File Photo: Passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. [NIDCOM]
Three hundred more Nigerians who had been stranded in the United States have arrived in Abuja.
This was announced by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), on Saturday via Twitter.
The stranded Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 15:00pm via the Ethiopian Airlines.
NIDCOM stated that the evacuation is the fifth from the US since the Federal Government started flying Nigerians who were stranded as a result of the COVID-19 back home.
All the evacuees tested Negative to COVID-19 before boarding the flight but will also observe the mandatory 4-day self-isolation as mandated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
So far, a total of 1,430 Nigerians have been flown back home.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says it has spent over N169million in transporting Nigerian returnees from overseas.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, said N22billion was released for the effective handling of COVID-19 response in the country.
“At the moment, as far as I know, only N169million was spent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the evacuation of Nigerians, mainly on their accommodation.
“We haven’t spent much because of the need for prudence in the first place. We need to have clear evidence. A lot of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government are yet to do their quick procurement,” he said.
A file photo of Mamman Daura and President Muhammadu Buhari
The Presidency has dismissed comments made by Mamman Daura about zoning, during a recent radio interview, saying it did not “in any way” reflect the views of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The position of the President was made known by his Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, who in a statement on Saturday, noted that Daura’s views as expressed during the interview with the BBC Hausa Service were “personal to him.”
“We have received numerous requests for comments on the interview granted by Malam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew to the BBC Hausa Service.
“It is important that we state from the onset that as mentioned by the interviewee, the views expressed were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the President or his administration.”
During the week, Daura had in the interview told the BBC Hausa Service that rotational leadership has failed the country and there is a need to now look “for the most competent and not for someone who comes from somewhere”.
The Presidency believes the comments, which drew strong criticism from several people including groups such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, were taken out of context.
“At age 80, and having served as editor and managing director of one of this country’s most influential newspapers, the New Nigerian, certainly, Malam Mamman qualifies as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under our constitution and laws of the land. He does not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right,” said the Presidency’s statement.
“In an attempt to circulate the content of the interview to a wider audience, the English translation clearly did no justice to the interview, which was granted in Hausa, and as a result, the context was mixed up and new meanings were introduced and/or not properly articulated.
“The issues discussed during the interview, centered around themes on how the country could birth an appropriate process of political dialogue, leading to an evaluation, assessment, and a democratic outcome that would serve the best interest of the average Nigerian irrespective of where they come from.
“These issues remain at the heart of our evolving and young democracy, and as a veteran journalist, scholar and statesman, Malam Mamman has seen enough to add his voice to those of many other participants.”
Ace footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, has celebrated winning yet another league title by spending £5.5 million on a new luxury yacht.
Juventus were confirmed Serie A champions after a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria on Sunday, the seventh league title of Ronaldo’s career.
The 35-year-old has decided to commemorate the victory by splashing out on the vessel which boasts five cabins, six bathrooms, a large lounge as well as a kitchen. His girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez shared images on Instagram to give fans a peek inside.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez set sail for the first time this week after the yacht caught the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s eye at the Azimut-Benetti shipyards in Viareggio.
The Portuguese international picked out the yacht himself and also took his four children along.
On the pitch, it has been another scintillating season and Ronaldo has scored 31 goals in 33 league games this season.
He’s four goals behind Lazio’s Ciro Immobile in the Capocannoniere race with one game remaining.
Juventus fell to a 2-0 defeat against Cagliari last night and they face Roma on Saturday in what would be their fifth game in 12 days.
Arsenal FC has won its 14th FA Cup by coming from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1.
Christian Pulisic struck early after Olivier Giroud’s excellent flick on but Arsenal refused to cave in and got their reward for steady improvements during the first half when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was fouled by Cesar Azpilicueta just inside the penalty area. He converted the subsequent penalty.
Just as the pressure was building on his team-mates Aubameyang, in what some may fear would be his final game for Arsenal after entering the final 12 months of his contract, scored a superbly taken goal, lofting the ball over the onrushing Willy Caballero.
Congratulating Arsenal FC, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda wrote: “Bravo, congrats ARSENAL for a well deserved and needed win – FA CUP. We, FANS and supporters kept faith in you…going forward let’s aim at much bigger things. WE CAN…!!!”
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has justified its choice of the Benin-born billionaire businessman, Hosa Okunbo, as its anti-human trafficking hero on the occasion of the 2020 World Day Against Human Trafficking.
NAPTIP, in a citation uploaded on the agency’s website and social media handles on July 30, described Okunbo as a formidable individual in partnering with the agency by committing personal resources into the fight against the illicit business of human trafficking and illegal migration.
But, a group called Girls For Change, in a publication, faulted the agency’s choice of Okunbo as its 2020 Anti-Trafficking Hero.
Reacting to the group’s assertion, NAPTIP justified its position, praising Okunbo’s uncommon display of burning love, saying the philanthropist has empowered victims of human trafficking and particularly supported it (agency) to mark the 2019 World Day Against Human Trafficking.
“The group made all kinds of unfounded allegations against Captain Okunbo, which we believe he is more than capable of addressing.
“NAPTIP is a focused and professional public institution which does not involve itself in partisan politics.
“The award to Captain Hosa Okunbo was strictly based on his valuable encouragement and support for the Agency in realising its mandate.
“We urge Girls For Change and other such groups to leave NAPTIP out of their petty political bickering,” the agency said in a statement by its Head, Press and Public Relations, Adekoye Vincent.
File Photo: Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
The over three months COVID-19 ban on worship centres in Lagos will be lifted from August 7.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced this during a briefing on COVID-19 at the State House Marina.
The Governor stated that places of worship that that were hitherto shut to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus will reopen for religious activities as from Friday, August 7, 2020.
Sanwo-Olu stated that while Mosques will be reopened next week Friday, Churches will follow suit on Sunday, August 9.
The Governor however emphasised that, religious leaders must make available hand sanitisers, thermometer guns, adding that the state government will ensure that social distancing is maintained.
According to the Governor: “We will only be allowing 50 per cent of their capacity at either the church or the mosque. Churches that have Saturday worship day will also be allowed to start holding their Saturday worship.
“We must reiterate that places of worship are only permitted to have their regular once a week service on designated days.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a briefing on August 1, 2020 announced that places of worship will reopen from August 7.
The governor vowed that the state government will closely monitor and observe the compliance level of religious bodies before taking the next steps.
Decrease In Positive Cases
On the level of COVID-19 cases in the state, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced that the past two weeks witnessed a decline in fresh infections.
While noting that the state government successfully tested 9,000 samples in the week ending July 26, the governor explained the figures represented 50 per cent increase in the 6,000 tested samples in the preceding week.
According to him, more testing of suspected COVID-19 cases have been made possible with the creation of additional laboratories in the state.
He is however optimistic that the state is winning the battle against the dreaded virus owing to the increase in the number of tested samples.
“We must, however, mention that we have seen a gradual decrease in the positivity rate in Lagos State over the last two weeks which combines with our increase in the testing numbers.
“We will continue to fine-tune our strategy and our efforts to build on our successes and close all existing gaps if any.”
Meanwhile, in a fresh statistics released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday night, Lagos recorded 78 fresh COVID-19 cases trailing the FCT with 93 cases.
A collage of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President-Elect, Olumide Apkata and Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday felicitated with Olumide Akpata on his election as the President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), wishing him every success in the new position of leading Nigerian lawyers to chart a path of professional development and fulfillment.
This was coming as the new NBA president dedicated his victory to young lawyers who have become disillusioned with the association; progressive senior lawyers who refused to accept the status quo; lawyers with disability who have long suffered neglect and indignity by the profession; and non-lawyers and the general populace who have a special interest in the association.
Buhari, in his congratulatory message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, tasked Akpata to bring into forebear his vast experience to take the association to the next level.
“As a lawyer of over two decades who has held several strategic positions in the legal association,” Buhari trusted that “Mr. Akpata’s vast knowledge and experience in litigation, corporate world and engaging with government at different levels, will greatly benefit the Bar and indeed all Nigerians, who look up to the learned fellows as crucial stakeholders in a modern democracy.”
Nigerian President assured the new leadership of NBA of the continued cooperation of his administration in addressing the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the legal profession and the country.
Dedicating his victory to disillusioned lawyers and non-lawyers, the new NBA president said the extraordinary movement that heralded his electoral victory was about the noble association.
According to him, “This further goes to show that the extraordinary movement that heralded this electoral victory was not and could never have been about me. The victory of last night is for our young lawyers who have become disillusioned with the way the NBA has been run over the years and how the profession appears to be disconnected from the challenges that face them and their future.
“It is for the progressive senior lawyer who refused to accept the status quo and took firm steps to ensure that things are done better. It is for the corporate counsel, law officers, law teachers, the police and military lawyers, and lawyers in all components of the profession who for long have been treated as unequal members of an Association that ought to be the umbrella body for all legal practitioners.
“The victory of last night is for the lawyer with disability who has long suffered neglect and indignity by the profession. Above all, our victory is for non-lawyers and the general populace who took an unusual, but a special, interest in the conduct of our elections, thus lending credence to my long- held belief that the Nigerian society has always yearned for a legal profession and indeed a Bar that stands tall as an unwavering bastion of the rule of law, an advocate for the sanctity and independence of the judiciary, and a bulwark against tyranny and oppression.
“It is therefore with immense respect for you, a deep understanding of the value of your mandate, a demonstrable appreciation of the factors that have bedevilled our noble association and with humility to the will of God, that I wholeheartedly accept this mandate from you. The outpouring of support is only indicative of the amount of work that needs to be done. The greatest appreciation that I can show to all of you is to keep to the various promises that I made, and this, I assure you that I would do.”
On the electoral process that brought him to leadership, Akpata said he was “not unaware of the complaints by at least one of the presidential candidates about the administrative issues surrounding the elections.”
He said: “As members of the legal profession, our electoral process ought to be and remain a standard for others to follow. I said this much in my second letter dated 29th July 2020 to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA. I strongly believe that there is plenty room for improvement in our electoral process, and I commit to making this possible.”
Akpata congratulated all the contestants for the various offices in the association for the hard work that they put in, and for the successful outing that they had.
“The expectations are high and together we have a duty to devise measures to tackle the problems of our noble Association. We need to hit the ground running,” he added.
While appreciating his friends and learned seniors, Dele Adesina SAN, and Babatunde Ajibade SAN, against whom he had the privilege of contesting for the office of President of the NBA, Akpata said one thing that remained unshaken throughout the election process was his utmost respect for these distinguished and respectable gentlemen.
“May I humbly assure them that my respect remains intact. The election is over but the work ahead of us is immense. We must now unite in order to achieve our common goal of revitalising the Bar and ensuring that our voice is firm and unshaken when we speak. I obviously cannot do this alone and will be counting on their support and counsel as we work towards Securing the Future through a United Bar that Works for All,” he said.
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, Saturday said his latest result of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) test has returned negative.
The governor, in a tweet, disclosed that he spent 11 days in isolation and expressed gratitude to God and every one for their efforts.
According to him, “After 11 days in isolation, I received news that my COVID-19 repeat test came back negative.
“My sincere gratitude goes to God Almighty, my family, my medical team and all well wishers for the prayers and solidarity.
File Photo of a previous operation to rescue a resident who jumped into the Lagos lagoon in an attempt to commit suicide.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has rescued a man who attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the third mainland bridge into the Lagoon Friday morning.
The Governor made this known on his Instagram page, explaining that the rescued man attempted to end his own life because of his indebtedness.
“Earlier in the morning, we rescued a resident who was planning to jump into the Lagoon at the Third Mainland Bridge because he had a debt of N500,000. We rescued him, paid the debt, and counseled him on the importance of never giving up inspite of the challenges life throws our way.”
In another account, Governor Sanwo-Olu, accompanied by his wife, Joke celebrated Sallah, with healthcare workers, new mothers and other patients at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.
The governor stated that: “Today, to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, my wife and I joined healthcare workers and patients at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. We felicitated with new mothers, and patients alike.
This Sallah celebration is about love and sacrifice, and we recognize the blessings that come with obedience and sacrifice.
“We need to always show the humane side of us while not losing sight of the big picture. Yes, we want to build roads, bridges and schools but we certainly need to create time for the little things as well”, he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu however, reiterated the commitment of his administration to prioritize the welfare of the people.
“This cannot be achieved in one day. We are constantly brainstorming and putting heads and working on improving the lives of residents, and we do not plan on stopping until this has been achieved”, he said.
Photos of Gov. Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.
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