Author: Vera
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has urged state governments to step up mass vaccination against COVID-19 as part of moves to combat the virus. The agency, in its latest advisory obtained by Point News247, also urged state governors to enact and enforce vaccination mandate for local and state government workers. This came to fore as the percentage for fully vaccinated Nigerians stalled at 4.2 per cent while those that had taken their first dose remained grounded at 9.8 per cent as of Sunday, January 9, 2021. The NCDC in its daily updates continued to report increase in the number…
The Economic Community of West African States will impose additional sanctions on the military junta in Mali, withdraw all ECOWAS Ambassadors in the country, and close land and air borders between the ECOWAS member states and Mali. Point News247 reports that this was the resolution of the Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday, January 9, 2021. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this on Monday in a statement titled, ‘ECOWAS countries to shut all borders against Mali, recall ambassadors, reject…
In reaction to newly imposed sanctions, Mali’s ruling junta says it “strongly” condemns “illegal” sanctions imposed on the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Point News247 reports that this position was contained in a statement read on national television Monday. The military regime’s spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga announced the recall of Bamako’s ambassadors to the West African nations involved and the closure of air and land borders with them. ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) on Sunday imposed a range of economic and diplomatic measures against Mali, including border closures and a…
Point News247 reports that the Federal Government says its 2050 Long-Term Low Emission Vision document was a demonstration of the nation’s commitment to play a leading role in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, made the disclosure, following the formal publication of Nigeria’s Long-Term Vision, LTV document by the Secretariat of the United Nation’s Convention for Climate Change, UNFCCC. Ikeazor described the document as an important landmark for the actualisation of Nigeria’s quest for mitigating the negative effects of climate change and a road path to meeting its decarbonation targets. She said:…
Newly inaugurated Anambra Cargo Airport has recorded 142 flights with 3,865 passengers landing and taking off after one month of its opening. Point News247 reports that the airport was opened for commercial services on December 7 last year. The Anambra Commissioner for Works, Marcel Ifejiofor, made the disclosure on Sunday in Umueri, near Awka, where the airport is located. He noted that although the flight and passenger figures surpassed projections when compared to other airports, it would have been more if more airlines were using the airport. So far, only Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are landing and taking…
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, says he has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest the presidential election in 2023. Point News247 reports that the APC chieftain disclosed this on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after he met with Buhari at the Aso Villa in Abuja. According to him, the President is a democrat and therefore, has not asked him to stop the pursuit of his ambition which for him is life-long. Tinubu said, “I have informed the President of my intention but I’ve not informed Nigerians yet. I am still consulting…
Point News247 reports that thirty students of Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, and one teacher of the school, have regained freedom after six months in captivity. On June 17, 2021, bandits from neighbouring Rijau forest in Niger State, broke into the school and abducted students and staff. The armed men, who reportedly stormed the school on motorcycles, overpowered the security operatives on ground, killing a policeman in the process. Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi had ruled out negotiation with the armed group, which demanded ransom. Four months after the abduction, three teachers and 30 students were released but…
Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has left Abuja for Accra, Ghana to represent President Muhammadu Buhari at an Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to discuss the political situation in the Republic of Mali. Point News247 reports that this update was released in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, titled ‘VP Osinbajo off to Accra, representing Nigeria at ECOWAS extraordinary summit on Mali’. Sunday’s meeting which is expected to be attended by leaders across the region follows previous meetings and efforts by the…
South-West leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have faulted claims by ex-Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, that the party had zoned the 2023 presidential ticket to the North. Point News247 reports that the former governor said that the party had zoned its presidential ticket to the North. He made the comment on Friday when members of the Atiku Support Organisation visited him in Minna. But a former National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, who spoke with Punch correspondent on Saturday, faulted Aliyu’s claim. Oladipo said, “He (Aliyu) should be asked at what meeting the decision was made?…
48-year-old man identified as,l Iloduba Augustine, has confessed to having swallowed 58 pellets of cocaine out of which he excreted 48 pellets which were delivered to a Kenyan while on transit in Addis Ababa for a fee of N1 million. Point News247 reports that Augustine was a passenger of Ethiopian Airline that arrived Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was on New Year’s eve arrested and placed on observation during which he made the confession. He said he continued his journey to Nigeria with the remaining 10 pellets in his stomach, which…