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Imo: Truck Crushes Its Driver To Death; Witnesses Blame Construction Company |The Source

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The Source
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Trailer Kills its Driver in Imo

Reports from Owerri, Imo State, confirm that a truck driver, whose identity is yet to be made public, was, Friday morning, killed by his own truck.

The diver was said to be speeding when the incident happened   along the Portharcourt road,  Owerri.

Even though his speed contributed, largely, to the tragic incident, eye witnesses were quick to, also, blame the construction company handling the road.

The late driver  was said to be unaware  of a deep hole dug across the road by the company, and accidentally, ran into it because there was no road sign to warn motorists.

“The spot was  without any caution by the construction company handling the road reconstruction and the driver mistakenly ran  into the grave and fell off  of his  truck,  shattering the windscreen of the truck,  and was thereafter crushed to death by the same truck”, said an eye witness

Eyewitnesses called on the contractors to  always put signs of caution wherever they are working to avoid a re-occurence of the tragic incident.

Covid-19: PTF Asks Nigerians To Disregard Lockdown Alert Speculations |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali
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Sani Aliyu - PTF

By Akinwale Kasali

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha led-Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has urged Nigerians to disregard a fake fresh lockdown speculation and alert in circulation on social media.

PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, made this known in a short video statement released on Thursday night, debunking claims that there will soon be lockdown in the country. He dismissed it as the  handiwork of mischief makers.

There have been concerns over a possible  fresh lockdown,  as the country battles the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

But Aliyu said the Government  was aware of the economic implication of a fresh lockdown and, therefore, urged Nigerians to adhere to all guidelines to curb the spread of the disease.

He said, “We are aware of a fake message on WhatsApp that we’ve declared a lockdown in the country. This is absolutely not true. I call on the Nigerian public to please ignore this message and continue with normal activities.

“I’m also calling on the public to abide by the non-pharmaceutical interventions including wearing of face masks in the public, washing of hands and maintaining physical distancing.

“There is an established way that we send our messages to the public including declarations when it comes to infection control. So, please ignore what is being going round on WhatsApp”.

FG Inaugurates N50 Billion Steering Committee for EEFP |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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Niyi Adebayo

By Uche Mbah

An 11-member steering committee for implementation of the N50 billion Export Expansion Facility Program, EEFP, was Thursday inaugurated by the Minister of Trade and Industry and Investment, Niyi Adebayo. The facility falls under the N2.3 trillion National Economic Sustainability Plan, NESP, a program targeting economic recovery from the impact of the coronavirus Pandemic.

It is meant as a cushion for job security and shock absorption from emergencies like Covid 19, while increasing export capacity in both long, medium and short term. It is targeted at micro, Small, Medium enterprenuers.

Incidentally, current increases in electricity tarrif and Value Added Taxes are stifling the activities of these entrepreneurs. Generally, it is the small scale industries that drive global economy.

“Export growth is at the centre of our strategy for diversifying Nigeria’s sources of foreign exchange and reducing the vulnerability of the economy to external shocks.

“We have witnessed time and again, the devastating impact that events outside our control can have on our livelihoods due to our reliance on a primary source of foreign exchange,” Adebayo said.

The committee is Chaired by by Adebayo, who said he will ensure program implementation in line with the federal government’s objectives towards the intended beneficiaries.

It is also expected to draw up and approve the programme budget and implementation plan.

Jonathan Emerges Africa Peace & Security Leader of The Year 2020 |The Source

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The Source
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Goodluck Jonathan

Former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has emerged as the African Leadership Magazine Africa Peace and Security Leader of the Year 2020, ahead of many other distinguished nominees across the continent.

Publisher of the United Kingdom-based magazine, Dr Ken Giami who announced the award at the U.K. Head Office of the group stated that Dr. Jonathan was overwhelmingly chosen by poll respondents because of his “commitment to deepening democracy, peace and security across the continent.”

According to him, the former President  “who has led several African Union (AU) and ECOWAS missions across the continent, emerged winner after scoring over 80% of the total votes cast in the category, in a keenly contested poll.”

Dr. Jonathan was announced as the winner  in the 9th edition of the annual African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Award, alongside 12 other distinguished Africans, including: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization, WHO, as African of the Year 2020;  Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, as African Political Leader of the Year; Mo Ibrahim, founder, Mo Ibrahim foundation, as the African Philanthropist of the year 2020; Graca Machel, as African Climate Champion of the Year 2020.

A statement by the magazine indicated that the poll attracted over 120,000 votes on the ALM website, over 7 million active online engagement during the voting period and over 5000 votes via email.

It stated that the winners shall be decorated and presented with honour instruments on February 26th, 2021, during the annual African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Award ceremony.

“This year, the event is billed to hold virtually and set to host influential Africans in business, politics, and all spheres of African leadership spectrum”, the statement added.

Giving more details on the selection process, the magazine stated: “The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year which is in its 9th year is an annual award reserved for distinguished Africans, who have blazed the trail in the year under review. A shortlist of nominees are selected from results gathered via a Call for the nomination – traditionally promoted via paid online and offline campaigns across the continent, Europe, and the Americas. The call for nomination is the first step in a multi-phased process.”

Residents Of Ekiti Shun New Rules On Covid 19 |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ekiti State

By Ayodele Oni

Residents of Ekiti state may have turned their back against the fresh curfew imposed on the state to curb the spread of Covid 19 pandemic.

The state government, early in the week, announced that a curfew from 8.00 pm to 6.00 am had been imposed to curtail the second wave of the pandemic now ravaging the world over.

According to the Commissioner for information, Mr Akin Omole, apart from the curfew, a gathering of  more than twenty people  was equally banned  until further notice.

These restrictions took effect Monday 6 am January 11, 2021.

Investigations revealed that the people, who received government directives with mixed reactions, with some saying they are unnecessary, are still going about their normal duties beyond the time the curfew is commenced.

Owners of relaxation centres and mauls still operate till late in the night, with customers more than the stipulated 20, while commercial vehicles and okada riders operate in violation of the restrictions.

It was observed that except for government offices, where wearing of masks and hand washing are made compulsory, many people roam the streets unmasked.

Investigations further revealed that despite daily increase in number of deaths and those infected with the pandemic, people, especially in rural areas go about their daily activities with some of them dismissing the existence of the pandemic.

Although, Ekiti remains one of the states that record low incident of Covid 19, Government is reported to be contemplating on using security agents to enforce the new rules.

PDP Berates Buhari’s Performance Claim, Says He Has Failed Woefully |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Contrary to the claim by President Muhammadu Buhaèri that his administration has performed better than the way it met the country five years ago, opposition Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has says  he has failed woefully.

The PDP berated President Buhari for resorting to desperate face-saving media stunts in his incongruous plea to Nigerians to accept that the situation in Nigeria is better under his watch, despite the contrary harsh reality in the country.

The Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, in a statement asserts that Mr. President’s illusory self-assessment further validates the PDP’s position that he has since abandoned governance for the luxury and pleasures of Aso Presidential villa, having lost sync with the reality of the devastation his incompetent administration has brought to our nation in the last five years.

The PDP insists that every fair criticism of Buhari’s administration only reveals a litany of failures and a reversal of fortune for our country in the last five years, adding that, it is unfortunate that at a time Nigerians expected President Buhari to be remorseful for his failures and rally compatriots for solution, he is rather seeking an endorsement of his cluelessness.

“How does President Buhari want an unmerited pass mark knowing that under his watch, bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and vandals, who have been pushed to the fringes before he took over in 2015, have now resurged, taking communities hostage, raping our women, beheading our compatriots and foisting a reign of terror to the extent that our nation ranked as the third country with the highest level of terrorism in 2019, after Iran and Afghanistan?

“How does President Buhari sleep in the night, in the comfort of Aso villa, knowing that because of his failures, millions of Nigerians go to bed on empty stomach; that since he took over, more than 30 million businesses have crumbled; that over 60 million Nigerians have lost their means of livelihood resulting in excruciating hardship in our country in the last five years?

“It is however unfortunate that President Buhari wants Nigerians to overlook the fact that he wrecked a robust economy handed over to him in 2015 with Fitch B+ rating as one of the fastest growing economy in the world and turned our nation into the world’s poverty capital and a beggar nation, that is now borrowing from all parts of the world?

“Is President Buhari trivializing the pain of a nation which his administration plunged into the worst type of economic recession; where families can no longer afford their daily meals and other necessities of life; and where life has become so unbearable that compatriots now resort to suicide and slavery mission abroad as options?

“Does President Buhari need to be reminded that since he took over, no less than 30 million businesses have crumbled; that over 60 million Nigerians have lost their source of livelihood; that when he took over in 2015 our naira was at N160 to a dollar but has now been weakened to almost N500 per dollar?

“It is unfortunate that President Buhari wants Nigerians to forget that under him, a liter of fuel, sold for N87 per liter under the PDP now sells as high as N170 to N200; that the price of staple food such as rice which sold for N10,000 per bag under the PDP now sells for N30,000; that a measure of garri which sold for N100 now sells for N350 and that a liter of palm oil which sold for N200 now sells for N600.

The PDP added that it counsels President Buhari and his handlers to note that Nigerians are already faced with the ugly realities of their misrule and cannot be beguiled by false performance claims emanating from them.

COVID-19: LASU Closes College Of Medicine Hostel Facilities, Sends Students Home |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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LASUTH

By Adesina Soyooye

The College of Medicine, Lagos State University, has closed down its Hostel facilities.

The Management of the College closed down the Hostels after three Medical students tested positive for COVID-19.

It has also closed down the College, and all students sent home, and asked to self-isolate.

In a release signed by the Coodinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Ademola Adekoye, the Management said the affected students have been placed under treatment, while contacts are being traced.

The statement reads as follows:

“The Management of Lagos State University wishes to inform staff, students and the general public that three (3) students of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) have tested positive for Covid-19 leading the College to immediately close down all her hostel facilities.

“In addition, stakeholders are also informed that:

“1. Room mates of the three students who tested positive and their associates are being tested;

“2. The College already isolated the affected three (3) students and has commenced contact tracing of all affected students;

“3. The hostel facilities were immediately closed for decontamination upon confirmation of the status of the affected students;

“4. All students of the College have been advised to proceed home to self-isolate for the next fourteen (14) days from where their health status will be monitored by the College. Phone numbers/contacts of all students are already obtained to that effect;

“5. Any students showing symptoms at home are to contact the College through dedicated lines for necessary assistance/treatment;

“6. Meanwhile, the College has handed treatment packs to all three who tested positive;

“7. The College is also providing psychological support to the three students who tested positive and their roommates.

“Parents, Guardians and the general public are assured that the safety of all staff and students is of top priority and the Lagos State University as a whole will continue to enforce compliance with Covid-19 guidelines and protocols to ensure the safety of all within her campuses.

“Management also again enjoins all students, staff and the general public to take personal responsibility and continue to observe Covid-19 guidelines as the virus is real and deadly.”

2023: Obasa, Salaam, South West Speakers Drums Support For Tinubu |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Bola Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Akinwale Kasali

The bid and support for the 2023 Presidential ambition of All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain  and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu keep increasing by the day.

Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, alongside former and current Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in the South West geo-political zone declared their unequivocal support for the Presidential aspiration of Tinubu.

Not less than twenty serving and past Assembly Speakers were present at the meeting that was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday.

As the smouldering ember of 2023 presidency begin to hot up, major political actors are already putting plans in motion to outwit their adversaries and realise their aspiration.

Among those present were Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, former Speakers of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojeed Alabi and Hon. Najeem Salam, former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape and former Speakers from Ondo and Ekiti, among others.

A clutch of trusted allies had late last year visited traditional rulers in Oyo state to beseech them to throw their weight behind Asiwaju Tinubu.

Speaking at the meeting, the once embattled Lagos Speaker, Obasa, the Convener, disclosed that all former and current Speakers in the region have made it a point of duty to support Tinubu presidency in 2023.

Obasa said the meeting was not at the behest of Tinubu, as the former Lagos Governor has not officially declared his Presidential aspiration.

He, however, stated that the meeting became imperative in order to broach and deliberate on the subject on behalf of Tinubu.

According to Obasa, all current and former speakers present should, after the meeting, go back to their respective states to put up structure and plans that will see to the materialisation of the Tinubu mandate.

However, the National Coordinator of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Movement, BAT Movement, Ambassador Aliyu Saulawa, expressed the readiness of the movement to ensure power return to the southwest, with Tinubu as the prime beneficiary.

Saulawa said, “What was resolved at the meeting include that power must shift to the South  and that the South-West  must produce the next President .

“That Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being a Yoruba man with the capacity, experience and means should be the candidate to be supported to emerge as the next president of Nigeria”, he said.

Ighalo Says He Is Fulfilled As A Footballer For Playing For Manchester United |The Source

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The Source
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Odion Jude Ighalo

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Super Eagles striker and Highest Goal Scorer at the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt, Odion Jude Ighalo has  tongues wagging following his recent statement that he is fulfilled as a footballer for dorning the Red and Black jersey of the Manchester United Football Club, even  if he doesn’t achieve anything again.

Ighalo signed for the Red Devils as Manchester United Football Club of England is known during the second half of the 2019/2020 Soccer Season from Chinese Super League Club Side, Shanghai Shenhua Football on loan.

The former Watford Football Club of England forward said his age long dream of playing for the Manchester Side came to reality by signing for them in January 2020.

Ighalo, who has not featured for the club this year, also revealed he is open to joining America’s football league, the Major Soccer League, MLS, and even name-dropped David Beckham’s Inter Miami Football Club, which has Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain in his books as a possible destination as he beats the end of his Manchester United contract.

The Nigerian striker is due to return to Shanghai Shenhua at the end of the month, a year after being surprisingly signed by premier league leaders, Manchester United.

The 31-year-old scored five goals for United in the second half of the 2020-19 campaign, despite mainly being used as a substitute.

Edinson Cavani’s arrival at Old Trafford on a free transfer saw the Nigerian frontman fall out of favour, with the 31-year-old only managing four appearances in all competitions so far this season, becoming a fifth fiddle player behind Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Uruguayan striker, Cavani.

Despite his lack of game time, he says playing for United has been the pinnacle of his career and that he will look back on his time at Old Trafford with great pride and a huge sense of achievement.

“It was a good one and a tough one, before I came to United I never thought I would play,” he said to ESPN.

“I’m a Reds fan.

“If you ask anybody where I grew up, we fight because of Manchester United. We quarrel and argue. So when my team didn’t do well they would start to insult and argue with me and I cried. I can tell you I’m the happiest man on earth for my dream to come true, I fulfilled my dream.

“I remember the night my agent called me to tell me Manchester United wanted me, it was 10 or 11pm. Shanghai time. I was under my bed naked, I didn’t sleep until daybreak.

“I don’t care about a pay cut, I just want go to Manchester United because this is my dream. I was under my bed shivering and walking around my room and I did not sleep until 6am.

“I’m fulfilled as a football player, if I don’t achieve anything from now when I finish my career I am fulfilled.”

Speaking about his next destination, he said; “I have been watching MLS and the league is doing well and I would like to play in the MLS,” the Shanghai Shenhua loanee told ESPN.

“I have to wait for offers and if the opportunity arises, I will take it because the league is doing well and it is a good life and I would love it.

“Lots of players go there. Even Gonzalo Higuain from Juventus is there, also Giovanni dos Santos. Why not? I would like to go there if an opportunity arises. Being an experienced player, going there, doing well. It is an opportunity if it comes for me.

“The David Beckham club [Inter Miami] is growing, so if an opportunity arises why not?”

President Buhari Begs Nigerian Elites To Be Fair When Criticising Him |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali
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President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerian elites to be more constructive and fair when criticising him.

He said he specifically called on the elites to be fair in criticising his administration as they are an influencing factor to other Nigerians.

Speaking Thursday in Abuja when he received in audience Reverend Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, President Buhari said: “Those criticising my administration should be fair in terms of reflecting on where we were before we came, where we are now and what resources are available to us and what we have done with the limited resources.

“We had to struggle paying debts, investing in road repairs and rebuilding, to revamp the rail and try to get power. This is what I hope the elite, when they want to criticise will use to compare notes.”

On the security situation especially in the Northeast, the President remarked: “What was the situation when we came? Try and ask people from Borno or from Adamawa, for that matter, and Yobe. What was the condition before we came and what is the condition now? Still, there are problems in Borno and Yobe, there are occasional Boko Haram problems, but they know the difference because a lot of them moved out of their states and moved to Kaduna, Kano and here (in Abuja). We were not spared of the attacks at a time. The Government  is doing its best, and I hope that eventually, our best will be good enough.”

President Buhari, however, assured that the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons was paramount on the agenda of government.

“The people in IDP camps, the weak, aged, I feel sorry for the young because this is the time they are supposed to get education. We must not allow this time to pass because it will never be regained. So we are really interested in what is happening there and we are doing our best,” the President said.

He commended the Executive Secretary on his appointment and activities on peace building around the country despite his short time in the saddle, and assured him of the listening ear of the Government  whenever he had contributions to make.

Reverend Pam, in his remarks, intimated the President with some of the activities of the Commission since he was appointed in July 2020.

These include: organisation of Peace Summit on Southern Kaduna as well as peace building efforts in Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States.

He added that the Commission has proposed to host Christian Religious Leaders in a summit to help douse pressures within the polity, among other plans.

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