Author: Adeyinka Adeiya

  • COVID-19: No date yet for schools’ resumption – Minister

    COVID-19: No date yet for schools’ resumption – Minister

    The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, says no date has been fixed yet for full schools’ resumption even though the Federal Government had continued to engage stakeholders.

    Nwajiuba said this during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

    The minister, however, expressed optimism that the date for resumption was around the corner, adding, that ” we are not going to be brandishing dates.”

    He disclosed that he and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, met some stakeholders in tertiary education earlier in the day on the issue.

    Nwajiuba said about 78 privately-owned universities were insisting that they were ready for resumption while the response from government-owned universities was still “50-50.”

    He said that after aggregating opinions, he would return to the PTF to review the situation and then go ahead to make a pronouncement.

    The minister urged students of tertiary institutions protesting the continued closure of their schools to be a little more patient with the government.

  • Flight resumption: NCDC wants health workers maintain high COVID-19 index of suspicion

    Flight resumption: NCDC wants health workers maintain high COVID-19 index of suspicion

    Mrs Elsie Ilori, Head, Surveillance and Epidemiology Department, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Monday advised health workers to maintain high index of suspicion on any patient as international flights are set to resume.

    Ilori gave the advice at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Abuja.

    She said that high index of suspicion for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases would facilitate response.

    She said that NCDC would intensify training of frontline responders on effective the implementation of Infection Prevention Control (IPC) measures for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    Ilori said that the training would help to limit exposure to COVID-19 and other diseases.

    She urged that all states should have a trial station at every health facility to determine the priority need and proper placement and treatment of every patient.

    This, she said, was important for case management and appropriate channelling of human and material resources.

    “Our ability as health professionals to maintain high index of suspicion for COVID-19 or any other infectious disease will go a long way to enhance response.

    ”It will also ensure that there is no further transmission of the virus to health workers or others,” she said.

  • Federal allocation overstressed, boost your IGR – RMAFC tells States

    Federal allocation overstressed, boost your IGR – RMAFC tells States

    The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has urged state governments to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    The Chairman, Elias Mbam, spoke while receiving an Annual States Viability Index (ASVI) from the Editor-in-Chief of the Economic Confidential, Yushau Shuaib.

    States have been severally accused of over-dependence on the monthly Federation Account Allocation (FAA).

    Mbam stated that the FAA is overstressed and advised governments to develop strategies to up their internal inflow.

    “The annual ASVI report, apart from providing a good source of information to the general public, has been identified as a document that would drive RMAFC on its mandate to encourage states to improve their internally generated revenue,” he said.

    He expressed confidence that “factual and authoritative” report would guide states recording dwindling revenue.

    In his remarks, Shuaib explained that the ASVI assessed and ranked states by their annual IGR in comparison with their receipts from the FAA.

    The PRNigeria founder noted that some states cannot survive without federal funds, adding that seven are insolvent currently

    “Apart from Lagos and Ogun States that ranked high in the revenue generation in 2019, more states have impressive and encouraging IGR in 2019 compared to 2018.

    “Rivers, Kaduna, Enugu, Kwara and Zamfara States had most impressive revenue generation in 2019 compared to their IGR in 2018”, he said.

  • Champions League Final: Prize money for Bayern Munich, PSG revealed

    Champions League Final: Prize money for Bayern Munich, PSG revealed

    UEFA will pay Bayern Munich €19million for winning this year’s Champions League ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

    The Europe top football governing body will also pay PSG €15million for losing the Champions League final to Bayern, Express UK reports.

    Bayern defeated the French Ligue 1 champions 1-0 on Sunday night in Lisbon, Portugal, to lift their sixth Champions League trophy, thanks to Kingsley Coman’s header goal in the second half of the encounter.

    Below is the full prize money breakdown for the 2019/20 Champions League:

    Base fee for group stage: €15,250,000
    Group match victory: €2,700,000
    Group match draw: €900,000
    Round of 16: €9,500,000
    Quarter-finals: €10,500,000
    Semi-finals: €12,000,000
    Losing finalist: €15,000,000
    Winning the Final: €19,000,000

  • DSS Vs IPOB: Attacks may lead to ‘hit and run’ agitation in Southeast – Biafra group warns

    DSS Vs IPOB: Attacks may lead to ‘hit and run’ agitation in Southeast – Biafra group warns

    Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, on Monday warned that the alleged incessant killings of pro-Biafra supporters by security operatives could give rise to “hit and hide,” style of agitation in the Southeast and South-South.

    BNYL issued the warning in a response to the clash between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and security operatives on Sunday.

    Several people were feared dead during the clash which occurred in Enugu.

    Reacting, the Deputy National Leader of BNYL, Ebuta Takon Akor warned that another clash might be worse than that of the Emene, especially “If security operatives interfere with their National Convention coming up on 28 September in Enugu.”

    Akor, in a statement forwarded to ROYAL NEWS said: “The security agencies are stupidly arresting and killing our people who identify with the movement and at the same time, they are aiding the Fulani jihadists to be attacking our land. We won’t keep silent forever.”

  • BBNaija 2020: Why Wathoni was saved – Kiddwaya

    BBNaija 2020: Why Wathoni was saved – Kiddwaya


    Kiddwaya, Big Brother Naija, BBNaija housemate, has given reason housemates saved Wathoni from eviction.

    Wathoni was up for possible eviction alongside Praise, Vee and Trikytee.

    With the new voting process, there was a tie between Wathoni and Praise. They had 6 votes each after housemates voted.

    Kiddwaya, the head of house was called upon to choose and he saved Wathoni.

    Praise was then evicted from the show.

    Speaking with housemates after Praise’s eviction, Kiddwaya said he saved Wathoni because he feels she’s an easy bet to be evicted when the show becomes intense.

    “Wathoni was saved because most of us feel she’s an easy bet to be evicted, so housemates are saving her now for when the show becomes more intense,” he said.

    Recall that Kiddwaya had said he voted Praise out because he was too extra during the week.

  • Nigerian students criticise ASUU after the union’s chairman asked for their cooperation

    Nigerian students criticise ASUU after the union’s chairman asked for their cooperation


    Nigerian students have hit out at ASUU after the union vowed to continue its ongoing strike action and begged Nigerian students for their support.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said the strike will continue until the Federal Government addresses all its demands.

    The Union then tweeted via its official Twitter account, asking students to be on their side. They said that the demands they are making is for the good of the students.

    The tweets read: “ASUU Chairman Asks Nigerian Students For Their Corporation.

    Students who are our children and partners in progress should show understanding, what we are asking from the government are in their interest and the interest of the nation, good hostel accommodation, good classroom blocks that can engender effective learning, laboratories where cutting edge research can be carried out and offices that can drive the process of quality university education.

    “So what we are asking of the government are not baseless things, but those things that in 2012, the government conducted during a needs assessment survey and found out that there is widespread rot and decay in the university system.”

    Well, Nigerian students were not buying ASUU’s tweets and they hit back.

    One Twitter user said: “Students have been patient since the last three months. The truth is that we all have to be patient with each other FG and ASUU. You both don’t want to sort things out for the better of student yet you are asking student to be patient.”

    Another said: “Omo we want to resume! We can’t understand anything. All ASUU wants is for their own selfish interests. While we the students suffer for it in the end. #WeWantToResumeSchool #EndThisUselessStrike!”

    “Then after staying in the good hostel and classroom where are we going to work after school. There’s no guaranteed job anywhere. Stop wasting our time in school. We just want to graduate,” another tweet reads.

    One student slammed them, writing: “Quit this endless capping. You guys increased school fees this session knowing we just came back from your incessant strike. Did you pity us or our parents. You guys and FG are one and the same. Don’t anger me.”

    Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has formally written to the federal government, requesting for a date for the reopening of negotiations, which were abandoned in February due to the disagreement over the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    The union also urged the federal government to initiate a process that would lead to the validation of its alternative salary payment platform, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

    It demanded that government should pull out all academic staff already captured on IPPIS and enrol them on UTAS.

  • Plateau South senatorial bye-election: Five aspirants jostle for PDP ticket

    Plateau South senatorial bye-election: Five aspirants jostle for PDP ticket

    Five aspirants are contesting for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming Plateau South senatorial by-election, Mr Yakubu Chocho, the state Chairman of the party, has said.
    Chocho told Royal news on Monday in Jos that all the five contestants were credible personalities that had served humanity with distinction in different capacities.
    Those vying for the ticket, according to him, include: Mr George Daika and Mr Mark Dapyenglong, both former speakers of Plateau House of Assembly.
    Others, he said, are: Mr Jafaru Damulak, Mr Philip Nentyep and Mr Chrisantus Dawap.
    “There were supposed to be as many as possible but based on interventions and understanding the number reduced and we are left with five contestants.
    “In compliance with the directive of our party’s National Secretariat to prepare for the primaries, I invited all the contestants for the senate seat in the Southern zone for a discussion.
    “We had a fruitful meeting with them last Sunday on the way forward.
    “We assured them that everybody will be given a level playing ground and nobody will be shortchanged in the primaries.
    “We will give them equal opportunity to woo and convince the delegates to vote for them,” he said.
    The chairman implored the contestants to team up with whoever wins the primary to ensure that the party wins the senatorial election.
    He expressed optimism that the party had clear chances and by the grace of God, would win the election.
    He stated that the days that PDP won every election in Plateau were coming back with the support the party was currently enjoying in the state.
    “If you recall, PDP had won elections and represented the southern, central and northern senatorial districts at the National Assembly.
    “We are aware of the great expectations of the people of Plateau on us to move the state to a higher level of development and greatness.
    “The leadership is assuring members of total victory for the party, starting from October’s senatorial by-election.
    “We are appealing to all leaders, critical stakeholders and members to come together and work for the common good of our people, irrespective of individual interests,” he said.
    Royal news reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had slated the senatorial by-election for Oct. 31, and scheduled party primaries to hold between Aug. 24 and Sept. 8 2020.

  • 17 wounded and nine killed in southern Philippine blasts

    17 wounded and nine killed in southern Philippine blasts

    At least nine people were killed and 17 others wounded in twin blasts in Sulu province in the southern Philippines around on Monday, the military and police said.

    In an initial report, the military said the first explosion occurred around 12.00 noon in front of a grocery store along a busy street in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province.

    About one hour after the first blast, a second explosion rocked a church at 1.00 p.m., about 70 meters away from the first blast scene.

  • Why I want to vacate White House— Trump’s aide

    Why I want to vacate White House— Trump’s aide


    Kellyanne Conway, a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, said she will be leaving the White House this month, citing the need to focus on her four children.

    “This is completely my choice and my voice.

    “In time, I will announce future plans,’’ Conway said in a statement.

    “For now and for my beloved children, it will be less drama, more mama.’’

    Conway’s statement, late Sunday night, comes as the divisive Conway family dynamics have been on public display for months, with the Trump adviser’s daughter taking to social media to voice her opposition to the president and issuing personal attacks on her mother.

    Conway’s husband, George, is a prominent conservative lawyer and vocal critic of his wife’s boss.

    In a tweet, George Conway said he will be leaving the Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans seeing to oust the president to “devote more time to family matters’’.

    The president has voiced his dislike of George Conway calling him “a stone cold loser and husband from hell’’ in a tweet last year.

    In 2016, Conway led the Trump campaign to victory, becoming the first female campaign manager to do so and she immediately entered the White House as one of Trump’s fiercest defenders.

    She earned scorn in the early days of the Trump administration when she uttered the now iconic phrase “alternative facts” to defend the White House, making false claims over the Trump inauguration crowd size.

    The surprise announcement comes a day before the start of the Republican National Convention.