Obiajulu Joel Nwolu, Author at African News Today

Flight Resumption in Nigeria; FAAN Issues Post COVID-19 Guidelines for Flight Operation

3Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Transportation, Uncategorized

Flight Resumption in Nigeria; FAAN Issues Post COVID-19 Guidelines for Flight Operation

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has released new guidelines for travelers as the country plans to safely reopen its airspace and airports to local flights without risking the health of travelers. Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs in a report said, “the new Standard Operating Procedure is aimed at protecting all stakeholders and preventing further spread of the Covad-19 virus.” Yakubu said that of the guidelines stipulates that every passenger must mandatorily wear face masks and maintain a physical distancing of not less than 1.5m. The authority stated that all passengers would be screened by trained aviation and Port health personnel to ensure strict compliance with the use of face masks and physical distancing. The report read in part...

Dubai Police Extradites Hushpuppi and Woodberry to the US

2Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, Justice, News, Nigeria

Dubai Police Extradites Hushpuppi and Woodberry to the US

Fraud suspects Hushpuppi and Woodberry who were arrested in Dubai by Dubai police have been extradited to the United State (US) to answer for allegations of financial crimes. The Dubai police confirmed this in a tweet on Thursday, acknowledging the appreciation of the FBI for their good work. Ramon Igbalode popular known as Hushpuppi and Olalekan Jacon Ponle alias Woodberry will be facing charges of multiple money-laundering and cyber-crimes in the US. The Dubai police had earlier revealed details of their arrest in a documentary. The operation codenamed ‘Fox hunt’ led to the arrest of the duo and 10 other suspects. The 4 months planned raid resulted in the arrest of the suspects and recovery of over N150 billion in cash and 13 luxury cars worth around N3.7 billion. Du...

Domestic Flights Billed to Restart on July 8 in Nigeria as Country Relaxes Lockdown Measures

2Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, Employment, News, Nigeria, Transportation

Domestic Flights Billed to Restart on July 8 in Nigeria as Country Relaxes Lockdown Measures

The federal government of Nigeria has announced a July 8 resumption date for domestic flights in the country as it implements a further relaxation of the COVID-19 induced lockdown. The resumption of local flights comes at a time when the West African nation is experiencing daily spike in the number of confirmed cases of the virus. Authorities say airport in the capital city of Abuja and Lagos are scheduled to resume on July 8, Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Maiduguri will restart on July 11 while others will start on July 15. Government officials said that no definite timeframe has been decided for international flights. The state said a date will be announced in due course. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 790 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total co...

Rwanda to Carry out Testing Survey of Coronavirus in the Street of Kigali

2Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Rwanda

Rwanda to Carry out Testing Survey of Coronavirus in the Street of Kigali

Rwanda will on Thursday commence a random COVID-19 street testing survey in Kigali and points of entry to ascertain the coronavirus situation in its largest city, a senior health officer revealed on Wednesday. Minister of state for Primary Healthcare Tharcisse Mpunga in a news program of Rwanda Television disclosed that the Ministry of Health will initiate the testing of samples in the street of Kigali due to its dense population. Mpunga said that the testing will avail reliable information which could be relied upon to make informed decisions on strategy of curbing COVID-19 in Rwanda. According to the minister, the survey aims to test over 5,000 residents of the city who have resided in the capital within the past one or two weeks. He urged people to abide by instructions of heal...

Nigerian President Buhari Seeks Senate’s Approval for Ambassadorial Nominees

1Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria

Nigerian President Buhari Seeks Senate’s Approval for Ambassadorial Nominees

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the approval of 41 Non-Career & 1 Career Ambassadorial nominees by the senate. Buhari appointed a nominee from Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as career ambassador and 41 others as non-career ambassadors. Among the non-career nominees are, former minister, Ademola Seriki (Lagos), Debo Adesina (Oyo), Dare Sunday-Awoniyi (Kogi), among others. Buhari asked the senate to approve the appointment of three nominees as commissioners in the Federal Civil Service Commission in another letter. More so, President Buhari in another submission, sought the confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of a federal commissioner for the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission. The full list is published below. Source: Punc...

2021 AFCON, AWCON and CHAN Moved to 2022- CAF

1Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Sports, WAFCON

2021 AFCON, AWCON and CHAN Moved to 2022- CAF

The African cup of Nations that was scheduled to take place this year has been moved to 2022. This was disclosed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday after a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee. The postponement was informed by the coronavirus pandemic which has disrupted sporting calendar of various federations this year. The decision to shift African biggest football fiesta equally affected the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) and Championship of African Nations (CHAN) which ought to commence in January 2021. CAF announced an inaugural CAF Champions League for Women in Africa. Source: Brilla

Lazarus Chakwera- The New Face of Democratic Struggle in Africa

1Jul

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu1 Comment

Africa, Judiciary, Malawi, News

Lazarus Chakwera- The New Face of Democratic Struggle in Africa

Leadership in Africa has been unique with its abundance of long serving leaders most of whom could be adjudged to have lost passion for delivering dividends of democracy to citizens. Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera by virtue of his swearing in as the sixth president of Malawi set an unprecedented record in the history of the continent as the first ever President to unseat a sitting president after court annulled election. The events that played out in Malawi were reminiscent of that of Kenya which was the first ever presidential election annulled by election tribunal. While Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya went on to defeat opposition candidate Raila Odinga in the boycotted election in 2017, Chakwera claimed 58.57% of votes cast to unseat incumbent Arthur Peter Mutharika. An insight into the eve...

COVID-19 Test in Lagos, Nigeria to Cost Between 40,000-50,400 As Government Approves Private Labs

30Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

COVID-19 Test in Lagos, Nigeria to Cost Between 40,000-50,400 As Government Approves Private Labs

The Lagos state government has incorporated private sector laboratories to commence COVID-19 tests. Residents would be required to pay between N40,000-N50,400 to be tested in the private labs. This was announced by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Abayomi while inaugurating the Private-Public collaboration on the containment of coronavirus to expand the capacity of the government to effectively respond to the pandemic. Abayomi said that residents who are unable to access free testing at government run laboratories now have the option to get tested at private sector laboratories at a fee between N40,000 and N50,400. Lagos residents have expressed mixed feelings over this development. Some have opined that suspected individuals could be denied testing at government...

Lagos Approves Seven Private Laboratories for COVID-19 Testing

30Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Lagos News, Nigeria

Lagos Approves Seven Private Laboratories for COVID-19 Testing

The Lagos state government has approved seven private laboratories in the state to kick start COVID-19 testing and scale up testing capacity. Health ministry in Lagos disclosed that the ministry approved the seven laboratories after they had been vetted and properly screened by the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), to ensure their efficiency. The private laboratories approved are- Total Medical Services, SynLab, 54 Gene, Medbury medical Services, Biologix Medical Services, 02 Medical Services and Clina Lancent Laboratories. Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi in his speech at the introduction ceremony of the laboratories said that the strategic effort against coronavirus at this point requires massive testing through expanded testing capacity to ensu...

Sack Service Chiefs Like You Did to APC NWC- Afenifere to President Buhari

30Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Sack Service Chiefs Like You Did to APC NWC- Afenifere to President Buhari

Afenifere, Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation in Nigeria has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to act swiftly in addressing the leadership issues in the security apparatus of the country like he did in his political party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). President Buhari had last week made recommendations to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling APC on resolution of its leadership crisis at its emergency meeting. The NEC adopted the recommendations of the president to dissolve the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and setup a caretaker committee headed by executive Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Bun. Spokesperson of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin while condemning the spike of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly killings, rising cases of kidnapping, b...