen, the House of Representatives has called for a security beef-up of the various correctional centers across the country.

The charge was made known through the Chairman, House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Anayo Edwin, in a statement released on Wednesday, according to him, it is worrisome that about 1,800 inmates escaped from the Owerri Custodial Centre during the invasion.

While condemning the attacks on Owerri prisons as well as police formations in Imo State, Edwin, urged the Department of State Security (DSS) to unravel the immediate and remote causes of …

AstraZeneca: Nigeria Probes Blood Clotting Side Effects

April 7, 2021 2:02 pm

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) is investigating the blood clotting in some persons who received the first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Director General, Chikwe Ihekweazu, spoke to the press at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing.

On Tuesday, the European Medicines Agency announced there’s a causal link between AstraZeneca’s jab and rare blood clots.

Read Also: UK Stops AstraZeneca Vaccine Trials Over Link With Brain Clot

Marco Cavaleri, Head of Health Threats and Vaccine Strategy, told Rome’s Il Messaggero newspaper that a definitive statement will be released this week.

Ihekweazu said the government was …

NSE CEO Oscar Onyema Completes Tenure

April 7, 2021 2:01 pm

Oscar Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange has completed his tenure.

Onyema, 52, assumed the position on April 4, 2011. He was formerly Senior Vice President of the American Stock Exchange.

In a statement on Tuesday, Olumide Orojimi, Head of Corporate Communications, said a closing ceremony was held to honour him.

Orojimi noted that the NSE experienced significant growth under the former CEO. He cited the recent completion of the demutualisation of The Exchange.

Read Also: ₦68b Wiped Off Nigerian Stock Market, GTB Leads Losers

Onyema recalled he took over when the stock market was “in …

1 Million Nigerians Get First Jab, India Donates 100,000 Doses

April 7, 2021 11:06 am

Nearly one million Nigerians have taken the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine.

Also, 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines pledged by India have been delivered.

Acting Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Velagaleti Surendra, made the presentation on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, and other officials received the donation.

Read Also: COVID-19: Kogi Receives 16,900 Doses Of AstraZeneca Vaccine

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation recalled Nigeria got 3.94 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on March 2, 2021.

He said they represented the first tranche of about 16 million doses allocated …

27 Million Facing Acute Hunger In DR Congo – UN

April 7, 2021 6:47 am

Two UN agencies say about a third of the entire population of the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing acute hunger and have appealed for urgent additional funding to deal with the crisis.

The World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization say it’s never been this bad with more than 27 million Congolese now urgently in need of food – the highest number in any country in the world.

Read Also: Republic Of Congo To Reopen Air Borders On Monday

Both UN agencies describe the scale of the crisis as staggering and say DR Congo should be able …

Harry Potter Actor, Paul Ritter Dies After Brain Tumor

April 7, 2021 4:43 am

British actor, Paul Ritter, who played Eldred Worple in Harry Potter, has died after a brain tumor at the age of 54.

Ritter became a comedy favorite thanks to his performance as Martin Goodman in Friday Night Dinner.

He also starred in Sky drama Chernobyl, played Eldred Worple in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and was in James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

His other TV credits included Vera, Belgravia, Cold Feet, and No Offence.

Read Also: Breaking: Queen Of Katwe Star Nikita Pearl Waligwa Dead

Friday Night Dinner creator Robert Popper said he was “a deeply clever, funny, …

US Agrees To Join Talks Aimed At Salvaging Iran Nuclear Deal

April 7, 2021 3:42 am

The US is set to start talks with EU negotiators in Austria’s capital Vienna aimed at salvaging an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, which Washington withdrew from in 2018.

US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to reverse the decision of his predecessor Donald Trump and return to the 2015 agreement, which was supposed to ensure that Iran never developed a military nuclear programme.

But Iran is demanding an end to crippling sanctions imposed by Trump and has refused to meet US negotiators at the latest talks, meaning European players will act as intermediaries.

Read Also: Tension

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Nigeria’s Backwardness Due To Favouritism – Jonathan

April 7, 2021 1:08 am

Ex-Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan has blamed Nigeria’s backwardness on the tradition of favouritism in leadership positions among families, friends, acquaintances rather than the ability and capability to deliver.

Jonathan made this assertion on Tuesday at the Palace of the Emir of Bauchi during a one-day working visit.

According to him, the tradition in Nigeria is that before one can be appointed to an office or given a responsibility, he must know someone at the top echelon in the country, regretting that the development has taken the nation backward.

Read Also: How President Goodluck Jonathan Failed Olisa Metuh

The former president, …

Why WAEC May Postpone May/June Examinations In Nigeria

April 7, 2021 12:21 am

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Tuesday announced that the May/June 2021 examinations may not hold in Nigeria.

This was revealed by WAEC’s head of the Nigeria national office Patrick Areghan, he stated that the coronavirus pandemic distorted the academic calendar so much that there is no guaranty the annual terminal examinations will be held on schedule.

‘It will, therefore, not be possible to have the examination in May/June this year,’ Areghan said. ‘A convenient International Timetable for the conduct of the examination will soon be released.’

Read Also: WAEC Moves Calabar Office To Uyo

According to Areghan, …