Former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki has expressed his disappointment over silence from major stakeholders on the recent killings and criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in the Southwest.

The former governor also called on political leaders to rise to quell the tension rising from the clash between herdsmen and residents of Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Herdsmen and Igangan residents clashed over the weekend after an activist Sunday Adeyemo alias Sunday Igboho arrived the town last Friday to forcefully eject herdsmen who have been accused of criminal activities.

Saraki in his statement on Sunday said the silence from major stakeholders means things are wrong, adding that he, for example, would be affected if an inter-tribal crisis springs up in the country.

“The deafening silence by key stakeholders, leaders and others who we think should speak out is worrisome. This silence is a dangerous tell-tale sign that things are wrong. This is not good for our country,” he said.

Read Also: Zamfara: I have never given vehicles to bandits – Gov. Matawalle

“We must all speak out and talk about the solutions to the twin-problems of insecurity and the threat to our national unity.”

“Let me use my case as an example of why this country should continue to grow as one united and progressive entity. I am of Fulani origin and have a Yoruba mother. My father was a Muslim and mother is Christian,” he said.

Saraki also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, National Assembly leaders and politicians to provide leadership.

“I appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to provide leadership. Mr President, take measures that will reassure all and sundry that you are working on the problems — in order to ensure that nobody loses interest in a united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria,” he said.

South-West governors are scheduled to meet leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria on Monday to resolve the crisis.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/herdsmen-silence-from-leaders-worrisome-bukola-saraki/

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The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has ordered the release of 12 convicts to mark the 2021 celebration of New Year.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by El-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye.

Adekeye said two convicts among the pardoned “were released on the grounds of age.”

He also said that the other ten pardoned convicts were serving sentences of three years and above, with six months or less to serve.

“Tunde Ikuenaya was imprisoned on November 16, 2017, for four years for criminal misappropriation, adding that he is 64 years old and he was expected to be released on March 16, 2021.’’

Read Also: COVID-19: Covenant University postpones resumption

“Ifeanyi Chiebuike Nweke, Mohammed Mamman Santare and Samaila Danjuma were convicted and sentenced at various times for culpable homicide,’’ the statement read.

Adekeye said the governor also commuted Joshua Yashim’s death sentence to life imprisonment, explaining that the convict was sentenced to death by hanging for culpable homicide on June 9, 2011.

“He has been in prison custody since 2007 when the offence was committed and has spent 13 years there. He did not appeal due to a lack of funds,” he said.

Next Read: Zulum writes NEMA on 800,000 IDPs in need of food »

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/el-rufai-pardons-prisoners-on-new-year-day/amp/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill of N13,588,027,886,175 into law.

His action followed the earlier passing of the bill by the National Assembly on Dec. 21 during an emergency session convened for the purpose of passing the budget.

This is also in line with the president’s promise to return the nation to the January to December Budget circle.

Meanwhile, the budget estimate was increased by the sum of N505, 607,317,942 from the estimate of N13, 082, 420, 568,233 presented to the joint sitting of National Assembly by President Buhari on Oct. 8, 2020.

The signed budget comprises the total Capital Supplementation of N1,060,751,051,650.

Read Also: Over 10m children in Nigeria, 6 others may face acute malnutrition in 2021, UNICEF warns

Statutory Transfer stands at N496,528,471,273; recurrent Expenditure of N5,641,970,060,680 and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 3.00 Per cent.

It also provides N3,324,380,000 trillion for debt servicing while N5,641,970,060,680 is for Recurrent Expenditure; and N4,125,149,354,222 for Capital Expenditure.

NAN reports that the president also signed the 2020 Finance Bill into law.

Those who witnessed the signing of the budget include the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Others at the Council Chamber were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, some cabinet ministers as well as few top government officials.

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/president-buhari-signs-2021-budget-of-n13-58-trillion/amp/

Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, opened up on the decisions he took during his time as the 13th Senate President of Nigeria.

Saraki said some of the decisions he took were in the interest of the country.

He was responding to a tweet by Dele Momodu, the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, who described him as one of the “most intelligent, courageous and urbane Leaders in Nigeria”.

Momodu also said, “Many now appreciate his unprecedented interventions in the 8th National Assembly.”

Responding, Saraki said the decisions taken by the Senate’s legislative body were never about a personal agenda.

In a series of tweets, the former Senate President recalled that when the 8th Senate summoned the former Inspector General of Police, IGP, and Security Chiefs, it was in the interest of Nigeria and not for personal issues.

Read Also: Nigerian govt suspends 100 passports of passengers who refused post arrival COVID-19 test – PTF

According to Saraki: “Thanks @DeleMomodu! Compliments of the season! As I used to emphasize during our conversations while I was President of the 8th Senate, many of the decisions we took, the positions we adopted, and the interventions we embarked on were in the interest of the nation.

“When we didn’t confirm certain appointees, it was because we did our due diligence.

“When we invited the IG and the security chiefs, it was because we wanted to find solutions to the issues of insecurity at the time. It was never about a personal agenda. It was always about Nigeria!”

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/why-we-didnt-confirm-some-of-buharis-appointees-saraki/amp/

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerian leaders to stop blaming God for the worsening insecurity, poor economy, poverty and other challenges confronting the nation.

Obasanjo stated this, yesterday, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, on his 2021 message to Nigerians.

On steps to recover the economy from recession, Obasanjo said, “we are not doing the right thing now. When we do the right thing, the economy will be what it should be.”

He said Nigeria was endowed such enormous resources that it should not have poor citizens or those who go to bed hungry.

Read Also: WhatsApp to stop working on some phones from January 1, 2021 {Full List}

“I like the motto of a school which says ‘work and pray’. Some people say it should be ‘pray and work’, but it doesn’t matter to me in what order I put it, but prayer must go with work and work must go with prayer. We do not have to blame God for our situation, we have to blame ourselves. Nigeria does not have to be poor; no Nigerian must go to bed hungry. That we have a situation like that is a choice by our leaders and followers alike. My prayer is that God will make the year 2021 a better year for all of us, but it will not happen without work. And I believe we need to work hard in this country as we pray hard so that the coming year, the year 2021 will be a glorious year for us. But it will not happen unless we work to make it happen.”

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/stop-blaming-god-for-nigerias-woes-obasanjo-tells-leaders/amp/

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Yemi Alade - Deceive (Official Video) ft. Rudeboy



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Lagos govt raises alarm over sale of fake COVID-19 certificate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to Financial Times’ report of Nigeria becoming a failed country under President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ruling party in a statement released by its caretaker committee secretary John Akpanudoedehe, insisted that the Buhari administration is “visibly and frontally” addressing Nigeria’s current challenges.

The APC described the report as “doomsday wishes” and further stated that the Buhari-led administration has displayed the political will and capacity to contain any criminal/terrorist activity and return the economy to growth.

Read Also: COVID-19: No crossover night, Osun govt insists

The statement read;



“While naysayers and opposition partisans chorus their doomsday wishes for Nigeria, our dear country is nowhere close to becoming a failed state.

“From the economy to security, it is easy to sum up Nigeria with some recent recorded security incidents and the economic downturn. However, this government has displayed the political will and capacity to contain any criminal/terrorist activity and return the economy to growth.

“President Buhari’s administration which sees the urgent need to have a better policing system for the country and is embarking on sweeping police reforms and supporting community policing, is definitely not governing a country close to becoming a failed state.

“Amid the COVID-19 induced economic slowdown, President Buhari’s administration which is stimulating the economy by preventing business collapse; supporting labour-intensive sectors such as agriculture; creating jobs through infrastructural investments in roads, rails, bridges; promoting manufacturing and local production at all levels to attain self-sufficiency in critical sectors of the economy, is definitely not governing a country close to becoming a failed state.

“Nigeria used to have an ignoble pastime when previous administrations will rather bury its head in sand and spin conspiracies in the face of insecurity and engage in voodoo economics to hoodwink Nigerians while national resources were stolen and diverted to political cronies.

“While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their hirelings engage in their unfortunate and apparently orchestrated attacks on the Armed Forces and other security services, the APC will rather support their efforts and charge them to do more to further degrade the capacity of terrorists and other criminal elements to attack soft targets.”

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/apc-to-financial-times-nigeria-is-nowhere-close-to-becoming-a-failed-state/amp/

The Director-General All Progressives Congress (APC) Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Moh. Lukman, has said that neither the Federal Government nor the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is blameless over the continued industrial action running into nine months now.

In a statement he issued in Abuja, titled ‘ASUU and indeterminate power struggle –The Boko Haram logic’, he claimed that there is no ideological difference between ASUU and Boko Haram terrorists, frowning at the nine months ASUU strike.

The PGF DG further noted that as far as ASUU–FG agreement is concerned, Nigerian public university education, and by extension, the whole education system is in a state of perpetual flux.

According to him; “Many respected Nigerian academics have publicly celebrated the point that ASUU has never lost any struggle against the Nigerian government, whether military or civilian.

These are being said without any remorse or acknowledgement of the damage ASUU strikes has done to the Nigerian education system.

“That we are even thinking that closure of universities and our schools can produce any form of victory with reference to any form of outcome demonstrate our nasty state of mind, which brings us closer to the Hobbesian reality that civilisation would have long resolved.

“How can anyone with a child whose dream and aspiration should include being educated, celebrate in any form the closure of schools? What difference is such logic from the Boko Haram objective of abolishing western education?

“It is very sad that it is common knowledge now that in the last 21 years, ASUU was on strike for a record period of more than four years. Worse still is the fact that we have people who claimed to be public intellectuals that present such a reprehensible scorecard and by any standard a scandalous credential as achievement is sickening.

“At this rate, we may as well accept that Boko Haram terrorists are also public intellectuals. In any event, who is a public intellectual? Aren’t Boko Haram terrorists engaged in critical thinking, research and reflections? If their mission is to abolish western education, how farther away from that mission is the activity of any group that cause the closure of our universities for nine months in one academic calendar?

“If our universities are closed for nine months, what does that mean to the remainder of the education system? Assuming that secondary students are able to pass their exams, will they gain admission into universities? Where will space come from when existing students have not graduated?

“Like my friend and Comrade, Chido Unomah would probably deduce, “we are all Boko Haram”, we can go ahead to make all the deductions, the result is clear gradual closure of western education in Nigeria. However selfish we want to be even as airbrushed portraits of individuals thinking only about our material gains, we must try to reawaken our patriotic sense of duty as products of an education system that was never interrupted for one day in our formative stages.

“Maybe the story is different for younger Nigerians, but every Nigerian that went to school between the 1960s and 80s would attest to the fact that there was hardly any strike at all levels of the Nigerian education system, even for one day. This is not because everything was working.

“In fact, between 1981 and 1983, in the case of primary school teachers, there were periods of non-payment of salaries running into months. Most of the academic disruptions in our universities and tertiary levels around this period were as a result of students’ protests largely demanding for better welfare conditions for students.

“No need to go into a long excursion of records and dynamics of academic disruptions due to students’ protests in Nigeria. The dynamics and relationship of those protests with challenges of developing the Nigerian educational system is a different matter entirely. One can however say, without fear of any contradiction that protests and strikes were the last resort.

Read Also: COVID-19: Wike to impose fresh lockdown on Rivers

“This is hardly the case in the present reality facing us as a nation. It is almost impossible to cite any country in the world with a pathetic record of the strike in universities for nine months in one academic calendar. As Nigerians, we should be ashamed and traumatised. We must all be worried, concerned and committed to resolving this problem permanently.

“This is where if we have public intellectuals at all in Nigeria, we must mobilise them to come up with proposals. Often, part of our failure is to attempt to make proposals based on assessments of who is right and who is wrong. At this point, it is important for everyone to take responsibility. Nobody is right and everyone is wrong. Neither ASUU nor FG is right. Both ASUU and FG are wrong. The best way to demonstrate this is with reference to the agreement that ASUU members are celebrating.

“Part of it includes the release of N40 billion Earned Academic Allowances and another N30 billion revitalisation fund. There are other unresolved issues, which include the demand for the replacement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) with University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) and implementation of the FG-ASUU agreement of 2009 bordering on university autonomy and funding,” he noted.

Writing further, Lukman added: ” “It is clear that with reference to ASUU–FG agreement, Nigerian public university education, and by extension, the whole education system is in a state of “perpetual flux”. There will never be a ‘stable equilibrium’ and circumstances of negotiating challenges may continue to be ‘fortuitous’, with the possibility that anyone capable of muscling out the other party will succeed.

“It is no longer about the development of the Nigerian child. Both legal and theoretical evaluation of ASUU demands and the agreements reached would confirm that many of the issues demanded by ASUU and subsequently produced some agreements are outside employment contracts, which should have served as the jurisdictional scope for any collective bargaining negotiation,” he noted in the statement.

Next Read: Insecurity: We never apologised to Buhari for inviting him to NASS — Reps »

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/strike-ASUU-like-boko-haram-doing-damage-to-nations-educational-system-govs-forum/amp/

Chioma is having troubles with her mother-in-law. I know because she made it headline news on her social media page. She does not share her concerns with the other party in the nuptial contract or with a trained counsellor, but with aliens on social media who are sweating on the treadmill of their own problems and who have no understanding of the situational context.

Chioma wrote:‘’It has been uncomfortable living with my mother-in-law. She insists I do my husband’s laundry which I never did even while we were dating and in our first few years of marriage. My husband’s laundry has always been done by dry-cleaners. Beyond this, I feel policed in my own house; like I am working on eggshells. I do not know how to talk to my husband about it. Please I will appreciate your advice on how to deal with this problem. I will be reading comments.’’

Social media could end the marriage as we know it. It has become the stranger in the bed of matrimony. It is the third wheel on which some spouses unload their marital problems, but which most times complicate them. A husband goes on a philippic on social media on how women are unfaithful because he suspects his partner is cheating, and a wife flies ‘the men are scum’ trope because she suspects her spouse has a side chick – to the entertainment of strangers who do not give a hoot.

I recall the case of a certain man who went on a social media joyride, revealing lewd details of his wife. The marriage ended in divorce.

Read Also: Address insecurity, poverty, unemployment, PFN urges Nigerian Govt

I think marital differences become irreconcilable when social media is invited to bed. The internet never forgets. Really, we live in a society where marriage counsellors are mostly pastors without training and who lack the competence to advise anyone on marriage. Biblical prescriptions often counselled by pastors – of ‘’wife submit to your husband and husband love your wife’’ – are flawed and vacant of real-life solutions.

So, most people turn to social media to vent about their marital challenges and seek answers from strangers – without vicarious experience. But every marriage experience is unique. As faces are different, so are the problems. It is not one-size-fits-all. The prescriptions for marriage A could be lethal for marriage B. I believe every marriage must work out its own salvation, and in the event, peace becomes the Holy Grail in the union, there is the exit door which is as wide as the entry door. Marriage should not be a life sentence with hard labour. But fundamentally, salvaging it should be primary.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARRIAGE STATISTICS

Here is what Perspectives of Troy Counselling Centre, a counselling and mental health centre in the US, says on social media and marriage statistics.

‘’A recent study from Boston University revealed that non-social network users were 11.4% happier in their marriages than couples who frequently used social media. Heavy users were 32% more likely to contemplate leaving their spouse. The study also suggested a possible correlation between the number of Facebook users in a state and the divorce rates for the area. States with a higher increase of Facebook users showed a similar increase in divorce rates.

Another study in Great Britain showed that close to 25% of married couples argued at least once a week because of social media use, and 17% fought daily over something they found about their spouse online. 20% of respondents reported that they fought with their spouses on Facebook, and nearly half said they secretly logged into their spouse’s accounts.’’

As a matter of fact, social media removes from a union exclusivity – a key ingredient for a congenial relationship — when spouses elect to communicate their problems to amused aliens online instead of thrashing out issues with their partners. I read on Twitter on Saturday of a certain lady who was regaling her followers with details of incidents in her marriage to which she admitted her husband was absolutely unaware of. Communication is the lifeblood of a marriage. But when primary communication is relocated outside a relationship, the union becomes eviscerated of emotion.

Why should your spouse become aware of your challenge on social media – and it is not that you ever communicated it to him/her in any way before?

I spoke briefly to Marriage Matters International on social media use and marriage, and here is what the counselling centre says: ‘’I would advise couples not air their dirty linen in public, it is very unhealthy; it complicates the situation, rather they should share testimonies to encourage other couples. Couples should seek professional help if they are having challenges in their marriage.’’

Keep your marital business off social media. A wrecking marriage is salvageable with social media uninvited.

*Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist. Follow on Twitter @FredrickNwabufo

Next Read: Lagos shuts Landmark Event Centre, 11 others for violating COVID-19 protocols »

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/opinion-social-media-could-end-marriage-as-we-know-it-by-fredrick-nwabufo/amp/

The World Health Organisation, WHO, has warned that COVID-19 (coronavirus) would not be the last pandemic in the world.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, gave the warning in a video released to mark the first-ever International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on Sunday.

“History tells us that this won’t be the last pandemic and epidemics are a fact of life,” Ghebreyesus said.

Ghebreyesus said that better investment in public health supported by governments and society could “ensure that our children and their children inherit a safer, more resilient and more sustainable world.”

Read Also: We don’t understand why COVID-19 numbers have not been as high as predicted in Africa – Bill Gates

He added that the coronavirus turned the world “upside-down” over the past twelve months with far-reaching consequences for societies and economies.

The WHO chief, however, said the pandemic itself was not a surprise, especially since warnings of such a possibility, and of the world’s unpreparedness, had been issued many times over the years.

“We must all learn the lessons the pandemic is teaching us,” Ghebreyesus said.

“This includes investment in preparedness capacities not just in the health sector but rather an ‘all-of-government and all of the social approach.’

“The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and planets, which require a common approach,” Ghebreyesus said.

Next Read: Address insecurity, poverty, unemployment, PFN urges Nigerian Govt »

Source:https://oak.tv/newstrack/who-warns-covid-19-pandemic-wont-be-the-last/amp/

We don’t understand why COVID-19 numbers have not been as high as predicted in Africa – Bill Gates

Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), has said that he does not understand why coronavirus numbers have not been as high as predicted in Africa.

Recall that Gates and his wife, Melinda had in more than one occasion, warned that there will be dead bodies all over the streets of Africa if the world does not act fast enough.

Melinda said her heart was in Africa, adding that she is worried that the continent might not be able to handle the devastating effect of the virus.

But in his end of the year note, Bill said he was happy his prediction about Africa has not happened, “One thing I’m happy to have been wrong about—at least, I hope I was wrong—is my fear that COVID-19 would run rampant in low-income countries. So far, this hasn’t been true,” he wrote.

Read Also: Buhari condoles NMA over 20 doctors killed by COVID-19

In most of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, case rates and death rates remain much lower than in the U.S. or Europe and on par with New Zealand, which has received so much attention for its handling of the virus.

“The hardest-hit country on the continent is South Africa—but even there, the case rate is 40 per cent lower than in the U.S., and the death rate is nearly 50 per cent lower.

“We don’t have enough data yet to understand why the numbers aren’t as high as I worried they would get — but gave probable reasons Africa was not as affected as expected.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria is currently fighting the second wave of the coronavirus.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had last week announced a second wave of the dreaded virus.

The Federal Government on Tuesday directed civil servants from grade level 12 and below to stay at home.

They are to remain at home for five weeks following the second wave of the COVID-19 disease in Nigeria.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Friday stated that COVID-19 related deaths now stands at 1,246.

Nigeria currently has a total of 82,747 confirmed cases in the country.

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/we-dont-understand-why-covid-19-numbers-have-not-been-as-high-as-predicted-in-africa-bill-gates/amp/

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is expected to give emergency approval for COVID-19 vaccines once they arrive in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye, said this during an interview with journalists on Friday.

Adeyeye said NAFDAC would be doing something called, “Emergency Use Authorisation.”

She said the agency had been in contact with Pfizer since May and had already received a preliminary report which would guide NAFDAC’s decision.

Adeyeye explained that vaccines that had been approved by reliable bodies like the United States Food and Drug Administration could easily pass the test in Nigeria but that was not to say that NAFDAC would not be doing its own independent examination.

The NAFDAC boss said, “Any vaccine that will be used in Nigeria must go through NAFDAC. It will be an accelerated approval because we will use what is called reliance. Reliance mechanism means that if a strong regulatory agency like the FDA or European Medicine Agency has approved it (the vaccine), we will go through their approval.

“For example, we are going through the EMA approval of Pfizer now. We are doing this in readiness of when they (Pfizer) will submit their own application. So, we have started doing our own work before they approve the application. We are already in touch with them.

“Pfizer visited us in May and we told them to continue doing what they are doing and when they get to Phase 3, they can submit their own application. But because of this reliance, it will make it very fast for approval. We have asked Pfizer to send it since it has been approved in the US and some other regulatory agencies. It will not take time at all. Reliance means you rely on what another strong agency has done.”

Asked how long it would take for NAFDAC to give final approval, Adeyeye said she would not want to be pre-emptive adding that it would not take long at all.

She said there could be unforeseen problems if, for instance, Pfizer failed to send its complete paperwork, explaining that if there were no hitches, the vaccine would be approved in record time.

“We don’t expect it to be long at all. But again, it depends on what we have. That is if they have the same papers that they submitted to other regulatory agencies. If what is submitted to NAFDAC is different from what was submitted to the FDA, it will take longer because we will need to ask questions.

“Hopefully that will not happen. It will be an expedited review. NAFDAC is doing EUA which means Emergency Use Authorisation. So, it is not as if they are coming to register a product but it will still need approval. It is not as if immediately the vaccines are brought, we would tell people to start using it the next day. We will do a desk review,” she said.

Also speaking with our correspondent, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, noted that the government would rely on NAFDAC for approval before the vaccines would be used.

On when the N400bn budget for the procurement and distribution of vaccines would be submitted to the National Assembly, Mamora said it would be next year.

He said the figures were still being collated, adding that it cuts across different ministries. He also said the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, would be in charge of the vaccines.

The minister said this was the reason the President extended the tenure of the task force.

He said, “We have not yet submitted the budget. We are still putting estimates together and nothing has been finalised. It will be ready early next year. It is not just the Ministry of Health. The President has handed management of the vaccines to the PTF. That was why the President extended the tenure of the PTF till the end of the first quarter next year when we would have started vaccine procurement and administration.”

On whether Nigerians would be forced to take the vaccine, Mamora said there was no such plan. He, however, said there was a need to educate Nigerians on the importance of the vaccines because some people had already started rejecting them.

On when the vaccines would be ready for use, Mamora said, “I think it depends on the assessment report provided by NAFDAC; if favourable and recommended, the Federal Government may approve emergency use authorisation.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Federal Government’s COVID-19 response may hit N1tn by next year.

The President had in April approved N500bn for the COVID-19 response in the supplementary budget which was approved by the National Assembly.

It was learnt that if the N400bn is approved by the National Assembly next month, this would imply that about N900bn would be spent on the pandemic.

This is apart from the sum that several states have individually spent on prevention and treatment of COVID-19 vaccines as well as intervention programmes.

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/nafdac-to-give-emergency-approval-for-n400bn-covid-19-vaccines/amp/

Obasanjo shows dancing steps at son's wedding


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJG6sSmw_Mk

Mother of the assaulted student of Deeper Life High School alleges threat to life


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KqB9kP4T6I

See more: https:///2Qw2lWC
Get more update: https:///3jxBV0j

Armed bandits sneaked into the Galadimawa Market, in Giwa local government area of Kaduna State, and killed two vigilantes, five others.

330 bags of maize were also burnt by the bandits.

According to Samuel Aruwan, the state’s Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the tragic incident happened at about 4 pm on Wednesday evening.

A statement released by Aruwan on Thursday identified the two vigilantes killed as Yusuf Magaji Iyatawa
and Dabo Bafillace.

While running for safety, the five citizens killed include:
1. Danjuma Haladu
2. Shuaibu Isyaku
3. Isyaku Adamu
4. Shehu Dalhatu
5. Musa Haruna Kerawa

A commercial trailer driver, one Alhaji Yusuf Tumburku who had just loaded 330 bags of maize belonging to a trader, Alhaji Hamza Ungwan Lalle Giwa, also had his vehicle and the grains burnt to ashes.

Read Also: Nollywood movie producer, Chico Ejiro is dead

One other car was also burnt by the armed bandits.

However, Aruwan noted that security agencies comprising the police and troops gave the armed bandits a hot pursuit while they escaped out of the general area.

He added that the ground troops are still carrying out clearance operations in the Galadimawa and Kidandan general areas.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sent condolences to the families that lost their loved ones and commended the military and police for neutralizing some of the armed bandits.

The Governor charged locals in the Galadimawa and Kidandan general areas of Giwa local government to continue to volunteer useful information to the government and security agencies.

See more: https:///2Qw2lWC
Get more update: https:///3jxBV0j

Source: https://oak.tv/newstrack/bandits-open-fire-on-traders-at-kaduna-community-market-kill-7/amp/

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"Be thankful to Buhari for fighting insecurity, Presidency tells Nigerians"
https://oak.tv/newstrack/be-thankful-to-buhari-for-fighting-insecurity-presidency-tells-nigerians/amp/

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has announced that Nigeria would soon start manufacturing its vaccines.

The Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed that achieving the ISO 9001 in June 2019, which is the world’s most recognised Quality Management System (QMS) standard kept Nigeria in good standing to strive to get to the maturity level three which enables manufacturing of its own vaccines.

Adeyeye noted that the agency is leveraging technology to trace vaccines, especially when the COVID-19 vaccines arrive in the country.

Speaking during the NAFDAC’s Staff Award Ceremony, she explained that this will enable the agency track and trace vaccines received by patients to ensure that they are safe and monitored for adverse reactions on patients.

Read Also: Kankara abduction not stage-managed – Nigerian Govt @https:///2Qw2lWC

“With regards to the establishment of the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) global benchmarking and adoption of international best practices, we want to get to the maturity level three so that Nigeria can manufacture her own vaccines and we are all working on this every day,” she said.

Adeyeye added that the agency’s laboratories were being upgraded to international standards using equipment that were compliant to ISO 17025.

“Our laboratories are changing very rapidly with improvements in new equipment and supplies.

“Our four laboratories that were accredited before I came have received re-accreditation. We have also gotten a new lab – the Yaba Biologies and Vaccines Lab accredited for the first time. Also, our two other labs will be accredited very soon,” she added.

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration to speed up the prosecution of terrorists and bandits in the country to send a strong message to them.

Abubakar stated this while reacting to the recent attack on the convoy of Emir of Kaura Namoda, Sanusi Muhammad in Zamfara state.

Atiku said the killing of innocent people on a daily basis is embarrassing and should be contained before the outlaws get total control of our lives.

Eight people, including three police officers, were killed when the gunmen attacked the emir’s convoy on his way back from Abuja on Thursday.

The former vice-president described the insecurity as “worrisome”, saying the federal government’s response should be tougher.

“Condemnation of attacks is not enough to reassure citizens who are constantly living in fear,” he said in a statement.

“The government should speed up the prosecution of terrorists and bandits in order to send a strong message to these outlaws that there are consequences for the willful taking of life.

“The frequency and ease with which the bandits are killing innocent people almost on a daily basis is embarrassing and should be halted lest outlaws are allowed to rule over affairs.

“Atiku commiserates with the families of all those who may have lost a dear one, Emir Muhammad Asha, the Kaura Namoda Emirate Council and the government and people of Zamfara State over the tragedy.”

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Gbajabiamila, PDP Minority leader engage in a heated argument over multiple defections by lawmakers


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K118F8h5wE0

Moment protesting physically challenged persons angrily beat-up National Assembly security agent


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvxZnVlHdoY

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Here's a full video of PDP Rep members challenging the Attorney General of the Federation for declining the invitation of the President over insecurity.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XbHjUmme44

Bello Matawalle, the Governor of Zamfara, has revealed that the Fulani apex socio-cultural organisation, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, negotiated the release of the 344 schoolboys who were abducted from Katsina on Friday.

The boys, who were kidnapped from the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State, on December 11 and ferried to a forest in the state were released on Thursday with no ransom reportedly paid.

Matawalle told Daily Nigerian that the state was able to secure their release through the help of MACBAN and repentant bandits.

Despite claims by the Boko Haram insurgents that they kidnapped the boys, Matawalle, who is an opposition governor, told Daily Nigerian that “nothing like Boko Haram in this abduction, the bandits did it.”

The Governor revealed that Miyetti Allah leadership and some repentant bandits were employed by the state government to establish contact with the abductors of the students before pleading for their release.

“When we established contact with them, I persuaded them to release them unharmed. And so they did tonight,” the governor reportedly said.

“This is not the first time we facilitated the release of our people without payment of ransom. Ask anybody, we don’t pay bandits a dime. What we do is to extend an olive branch to them because they also want to live in peace.

“As I speak to you, they are on their way to Tsafe, from where they will come to Gusau and sleep. They will begin their journey to Katsina tomorrow morning.”

Recall the students were kidnapped from their school on Friday.

Their release was, however, confirmed by the Katsina State government on Thursday night.

Welcoming their release, Ezekwesili said Nigeria is not being governed and shows characteristics of a failed state.

[img]https://oak.tv/newstrack/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/olusegun_OBASANJO2-700x741-1-696x737.jpg[/img]

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said the country needs leadership that will get everybody to work towards solving the myriad of socio-economic and political challenges besetting the nation’s progress.

The ex-president made the disclosure when he spoke with journalists shortly after he visited Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State at Agodi, Ibadan, yesterday.

Obasanjo, who did not specifically mention 2023 general election, said he was in Ibadan to pay a belated condolence visit on Makinde over the demise of his mother and to attend a book launch in honour of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu.

“There are many challenges in Nigeria today. There are challenges of security, economy, and political stability among others. These challenges are not really new, except that they have taken a different dimension. But human challenges are meant to be solved or overcome by human beings, which means that all hands should be on deck.


“I believe that the most important aspect of dealing with all the challenges we have is: one, leadership; two, coming together, that is, all hands being on deck. We all have to come together. But then, there must be leadership to get everybody to work.”

On calls for the sack of service chiefs to tackle insecurity issues in the country, Obasanjo simply responded: “I did not appoint security chiefs, how can I ask that they be sacked?”

When pressed to give his ‘fatherly’ advice to President Muhammadu Buhari on how best to tackle insecurity in the nation, Obasanjo: “If I have a fatherly advice for the security chiefs, I will not give them through the media.”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbNWL4EomHE

Just In: Physically challenged Nigerians protest inside the National Assembly, accuse lawmakers of neglecting them.

Details Later.

[img]https://scontent.fabv4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p180x540/131538356_1548084255390505_7803545421654748927_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_eui2=AeHnri7iMVawzsavFjJkVx6rc0iEwnorOwhzSITCeis7CJrNnqtUeyBuZgFnbzJQBfXdMxCkAwAJJfeIzrohyZFR&_nc_ohc=a9aLbAhTi1QAX_Nn9rc&_nc_ht=scontent.fabv4-1.fna&tp=6&oh=8dcd9734b9fd90e1be2d6ff6b3af5ece&oe=60024DCB[/img]

Here is a video of how Ali Ndume tackles the senate president and every member of the 9th assembly. He called them to the remembrance of God's judgment if they fail to protect the lives of Nigerian citizens. He spoke at length and commanded the silence of the floor.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNCE_0AftkI

Moment Senate swore-in former Bayelsa governor, Seriake Dickson, 3 others as 9th Assembly Senators

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYogFNNy6lo

[img][/img]
A 16-year-old pupil of Angus Memorial Senior High School, Jemimah Marcus, will become a one-day governor in Lagos on a date yet-to-be-announced.

Marcus achieved the feat after she won the Lagos State Spelling Bee competition on Tuesday.

Marcus emerged winner after a fierce battle with other students which include Ajose Sotin of Topo Senior Grammar School, Badagry, and Rhema Edeh of Denton Junior Grammar School, Ebute-Metta.

While Marcus was presented with a cash sum of N250,000, Ajose and Remah were given N 150,000 and N100,000 as first runner-up and the second runner-up respectively.

Read Also: Katsina Abduction: Okonjo-Iweala charges FG to rescue schoolboys @ https:///3oXk71B

Congratulating the pupils, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, where the grand finale took place, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, advised them to commit more energy and time to their studies.

She said, “As it is the practice, the one-day governor will be awarded the Lagos State Government’s scholarship to pursue any course of his or her interest in any university in the country. He/she and the ‘cabinet’ will also attend various cultural exchange programmes.”

Adefisayo thanked the New Era Foundation, pioneered by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for initiating the competition.

The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, commended the pupils for their resilience.

This is very great

PopSmoke:

The House of Representatives has ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend to ten weeks the timeframe given to telecommunications operators to update sim registration records with valid National Identification Number (NIN).

The resolution was reached during Wednesday plenary, following a matter of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP).

Recall that the NCC had given telecommunications operators (MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9Mobile and other network providers) two weeks ultimatum, until the 30th December 2020 to block all SIM cards that are not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN).

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