Vreporters

Blog

  • COVID-19 Finally Hits Antarctica

    Antarctica, once the only continent not to be ravaged with the novel COVID-19 pandemic, has now recorded its first cases.

    The Chilean army announced in a statement that 36 people linked with the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme base on the planet’s southern pole had tested positive for COVID-19.

    Of the 36 infected, 26 are reported to be members of the Chilean military, while the others are believed to be maintenance workers.

    The outbreak has been traced to the delivery of supplies from the Naval vessel Sargento Aldea which arrived from Chile on November 27.

    In the statement, the Chilean army said: “Thanks to the timely preventive action … it was possible to relieve said personnel, who, after being subjected to a medical control and the administration of a PCR test … turned out to be positive for Covid-19,” according to Newsweek.

    It also reported that three crew members on a ship providing support to the base have also tested positive since returning from their mission to Antarctica.

    The 36 individuals who tested positive have since been evacuated to the city of Punta Arenas in Chile, where they are reported to be under isolation and in good condition.

    The news means that Covid cases have now been recorded on all seven continents.

  • ASUU NEC Meets To Consider Branches Resolutions on Strike

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will hold a crucial meeting in Abuja to take action on the nine-month-old industrial action which has crippled the Nigerian Universities System (NUS).

    Daily Sun gathered that the crucial meeting will hold at ASUU Secretariat from Tuesday night until Wednesday.

    A national officer of the union told our correspondent that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the resolutions reached by the various branch congresses on recent Federal Government offers at the last negotiations.

    He confirmed that the national leadership of ASUU mandated the branches to hold congress this week to deliberate on the government’s commitment.

    ‘You know that it is the branches that called for the national strike. So, whatever government brings to the negotiations table, we will refer it to them for consideration and approval.

    ‘It is their resolutions or inputs from the congresses that will be discussed at the NEC meeting. After the NEC meeting, our leaders will then meet government officials to state our official position. Yes, a meeting between the union and government representatives is scheduled for this week. Let Nigerians keep their fingers crossed,’ he explained.

    The outcome of branch congresses revealed that many branches favoured the suspension of the nine-month-old strike with conditions because of the government’s attitude of not honouring previous signed agreement.

    Daily Sun learnt that some branches in the zones at their congresses resolved to suspend the industrial action, stipulating that the government, within a specific period, must implement the agreed demands.

    The branches insisted the Federal Government must release the N70 billion pay without delay, the outstanding salaries of ASUU members, AND constitute visitation panels and other outstanding demands.

    Recently, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said universities will resume for academic activities in January 2021 as some of the contentious issues will be resolved soon.

    Meanwhile, the new leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) this week gave the Federal Government a deadline of January 15 to resolve the issues with ASUU or face their action.

  • COVID-19: List of 40 Countries That Suspend Travel From UK

    COVID-19: List of 40 Countries That Suspend Travel From UK

    No fewer than 40 countries have suspended travel from Britain in a bid to contain a fast-spreading new strain of the coronavirus.

    Among them are four African countries – Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritius, with Nigeria also considering to suspend travel from the UK.

    The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, at a press briefing on Monday said, “A lot of discussions is still going on around the calls for the restriction of international travels due to the discovery of new strains of the virus in certain countries.

    “The protection of Nigerians remains our primary concern and we reassure Nigerians of our resolve not to relent.”

    According to reports, scientists at the Redeemer’s University, Nigeria, say they have found the United Kingdom’s ‘lineage B.1.1.7,’ a mutant variant of the COVID-19 global pandemic, in Nigeria.

    Scotland had already closed its border with the rest of the United Kingdom.

    Here are some of travel bans announced so far.

    – France –

    France has halted all travel from Britain for 48 hours, including anyone transporting goods by road, air, sea or rail.

    Paris and London are in talks over testing at ports to reopen the border, British Home Secretary Priti Patel said.

    – Germany –

    Germany is extending a ban on all arrivals from the UK and South Africa – where the new strain has also appeared – until January 6.

    – Spain and Portugal –

    Spain and Portugal are suspending flights, with Madrid only allowing its nationals or residents to enter from Britain.

    – India –

    India has suspended all flights until December 31, with anyone arriving from Britain on transit flights to be tested.

    Its financial capital Mumbai is being put under curfew over fears of the British strain.

    – Poland –

    Poland – which has a large ex-pat community in Britain – has banned all incoming UK flights.

    – Hong Kong –

    The former British colony has banned all incoming UK flights, and extended the quarantine of passengers who arrived from Britain in the last fortnight.

    – Netherlands –

    Passenger flights from Britain have been banned until January 1. One case of the new strain has been found in the country.

    – Ireland –

    Flights from Britain from Monday have been banned for at least 48 hours.

    – Italy –

    Italy has blocked flights from Britain and prohibited entry of people who have stayed there during the last 14 days.

    The new strain has been found in one person who recently returned from the UK.

    – Russia –

    Moscow is suspending British flights for a week.

    – Rest of Europe –

    Finland is suspending flights for two weeks and Switzerland until further notice, with travellers who have arrived from Britain or South Africa ordered into quarantine.

    Baltic nations Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as Belgium and Luxembourg have also halted flights, while in the Balkans, Croatia, Macedonia, and Albania followed suit with Bulgaria and suspended them until January 31.

    Romania has banned all flights to and from the UK for two weeks, as has the Czech Republic.

    Norway and Denmark suspended flights for 48 hours.

    Denmark has detected nine cases of the new strain on its soil.

    – Canada –

    Canada has banned all UK flights for 72 hours, with those who had already arrived from Britain subject to screenings.

    – Turkey –

    Turkey has suspended flights from Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands and South Africa.

    – Middle East –

    Saudi Arabia and Oman said they were closing their borders entirely for at least a week.

    Israel said it was barring entry to foreign citizens travelling from Britain, Denmark and South Africa, while Jordan is banning UK flights for a fortnight, as is Iran.

    Kuwait has added Britain to a list of “high-risk” nations and banned flights.

    – Africa –

    Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia have all banned flights from Britain, with Algeria deciding to stop repatriating its nationals.

    Mauritius, a former British colony, has also barred travel from the UK and South Africa.

    – Latin America –

    Anyone who had been in Britain or South Africa in the past 30 days will not be allowed to enter El Salvador.

    Peru has gone further, banning all flights from Europe and any foreigner who had been in Britain in the last fortnight.

    Chile and Argentina have banned flights from the UK, with anyone without a Chilean residence permit who had been in Britain in the past two weeks barred.

  • Two Electricity Workers Electrocuted While On Duty in Delta

    Two yet-to-be identified staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) have been electrocuted in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    It was gathered that the victims were working when power was suddenly restored, leading to their electrocution.

    The Director-General, Young Nigerians Organisation, Victor Ojie, who confirmed the incident to PUNCH on December 22, accused the electricity company of not providing safety gadgets for its worker.

    “Over time, this ugly trend has been happening in Delta State; employees of the BEDC have been dying on the job. I wonder why the company cannot provide safety gadgets for its workers,” he said.

    “When the workers want to go to the field, they usually switch off power lines that link to the area of work. After finishing the work, they will radio the office to switch the power on. Some of them sabotage themselves by switching it on while work is still ongoing, but if they have a safety guard, they will not be electrocuted. The families of the victims are in pain now; so, we urge the BEDC to compensate the families.” he added.

  • Repentant Bandits Play Role In Securing Release of Kankara School Boys, Shehu

    Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu says repentant bandits played a role in securing the release of over 300 schoolboys abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina.

    Recall that on December 11, gunmen on motorcycles attacked the school and abducted the students a few hours after President Buhari, arrived in the state for a week-long private visit. While the military claim they secured the release of the boys, some other government officials have alleged that it was Miyetti Allah that helped in securing the release of the students.

    Speaking as a guest on Channels TV on Tuesday morning December 22, Shehu said the conflicting accounts surrounding the release of the schoolboys are inconsequential and that what matters now is that the boys have been reunited with their parents. He also dismissed reports that ransom was paid for their release.

    “All of the leading actors said no ransom was paid. The governor of Zamfara State, who had a policy of engagement with the bandits leading to the surrender and renouncement of bandits, used reformed bandits –repentant bandits – to gain access to those that were in the forest and they had them (schoolboys) released.

    So, to the best of our knowledge, all the leading actors in Katsina and Zamfara States said no ransom was paid.”

    Speaking further, he said:

    ”In all of the things that played out, we must thank God for bringing these children out. Glory also belongs to the nation. I don’t see much conflict in all of these things.

    The security services – Army, police, intelligence agencies – showed good judgement and capacity by promptly responding to the kidnap of those students and then locating exactly where they were being held.

    Having done that, they quickly mobilised and surrounded the entire place to ensure that they do not go out, and they do not come in. So, whatever followed after that is to reap from the gains of what has been done.”

  • My Only Regret As Minister , Lai Mohammed

    My Only Regret As Minister , Lai Mohammed

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed says his only regret as a minister is that some Nigerians have failed to appreciate that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing so much with little resources.

    Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, stated this at a Special Forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said with dwindling resources, no government in the history of Nigeria had implemented programmes alleviating poverty among women and vulnerable groups as well as created jobs for the youths as the Buhari administration had done.

    The minister said his regret is that some Nigerians have failed to appreciate the efforts of the government but keep celebrating negative developments.

    “My regret in this government is that Nigerians have failed to appreciate that the government is doing much more with much less.

    “2010 to 2014 crude oil was selling from 100 dollars to 140 dollars per barrel, but the highest we have sold since we came in is 60 dollars.

    “Sometimes at the peak of COVID-19 pandemic, we were even paying for storage because nobody wanted to take our crude.

    “With the drop in revenues and security challenges this government has not retrenched one person but put in place programmes to cushion the effects of the pandemic,’’ he said.

    The minister said Nigerians are not giving credit to various intervention programmes of government such as the School Feeding Programme, with no fewer than 12.8 million pupils getting one free meal a day to develop their mental capacity.

    He said over one million Nigerians had benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme carried out in conjunction with the World Bank under which N5,000 is disbursed monthly to vulnerable Nigerians.

    Mohammed also said the N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund initiated by the government had provided job opportunities for the youths.

    The minister also listed the MSMEs Survival Fund aimed at giving the enterprises grants to enable them to meet their payroll obligations and safeguard jobs from the shocks of COVID-19.

    “This includes the payroll support for businesses in health, education, hospitality and food production sectors targeting 500,000 beneficiaries.

    ” The One-Off payment to support self-employed individuals like mechanics and drivers, hairdressers, Keke Napep and Okada riders, plumbers and electricians with a one-time payment of N30,000 for 333,000 beneficiaries.

    “Formalisation support where Federal Government will register 250,000 new businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission at no cost to MSMEs.

    “General MSMEs grants which provide N50,000 to an additional 100,000 MSMEs as well as Guaranteed Offtake Stimulus Scheme which aimed to stimulate direct local production in the 36 states and the FCT,’’ he said

    Mohammed said other initiatives targeted at the youths included N-POWER which had engaged 500,000 beneficiaries with 400,000 added from December.

    He further said 10,000 youths had been trained and benefitted under the N-TECH and N-AGRO initiatives while over two million farmers and traders were empowered under the FARMERMONI, TRADERMONI and MARKETMONI. (NAN)

    [NAN]

  • Video: U.S President-elect, Joe Biden Receives Injected Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine on Live TV

    President-elect of United States of America,, Joe Biden has received his first injected dose of the Covid-19 vaccine live on television on Monday December 21, in an effort to reassure its safety ahead of its wide distribution next year.

    Biden received the vaccine alongside his wife, Jill at ChristianaCare Hospital in Newark, Delaware. They will each need another round of vaccinations developed by Pfizer-BioNTech in about 21 days.

    “I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it’s available to take the vaccine,” Biden said after rolling up the left sleeve of his polo shirt and receiving the shot. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m looking forward to the second shot. So is Jill.”

    He also said the Trump administration “deserves some credit” for launching the country’s vaccine programme.

    https://t.co/mtoGWD6ttX

    Vice President Mike Pence; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell., each got their shots last Friday.

    Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are expected to receive their vaccination next week, the transition announced.

    The Biden team has set a goal of 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations in the US during the administration’s first 100 days in the White House.

  • 300-level Unilorin Student Commits Suicide After He Was Duped N300 million

    A 300-level student of the Department of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Gbenga Favour Olaoye-Akanbi, has committed suicide after he was allegedly duped by a forex trader, Eseka Chuckwutem Gospel (ESG).

    Family sources told our correspondent that Olaoye-Akanbi was discovered dead on Sunday after drinking poison.

    The 19-year-old student was said to have invested over N300 million belonging to his colleagues and friends in a business run by ESG.

    Speaking to our correspondent, a friend of the deceased and an investor with the firm explained how they were duped.

    He said, “The investment is forex. The guy’s name is Eseka Chuckwutem Gospel. We started the investment together this year. It seems he stopped trading, so he turned indirectly to a Ponzi scheme without the knowledge of those investing.

    “He has a particular group. Most people in that group collected money from other people to invest in his business. The late Gbenga collected money from different people to invest with ESG at a certain percentage.

    “Later on, the investment crashed, and the guy was arrested. With the help of some senior police officials, he was released. So over time, people that were with ESG as investors( they had borrowed money to invest) were now being pressurized to repay the loan they took. I am one of the investors, too; we were under a lot of pressure to pay up. So I think because of this guy’s age, he is just 19-year-old, he couldn’t withstand the pressure and committed suicide.”

    A course mate of the deceased said he assured them that forex is not a Ponzi scheme and that he had back up funds, much enough to pay every one of his investors their capital and profits even if things went wrong.

    “It’s so sad; I have over N5m investment deal with him. He claimed to be the one doing the trading initially, but when the problem started around June, he started mentioning one Eseka Chuckwutem Gospel as his boss. He told us they were arrested together, but that our money was safe with him.

    He later promised to pay everyone’s capital before December. I was surprised when I saw people posting his pictures with RIP today,” he told our correspondent.

    Sahara Reporters

  • COVID-19: FG Imposes Five Weeks Restrictions, Issues 15 Advisories

    COVID-19: FG Imposes Five Weeks Restrictions, Issues 15 Advisories

    As the cases of Covid-19 continue to rise in the country, the Federal Government has imposed five weeks restrictions to prevent a further spread of COVD-19.

    The second wave of the pandemic has hit the country with intense ferocity as it is across the world.

    The initial restrictions in line with the established protocols will now return.

    State governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are expected to assume full responsibility of enforcement.

    Travel restrictions within the country and from other countries are also to take effect, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, said yesterday.

    Among the re-introduced restrictions and regulations are closure of most public places including religious, occupational and recreational activities.

    Chairman of PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, said at a news conference on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the state governments and the FCT to act immediately for five weeks, “in the first instance”.

    Mustapha was seen in public for the first time in two weeks yesterday, after he went into isolation.

    He said: “The PTF has surveyed developments and actions taken by governments around the world, assessed our domestic environment and has accordingly submitted its recommendations to Mr. President on immediate measures to be taken.

    “In line with the authorisation, the PTF wishes to issue the following advisories to sub-national entities for implementation over the next five weeks because these activities are considered super spreader events:

    Close all bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres, and recreational venues;

    Close all restaurants, except those providing services to hotel residents; takeaways, home deliveries.

    Drive-ins shall remain closed;

    All informal and formal festivity events including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, end of year events shall be restricted to not more than 50 persons;

    All gatherings linked to religious events are limited to less than 50 per cent capacity of the facility.

    Mandatory use of face masks
    Maintenance of physical distancing;

    Where more than 50 persons are attending, any such events, the gathering should be held outdoors only;

    Public transportation systems are to carry passengers not more than 50 per cent of their capacity;

    Enforce compliance with NPI protocols, especially the advisory on wearing of face masks, in public spaces;

    “To reduce overcrowding in public spaces, markets, shopping centres, offices and schools, states are advised to implement the following:

    Encourage virtual meetings in government offices. The leadership of such offices should ensure that all offices are well-ventilated offices, and encourage staff to work from home where possible;

    All government staff on GL.12 and below are to stay at home for the next 5 weeks; Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives are to be held accountable for enforcing NPI rules in their domains with frequent spot checks;

    “The PTF on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Education, expects that schools would have vacated from the 18th December 2020 and remain closed till at least the 18th of January, 2021 to enable the measures introduced to take effect;

    “All persons above the age of 60yrs and/or with comorbidities are to be encouraged to stay at home and avoid crowds;

    All non-essential travels – both domestic and international – during the holiday season are seriously discouraged;

    “To strengthen risk communication and community engagement activities over the next five weeks, states are encouraged to; engage community and religious leaders, arrange town hall meetings (ideally set outdoors) to address concerns;

    “Intensify public messaging activities, leveraging existing government and partner assets; reach out to youths and younger adults with health promotion activities; Invest in local face mask purchase and distribution to the general public to encourage use”, he said.

    “The PTF will work with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to implement aspects related to the Public Service” said.

    On international travels, the PTF said: “A lot of discussion is still going on around the calls for the restriction of international travels due to the discovery of new strains of the virus in certain countries.

    “The PTF, Aviation and health authorities, including the WHO, are assessing the situation closely and would take a position as soon as cogent scientific basis are established. The protection of Nigerians remains our primary concern and we reassure Nigerians of our resolve not to relent.

    The PTF will today submit its end of year (2020) Report to Mr. President, Mustapha added.

  • Unilag Loses €40 million research grants during 3-month crisis, Vice Chancellor

    The recently reinstated University of Lagos, Unilag, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has said the university lost about £40 million in research grants by faculty members during the crisis that ravaged the citadel of learning for almost three months, August to November, 2020.

    He stated this on Monday during an interactive session with newsmen in Akoka, Lagos.

    The crisis led to the suspension of Ogundipe by the Governing Council headed by Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, the appointment of an acting VC and the eventual recall of Ogundipe, and the dissolution of the Council by the Federal Government.

    The VC, while reacting to some issues that led to the crisis, said his administration was transparent and prudent in the management of resources.

    “There is nothing like misuse of funds. We are transparent and judicious in the use of resources. We have nothing to fear or hide. Our financial books are open and clean, ” he said.

    On the possible financial challenges that the university may face when students finally resume, the VC mentioned the sharp increase in electricity tariff.

    “Before the Coronavirus lockdown, we were paying between N61 million and N62 million as electricity bill monthly and now with the increment in tariff, the university will definitely be paying more than N90 million monthly by the time the students return to hostels.

    “And how to pay such a huge amount will certainly be a serious problem for the university,” he stressed.

    He said, however, that the university was seriously in an aggressive mood in expanding its internally generated revenue base.

    When asked about the latest as regards the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Prof. Segun Awonusi, a lecturer in the Department of English Language, and Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu, a former sub-dean in the Faculty of Art, he said their cases were still under investigations while the two dons were still on suspension.

    According to him, “the case against the former is foot-dragging because of the inability of supposedly accuser to come forward to testify before the probe panel handling the matter, while that of the latter is simply because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

    “But I want to assure the public that the University of Lagos will not cover up anybody or sweep any of the cases or any other under the carpet. We will surely get to the root of the matters and justice will be served accordingly. But I will not pre-empt what the outcome of the panels could be,” he explained.

    He said UNILAG had a zero-tolerance for sexual harassment and other forms of untoward practices by both the staff members and students and therefore would not compromise on any.