NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

London declares emergency over ‘out of control’ coronavirus

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London declared emergency on coronavirus on Friday, as its hospitals were at risk of being overwhelmed by a highly transmissible variant of the virus racing “out of control” across the UK.

Britain has the world’s fifth worst official death toll from COVID-19 at over 78,000, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shuttered the economy and rushed out vaccines faster than its neighbours in a bid to stem the pandemic.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, from the opposition Labour Party, said hospital beds in the capital would run out within the next few weeks because the spread of the virus was “out of control”:

“We are declaring a major incident because the threat this virus poses to our city is at crisis point.”

London, which vies with Paris for the status of Europe’s richest city, has a population of over 9 million.

The designation of “major incident” is usually reserved for attacks or grave accidents, notably those likely to involve “serious harm, damage, disruption or risk to human life or welfare, essential services, the environment or national security”.

London’s last “major incident” was the Grenfell Tower fire in a high-rise residential block in 2017, when 72 people died.

Khan said there were parts of London where 1 in 20 people had the virus. The pressure on the ambulance service, which was now dealing with up to 9,000 emergency calls a day, meant firefighters were being drafted in to drive vehicles, and police officers would follow.

The Office for National Statistics estimated that 1.1 million people in England had the coronavirus in the week to Jan. 2, the equivalent of one person in 50.

Britain, the first country to approve vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca, on Friday approved Moderna’s shot, hoping to begin administering it this spring.

It also agreed to purchase an additional 10 million doses.

However, minister for transportation, Grant Shapps said there were fears that some vaccines might not work properly against a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in South Africa.

“This is a very big concern for the scientists,” he told LBC radio.

A laboratory study by the U.S. drugmaker Pfizer, not yet peer-reviewed, indicated that the vaccine it is making, developed by Germany’s BioNTech, does work against one key mutation in the new variants found in Britain and South Africa. (Reuters/NAN)

Demutualisation: NSE inaugurates ‘Claims Review Panel’

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By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Ahead of its demutualisation, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has inaugurated a ‘Claims Review Panel’, pursuant to the provisions of the NSE Demutualisation Act 2018.

Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo, NSE President, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Ogunbanjo said the panel inaugurated on Dec. 21, 2020, was set up in preparation for the imminent demutualisation.

He listed the members of the panel as, Mr George Etomi (Chairman), Mr Seni Adio (SAN), Mr Abatcha Bulama, Dr Paul Anababa (SAN) and Prince Aghatise Erediauwa.

Ogunbanjo said the panel was expected to diligently carry out its functions and responsibilities under the Act.

According to him, each member will bring to bear, their respective experiences and expertise to enrich deliberations and decisions.

“We expect members of the panel to discharge their responsibilities without any fear or favour in an objective and dispassionate manner, being guided by principles of fair hearing, equity and natural justice,” he said.

He said that the panel served as an independent alternative dispute resolution mechanism for the review and determination of claims made by individuals or entities in respect of any assertion of rights in the shares of the demutualised Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.

“The panel will sit in an appellate capacity and review claims from claimants’ who are dissatisfied with any decision of the National Council of the Exchange on a claim pre-demutualisation, or the Board of Directors of the HoldCo , post demutualisation of the exchange,” he said.

As part of the demutualisation process, he said the exchange (which is currently a company limited by guarantee) would be converted into and re-registered as a public company limited by shares.

“Consequently, current members of the exchange will be allocated shares in the HoldCo.

“The securities exchange licence of the current exchange will be transferred to Nigerian Exchange Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the HoldCo, which will carry on the securities exchange business.

“Another wholly owned subsidiary, NGX Regulation Ltd., will be licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to carry out regulatory services.

“To safeguard the independence of the panel, the NSE embarked on a diligent search for distinguished individuals with the required expertise and extensive track records of integrity, excellence and achievements in their respective fields of specialisation,” he added. (NAN)

200 players expected at Edo Cricket League – Official

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By Ijeoma Okigbo

No fewer than 200 players are expected to participate in the Edo Cricket League, scheduled to begin on Saturday, the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has said.

Theophilus Ibodeme, the Regional Development Officer (RDO), South-South of NCF, made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Abuja.

He said that the male competition, organised by the Edo Cricket Association, had eight teams which would feature in the event.

“Eight clubs will feature in the event, with two of them being from the University of Benin and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

“The game’s format is a T20 Super League. This is a round robin situation. All teams will play against each other.

“The top four will qualify for Super 4 tournament, which is a one-day international and knock-out phase. This event will determine the winner of the competition,” Ibodeme said.

The NCF official said that the league was aimed at discovering talents as well as promoting and driving grassroots sports development.

“You cannot determine your level of development without competition.

“Secondly, it will give the state and NCF a score card at the International Cricket Council (ICC) level.

“The ICC are interested in leagues that have eight teams. If the league doesn’t have up to eight teams, it will not be ranked at international level.

“Before now, the league had four teams and wasn’t ranked, but now, with eight teams, according to the ICC, the league will be on the rankings log.

“This is a plus for the league and by extension, the NCF,” Ibodeme added.

The RDO, who said that the league was expected to last till April, added that all the necessary COVID-19 protocols would be adhered to at the competition.

NAN reports that Edo Boys High School and Iyoba College Ugbowo, both in Benin, have been picked as the venues for the event. (NAN)

FIFA to test concussion substitutes at Club World Cup

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World Football governing body FIFA said on Friday it would test the use of an extra substitute in the case of suspected concussion at the Club World Cup in Qatar next month.

FIFA said the move prioritised player welfare and sent a “strong message that, if in any doubt, the player should be withdrawn” from the game.

Teams at the Feb. 1 to Feb. 11 tournament will still be able to make five normal substitutions, as is common in many competitions during the coronavirus-impacted season.

This is in addition to one more substitution in the case of a potential concussion.

The rule-making body IFAB approved the use of concussion substitutes in December.

European champions Bayern Munich headline the seven-team tournament whose fixtures will be drawn on Jan. 19.(dpa/NAN)

Avoid using Lagos Airport Road Flyover, FG warns public

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By Grace Alegba

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Olukayode Popoola, on Friday advised the public to stay off Airport Road Flyover in Lagos dangerously burnt by fire, pending the determination of its structural safety.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bridge which runs over Toyota Bus Stop on the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway being reconstructed, was engulfed by fire when a petrol tanker burst into flames on Thursday.

The federal and Lagos State governments on Friday carried out a joint inspection to know the extent of damage to the bridge and adjoining roads.

Leading the state and federal officials, Popoola raised concerns over the safety of the bridge, saying that its structural integrity had yet to be ascertained.

He told NAN during the inspection that samples were being taken from the burnt bridge for analysis to be able to ascertain the level of damage and where to carry out repairs.

Popoola said that 200 meters of the rigid pavement of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway reconstruction project, being carried by the Dangote Group, was burnt.

He added that the deck of the flyover was burnt and its pier badly damaged, raising fears of structural instability of the bridge.

The controller said that the bridge was barricaded after the fire because of safety concerns, regretting that the barriers were removed at night.

Popoola warned that there would be risks in using the bridge.

“We are taking some samples to go and analyse before we know the structural stability, but physically, a lot of damage has been done to this pier of the bridge.

“The integrity is already compromised.

“Yesterday the road was barricaded but in the night, some people went and removed the barricade.

“We are advising that members of the public should not take the risk of using this bridge,” he said.

Popoola said that about 200 meters of the bridge deck as well as the pavement of Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway being reconstructed was affected by the inferno.

He added that one of the piers – pillars of the bridge – was badly burnt, making the ministry unsure of the structural integrity and safety of the bridge.

He said that outcome of tests would ensure appropriate action on the flyover constructed by Julius Berger Plc, as well as the highway under reconstruction by the Dangote Group.

According to the controller, the Federal Highway Act empowers the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to prosecute whoever caused damage to assets of the Federal Government.

“This Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway project is ongoing, and we have not even completed it. Now, due to carelessness of drivers, this fire occurred, and you can see the level of the damage.

“The pavement that we have spent a lot of money, up to 200 meters – have been affected; that will cost a lot of money,” he said.

Popoola noted that the ministry had been working in collaboration with Lagos State Government to tackle trucks’ menace and other infractions affecting road infrastructure.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, said that the state government, through its Ministry of Transportation, would embark on strict enforcement of road worthiness regulation.

She told NAN that the government’s agents would begin to enter depots and loading bays for petrol tankers to ensure that those not road worthy would not lift petroleum products.

Adeyoye said that truck accident causing damage to road infrastructure had become recurrent.

“Oftentimes, they claim that the roads are bad. What do you say about this one now that the road is very good, there is no pothole anywhere,” she said.

Adeyoye said that truck accidents were most times caused by reckless driving.

She called for attitudinal change.

She said that fires caused by tanker accidents had caused much hardship on road users, urging that road unworthy trucks should stop coming into Lagos State.

She said that the support of the Federal Government was important in tackling the ‘hydra-headed monster’.

Mr Cyril Zango, Deputy Corps Commander (Operations), Lagos Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps, said the offending truck had been impounded.

He said that investigations were on as regards the accident, adding that, if found guilty, the owner and the driver of the tanker would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to other road users.

Zango said that articulated vehicle drivers engaged sharp practices to evade checks. (NAN)

INEC boss tasks NASS on  electoral reforms

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By Naomi Sharang

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged the National Assembly to use a bipartisan approach in amending the Electoral Act to help improve conduct of elections in the country.

Yakubu made the call at the inauguration of the Joint Technical Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on Friday in Abuja.

The event was organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters with support from Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).

He was represented by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.

Yakubu said that the amendment was timely, saying that more fundamentally, the reforms must be impactful, approached from a bipartisan angle, devoid of divisive issues and concluded at least by the first quarter of 2021.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan had in 2020, pledged the commitment of the National Assembly to the passage of the Electoral Act amendment bill by the end of first quarter of 2021.

The INEC chairman welcomed the renewed efforts and commitment by the leadership of the National Assembly towards amending the electoral legal framework for the conduct of elections.

Yakubu said that the renewed drive by the legislature was timely and must be sustained and approached with a sense of history and urgency.

He said that the efforts must be diffused with clearly defined timelines, priority, interventions and strategic thinking.

Yakubu said that the commission was fully committed to the amendment process and would continue to offer suggestions and recommendations that would help improve the regime of elections in the country.

He further said that amending the electoral legal framework would not automatically lead to improvement in the management and conduct of elections.

“The Constitution and the Electoral Act are not self-executory, and both operate through the actions and inactions of the critical stakeholders in the electoral process,” he said.

A member of the Technical Committee, Mr Sadiq Mua’azu said that one of the advantages of the electoral reforms was to bring all amendments together in one document.

Mua’azu said that the major target of the amendment was to ensure that all political parties were gender sensitive as well as eliminate all forms of discrimination in all political parties.

“The bill mandates all political parties to ensure that women leaders are women or persons of the feminine gender and that all youth leaders are between the ages of 18 to 45 at the date of elections into such offices.

“The bill also seeks to increase maximum election expenses to be incurred by Presidential or Governorship Candidates, Senatorial or House of Representatives Candidates.

“The amount was increased for the Presidential election from N1billion to N5 billion and from N200 million to N1 billion for the governorship and for the Senate and House of Representatives it was increased to N100 million and N70 million respectively,” he said.

Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, said that the bill when passed and assented would tremendously change the political sphere of the nation.

“The amending of the Electoral Act would indeed positively affect the electoral process and procedures which has posed challenges and raised controversies that have put the mantra of free, fair and credible elections to question,” he said.

He said that the Technical Committee was inaugurated in order to achieve the set timeline for passing the bill by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, pledged to work with the technical committee to ensure unhindered presidential assent to the bill.

Malami was represented by Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform and International Relations, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu.

“I will continue to work more closely with the National Assembly to ensure that the bill is eventually passed as scheduled.

“I recall that immediately after the 2015 elections, the President approved the inauguration of the constitutional and electoral reform committees in 2016, we have been working with the National Assembly and we came up with four bills that have been approved by the Federal Executive Council and forwarded to the National Assembly,” he said.

In a goodwill message, Head, Governance and Stability, FCDO, Mr Sam Waldock said that the UK was a proud supporter of Nigeria’s democratic process.

“In the last five years, the UK has invested more than 50 million pounds in Nigeria’s democratic process and it’s the largest democracy in Africa and it is the leading member of Commonwealth.

“We commend the National Assembly for its work to reform this legislation which will go a long way even after the next election.

“Setting up a technical sub-committee to expedite the work on this bill is a very important contribution to Nigeria’s electoral legal framework,” he said.

Also, Executive Director, PLAC, Mr Clement Nwankwo expressed optimism that the bill would be passed within the shortest possible time.

“Following the experience of the last failed attempt to sign the Electoral Act in 2018, it is quite clear that this commitment is unanimous on all sides to ensure that we do have a new Electoral Act in place.

“With the support from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, we are able to collaborate with the National Assembly to deliver on the commitment that has been made by the assembly,” Nwankwo said. (NAN)

World Athletics opens bidding for 3 future series events

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By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

World Athletics has announced that potential hosts for three World Athletics Series events including the new World Athletics Road Running Championships, should register their interest by March 1.

The world athletics governing body, in a statement on its website, said the Championships would become part of the prestigious World Athletics Series in 2023.

It added that the event would be a week-long festival of road-running, encompassing the existing World Athletics Half-Marathon Championships, and the inaugural edition would also feature championship races over 5km.

“There will also be mass races to allow recreational runners to be part of the event,” the statement read.

It further said the Bid guides for the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships, the 2023 World Athletics Relays and the 2025 World Athletics Championship were now available to download.

“The Bid documents contain pages of useful information for prospective host cities of World Athletics Series events, outlining the benefits for hosts, the social and environmental impact and the revenue potential.

“Bidding requirements, processes and timelines are also included in each Bid guide.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Athletics Relays is a hugely popular event, featuring a range of men’s, women’s and mixed relay disciplines.

The highest-placed teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m finals earn qualification for the World Championships later that year.

The World Athletics Championships, meanwhile, is the jewel in the crown of World Athletics’ global competition programme.

It is the third largest sports event in the world, involving approximately 2,000 athletes from more than 200 nations competing for 49 gold medals. (NAN)

Man receives 12 strokes of cane for selling hard drugs

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By Ramatu Garba

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano on Friday, awarded 12 strokes of cane and and a fine of N10,000 to Umar Yahaya, 25, for dealing in hard drugs.

Yahaya, who resides at Fagge Quarters Kano, was convicted on two-count charge of public disturbances and possession of “rubber solution, suck and die” – narcotics.

When the charges were read to him in court, Yahaya pleaded guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr Farouk Ibrahim summarily convicted the defendant and pronounced sentence of one month in jail or the option of a fine of N10,000 and award of 12 strokes of cane.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Lamido Soron-Dinki, had told the court that the convict committed the offences on Dec.31, 2020 in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano.

He said that on the fateful day at about 7p.m., a team of police officers attached to Fagge Division Kano, while on surveillance patrol within the area arrested the defendant.

According to him, the defendant was in possession of 13 rubber solutions and two bottles of “suck and die” suspected to be intoxicant.

Soron-Dinki said the offence contravened Sections 183 and 391 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

I’ve doubt over my ability to break new record at Tokyo Paralympic Games 

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By Ijeoma Okigbo

Rolland Ezuruike, a Powerlifter, and Paralympics Gold Medalist, has expressed doubt over  setting  new records in the forthcoming Tokyo “2020” Paralympics Games scheduled to hold from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5, 2021.

Ezuruike had set a new Paralympics record in the men’s – 54kg category after lifting 200kg at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The 44-year-old,  told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that his doubt stemmed from his low level of preparation for the Games as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Preparations for me has been very low due to COVID-19. Tournaments that I should have participated in toward preparation for Tokyo has been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19.

“Since the lockdown in 2020, most of my trainings have been at home. I engaged in morning and evening  exercises to keep fit.

“All these challenges may affect my ambition of breaking my record and setting another one at Tokyo. I am not certain about setting a record but I will give it my all,” Ezuruike said.

The Paralympian, however, lauded the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as well as the Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation, for organising a three weeks closed camp for the team in November, in Lagos.

“The camp really helped us train well. I am hoping that the National Sports Festival holds soon enough, so that we can also use that as a preparatory ground for the Olympics,” he added. (NAN)

Kano – Maiduguri road gets June completion date

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By Abbas Bamalli

The Federal Government has assured that the ongoing reconstruction work on the Kano – Maiduguri road will be completed by June.

Mr Funso Adebiyi, the Director, Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, announced this while inspecting the project on Friday.

Adebiyi said the project was divided into five sections and had reached 75 per cent completion stage generally, with work going according to schedule.

“The Phase One of the project has started from Hotoro NNPC roundabout to Shuwarin, in Jigawa State. It has 10 kilometres, and so far we have completed 63 per cent.

“In the second section, we have completed 86 per cent, third section 90 per cent and in the fourth section we have achieved over 80 per cent while the last section that will enter Maiduguri, we have completed 60 per cent,” he said.

The director said that one of the major challenges delaying completion of the project was insecurity, as some workers who were kidnapped at some of the sections had not been released.

He added that the contractor handling Section Five of the project had to vacate the site due to insecurity.

“We are collaborating with the Borno Government to ensure the completion of the project.

“On the Kano Western bypass which was awarded since 2007, we have so far completed 56 per cent of the 26.6 kilometres dual carriage road. We hope to complete the project by the end of 2021,’’
Adebiyi said.

He also said the Federal Government had awarded the contract for the construction of some roads in Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State.

Adebiyi disclosed that government was constructing over 31 roads in the state.

The Manager, Dantata and Sawoe construction company, Mr Roy Hungushi, who is handling Section One of the Kano – Maiduguri road and Kano Western bypass, assured that the project would be completed at the stipulated time. (NAN)

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