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Sunday, 28 June 2020 06:08

FG conducts test flight ahead of airport reopening

Federal Government on Saturday conducted a flight simulation exercise ahead of the resumption of domestic flights in the country. The exercise commenced around 8am, as passengers went through the stipulated protocols before boarding an Aero Contractor flight at about 11:20am. A Boeing B737 aircraft marked NG110 with 51 passengers on board was used for the simulation exercise to-and-from the Abuja Airport and the Lagos Airport. At the simulation exercise, which was attended by Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, the government tested all protocols designed to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 at airports. For about three months the country’s airspace…

Sunday, 28 June 2020 06:07

Group notifies FG about illegal detention, torture of 35 Nigerians in Ghana

Barely a week after the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana was demolished, another crisis is brewing over alleged detention of 35 Nigerians by the authority of that Country. A group named Concerned Citizens Rights (CCR) has written to Federal government lodging complaint over alleged detention of the Nigerians. The group, in a letter signed by its National President, Mr Olusegun Adeola and addressed to Chairman, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission(NiDCM), Ms Abike Dabiri, on June 26, 2020, said the Nigerians were languishing in a border town of Aflao in Ghana located between the country and Togo Republic. In a copy of the…

Sunday, 28 June 2020 06:04

Shiites protest continued detention of el-Zakzaky, wife

Hundreds of members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Shiites, trooped out at the weekend, in Kaduna to protest continued detention of their leader, Mr Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, his wife, Zeenatuddin Ibrahim and the security challenges facing the nation. The protesting Shiites included children, men and women, who marched from Kano Road Juma’at Mosque through Ahmadu Bello Way, and ended at Broadcasting Road in Kaduna. They also displayed placards and portrait of El-Zakzaky, while chanting anti-government songs. The placards carried such inscriptions as: “Free our leader,” “Please free El-Zakzaky,” “We want justice” and “He needs to go for medical treatment,” among…

Sunday, 28 June 2020 06:03

Ondo sacks Resident doctors, suspends residency training

Residents doctors at University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMETH) have been sacked. Their sack was announced in a letter announcing the suspension of the institution residency training programme from August 1st, 2020 It urged all Resident doctors directly employed by the hospital to seek continuation of their programme in other institutions where there are ongoing training program. The sacking of the Resident doctors might not be unconnected to last week’s strike action recently embarked upon by the doctors. Spokesman of the Ondo ARD, Mr Taiwo Olagbe, listed their demands to include provision of PPE and other security measures to…

Saturday, 27 June 2020 05:20

Obasanjo calls for mass action against ‘ineffective’ govt

Former President, Mr Olusegun Obasanjo says without restructuring of Nigeria’s federating unit, the country “will remain insecure, unstable, non-progressive and stagnated at best or disintegrated at the worst.” Obasanjo noted that the Federal Government is overwhelmed with the spate of insecurity, making restructuring imperative. He spoke on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the 2020 Annual Sobo Sowemimo Lecture (Virtual). The lecture titled “Covid-19 Pandemic and Nigeria Security Issues: the way forward”, was organized by the Abeokuta Club. The former President accused governments at all levels of ineffectiveness, calling on Nigerians to launch and promote such a crusade on the…

Saturday, 27 June 2020 05:18

World Bank considering another $3bn budget support loan for Nigeria - Official

Nigeria needs to deepen economic reforms and boost government revenues in order to have a sustained recovery after a Coronavirus-induced oil price shock that slashed income and weakened its currency, World Bank’s country director told Reuters on Friday. Mr Shubham Chaudhuri said Nigerians are aware they cannot simply wait for oil prices to recover as happened during the last crisis in 2016 to rebuild the economy, particularly with the health crisis caused by the pandemic. Africa’s largest economy faces a situation similar to the 1980s when it rationed foreign currency amid shortages caused by a recession and currency weakness. Nigeria’s…

Saturday, 27 June 2020 05:17

FG begins recruitment of new N-Power beneficiaries

Federal government has begun recruiting a new set of Batch-C N-Power beneficiaries. The humanitarian ministry had last week announced disengagement of thousands of graduates comprising of both Batch A and B volunteers benefiting from the federal government’s monthly N-Power scheme. It subsequently began enrolling a fresh Batch C of volunteers yesterday. The ministry explained that the decision followed efforts to provide economic opportunities for more Nigerian youth. In tweets posted on N-Power page on Friday, the government highlighted steps and procedures for intending applicants willing to apply to the scheme. According to the post, N-Power portal would reopen for fresh…

Saturday, 27 June 2020 05:14

US imposes visa restrictions on Chinese officials over Hong Kong crackdown

US Secretary of State, Mr Mike Pompeo said on Friday Washington was imposing visa restrictions on Chinese officials responsible for restricting freedoms in Hong Kong, but he did not name any of those targeted: The move comes ahead of a three-day meeting of China’s parliament from Sunday expected to enact new national security legislation for Hong Kong that has alarmed foreign governments and democracy activists. US visa restrictions apply to “current and former” Chinese Communist Party officials “believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy,” Pompeo said, without naming them. Last month, President…

Saturday, 27 June 2020 05:12

Trump signs executive order to protect monuments

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to protect monuments, memorials and statues facing new scrutiny amid fresh debate over the nation’s racist beginnings. Trump had promised to take action earlier this week after police thwarted an attempt by protesters to pull down a statue of Andrew Jackson in a park across from the White House. The order calls on attorney general to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any person or group that destroys or vandalizes a monument, memorial or statue. Federal law authorizes a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for the “willful…

Saturday, 27 June 2020 05:09

Italy is banning carry-on bags. Will other countries follow?

Italy has a new idea for air travel: No carry-on luggage. And that could be bad news for airlines. Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera reported Thursday the National Civil Aviation Authority will ban the use of overhead bins citing the need to contain Covid. All luggage will have to go into the “hold.” The rule goes into effect Friday and applies to national and international flights. Fliers can still put a personal item under the seat. If the move gains global momentum, it could threaten the airline stock recovery. Checking bags is annoying. It adds time and anxiety for travelers…

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Friday, 26 June 2020 15:43

FG shuts Kara bridge along Lagos-Ibadan expressway

Sequel to a tanker accident that claimed two lives on Kara bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, on Sunday, Federal Ministry of Works has said the road will be shut for integrity tests. A letter addressed to Lagos State Government and signed by Deputy Director, Highways, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr K.Y. Ibrahim, solicited the support of the state for the success of the job. Ibrahim said the contractor handling that section of the expressway requested that the bridge be shut from Friday to Sunday in order to ascertain the bridge’s “serviceability state after the fire incident”. “We now request the support of…

Friday, 26 June 2020 15:41

Flight tickets to cost more as FG doubles passengers service charge ahead flight resumption

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) has increased its Passengers Service Charge (PSC) to N2,000 and $100 for domestic and international passengers respectively. The new charge which may likely push up air fares ahead of resumption of flights operations takes effect from August 1, 2020. This followed the approval by Federal Government through Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika. The previous charge for domestic was N1,000 while that of international was $50. The proposed increment was communicated to the Airline Operators Committee in a memo titled: Implementation of Approved New Passenger (PSC) Effective 1st August, 2020.” The memo said, “The…

Friday, 26 June 2020 15:39

ECOWAS court orders FG to pay benefits to 244 dismissed soldiers

Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered federal government to immediately pay the arrears of salaries and other entitlements to 244 soldiers dismissed from Nigerian Army in 2016. Army dismissed the soldiers after they were accused of abandoning Boko Haram insurgency fight and fleeing over alleged inadequate provision of arms and ammunition. The soldiers took the matter before the ECOWAS court to demand enforcement of their fundamental human rights, including the right to their salaries and entitlements. In its judgment delivered on May 15, 2019, the court faulted the decision of Nigerian Army to…

Friday, 26 June 2020 15:38

FG condemns attack on Nigerian embassy in Indonesia by Nigerians

Federal Government has condemned attack on Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia by Nigerian citizens, describing the act as disgraceful and criminal. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, condemned the act in a tweet via his handle @Geoffrey Onyeama on Friday. Onyeama vowed that perpetrators would be identified and punished accordingly. “Absolutely deplorable and disgraceful criminal behaviour by Nigerian hooligans, who without justification, attacked the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia today. “Totally unacceptable behaviour. “Every effort will be made to identify them and see they are severely punished,’’ he twitted. Last week Friday, Nigerian Embassy in Ghana was also attacked…

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