At least 37 people including 10 women and four children were killed when their bus hit a truck in central Cameroon, police said on Sunday. Nineteen other passengers were injured on the bus, which was found in a ravine, Ndikinimeki police commissioner Moantsouog Mempou Paulin told public radio station CRTV. AFP
Few people have been allegedly killed by gunmen early hours of Sunday in separate incidents in two Local Government Areas of Benue state. According Daily Trust, its correspondent gathered that three of the five victims were hacked down by gunmen who broke into the home of Inna Jato, a former state lawmaker representing Kastina-Ala East constituency in Nagu village in Kastina-Ala LGA of the state. The other two were suspected to have been killed in a cult-related rivalry at Naka rural town of Gwer West LGA. Witnesses said several others were wounded in the two incidents while property were destroyed and many houses burnt by the gunmen at the ex-lawmaker’s village in Kastina-Ala. The Chief Press Secretary to the Council Chairman of Kastina-Ala, Tertsea Benga, said he could confirm three people killed in the attack at the lawmaker’s house. Benga said the incident had happened at night. Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO DSP Catherine Anene confirmed five people dead in both incidents but said she was yet to get details on the Kastina-Ala homicide. Anene posited that three persons – a man, his wife and child – were killed in the Kastina-Ala incident while that of Naka involved two young people bringing the number to five. “On 27/12/2020 at about 1am, a gun shot was heard in High Level area of Naka town and police officer were deployed to the area. Two persons were arrested at the scene of crime while two young men were found in a pool of blood. Victims were rushed to hospital but confirmed dead. Five more suspects have been arrested and investigation is still in progress,” the PPRO added.
The Federal Controller of Works Lagos , Mr Olukayode Popoola, says the total shutdown of the Third Mainland Bridge would be lifted at midnight 24 hours ahead of schedule . Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos that the total shutdown had to be lifted because the contractor was able to fast – track the delicate task they needed to execute . He said that the initially scheduled 72 hours timeframe was achieved within 48 hours , hence the reopening to traffic 24 hours ahead of schedule . “ We have completed the casting of the three number expansion joints on Third Mainland bridge . “ Therefore , the bridge shall be opened at 12:00 midnight Sunday 27th December , and no longer Monday 28th December . “ That is 48 hours and no more 72 hours, ” Popoola said . NAN reports that the controller had on Tuesday, December 22 announced a 72 hours total shutdown of the bridge with effect from midnight on Saturday to midnight Tuesday. The shutdown was to stop vibrations caused by the movement of vehicles for contractors to cast concrete on additional three expansion joints in the ongoing rehabilitation of the bridge. NAN reports that the Third Mainland Bridge which was going through a series of repairs had to be partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works . The repair that was expected to last six months was extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos , thereby extending the completion date from January 2021 to February . The construction was initially divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway , starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months . Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3. 5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adele Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge . The 11. 8km bridge is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki, which is linked to the Apapa -Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged the longest in Africa until 1996 when the October 6 Bridge in Cairo , Egypt was completed. NAN
Shops and valuable goods were on Sunday damaged when fire gutted the Ketu Plank Market, Lagos State on Sunday, the Punch reports. The Lagos State Emergency Management confirmed the incident, adding that no life was lost. The Director -General of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke -Osanyintolu, said the cause of the fire incident could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report . He said , “ Emergency responders comprising of LASEMA Response Team and the Lagos State Fire Service have curtailed the raging inferno at Ketu Plank Market on Demurin Street, Ketu , Lagos . “ The cause of the fire incident which reportedly started from one part of the market is yet to be ascertained, however , it is evident that there is extensive damage with valuable goods having been destroyed by the fire . “ Fortunately, no lives were lost in the inferno which has been brought under control and dampened down. ” In another part of Lagos , Oke -Osanyintolu said LASEMA Response Unit recovered a trailer conveying a 40ft container that ran over a culvert at Mile 2 inward Kirikri earlier on Sunday . He added , “ Investigation by the LRT determined that the accident was a result of a mechanical error ( brake failure ) of the trailer . “ No loss of life , nor injuries were recorded in the incident where the LRT , LASTMA, and men of the Nigerian Police were responders. “ The affected Trailer has been evacuated off the road to a layby with aid of the agency’ s heavy- duty equipment . ”
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Sunday, confirmed that 22 out of 86 patients currently receiving treatment at various Isolation centres within the territory were in critical condition and currently surviving through oxygen at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. FCT Permanent Secretary, Adesola Olusade who toured the centres, however, said apart from the 22 patients on oxygen, the reports about the places were impressive. He said no critical cases are being managed at home as 86 patients were receiving treatment at both the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) and the Thisday Dome Centres, respectively with zero case at the Idu centre. On non-payment of allowances of frontline workers at Thisday Dome centre, the permanent secretary said the Administration was paying attention to it as the centre was just been transferred from the Federal Ministry of Health to the FCT Administration. According to him: “At Gwagwalada, we have about 42. 46 at Thisday Dome, at Idu, we have zero. Not all of them are on oxygen. “There is no time we will not have the issues of allowance, but as they are rising we address them. It is only recently that this centre was transferred to FCT, and we are making all efforts to address all issues.” He explained. The team lead at UATH, Gwagwalada, Dr Yunusa Thairu, who also confirmed that the second wave of the pandemic has some worrisome severe elements, urged government to provide more oxygen and as well as boost the morale of the frontline workers. “We have severe and critical cases coming in and the need for oxygenation cannot be over-emphasised. As at today, 22 of the patients are on oxygen.” He also confirmed. Also, the Medical Superintendent at the Thisday Dome Centre, Dr Molokwu Victor, attested to the fact that all categories of frontline workers have not gotten their due allowances since September, 2020 till date. “All categories of staff are being owed their allowances, but the Secretary for health has promised that we should expect something soon, that the FCT Administration is working on it.” Victor stated.
….Mass gathering has to stop’ There is no provision for COVID-19 vaccine for 160million Nigerians as the Federal Government prepares to roll out the jab for citizens and other residents across the country to combat the deadly virus in 2021, according to the National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Sanni Aliyu. Aliyu, however, said the vaccine will be free when the administration begins in the New Year but with a proviso: Nigerians and other residents will pay for “operations and other logistics associated with it”. He did not say how much the operations and logistics will cost. Vaccine has been proposed as the ultimate measure to stop COVID-19 which has recorded millions of deaths and positive cases across the world. Nigeria is currently in the second wave of the virus. The United States (US), one of the worst hit countries, and the United States (UK), where there is a new strain of the virus, among many other countries, have started administering the jab for their residents. Nigeria’s population is around 200million people. Aliyu said only 20 per cent of the number, 40million, will get the vaccine in 2021 and another 20 to 40 per cent in the next two years. The implication is that 160million Nigerian people will not get get the vaccine next year. “We already have an assurance of getting 20 per cent of our population accommodated, that is, about 40million Nigerians will have access to it”, the PTF National Coordinator said on a television programme last week. “We don’t have to pay for the vaccine, but we have to pay for the operations and the logistics associated with it. “We are also planning to do another 20-40 per cent addition so that in the next two years, at least 70 percent of the population would have been vaccinated”. Aliyu however warned: “Even though we have the vaccine tomorrow, in Nigeria, the virus will not go away unless we employ protective measures. “Overall it takes more than a month to have immunity but we will continue to update the public in that regard”. On how long it will take for the vaccine to be delivered to Nigeria from the US, he explained: “We hope it is not going to take until March, we have a very good idea on why the number of COVD-19 cases went up. “What’s the difference between November and now? The main difference is in people’s behavior over a period of time. “We now have a situation of massive gathering with people not wearing face-masks which is practically inviting coronavirus to the system. “This is why the numbers have been going up. It’s really a case of people no longer taking serious consideration of their own safety when it comes to coronavirus infection. “We hope that over the next few weeks, people comply with some of the measures that we have given especially with the cooperation of the state governors to implement the measures that we have recommended. “In actual fact it’s a minimum measure that we can take. We can do more, but we shouldn’t do anything less than that so we will be able to flatten the curve and the numbers will start coming down before March ends. “With March ending, it will give us enough time for adequate preparation for a lot of logistics and great communication. “People need to know about the safety of the vaccine and so on and so forth. So there’s still a lot of work to do. “We are playing catch-up with the virus but the way people are behaving is really not helping at all. “We really need to start non-pharmaceutical intervention. “We survived 2020, it will be very unfortunate if we give up at this stage. Let not follow the crowd. This is serious. Majority are symptomatic. I remember in April, people were saying India got away it”. On what has changed on the PTF collaboration with state governments, he said: “A number of things are going to be different. The level of compliance was very good when we started. “Back in March/April, the level of compliance was impressive. Majority people had not met with people who had COVID-19. You don’t see people bleeding to death like Ebola. “If you are 50 above, the mortality rate for COVID in Nigeria is between 50 to 59 percent. “If you don’t work in the health sector, you won’t understand, the enforcement side needs to move-on. What is different is that the nature of the virus has changed”. On the second wave of the virus in Nigeria, the PTF Coordinator said: “The second wave of the virus, if you congregate without a face-mask it will spread”. Aliyu, however, said if people wear their face-masks, the virus will not spread, saying mass gathering has to stop. “If we have a B117 and everybody is wearing face-mask, COVID-19 won’t spread. So no matter the string you have, it’s the same measure when it comes to prevention”.
A High Court in Katsina State on Thursday gave an order barring the arrest of human rights activist, Muhammad Mahdi Shehu. The court, in a document seen by SaharaReporters, suspended the enforcement of the arrest warrant issued by the Upper Shari’a Court 2, Nagogo Road, Katsina. “The court sets aside the order for the arrest and detention of the Appellant/Applicant issued by the Upper Shari’a Court No 2, Katsina, presided over by Sagir Saidu in Complaint No CRF/424/2020 which is subject of Appeal No. KTH/16CA/2020, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the document read. The human rights activist had filed an appeal challenging the arrest warrant issued against him by the trial court. Alhaji Sagir Saidu, Imam of the Sharia Upper High Court, had in a bench ruling ordered the police to arrest Shehu and compel him to appear before it. The order followed the businessman’s failure to appear before the court for the continuation of hearing in the suit filed by Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, against him for alleged insults and defamation of character. Shehu had in July asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Governor Aminu Masari and Inuwa for alleged misappropriation and misapplication of over N52 billion spent as security vote in the state from June 2015 to April 29, 2020. The activist said the daily attacks by bandits in the state called for serious questions on the sincerity in the management of security by the state government.
In a bid to contain a fast -spreading new strain of COVID -19 recorded in the United Kingdom and South Africa , the Federal Government has issued fresh protocol for airlines and passengers coming into Nigeria from the two countries. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said non – Nigerian passengers who fail to comply with the new protocol would be returned to the UK and South Africa upon arrival in Nigeria . This was contained in a circular dated December 26, 2020, and signed by NCAA Director- General , Capt Musa Nuhu. The circular was titled , ‘ Protocol For All Passengers Originating From United Kingdom And South Africa ’ . Nuhu directed all indigenous and foreign airlines operating flights between Nigeria and the two countries to ensure all passengers comply with the fresh directive or face punitive measures. The NCAA boss said the new protocol applies to both scheduled and unscheduled carriers and passengers originating from the UK and South Africa . He said , “ Passengers must present the following two documents in order to be allowed to board their flights to Nigeria : “ Pre – departure Permit To Fly /QR code generated from the Nigeria International Travel Portal ( https://nitp . ncdc . gov . ng) showing evidence of payment for the post- arrival day 7 Covid-19 PCR test and; “ Documentary evidence of a negative Covid- 19 PCR result done within 96 hours ( 4 days) of boarding from a verifiable laboratory or health facility . ” Nuhu further stated , “ On arrival in Nigeria , passengers will be received and processed separately by Public Health authorities. “ All passengers will be required to self -isolate for 7 days after arrival followed by a Covid-19 PCR test. “ Passengers with a post- arrival negative Covid- 19 PCR result can exit isolation at day 8. Those with a positive Covid- 19 PCR result will be referred for isolation and further management . “ A dedicated register of arriving passengers from the United Kingdom and South Africa will be opened for enhanced surveillance and active enforcement of the protocol . ” The director-general warned that punitive measures would be taken against airlines that fail to comply . “ Airlines shall be fined $3, 500 ( Three Thousand Five dollars ) for each defaulting passenger . “ Airlines may be required to return non – Nigerian defaulting passengers to point of embarkation. “ Repeated non -compliance by any Airline will lead to the suspension of the Airline ’ s Approval/Permit to Fly into the country, ” he noted . No fewer than 40 countries including Morocco , Algeria , Tunisia, and Mauritius have suspended travel from Britain in a bid to contain the new strain of COVID -19.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors to disclose the security votes for their states in 2021. SERAP in a statement issued on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, called for measures to be put in place to prevent the misuse and embezzlement of public funds in the name of security votes. “Disclose details of proposed ‘security votes’ spending in your 2021 appropriation bills to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians, and to explain the measures your governments are putting in place to prevent the misuse and embezzlement of public funds in the name of security votes,” the statement partly read. “In the wake of the abduction of over 300 students from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, and ongoing security challenges in several parts of the country, the time has come to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds meant to secure people’s lives and property.” Security Votes For 2021 Channels Television Updated December 27, 2020 SERAP Asks Buhari To Probe Bribery Allegation Against Ganduje Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors to disclose the security votes for their states in 2021. SERAP in a statement issued on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, called for measures to be put in place to prevent the misuse and embezzlement of public funds in the name of security votes. “Disclose details of proposed ‘security votes’ spending in your 2021 appropriation bills to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians, and to explain the measures your governments are putting in place to prevent the misuse and embezzlement of public funds in the name of security votes,” the statement partly read. “In the wake of the abduction of over 300 students from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, and ongoing security challenges in several parts of the country, the time has come to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds meant to secure people’s lives and property.” READ ALSO: Bandits Kill Village Head In Niger One Week After Abduction The group noted that while the authorities may keep certain matters of operational secrets from the people in the name of national security, there is no constitutional or legal basis to hide basic information on public spending from the people. According to Oluwadare, Nigerian leaders should be honest to the citizens amid the numerous security challenges in the country. SEE FULL STATEMENT HERE: Insecurity: Disclose security votes spending for 2021, SERAP tells Buhari, 36 governors Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent Freedom of Information requests to President Muhammadu Buhari and 36 state governors urging them to “disclose details of proposed ‘security votes’ spending in your 2021 appropriation bills to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians, and to explain the measures your governments are putting in place to prevent the misuse and embezzlement of public funds in the name of security votes.” SERAP said: “In the wake of the abduction of over 300 students from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, and ongoing security challenges in several parts of the country, the time has come to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds meant to secure people’s lives and property.” In the FoI requests dated 26 December, 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Disclosing details of spending as security votes for 2021 would serve to engage the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the security challenges confronting the country, and what the federal and state governments are doing to respond to them. This is a legitimate public interest matter.” SERAP also said: “While SERAP understands that authorities may keep certain matters of operational secrets from the people in the name of national security, there is no constitutional or legal basis to hide basic information on public spending from the people.” SERAP expressed “concerns that the intense secrecy and lack of meaningful oversight of the government’s spending of security votes have for many years contributed to mismanagement and large-scale corruption in the sector, as well as limited the ability of the people to hold high-ranking public officials to account for their constitutional responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people.” According to SERAP: “Your government’s responsibility to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the Nigerian people is closely interlinked with your responsibility under Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office. This imposes a fundamental obligation to promote transparency and accountability in security votes spending, and to remove opportunities for corruption.” The FoI requests, read in part: “Nigerians have the right to know what the government is doing in their name. The framers of the Nigerian Constitution never contemplated opaque spending of public funds as security votes. Transparency and accountability would ensure that the policies and action that the government will pursue to guarantee the security of Nigerians are truly relevant and effective in keeping them safe.” “We would be grateful if the requested information is provided to us within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal action under the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to compel you to comply with our request.” “Successive governments have failed to effectively discharge their primary and constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of Nigerians. This is patently contrary to Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’” “Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, the country’s international human rights obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil
The wrestling world is mourning another heartbreaking loss after the death of All Elite Wrestling star Brodie Lee . The star – who also performed under the name Luke Harper in World Wrestling Entertainment before leaving in December 2019 – has died aged 41 following a non – Covid- related lung issue , Metro. co. uk , reports. Shortly after the announcement of his death , legends and his contemporaries have paid their respects. Hulk Hogan tweeted : ‘ Totally devastated over the loss of Jon “ Luke /Brodie” , such a great talent and awesome human being ! RIP my brother HH ( sic )’ Although John Cena is yet to offer a statement , he shared a captionless photo of them wrestling each other on his Instagram account . WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley wrote: “ I just heard the news about the death of Jon Huber , an awful day for wrestling fans. Just two years ago , my son Hughie dressed up as Luke Harper for Halloween. He was a great worker and a doting father . A huge loss for everyone who loves wrestling. ” Meanwhile, AEW boss Tony Khan – who signed him to the promotion following his WWE release – admitted he was ‘ devastated’ by the news. He said , “ I ’ m devastated by the loss of Jon Huber , known to fans as Mr Brodie Lee , formerly Luke Harper. Jon was a great man. His family came first , his loving wife Amanda and their sons Brodie and Nolan. He loved wrestling and was great at it, he loved the fans. Please keep him in your hearts . ” WWE bosses Triple H and Stephanie McMahon both also paid their respects to the late wrestler, who held the Intercontinental Title and three tag team championships with the company. Triple H wrote: “ Amazing talent, better human being , husband and father . ” His wife Stephanie added : “ I ’ m so deeply sorry for the loss of Jon Huber . We bonded off the love of our children . He was a true family man . #RIPBrodieLee ( sic )” Randy Orton – who teamed with Lee during his stint in the Wyatt Family – tweeted : “ I don’ t have the words . #RIPBrodieLee May God send his beautiful family as much strength as possible . ”
