The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Lilian Salami, on Wednesday, says the school management is ready to resume academic activities in a safe and secure manner.
Professor Salami said the university management will ensure strict compliance to COVID-19 protocols to protect students and members of staff from being exposed to coronavirus infections.
The vice-chancellor in an interview with journalists, said some of the students have started issuing threats to beat up lecturers should the closure of public universities persists, adding that students of public universities have been at home since March 2020 when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began a nine-month- strike.
The union however, conditionally suspended the industrial action on December 24, 2020, after a lot of countless meetings by lecturers and the Federal Government.
But ASUU has insisted that it is not safe for lecturers and students to return to classrooms as it cannot guarantee social distancing in crowded classes and congested hostels. #
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, says the State Government has activated an Oxygen Plant within the premises of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba to provide swift support to COVID-19 patients who require oxygen therapy.
He said this was as a result of an increase in the number of coronavirus patients having breathing difficulties in the state.
The Commissioner added that the operation of the plant will significantly make oxygen available for COVID19 patients and supply about 300 cylinders per day and six cylinders per hour for use of patients admitted at the isolation facility.
Abayomi disclosed that about 300 cylinders of gas are being used a day in the State isolation facility, stressing that a patient with a critical case may use about six cylinders of oxygen within 24 hours.
He explained that oxygen plants are industrial devices designed for regular supply into healthcare facilities adding that the plants separate oxygen from other air components by using pressure swing adsorption or membrane separation techniques.
The Commissioner averred that high purity oxygen is needed in healthcare facilities and essential for patients undergoing COVID treatments.
Ann on cam:
Many Nigerians have been reacting to the strike embarked by the officials of the National Identity Management Commission {NIMC} over poor funding by the federal government.
Correspondent Obi Chibueze went to the street to get the reactions of Abuja residents to the strike.
Track up……………..
Ann on cam:
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a non-governmental organization, has called for the total overhaul of the Ministry of culture and a legal framework to back up the preservation of the Nigerian African culture.
Condemning a recent post by Amnesty International’s goals published on its Facebook account, which includes; making same-sex relations legal in all countries, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers urged the federal government to safeguard the country against abuse of the nation’s cultures and also Protect, preserve and promote those cultures which is capable of enhancing human dignity.
Ann on cam:
Indigenes of Achi comunities resident in Enugu, the Enugu state capital, have extolled the Chief Executive Officer of Signature Communication Limited, Vinmartin Obiora Ilo for creating a bond of friendship amongst the people of Achi Community and the state at large.
The indigenes spoke at the end of the year party hosted by the Signature Communication boss in Enugu, the Enugu state capital.
In business
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it is currently diversifying its portfolio beyond oil assets due to the impact of global energy transition.
The Group Managing Director, NNPC Mele Kyari, made this known on Wednesday while speaking at the Gulf Intelligence “Global” UAE Energy Forum 2021.
According to him, the NNPC has recognized the impact of energy transition and is venturing into domestic gas utilization projects, support of research and innovation, solar investments, biofuels, infrastructure and energy policy support.
Kyari also said in spite of COVID-19 pandemic, NNPC group will continue to focus on increasing gas production, deepening the domestic utilization of gas, increasing the corporation’s capacity to export gas and investing in non-oil and gas businesses.
#
The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Alhaji Garba Abubakar, has said the organization gathered in more than Nineteen billion Naira as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) last year.
Abubakar made this known in an interview the media on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic that affected economic activities, the commission recorded an increase in the registration of businesses and other corporate entities during the year.
He also said the year 2020 was one of the organization’s best years in terms of revenue generation as the commission had a revenue target of eighteen point two billion Naira, but generated over Nineteen billion Naira, adding that it is the first time in the last 10 years, the commission was able to give more money to the Federal Government in terms of operation surplus. #
THE STOCK MARKET REPORT
A spike in the share prices of Mobil oil plc, and 49 others, lifted the market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by Twenty-Three Point Five -Eight -Three billion naira on Wednesday.
The market Capitalization rose from Twenty-One Point Six -Nine Trillion naira, To Twenty-One Point Nine- Three, A Twenty-Three Point Five- Eight- Three Billion naira gain.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) expanded to Forty Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty -One Point Zero Five points on Wednesday, from Forty Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Point Nine –Five points at the close of trading on Tuesday. This was a Zero Point One-One percent rise.
Four Hundred and Sixty-Eight Point One- Four-Six Million shares were traded, which was valued at Six Point Nine-Six- Three Billion naira.
VERITAS CAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC, SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE, X- ACADEMY PLC, dominated the gainers’ chart, while CHELLARAM PLC was on top of the losers’ side.
On the chart of the most traded equities, ZENITH BANK AND GUARANTY TRUST BANK dominated the chart.
Zenith bank traded Forty-Five Point Seven –Seven –Two Million shares, valued at One Point One- -Eight –Five Billion Naira, while GUARANTY TRUST BANK traded Eighteen Point Two-Four-Seven shares valued at Five Hundred and Ninety-Two Point Six-Eight-Four Million Naira.
AND ON THE FOREIGN SCENE
President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated former ambassador Samantha Power, a forceful advocate of humanitarian diplomacy, to lead U.S foreign aid and elevated the position’s role.
Power, if confirmed as administrator of the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), would sit on the National Security Council along with John Kerry, the former secretary of state tapped as climate envoy for the first time giving such prominence to the two issues.
Power would be the best-known figure ever to lead USAID, a new indication that Biden plans to put a focus on overseas assistance, which Secretary of State-nominee Antony Blinken has said will be at the center of America’s foreign policy
A former war correspondent born in Ireland, Power won the Pulitzer Prize for her 2002 book, A Problem from Hell, in which she critiques the United States’ reluctance to label and prevent genocide around the world.
Power, 50, was an early supporter of Barack Obama who in his second term as president made her United States ambassador to the United Nations. #
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday tasked officials with launching mass coronavirus vaccinations from next week, pushing Russia’s homemade jab as the world’s best.
After being the first country to register a vaccine for use, Russia is looking to leap ahead of other countries in the race to inoculate its population of 146 million.
Russia in August registered Sputnik V — named after the Soviet-era satellite — months ahead of Western competitors but before the start of large-scale clinical trials, which left some experts wary.
Putin said Russia should “get relevant infrastructure ready” to boost production of the vaccine, which Moscow is promoting to other countries as cheaper and easier to transport than other jabs.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told Putin during the meeting that Russia was ready to launch the mass vaccination from Monday. #
In sports
Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the 2020/2021 English Premier League (EPL) after Paul Pogba goal gave them a 1-0 win over Burnley on Tuesday.
The victory, in the re-arranged fixture at Turf Moor, put Manchester United on 36 points from 17 games with rivals Liverpool on 33 points.
This has come ahead of the clash between Liverpool and Manchester United on Sunday at Anfield.
It is the first time Manchester United have been top of the league after 17 games, since December 2012. #
The second wave of COVID 19 is projected to go up at this time of the year, please do well to stay safe, maintain physical and social distance and wear your face masks whilst going about your daily activities.
