Five rescued from China building collapse
Five people were rescued from a collapsed building in China, authorities said Saturday after emergency teams overnight clawed through the rubble of a structure that housed a cinema and guesthouse. Authorities are yet to reveal how many people they believe are still buried underneath the six-storey building, which caved in on Friday afternoon in central Changsha city. No casualties have been reported so far, but an announcement by Changsha said that “search and rescue work is still urgently underway”. Building collapses are not uncommon in China, due to weak safety standards and corruption among officials tasked with enforcement. In January, an explosion triggered by a suspected gas leak brought down a building in the city of Chongqing, killing more than a dozen people.
Source:Punch
April 30, 2022 10:43 UTC
Boehly consortium emerges preferred bidder for Chelsea -Report
A consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly will be named as the preferred bidder to buy Chelsea, according to British media reports on Friday. The protracted bidding process is now believed to be close to a conclusion, with New York bank the Raine Group — handling the sale for Abramovich — reportedly picking Boehly’s group as the front runners. Boehly has united with fellow Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, British businessman Jonathan Goldstein, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and US investment firm Clearlake Capital in the consortium. Chelsea defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are both expected to leave on free transfers at the end of this season. Once the Raine Group selects a preferred bidder, the government must then grant a new licence to allow the sale to be completed.
Source:Punch
April 30, 2022 06:21 UTC
Police accuse Fani-Kayode’s ex-wife of attacking witnesses
Police authorities, on Friday, accused Miss Precious Chikwendu, the estranged wife of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode of threatening the lives of witnesses lined up in the alleged attempted murder charge against her. Chikwendu (2nd defendant) and three others were to be re-arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on a 14-count charge. According to the charge, the offence is punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015. Chikwendu was also alleged to have, through her Facebook page, referred to Fani-Kayode as “Mr Short Fuse,” on Dec. 7, 2021, among others. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan trainPolice accuse Fani-Kayode’s ex-wife of attacking witnesses
Source:Nigerian Tribune
April 30, 2022 06:05 UTC
FG announces preferred bidders for highway concession
The Federal Government has announced preferred bidders for the Nigeria Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) concession programme. The government said the move is with a view to propelling rapid economic development and growth through the haulage of passengers and goods. Sources familiar with the HDMI programme confirm that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) have commenced notification of preferred bidders for the programme. “In doing that, the Commission provided PPP pre-contract regulatory guidance to the Federal Ministry of Works for the bid documents,” he said. This initiative attracts a broad range of civil engineering and construction companies and, for the first time, major infrastructure development finance corporations – specifically the AFC and Africa Plus Partners.
Source:The Guardian
April 30, 2022 03:18 UTC
Nigeria’s online delivery start-up launches AMATnow in Turkey
Nigeria’s logistics start-up has launched a new logistics service and online delivery app, AMATNow, in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded by Babajide Owolodun, the AMATNow platform aims to enable seamless interaction between buyers and sellers of African groceries, meals, essential products, and other deliverables. With AMATNow, users can now find the ‘one-stop solution’ to source and deliver African-themed meals, groceries, and household essentials within Istanbul. The AMATNow app is available for both iOS and Android users to download on the mobile app store. The three-tier categories of users, sellers, and riders have the option to register using their email ID.
Source:The Guardian
April 30, 2022 03:00 UTC
206 team to participate as Gov Diri football tournament begins
206 football teams across the eight local government areas have registered for the 2022 edition of Governor Douye Diri football tournament. He, also, announced cash reward for the state’s contingent at the just concluded first ever National Para Games, where the state came tops with 93 medals. Daniel Igali, said the state currently has the largest grassroots football tournament in Nigeria, which was due to the revolution going on in the state. “We currently have the largest grassroots football tournament in Nigeria. On his part, Director General, The Prosperity Cup, Mr. Ono Akpe, noted that the tournament has proven to be the country’s largest football competition, since it’s inception in 2015, and it’s gains are overwhelming.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
April 30, 2022 02:13 UTC
Nnamdi Kanu’s medical condition deteriorating – Lawyer
Ejiofor disclosed this in a statement issued after the routine visit to the DSS Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. He said, “Unfortunately, it is utterly disheartening to note that up until the time of our visit today, Kanu has not been handed those clothes for a change. “Despite clear and unequivocal directive from His Lordship to the DSS’ lawyer to ensure that the court order is obeyed, the DSS in their usual style roundly ignored and treated it with utmost disdain, as they are yet to comply with this recurrent court order, requiring Kanu’s change of clothing. “We were also, reliably informed by Kanu that his meals are no longer served regularly. Kanu barely eats once in a day, and this situation is not helping his deteriorating medical condition.”Copyright PUNCHAll rights reserved.
Source:Punch
April 29, 2022 17:56 UTC
NNPP blessed with people to drive new Nigeria agenda – Kwankwaso
A former Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said his new political party, the New Nigeria People’s Party, is ready to effect a change where every Nigeria will be treated based on merit and not on ethnic groups they belong to or religious affiliation. Kwankwaso, who said this at the residence of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Thursday, said the party was blessed with ideas and people to drive the agenda of a new Nigeria. He hailed Oba Balogun for his contributions to the country’s political development since his entry into the game in 1983 when Oba Balogun contested the old Oyo State governorship election under the banner of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party after defecting from the Peoples Redemption Party. He said, “The expected change can only be effected through our votes which our PVCs would enable us to do. “Everybody is quite aware of what is going on in the state which doesn’t make people happy.
Source:Punch
April 29, 2022 17:09 UTC
Absconded Army weapon trainer arrested for joining ISWAP kills self
Jubril, a weapon instructor at the Army Battalion in Gaidam, was said to have been suspected by his colleagues following his absence from duty. A source said his phone was tracked and it was established he was conspiring with ISWAP terrorists. The source said, “His colleagues began to suspect him when he went missing from duty for two days. Some of his colleagues also said they saw him among the terrorists who attacked two separate local joints in Gaidam. The investigation will also look into his accomplices.”A news website, PRNigeria, while quoting a military source said some civilian collaborators had been arrested.
Source:Punch
April 29, 2022 13:18 UTC
Whereabouts of 45-year-old Okonkwo arrested by Anambra Police remain unknown
The 45-year-old was picked up at Unizik junction park by the police and was later paraded with other suspects by the state’s Commissioner of Police Mr. Echen Echen. “On several occasions, the police PRO directed us to Awkuzu SARS and we were all the time denied access. Our lawyer petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Echen Echen, on April 6 2022, but we never got any response from him. “At first, the PRO, Mr. Ikenga, directed us to Awkuzu SARS, where we spent so much time looking for him there and never saw him. Contacted on phone, spokesperson for Anambra State Police Command, Toochukwu Ikenga, dropped the call on hearing the man’s name.
Source:The Guardian
April 29, 2022 10:16 UTC
Two killed in six-vehicle accident in Lagos | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Two people have been confirmed dead following multiple crashes involving four vehicles in Lagos. The multiple crashes occurred at Odo lya Alaro located on the bridge linking Maryland and Ojota, Ikorodu Road, Lagos. “The male adult was handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) at the scene, while the female was taken by her immediate family. “Several persons were also injured and taken to nearby hospitals by the FRSC ambulance and the Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the following responders were at the scene of the incident: the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), NEMA, LASTMA, FRSC, LASAMBUS and the Nigeria Police Force.
Source:The Guardian
April 29, 2022 09:57 UTC
Lagos as game changer in tech businesses | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (Statement made at the launch of Mainone/MDXI new Data Centre). He pledged that his administration would continue to support and design policies to help in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Lagos State. We are also a leading global city in e-commerce and retail technology, transportation technology and education technology, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index. Efforts such as the public-private partnership catalysed by Lagos State government will eventually produce more of the Philip Emeagwalis, the Silas Adekunles, Saheed Adepojus, Ndubuisi Ekekwes, Cyprian Emeka Uzohs, Yemi Adesokans and Brino Gilberts. What is required is for the government to provide the enabling environment to identify and hone our talents.
Source:The Guardian
April 29, 2022 09:29 UTC
Zenith records 22% growth in Q1 | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31st March 2022, with a growth of 22 per cent in Gross Earnings from N157.3 billion reported in Q1 2021 to N191.5 billion in Q1 2022. Profit after tax also grew by 10 per cent, from N53.06 billion to N58.19 billion over the same period. The growth in the topline arose from both interest income and non-interest income. Interest income grew by 25 per cent, from N101.12 billion in Q1 2021 to N126.38 billion in Q1 2022, while non-interest income grew by 12 per cent, from N51.20 billion to N57.23 billion. Total assets grew by nine per cent from N9.45 trillion to N10.32 trillion in 2022, mainly driven by growth in customers’ deposits.
Source:The Guardian
April 29, 2022 04:47 UTC
Efforts to restart local manufacture of vaccines suffer setbacks | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
The Guardian investigation revealed that the firm floated to achieve this target, Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, has yet to complete building the state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility needed for the vaccines. The Federal Government had in 2017 inaugurated an initiative to begin local production of essential vaccines. Agwale said Innovative Biotech will manufacture vaccines in Nigeria, and the vaccines will be sold on the continent for local consumption. Adeyeye, who is also a pharmacist, said Nigeria is upbeat about manufacturing of local vaccines because NAFDAC had achieved Maturity Level 3. Regarding the production of the vaccines, Adeyeye said: “Yes, we are working on local manufacture of vaccines.
Source:The Guardian
April 29, 2022 04:46 UTC
‘Conversation with Eid-Fitr’ | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
Welcome to hours of happiness and laughter; hours in which we manifest feelings of brotherhood, hours in which we fulfill oaths and pledges. Thus the day of ‘Id is the day of clothes; the day of loving mothers and caring fathers. The ‘Id day is that day in which sweet drinks and food taste better than other days. They would taste better simply because they would be welcomed by that ‘canine community’ which had gone on leave from tasting the unlawful during the past one month. How would the food and drinks not taste better when the soul had gone through the furnace of spiritual re-awakening.
Source:The Guardian
April 29, 2022 04:46 UTC