Author: admin@theprimetimes
Calls for World Health Organization reform and steps to avert future pandemics feature high on the agenda as the UN agency kicks off its annual member states’ meeting on Monday. With the Covid-19 crisis still raging and wealthy nations continuing to hoard most doses of life-saving vaccines, the WHO’s main decision-making body has plenty to discuss. The 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) begins Monday with statements from national leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, health ministers and other high-level representatives of the WHO’s 194 member states. The discussions run until June 1 focusing heavily on efforts to rein in the…
• Tougher days ahead as governors pull subsidy plug• Poverty, inflation to worsen in coming months Tougher times are here and any pretension to the contrary has been ripped to shreds with Wednesday’s resolution of the governors giving full backing to complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, which in effect may jerk the pump price of petrol to N385 per litre. The masses will face more challenging times in the coming months as government closes in on resolving the lingering downstream market deregulation crisis. Attempts to remove subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) had severally…
More than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted travel restrictions for vaccine passport holders ahead of the summer travels. International carriers have applauded the growing number of countries making data and “evidence-driven” decisions to open their borders to vaccinated travellers, urging more countries to fall in line. Among the countries that now accept vaccinated travellers are: British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Ecuador, Georgia, Greece, Island, Israel, Seychelles, and lately, Germany. Varying local conditions, however, apply. The vaccine passport – in the form of certificates or digital cards testifying to the low-risk status of their holders – promises to reopen the…
• AGF an agent provocateur, says Afenifere, Ohanaeze• Umahi: Those supporting open grazing want killings to continue• Senate spokesman seeks Malami’s sack over utterance• Open grazing is outdated, says MACBAN patron, Jibrin It was a barrage of condemnation, yesterday, after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami proclaimed the ban on open grazing by southern governors unconstitutional. Malami, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday evening, said the decision of the governors “does not align with the provisions of the Constitution, hence it does not hold water. “For example, it is as good…
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has established a Female Squad, aimed at enhancing security in schools susceptible to bandits’ attack. The NSCDC Commandant-General, Mr Ahmed Audi, disclosed this on Friday at the passing out parade of personnel of the squad at the corps training College in Katsina.x “Female Squad is a child of necessity borne out of the need to effectively curtail the recent upsurge of insecurity occasioned by armed banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and the need to effectively implement government’s proposed Safe School Initiative. “Recent upsurge and frequency of attacks by bandits who engage in kidnapping of…
The Minister of Interior, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the current insecurity challenges in the country were temporary and would soon pass by the grace of God. The minister made the remarks on Friday in Katsina at the passing out ceremony of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Female Squad. “Let me assure Nigerians that the current situation is temporary and we will soon pass by the grace of God. “Our President, Muhammadu Buhari has given law enforcement agents a new task to totally restore peace for every community in the country. We shall not rest or…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has written President Joe Biden of the United States of America; Congress and prime ministers of Great Britain, Canada, and Australia for immediate intervention in the “needless bloodletting by the Nigerian Army and security forces in the South East of Nigeria.” It also pleaded with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State “to stop the illegal execution of youths by soldiers and police in Imo.” The group went on: “We are by this last warning asking the Chief of Army Staff, the governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to stop the genocide…
The World Bank has revealed a spending plan of $150 billion to support Africa in the next five years. Speaking at the Summit on Financing African Economies on Tuesday, the World Bank’s President, David Malpass, said a large portion of the outlay would take the form of grants and zero-interest long-term loans. He said the spending would consolidate the intervention of the bank in key developmental needs of Africa in the past decade during which it invested $200 billion in the region. He said the support would continue to provide “positive net-flow” to the continent to address developmental challenges. “Africa…
Bitcoin’s value plunged on Wednesday after China signaled a new crackdown on the cryptocurrency, but its losses were cushioned after Tesla head Elon Musk spoke up on Twitter. The virtual currency fell to almost $30,000 — less than half the record value it reached last month — before climbing back over $39,500 around 2000 GMT. It was still above its level at the start of the year. Bitcoin recovered somewhat following tweets from Musk that featured a diamond and hands emoji, taken as a signal the company had not sold off its huge bitcoin holdings as the CEO appeared to…
Toronto Raptors’ President, Masai Ujiri, has advised Nigeria to stop the anti-productive practice of appointing non-professionals as sports ministers. He said the practice ensures that the country’s largest and most productive population are denied the quality leadership at the policy level that unleashes their great potential. Speaking alongside President Muhammadu Buhari at the launch of the Nigeria Exchange (NGX) Group, Ujiri said the nation must take its youths and sports serious to achieve economic and political potential, which he added are the country’s surest path to global success. Describing the National Stadium, Lagos, as an eyesore, Masai, who in 2003…