EXPLAINER: What to know about the rapidly-spreading Omicron sub-variant
The Omicron COVID variant was first discovered in South Africa in November 2021 and was subsequently classified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to the WHO, Omicron has four subvariants — BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3 — with BA.1 accounting for the vast majority of Omicron cases. As […]
FALLING APART: How students live, learn in dreadful conditions in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions
Poor infrastructure in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions has been a source of concern for decades — and this cuts across polytechnics, colleges of education and universities. It is one of the reasons the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently embarked on its 16th strike in 23 years. To determine the present state of […]
Putin orders troops into pro-Russian regions of eastern Ukraine — and US reacts with sanctions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine in what he called a “peacekeeping” mission. According to CNN, the order came just hours after he signed decrees recognising the independence of the Moscow-backed regions. The decrees signed by Putin conveyed Moscow’s official recognition over two breakaway […]
Obasanjo: Ignoring out-of-school children will worsen insurgency
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria must do something about out-of-school children if the country wants to effectively tackle insecurity. According to NAN, Obasanjo said this on Monday at the 2022 Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) annual lecture which had the theme, ‘Beyond Boko Haram: Addressing Insurgency, Banditry and Kidnapping across Nigeria’. The […]
Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria reports 32 infections in five states, 38 recoveries
Nigeria on Monday recorded 32 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Tuesday. South Africa changes COVID vaccination rules to increase uptake South Africa has announced plans to change COVID-19 vaccination rules in an effort to boost uptake. South Africa health department […]
Newspaper Headlines: NRC raises the alarm over persistent vandalisation of rail tracks
The postponement of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from February 26 to March 26 appeared on the cover pages of the Nigerian newspapers. Source: Top Stories
2023: ‘He was misunderstood’ — aide clarifies Tinubu’s ‘fight dirty’ comment
Tunde Rahman, media aide to Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says his principal’s comment on being “ready to get dirty” over his presidential bid was misunderstood. Speaking on Sunday when he visited Lekan Balogun, the Olubadan designate, in Ibadan, Tinubu had said no intimidation or blackmail can stop […]
Report: Despite petrol subsidy, transport fares increased by 283% in five years
SBM Intelligence, a geopolitical research firm, says despite petrol subsidy payments, transport costs and petrol prices increased disproportionally from 2017 to 2021. SBM said this in a new report by the research firm titled ‘Growing Fuel Subsidy and Transport Costs: Which Way Forward, Nigeria?’ It said over five years, petrol prices increased […]
BREAKING: APC postpones convention to March 26
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed March 26 for its national convention. The development comes weeks after the party announced that the national convention would hold on February 26. Speaking on Monday at a media briefing in Abuja, John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, said zonal congresses would […]
‘I was framed’ — DCP Abba Kyari sues FG, denies drug trafficking allegations
Abba Kyari, the suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), says the allegations against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are “trumped-up”. On February 14, the NDLEA declared Kyari wanted “over his involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal”. Hours later, the police announced his arrest and subsequent transfer to the NDLEA custody. The […]