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Category: News

Boat Capsizes With 22 Passengers In Niger

A boat carrying about 22 passengers on board from Kasabu village in Agwara local government area of Niger to Yauri in Kebbi has capsized.

Alhaji Salihu Garba, overseeing Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this in Minna.

He said that the agency received a report of the boat mishap that occurred on Monday between 11am and 12 pm.

According to him, a survivor of the mishap said that the boat had about 22 passengers on board.

He said that search and rescue operations was ongoing by the local divers and boat owners under the supervision of the agency’s desk officer in Agwara.

He said no passenger has been recovered yet, adding that the mishap happened on Yauri market day.

Garba added that only after the market would families be able to declare their missing relatives.

He explained that it takes about 24 hours for any drowned person to surface atop water.

He attributed the cause of the incident to water hyacinth coupled with strong waves.

10/03/2023
NCDC Registers 1,968 Lassa Fever Cases In 28 States

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has registered 1,068 Lassa fever infections across 112 local government areas in 28 states of the federation.

The NCDC said this via its official website on Tuesday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 37 (September 11 -17, 2023).

The centre indicated that 75 per cent of the cases were detected in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi States.

Lassa Fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. It is primarily found in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.

The virus is transmitted to humans through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rodents, specifically the multimammate rat.

According to the NCDC, there are currently 7,352 individuals with suspected cases and the infection has resulted in the unfortunate loss of at least 181 lives in the country.

The centre said that the case-fatality ratio of the infection stood at 16.9 per cent.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 37, 2023, 181 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 16.9 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (19.1 per cent).

“In total for 2023, 28 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 112 local government areas.

“Seventy-five per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 25 per cent were reported from 25 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.

“Of the 75 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 35 per cent, Edo 29 per cent, and Bauchi 11 per cent.

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 93 years, Median Age: 32 years).

“The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9. The number of suspected cases increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2022,” it said.

It is regretted that in 2023 Lassa fever infected 49 healthcare workers across the country.

The agency said that the National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre had been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

It added that prevention of Lassa fever involves avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings, practising good personal hygiene and taking precautions when caring for infected individuals.

The NCDC said that early diagnosis and prompt medical care are crucial in managing the disease and preventing complications.

10/03/2023
WhatsApp Will No Longer Support Old Model Phones From October 24

WhatsApp, the world’s leading messaging app, has announced that it will discontinue its support for certain older devices starting Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

In a statement posted on its FAQ page, the app’s parent company, Meta, revealed that it will no longer function on smartphones running Android 4.1 or earlier versions.

Likewise, iPhones still operating on iOS 11 or lower will also be impacted by this change.

WhatsApp will limit its support to phones running Android 5.1 and higher, beginning on the specified date.

However, the messaging platform will continue to provide services for iPhones using iOS 12 and newer, as well as KaiOS 2.5.0 and above.

A message from WhatsApp stated, “Starting October 24, 2023, only Android OS version 5.0 and newer will be supported. Your phone must be capable of receiving SMS or calls during the verification process. We do not support setting up new accounts on WiFi-only devices.

“Prior to discontinuing support for your operating system, WhatsApp will provide direct notifications within the app well in advance, along with reminders to upgrade.”

While WhatsApp did not release a list of specific affected phone models, it is expected that Android users with devices from manufacturers such as Sony, HTC, LG, Motorola, and others may be impacted.

Additionally, iPhone users still on iOS 11 are encouraged to update to iOS 12 to continue using the messaging app.

WhatsApp has pledged to keep its users informed by regularly updating its support page with the latest information on compatible operating systems.

10/03/2023
Housing Deficit: Developer Promises 1,000 Homes For Nigerians In 10 years

In celebration of the 2023 World Habitat Day, a real estate agency, Roomeo Construction Company, has said it has set an audacious goal of providing 1,000 homes for Nigerians within 10 years, starting in 2024, in order to eliminate barriers to attaining gainful and sustainable returns on real estate.

Speaking Monday in Abuja, during the launch of a debut 12-unit, 2-bedroom serviced apartment building in Kaura District of Abuja, known as Sequence 1, the founder/CEO of Roomeo Construct Limited, Mr. Doyin Adewola, said the intervention of the company is to encourage affordable and sustainable urban housing in Abuja.

He said: “Our world is facing unprecedented challenges regarding sustainability and it’s up to every one of us to take action to make a difference. Let’s consider what we can do to ensure our habitats remain vibrant and healthy for generations. The Theme to mark World Habitat Day this year is Resilient Urban Economies, and we will look at how cities can drive growth and recovery.

“Our cities in Nigeria can be a powerful driver of growth and recovery by investing in infrastructure, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive business environment. Cities can also attract new businesses and talent by offering a high quality of life, access to education and healthcare, and a diverse and inclusive community.

“We at Roomeo have set an audacious 10-year goal to provide 1,000 homes for Nigerians starting in 2024. We will continue to eliminate the barriers to attaining gainful and sustainable returns on real estate. We ask that you join us as we make our dream a reality.”

Also speaking, Director, Department of Development Control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Town Planner Mukhtar Galadima Usman, advised real estate firms to always adhere to approved building plans, lamenting that many realtors have been in the habit of cutting corners, hence the prevalent building collapse.

Similarly, a construction engineer, Engr. Dr. Otunba Victor Omo-Raydon, said the government must identify and prosecute landowners, investors, consultants, architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, and project managers involved in cutting corners to curb the menace of building collapse, lamenting government was not doing much in this aspect.

10/03/2023
I’ll Appeal Tribunal Judgement Sacking Me, Says Gov Sule

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state says he will appeal the judgement of the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal that invalidated his victory in the March 18 election on Monday.

He acknowledged the tribunal’s decision as a temporary setback and expressed a commitment to learn from it and come back stronger.

Governor Sule maintained that he remains in office until the Supreme Court decides otherwise, citing his legal right to appeal.

He urged his supporters to remain calm and discouraged them from engaging in street protests or responding to opposition, especially on social media.

The tribunal’s split judgment annulled Governor Sule’s election as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner.

Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, the tribunal’s chairman, read the majority judgment in favor of David Ombugadu.

Justice Chiemelie Onaga, another panel member, supported the lead judgment.

Justice Ibrahim Mashi delivered the dissenting judgment, dismissing the petition filed by the PDP candidate and upholding Governor Sule’s declaration by the INEC.

10/03/2023
NLC, TUC Suspend Industrial Action For One Month

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress have suspended the indefinite strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3.

The organized labour had planned to embark on the nationwide industrial action to protest the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal.

However, on Monday night, NLC president, Joe Ajaero in a communique, announced that the strike has been halted for thirty days.

The strike was called after the government refused to meet the seven-point demands of the organized labour to improve workers’ conditions.

The Federal Government had invited Labour for a meeting to prevent the strike.

The meeting involved Governors, Ministers, and officials and was chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong addressed withheld salaries of university staff, while the new wage of N35,000 for Federal Government workers was granted from September.

Outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in Federal-owned institutions were referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.

10/03/2023
Tragic Electrocution Claims Family Of Four In Taraba

The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed a devastating incident involving the electrocution of a family of four in the Dinyavo area of Jalingo, the state capital.

The tragic incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Monday and is believed to have been caused by a power surge.

According to Mr. Abdullahi Usman, the command’s Public Relations Officer, the police were informed of the incident promptly.

He stated, “At about 11:00 a.m. on Monday, we were reliably informed that a house located at Dinyavoh area of Jalingo was on fire. Detectives from GRA Police Division were quickly deployed to the scene and, on arrival, found the four victims with burns suspected to be from electrocution.”

The victims have been identified as Remond Ofonbuk (44 years old), his wife, Mfonbong Remond, their son Hevean Remond (15 years old), and another son, First Remond (13 years old).

Usman explained, “We have received information indicating that immediately power was restored, the transformer serving the area blew up. We learned that many houses within the neighborhood experienced high electric voltage which might have led to the fire outbreak that inflicted burns on the victims.”

Despite the rapid response and evacuation of the victims to the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo for treatment, they were tragically pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The deceased’s bodies have been taken to the hospital’s mortuary for autopsy, while authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the devastating incident.

10/02/2023
Communication Ministry Targets $5bn Funding For Tech Startups By 2027

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani has said that regulatory tools will be used, not only to increase investments but also attract up to $5 billion in funding for Nigerian tech startups by 2027.

Tijani noted that by providing an enabling environment, innovators and entrepreneurs would be encouraged to develop unique solutions that would drive economic growth.

The Minister revealed this at the unveiling of a document titled, ‘Accelerating our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency: A Strategic Plan for the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy’ Monday in Abuja.

The document has five priority areas which includes, Knowledge; Policy; Infrastructure; Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Capital and Trade.

The document reveals, “For this 4th pillar, our primary objective is to stimulate the growth and sustainability of startups, with specific focus on those developing innovative solutions for critical
sectors in our economy. Increase capital raised by Nigerian tech startups 50% year-on-year from $1bn/yr in 2022 to $5bn/year in 2027.”

Another target the Ministry has for tech startups is to increase domiciliation of local technology startups from less than 1 per cent to 25 per cent by 2027.

The document said, “We will establish an active sandbox environment that encourages and empowers innovators and entrepreneurs to develop unique solutions for sectors historically considered to have limited exposure to technological innovation.

“By removing regulatory barriers and providing the required support, we aim to inspire innovative, problem-solving approaches to existing challenges.

“With the goal of supporting the diversification of the Nigerian economy, we will collaborate with other ministries and parastatals including private sector stakeholders to drive opportunities for startups to facilitate the application of technology for enhanced productivity in critical sectors across the country. We will back programmes focused on AgriTech, HealthTech, EdTech, MediaTech, CleanTech, CreTech, among others.

“Identify opportunities for the digital economy in various sectors such as Agriculture, Financial Services, Healthcare, Education, Energy, Transportation and Logistics, Manufacturing, Retail and E-commerce, Textiles and Fashion, Media and Entertainment, eSports/Gaming, and Real Estate.”

10/02/2023
UK Police Arraign Diezani Over Bribery Charges

A former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London over charges of bribery offences.

The former minister had on August 22, charged to court by the United Kingdom (UK) government over an alleged £100,000 bribe.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said they suspected Diezani had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

The Head of the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit, Andy Kelly, said “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.

“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.”

10/02/2023
Court Nullifies Abdullahi Sule’s Governorship, Declares PDP’s Umbugadu Winner

In a significant ruling, the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has nullified Abdullahi Sule’s governorship and declared David Umbugadu of the PDP as the winner of the 2023 Nasarawa State governorship elections.

While two of the three justices on the panel led by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi upheld this decision, Justice Ibrahim Mashi is currently delivering a dissenting judgment.

More details later…

10/02/2023