Author: NewsDesk

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that more districts are at risk amid the ongoing cholera outbreak in the southeastern part of Ethiopia. The cholera outbreak is currently active in 23 localities of three districts of the Bale zone in the Oromia region, as well as in nine localities in one district of the Liban zone in the Somali region, the UNOCHA said. It said in its latest situation update that the figures indicated that as of October 25, some 273 cholera cases have been reported including nine deaths. It added that suspected cases in…

The Federal Government has called on the United Nations (UN) to assist in addressing Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and Great Green Wall issues (GGW) to enable the restoration of lost lands in the country. The Minister of Environment, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, said this while receiving the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Amina Mohammed, on a courtesy visit, in Abuja on Monday. Abdullahi said that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the two major projects were implemented effectively, adding that the UN’s intervention would boost the ministry’s efforts. “There are two important projects for which we will need more…

Pep Guardiola said his forward players have to score more goals after ending a recent drought with a 5-0 thrashing of Burnley to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League. Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick, while Benjamin Mendy and Ferran Torres bagged their first Premier League goals as City eased to within six points of league leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. Guardiola’s men had scored just seven goals in their previous seven league games to slip to 14th in the table before kick-off. “We have to score, that’s why they are here and play up front,”…

By Shafa’atu Suleiman  Yakubu Ahmad (who is hard of hearing) and Aisha Usman (who is visually impaired) were oblivious to the growing public health emergency when the world was striving to stay safe amidst an ongoing pandemic. “It took weeks before I realised what was happening around me,” Ahmad articulates with the aid of an interpreter. Ahmad sensed that something unusual only when he saw people wearing face masks on the street and those around him washing their hands more frequently. “Without adequate information and sensitisation, the deaf is at risk of contracting the virus,” he asserts with an insistent…

For many journalists, it has been a silent struggle to stay sane as the psychological effect of coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on them. ‘Since March, life hasn’t been the same with regards to reporting and covering news for me, ‘states Elizabeth Merab, who endured the torment of loneliness occasioned by the pandemic. She shares her experience on the impacts of the lockdown at the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC): The virtual edition where “Journalists and Mental Health”, comes to the fore. The Kenyan broadcast journalist was confined to remote reporting because of an underlining condition that makes her vulnerable…

Aderonke Sakpere is one of three young scientists/economists from Nigeria selected to participate in the 70th Anniversary of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, which foster the exchange among scientists of different generations. She participated in the Lindau Online Science Days, LINOSD

Dr Emmanuel E.Etim, a Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, is one of three Nigerian scientists who attended  an international forum, Lindau Online Science Days, LINOSD, that drew  more than 1,000 young scientists and 40 nobel Laureates. In this interview with RAKIYA A. MUHAMMAD who was one of accredited journalists at the virtual event, Etim speaks on the forum. The  TWAS-DF visiting Fellow and an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Munich, Germany also comments on how Chemical Sciences can contribute their full potentials in addressing the…

The Kwara State Government is ready to use sports to eradicate drug abuse, youth restiveness and lift the state’s people out of poverty, the State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, has said He stated this in Ilorin on Friday while receiving members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the Kwara State Sports Festival (Kwasfest 2020) led by its Vice-Chairman, Hameed Adio. “Government is determined to use sports to unite all Kwarans across religious and ethnic divide.” Alabi commended the MOC for demonstrating patriotism in touring the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. He expressed the readiness of the…

Displaced persons from Tabanni in Sokoto State are still terrified by the July 9 bandits attack on their village. Now camped in Gandi, they recount their experiences and why they dread going home. The displaced dwellers of Tabanni in Raba area of Sokoto may be enjoying respite at the IDP camp in Gandi District but many of them still shudder at the thought of going back to their village recently ravaged by bandits. In one attack, the sleepy village lost 39 persons and the terror has led many to consider permanently abandoning their ancestral homes.  “Anywhere but Tabanni,” echoed most…