Pope Francis condemns death of Floyd, calls for end to racism

 

 

 Pope Francis called the death of George Floyd at the hands of US police officers “tragic” and said he is praying for him and “all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism.” He also called for an end to racism, stressing it should not be allowed in any society.

  “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form. At the same time, we have to recognize that violence is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost. Let us pray for reconciliation and peace,” the pope tweeted on Wednesday.

   Pope Francis also called for intercession “for reconciliation and peace across nations.” Marches against police brutality in solidarity with the unfolding situation in the US have taken place in other European countries, including the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

TVC

Alleged N1.1b fraud: Court dismisses charge against former Customs Comptroller General, Abdullahi Inde Dikko

 

   A charge of fraud brought against former Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Inde Dikko and two others by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), has been dismissed by a  Federal High Court in Abuja. This came after ICPC lawyer, E. A. Sogunle's oral application for withdrawal of the charge under Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

   Dikko, a former Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services Garba Makarfi and Umar Hussaini, a lawyer and owner of Capital Law firm, had been dragged to court by ICPC after being accused of inducing the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, to pay N1.1 billion (N1,100, 952,380.96) into the account of Capital Law Office as a refundable “completion security deposit” for the purchase of 120 units of duplexes as residential accommodation for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    Hussaini was accused of receiving $3 million as reward for distributing the money into various other bank accounts. 

List Of Five Airports That Will Be Reopened By June 21

  The Federal Government has announced that only five airports will be reopened when flight operations resume on Saturday, June 21. 

   According to a circular by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), asides the five selected airports, all others are to remain closed for further assessment. The memo further revealed that Nigeria’s airspace remains closed to international flights.

   The domestic airports that will be opened include Omagwa International Airport Port Harcourt, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano. Other airports are expected to be gradually added to the network after review and assessment.

CHANNELS

Nigerian govt to recruit COVID-19 volunteers

 

  The Nigerian government has announced plans to engage community volunteers for COVID-19. They will embark on house-to-house sensitisation on the dangers and spread of coronavirus. Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this on Tuesday at the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) briefing on COVID-19.

  He disclosed that the ministry was working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA) on the modalities. Ehanire explained that the targets were “high burden” Local Government Areas, as 20 LGAs contribute nearly 60 percent of the COVID-19 positive cases.

  He said the COVID-19 burden not evenly distributed within the country and that Kano and Lagos bears the burden. The minister noted that a team from the ministry is in Lagos on an appraisal visit, during which a situation analysis will be conducted.

  The team will also visit the contiguous Ogun State on the same mission. “The visits are in continuation of similar useful initiatives in the past to Kano, Katsina Sokoto, Jigawa, Gombe, and Borno, to share experience and ideas, align strategy and support each other,” Ehanire said.

Kaduna says markets, places of worship yet to reopen

 

   Despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the relaxation of restriction placed on churches and mosques starting from Tuesday Kaduna State Government said worshipping places and markets will remain closed in the state till further notice

  In a statement by Muyiwa Adekeye Special Adviser to the Governor, he said the public spaces, of which comprises of religious places and markets were closed in March 2020 as the state stepped-up Covid-19 prevention efforts and relevant government agencies will engage the business, community, and religious leaders to discuss and agree on the protocols for the safe opening of businesses and market, and resumption of congregational worship.

 He noted that the state government has started engagements with business leaders, and began receiving recommendations from some religious leaders on the subject of safe re-opening of places of worship.

Odion Ighalo vows to take Man Utd ‘higher and higher’

  

    Odion Ighalo has vowed to take Manchester United “higher and higher” after signing up for another six months.

   The Nigerian’s loan from Shanghai Shenhu has been extended until January 2021 after his original agreement was set to end last weekend. Ighalo scored four goals in eight games after joining the Red Devils at the start of the year.

  But he was set to return to China before the resumption of the Premier League later this month. However, United have agreed to pay £10million to keep Ighalo at the club for a while longer. And the forward says he’s ready to help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer bring the good times back to Old Trafford. He said: “I’m really happy. It’s a dream for me to be here. I’m buzzing and ready to go. “Since the first day I arrived, I made it clear that I wanted whatever it takes to continue that work.

  “Like I’ve said, since I was young, I’ve been supporting this club and playing for it is a dream. “Now I’ve extended my loan, it makes it even more clear and I’m committed as I know, in my head, I’m here until January. “I just want to work hard and enjoy it, support the team and do whatever I can to make us go higher and higher.”

Oyo begins community testing as COVID-19 cases rise

 

    Oyo State has recorded 15 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the state to 317.

  

  The latest figures, released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Tuesday night revealed that the 15 cases in Oyo were among the 241 new cases recorded in 14 states.

  The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) of the state COVID-19 Task Force said it would begin the community testing for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The exercise is to determine the behaviour of the virus in the state. The testing, expected to hold in 10 locations, will kick off in three different sites in Ibadan.