Uncategorized
No UK COVID-19 variant in Nigeria yet – NCDC
The mutant strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom has not been found in the country, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has said.
He said after some sequencing by the NCDC, it did not find the variant was said to be deadlier than the original strain of the virus.
Ihekweazu, who spoke at the media briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja on Thursday, said viruses by their nature would mutate, noting that the important thing was for people to stay calm and safe.
He said, “Over the last few days, we have monitored reports of the virus mutating in the UK, South Africa and some other countries but it is important to establish some facts about what we know; what we do not know and what we are willing to learn over the next few years.
“The most important fact to put out there to calm everybody’s nerves is that viruses mutate all the time.
“We haven’t found that UK strain but also, it is not something we have been looking for on the go; to find that, you have to do sequencing. And our focus has not been on sequencing. We did some sequencing in the past but we haven’t found that.”
“We only found two were similar but not the same. However, we are doing more sequencing. Is it possible that they are circulating? Yes. This is because there are a lot of travels between the UK and Nigeria.” Iheakwazu said the NCDC would collaborate with stakeholders to collect new samples for sequencing in order to determine their variant.
He noted, “This is ongoing work. It cannot happen in a hurry. It is very complex. Sequencing is not a straight-forward business which is why we have only a few centres that are able to do it.”
He also urged states to reopen their test centres, saying the NCDC alone could not conduct all COVID-19 tests sent in from the states.
He said the centre was working on adopting the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits from next year in order to scale up testing in the country.
He said, “On testing, there is light at the end of the tunnel. By next year, we will be introducing the use of rapid test kits. We have made a significant procurement that is coming in January and through that, we are taking testing closer to the people away from the laboratories.”
Uncategorized
Lagos-Calabar coastal road: Train track work begins 2025, says minister
Lagos-Calabar coastal road: Train track work begins 2025, says minister
The Federal Government plans to begin constructing train tracks on Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in 2025.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this announcement during an inspection of Sections I and II of the project, which are located within Lagos and being handled by Hitech Construction Company Ltd, on Friday, December 20, 2024.
The details of the announcement were published in a statement on the ministry’s official website on Saturday.
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“The President has given very serious attention to road infrastructure. Don’t forget that this Coastal Highway and, of course, the four Legacy Projects all have the train track incorporated. The construction of the train track for this section I is going to take off in 2025,” Umahi stated.
The Works Minister outlined plans to enhance the Lagos-Calabar Highway in Sections I and II of Phase 1, including solar-powered CCTV cameras, lay-bys every 5-15 kilometers, and security posts for improved safety and monitoring.
He announced that 20 kilometers of Section 1 are scheduled for commissioning by May 2025. The Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Olukorede Kashia, noted challenges such as large refuse dumps and unsuitable soil conditions requiring extensive remediation during the project.
Lagos-Calabar coastal road: Train track work begins 2025, says minister
Entertainment
Copyright: Court orders Adele’s song removed from platforms
Copyright: Court orders Adele’s song removed from platforms
A Brazilian court has ordered the removal of Adele’s 2015 song Million Years Ago from radio and streaming platforms worldwide following a copyright lawsuit filed by local composer Toninho Geraes.
The ruling, delivered by Judge Victor Torres, comes after Geraes accused the British singer of copying his 1996 classic Mulheres, originally performed by Brazilian artist Martinho da Vila.
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Geraes claims the track from Adele’s album 25 closely mirrors his 1995 composition, demanding recognition and compensation for the alleged infringement.
In the lawsuit, Geraes is seeking $160,000 in moral damages, lost royalties, and a songwriting credit on Adele’s track.
The court has also imposed a fine of $8,000 per act of non-compliance on the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony Music and Universal Music Group.
Copyright: Court orders Adele’s song removed from platforms
Uncategorized
Marketers react after NNPCL slashes petrol price to N899 per litre
Marketers react after NNPCL slashes petrol price to N899 per litre
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has praised Dangote Refinery’s management for bringing the price of its gasoline down to N899.50K per litre.
PETROAN spokesperson Joseph Obele said in a statement on Thursday that the action is a huge relief for drivers and Nigerians in general.
“This price reduction, a decrease of N71 per litre from the initial price of N970, is a significant relief for motorists and Nigerians at large, especially during the holiday season,” PETROAN stated.
According to PETROAN president, Billy Gillis-Harry, Dangote Refinery’s price cut would lessen Nigerians’ suffering and lower living expenses over the holiday season.
“The price reduction will alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and reduce the cost of living and transportation during this festive period,” he said.
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Anthony Chiejina, a company representative, stated that the price cut is intended to reduce transportation expenses during the holiday season. Additionally, the refinery stated that customers could purchase an extra litre of fuel on credit for every litre of fuel purchased with cash.
In November, the privately held refinery reduced the price of its gasoline to N970 per litre. “To alleviate transport costs during this holiday season, Dangote Refinery is offering a holiday discount on PMS. From today, our petrol will be available at N899.50 per litre at our truck loading gantry or SPM.
“Furthermore, for every litre purchased on a cash basis, consumers will have the opportunity to buy another litre on credit, backed by a bank guarantee from Access Bank, First Bank, or Zenith Bank,” said Chiejina.
News Direct earlier reported that oil marketers have continued to rely on imports to deliver gasoline across the country, even though two significant refineries in Nigeria started producing the fuel within the last three months.
According to data gathered last week, marketers imported 2.3 billion litres of gasoline between September 11 and December 5, 2024. This ongoing importation runs counter to previous declarations made by certain marketers who stated their intention to cease importing and instead concentrate on locally produced goods.
Marketers react after NNPCL slashes petrol price to N899 per litre
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