Tag: Hot News - Page 211 - African News Today

FG Lifts Restriction on Sports, See List

8Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

FG Lifts Restriction on Sports, See List

The Federal government of Nigeria has granted permission for the resumption of non-contact sports in Nigeria. This was made known by Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, during its daily press briefing in Abuja. Aliyu said low risk sporting activities could resume as government continues to ease the coronavirus induced lockdown measures. These sports include athletics, lawn tennis, table tennis, golf, cricket, cycling, among others. However, contact sports like football, boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, rugby, swimming and basketball remain banned until further notice. He said, “For recreational parks/communal sports, restrictions are removed on outdoor communal non-contact sports and the use of recreational parks for supervised physi...

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

8Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, Economy, Education, Finance, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

Case pending before two courts, letter has not reached me – Nwaoboshi The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has hit back at the Nigerian Senate, asking Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger-Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to refund N2.5n for contracts his companies failed to deliver. The commission failed to mention the names of the concerned firms in the letter written to the lawmaker. The commission gave Nwaoboshi a two weeks ultimatum to refund the funds to its account. NDDC in a letter signed by the Director, Legal Services, Peter Okoro, dated July 5 asked Nwaoboshi to return to its coffers fund earmarked for the supply of plastic chairs and desks for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region in 2017. The letter read, “Instead of supplying the cha...

FCT Mobile Court Fines Naira Marley Over Jabi Lake Mall Concert

7Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Judiciary, Music, News, Nigeria

FCT Mobile Court Fines Naira Marley Over Jabi Lake Mall Concert

Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola, who goes by stage name Naira Marley has been fined N200,000 by an Abuja mobile court over his June 13 concert at Jabi Lake Mall in violation of COVID-19 lockdown measures. The fine was pronounced under heavy security at the Eagles square, Abuja. He pleaded guilty to four count charges of breach interstate movement put in place by the Presidential Task Force (PTF), no- wearing of face mask, social gathering and violation of curfew imposed by the FCT Administration. The fine comes after the singer and his manager, Seyi Awonuga had earlier been fined N100,000 each by the State Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court. Recall that African News Today had called for the trial of the singer for the sake of rule of law.

Hoodlums Disrupt Enugu NMA Election, Shred Ballot Papers

7Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Youths

Hoodlums Disrupt Enugu NMA Election, Shred Ballot Papers

The fracas in the Enugu State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) took a new turn on Thursday as the election into leadership roles of the body ended in violence after thugs disrupted the process. Some members of the association were soaked in their own blood after thugs allegedly sponsored by a faction of the body invaded the election which took place at the Michael Okpara Square. Over 30 hoodlums stormed the venue with deadly weapons while voting was ongoing and disrupted the process. They ended up destroying chairs, tables and canopies among other objects being used for the election. The thugs also overturned ballot boxes and lashed out on members of the electoral committee, forcing doctors to disperse for fear of harm. Many people sustained varied degree of ...

Eased Lockdown: PTF Ratifies Gradual Reopening of International Air Flights in Weeks

7Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Covid-19, Economy, News, Nigeria, Safety, Transportation

Eased Lockdown: PTF Ratifies Gradual Reopening of International Air Flights in Weeks

The Boss Mustapha led Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 has signed off on gradual reopening of international air flights and train services across Nigeria in weeks, and not months. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that this formed part of the concessions agreed upon at the end of the second extension of the second phase of eased lockdown. This was announced by Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), while addressing the press at the daily briefing of the PTF on Thursday in Abuja. He said, “It’s important to ensure that restrictions are not completely relaxed in order to control transmission. “It is also important that at this Community Transmission Phase of the pandemic sub-national governments step up to tak...

FG Extends Phase Two Lockdown by Four Weeks, Retains 10pm Curfew

7Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Covid-19, Economy, Education, Finance, News, Nigeria, Transportation, Youths

FG Extends Phase Two Lockdown by Four Weeks, Retains 10pm Curfew

President Muhammadu Buhari has ratified the extension of the phase two lockdown measures in response to COVID-19 by another four weeks. This implies that all guidelines introduced to curb the spread of the virus under the second phase of the relaxed lockdown which took effect on June 1 will remain effective with slight modifications to address the economic, socio-political and health concerns as contained in the latest report by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the PTF who is equally the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, boss Mustapha, at the press briefing of the task force in Abuja on Thursday. Mustapha said state governments and authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be mandated to enforce non-ph...

Botswana Bans Sale of Alcohol, Halts Liquor Licences as Part of Measures to Curb COVID-19 Spread

6Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, Finance, News, Safety, Science

Botswana Bans Sale of Alcohol, Halts Liquor Licences as Part of Measures to Curb COVID-19 Spread

Botswana has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in public places and withdrawn liquor licenses in the country as part of effort to curb the spread of the fatal COVID-19. This was disclosed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi through a gazette notice released on Wednesday by the government. “NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that His Excellency the President, acting in accordance with regulation 30G of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, has with immediate effect suspended all liquor licences issued in terms of the Liquor Act,” the notice read in part. The statement also clarified that “liquor” also included traditional beers, which are brewed by a majority of rural households in Botswana. “The suspension of the sale of alcohol is based on evidence that consumption of alc...

Edo Poll Update: Idiaye Impeached as Edo Assembly Deputy Speaker

5Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria

Edo Poll Update: Idiaye Impeached as Edo Assembly Deputy Speaker

Yekini Idiaye, Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly has been impeached. He was relieved of his position on Wednesday during a plenary of the Assembly in the capital city of Benin. Roland Asoro, the member representing Orhionmwon II Constituency, was elected as the new Deputy Speaker of the House. Tension continues to rise in the state as the gubernatorial election scheduled for September 19 draws closer. Some lawmakers on Monday endorsed the candidacy of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Ize-Iyamu, while on a private visit to the Benin residence of the APC flag bearer. Idiaye, a critic of the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration, had said, “There is no reason for me to defect to another party because there is no single project in my...

Akpabio’s Contract Beneficiaries List Genuine- NDDC

5Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, Justice, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Akpabio’s Contract Beneficiaries List Genuine- NDDC

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has given credence to the list of contract beneficiaries made public by the Minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godswill Akpabio. The minister had released a list containing names of prominent federal legislators and former governors as beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the NDDDC. Among the lawmakers listed as beneficiaries were: Chairman of senate committee on NDDC, Peter Nwaoboshi; Matthew Urhoghide, chairman of the senate committee on public accounts; and Orji Uzor Kalu, senate whip. Akpabio also listed James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governors of Delta state as beneficiaries. All the individuals named have rebuffed the claim, accusing the minister of attempting to divert attention from the NDDC probe and tarnishing t...

Edo 2020: Shaibu Claims Oshiomhole Paid Deputy Speaker N40m to Support APC

5Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Edo 2020: Shaibu Claims Oshiomhole Paid Deputy Speaker N40m to Support APC

Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governor of Edo State has alleged that deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye was paid N40m by the erstwhile National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive (APC), Adams Oshiomhole to support APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Shaibu while addressing supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lampese, Akoko-Edo local Government Areas, accused Idiaye who represents Akoko-Edo constituency (I), and the member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency (II), Emmanuel Agbaje, of been paid N40m each to sway their support for Oshiomhole’s preferred candidate, Ize-Iyamu. On Sunday, the deputy speaker and Agbaje announced their support for Ize-Iyamu. The 24 members of the state House of Assembly are of the APC. Shaibu urged the electorates of...