COVID-19: NIMC shuts down as crowds besiege Lagos offices for NIN registration (Punch)
The National Identity Management Commission has shut down its offices in Lagos State as large crowds gathered there on Monday in a bid to register and obtain the National Identity Number.
NIMC Spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, confirmed the development to The PUNCH on Monday afternoon, saying that the decision was taken to adhere to COVID-19 protocols as the country battled the second wave of the pandemic.
The Nigerian Communication Commission had ordered telecommunications companies to within two weeks suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN. Read more
Yuletide: FRSC deploys 1,200 operatives to Lagos (Vanguard)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 1,200 operatives, and 2,000 special marshals to improve safety on roads in Lagos State during the Christmas celebration.
The Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.
Ogungbemide said that the deployment was to ensure the success of the command’s end-of-year special patrol which began on Dec. 15.
He said that the command made available no fewer than 45 patrol vehicles, three ambulances, two bikes, and four tow trucks for the patrol. Read more
SIM deactivation: NIMC Lagos office invaded, crowd flout COVID-19 protocol (Sun)
Desperation to meet up with the ultimatum issued by the Federal Government for citizens to obtain
National Identity Number (NIN) or have their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) block, made many to flout COVID-19 protocol at the office of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) , Lagos yesterday.
NIMC office located along Awolowo Way, Ikeja, close to the state’s Secretariat in Alausa was invaded by large crowd on Monday in a bid to register and obtain NIN.
The development comes just days after the Nigerian Communication Commission ordered telecommunications companies to within two weeks suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN. Read more
COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu much better, to resume public activities soon, says aide (Punch)
Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says his principal is feeling much better in isolation and will soon resume public activities.
Akosile made this known in a statement on Monday titled, ‘Update on COVID-19 status of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu’.
He wrote, “I am happy to inform you that the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is much better. He is, however, still in isolation and receiving home-based care.
“We are waiting for a complete clearance of the virus so that Mr Governor can resume public activities. Read more
FG mulls travel ban over new strain of COVID-19 (Guardian)
Worried about the mutated strain of COVID-19 manifesting itself in the United Kingdom, the Federal Government says it may impose a travel ban to and from certain parts of the world.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a Special Forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mohammed, a member of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, said while the government appreciates the negative economic impact of another lockdown, it would not rule out restriction on movement to and from certain parts of the world.
“We are more concerned about the new strain of COVID-19 which is manifesting itself in the UK; that is the mutated strain. Read more
NDIC begins verification of 42 failed MFBs’ depositors (Sun)
Soothing news has come for depositors of the recently closed 42 Microfinance Banks (MFBs), as the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced a verification exercise towards settling their claims.
This action signals the formal closure of the MFBs, whose operating licences were recently revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Director, Claims Resolution Department of the Corporation, Mrs Nurat Ajigbewu, who made the disclosure in a statement on Monday, noted that the CBN revoked the operating licences of the failed MFBs with effect from Thursday, November 12. Read more
Reps pass N13.6trn 2021 appropriation bill (Guardian)
The House of Representatives passed the N13.6 trillion 2021 budget on Monday in Abuja.
The passage followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Appropriation, laid by its Chairman, Rep Aliyu Betara (APC-Borno) at the Committee of Supply.
He said the Bill is to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the sum of N13,588,027,886,175 of which N496.5 billion is for statutory transfers
He added that N3.3 billion is for debt servicing, while N5.6 trillion is for recurrent non-debt expenditure. Read more
Senate passes N13.5trn 2021 budget (Punch)
The Senate at a special plenary on Monday passed the 2021 budget totalling N13.5trn.
The fiscal document is predicated on oil benchmark $40 per barrel, N3.324trn for debt servicing, N4.1trn for capital expenditure, N5.6 trillion for recurrent, N496 bn for statutory transfer.
It has an increment of N505bn.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), presented N13.082trn to National Assembly on October 8. Read more
Crack in Ohanaeze as embattled scribe rejects electoral committee (Sun)
The embattled Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Uche Okwukwu, on Monday, declared that the apex Igbo socio-cultural body was heading for factionalization following the setting up of an electoral committee of the body on Sunday.
Chief Okwukwu who described committee now chaired by Chief Enwo Igariwey as unconstitutional, said that the crisis which it would generate could present the Igbo as disunited and possibly harm the clamour for the South East to produce Nigeria’s president in 2023.
Okwukwu, who spoke to journalists in Enugu has been in a running battle with the Chief Nnia Nwodo-led Ohaneaze, was subsequently suspended, though he said he remained the scribe of the Igbo umbrella body. Read more
Christmas Star: Jupiter and Saturn align tonight for the ‘Great Conjunction’ (Metro)
Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer in the sky tonight than at any point in the last 400 years. Known as the ‘Great Conjunction’, the two largest planets in our solar system will appear just 0.1 degrees apart, one-fifth the diameter of the full moon. Even though they are still 400 million miles away from each other, to the naked eye on Earth they will appear as a single, bright shining ‘Christmas star’. Read more
Biden to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination (VOA)
US President-elect Joe Biden is set to receive a COVID-19 vaccination Monday.
Biden said in a statement he looks forward to having it administered publicly “and continuing to build confidence in the scientific process.”
Other U.S. leaders received their vaccinations last week, including Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Read more
UN peacekeepers say rebel push in Central African Republic under control’ (France24)
Rebel forces advancing on the Central African Republic’s capital Bangui have been pushed back and the situation is “under control”, a spokesman for UN peacekeeping forces said Sunday, as tensions mount a week before key elections.
The government had alleged an attempted coup when three of the powerful armed groups that control most of the country’s territory began advancing towards the capital along critical main roads, ahead of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 27.
Earlier Sunday, the Coalition of the Democratic Opposition (COD-2020) called for the votes to be postponed “until the re-establishment of peace and security”.
Uniting the main parties and movements opposed to President Faustin-Archange Touadera, COD-2020 was until recently led by former president Francois Bozize, who the government said Saturday was at the head of rebel fighters massing not far from the capital. Read more
Europe’s regulator approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for use in the EU (RT)
The European Medicines Agency has recommended the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine be granted authorization for use in the EU, representing a major step in the continent’s efforts to tackle Covid-19.
On Monday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that it is recommending Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for approval in Europe for people over the age of 16.
A statement released by EMA claims that the organization has undertaken “rigorous” evaluation of the vaccine and is satisfied by the robustness of the data provided on quality, safety, and efficacy.
“Today’s positive news is an important step forward in our fight against this pandemic, which has caused suffering and hardship for so many,” said Emer Cooke, executive director of EMA. Read more
Iran Nuclear Deal Parties Ready to Address Potential US Return (VOA)
The remaining signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal Monday expressed “their readiness to positively address” the potential return of the United States to the agreement.
President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal in 2018, arguing it unfairly favored Iran.
But President-elect Joe Biden, who was part of the U.S. administration that signed the deal, has said he would seek to rejoin it if Iran returns to compliance with its commitments. Read more
COVID-19 vaccines ‘still effective’ against fast-spreading mutant strain (Metro)
Current COVID-19 vaccines will still be effective against the new fast-spreading strain of the virus, according to EU experts. Germany’s health minister, Jens Spahn, told broadcaster ZDF that ‘according to everything we know so far’ the new strain ‘has no impact on the vaccines’ which will remain ‘just as effective’. He said the information emerged following a EU experts’ meeting on Sunday in Berlin. In a statement, the French Government supported this claim, saying: ‘This genetic variant does not seem to entail, at this stage of knowledge, a heightened seriousness or a resistance to the vaccine.’ Mr Spahn was referring in particular to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which the NHS started rolling out early this month. The jab has also been approved in the US and is on the brink of receiving approval from the European Medicines Agency. Read more
Lockerbie bombing: Alleged bomb-maker charged on 32nd anniversary of attack (BBC)
The US has announced charges against a Libyan suspected of making the bomb that blew up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
Abu Agila Mohammad Masud has been charged with terrorism-related crimes, Attorney General William Barr said on Monday, 32 years on from the atrocity.
The deadly bomb attack on the Boeing 747 killed 270 people, including 190 American citizens.
Prosecutors will seek the extradition of Mr Masud to stand trial in the US. Read more
Lewis Hamilton: World champion lost 4kg after testing positive for coronavirus (BBC)
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says he lost 4kg (8.8lb) after contracting coronavirus.
Hamilton had to miss the Sakir Grand Prix in Bahrain this month after testing positive for Covid-19.
He posted pictures of himself at the gym on Instagram, hours after being named 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday.
“I’ve lost 6kg over the past two months – four of which when I got Covid,” said the 35-year-old. Read more
Guardiola says no new striker for City due to Covid impact (Guardian)
Manchester City’s strikers will have to rediscover their scoring touch because reinforcements will not be signed in January, manager Pep Guardiola has said.
Guardiola explained that even with the backing of their Abu Dhabi owners, City were subject to the same financial pressures as their rivals due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
City has scored only twice in their last three league games but hope to welcome back Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus for Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Read more
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ruled out of Man City clash and a doubt for Chelsea fixture (Metro)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been ruled out of Arsenal’s EFL Cup clash against Manchester City and is a doubt for their next Premier League fixture against Chelsea, Mikel Arteta has confirmed. Aubameyang, who has endured a frustrating season, missed Arsenal’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Everton on Saturday with a calf problem. The injury has also ruled Aubameyang out of Tuesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final clash against Arteta’s former club Man City, while he is a doubt for the Boxing Day fixture against London rivals Chelsea. Read more
Serie A strugglers Genoa sack coach Maran (Guardian)
Rolando Maran was on Monday sacked as coach of relegation-threatened Serie A club Genoa after four months in the job.
The north-western port side fell to their eighth defeat of the season against promoted Benevento at the weekend.
“Genoa Cfc announces that they have relieved coach Rolando Maran from his post. The club thanks to the coach and his staff for their commitment,” the team said in a statement. Read more
Liverpool considering selling Mo Salah (RT)
In a move that would have been considered unthinkable 12 months ago, Liverpool could be preparing to sell star striker Mohamed Salah, according to his friend and teammate.
Salah’s former Egyptian national teammate Mohamed Aboutrika has revealed that his friend is not happy with his current situation at Anfield, after being snubbed for the Reds’ captaincy during their recent UEFA Champions League tie against Midtjylland.
Boss Jurgen Klopp instead turned to defender Trent Alexander-Arnold to wear the captain’s armband for the match, but Salah viewed the decision as a snub. Read more
Manchester United begin talks to sign Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo (Metro)
Manchester United have begun talks to sign Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to reports. The 19-year-old made his first-team debut for Independiente del Valle 14 months ago and is now a regular in their central midfield. Caicedo has also been capped four times by Ecuador and scored his first goal in the 4-2 victory over Uruguay in October. Caicedo, who has been with Independiente del Valle since the age of 13, is capable of playing as a holding midfielder or in a box-to-box role and has attracted huge praise following his rapid rise in his homeland. Read more
USA forward Alex Morgan ‘grateful’ after Tottenham Hotspur stint ends (BBC)
United States forward Alex Morgan has said she “will be forever grateful” for her short spell in the Women’s Super League with Tottenham.
The two-time World Cup-winner was denied a final appearance before rejoining Orlando Pride, after Sunday’s derby against Chelsea was postponed.
Morgan, 31, moved to Spurs in September, having only given birth in May, and scored twice in five games.
She said Spurs allowed her to again “immerse” herself in the “game I love”.
She added: “Thank you to everyone who helped make this chapter in my soccer journey so special. Read more