Across the world, as countries and economies slowly reopen, Africa lags behind. We were last to experience the coronavirus—and we expect to be the final continent to flatten the curve. Some may say it is too early, that the crisis still too deep and the recovery too distant to dwell upon the future. But that is wrong. In times of global crisis it is critical to think of the life after, and how—through adversity—we can refashion the world around us. In this new, post-coronavirus age, Nigeria—and Africa, more broadly—wish to benefit the world, not be a drag on its resources…
Author: meridianspy
Tope Akinyode, a human rights lawyer, is set to drag the Nigerian Army to court on behalf of Emmanuel Madubuezi, a polytechnic student in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who was shot by personnel of the Nigerian Army. On September 14, 2017, stray bullets from operatives of the Nigerian Army hit Madubuezi, who sat in a commercial tricycle on his way to school at the time. According to Sahara Reporters, the bullet pierced through his body and hit an elderly woman sitting next to him, who was thrown out of the tricycle due to the impact of the bullet. The young…
English Premier League clubs have unanimously agreed to stage 1 of ‘Project Restart’ and will return to the first phase of training this week. Following cordial talks among the 20 clubs, a path was cleared for players to return to training on Tuesday, ahead of a possible return of matches on June 19. According to Mirror Football, players will now be able to train in groups of no more than five as clubs look to rebuild the fitness of their squads after football’s enforced hiatus. The Premier League were able to flesh out much more detail at their latest meeting,…
If the gods want to punish a people, they either invoke plagues on the land or deploy agents of slaughter as leaders. The gods are not happy with Rivers state, obviously, hence the affliction by Nyesom Wike. The state had a chance of averting this ruination in 2019, but it did not take it. The recent brutish actions of Wike in Rivers really knock me into wondering whether the governor superintends over a parallel country. Wike has taken deeper gulps from the chalice of malice, absolutism and despotism. He is now running wild and untamed. In April, the governor ordered…
Approximately 40 years ago, two French cinema directors Jean-Jacques Flori and Stéphane Tchalgadjieff arrived in Lagos where they spent several weeks interviewing and shadowing Africa’s biggest musical export of that time. It is unclear exactly when the phrase “Music is the Weapon” found its way into FelaAnikulapo Kuti’s musical lexicon, but by the time the French duo were done producing their documentary in 1982, they had no doubt what to name it. Four decades later, many of the people whom Fela famously lampooned as Animals in Human Skin shortly thereafter, are still very much in and around power in Nigeria and around the continent. Despite his being widely lionised as a symbol of revolutionary Nigerian…
No fewer than 155 persons have died in Gashua and Potiskum areas of Yobe State over the last six days after exhibiting symptoms related with coronavirus disease. A source told told Sahara Reporters on Wednesday that between April 30 and May 5, 98 people died in Potiskum. “Cemeteries are now the busiest places in these towns. “In Gashua town, at least 57 have died. Those dying are mostly elders, yet the state Committee on COVID-19 is sleeping in Damaturu as if nothing is happening,” another source confirmed to Sahara Reporters. It was learnt that instead of addressing the challenges his state…
The general manager of the Nigerian Television Authority NTA in Katsina state, Ayinde Soaga has tested positive for coronavirus. This was confirmed in a statement released by his Family, as they clarified that he is not bedridden, as widely speculated by his friends and associates, but in good spirit. The statement read: “The Family of Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, GM, NTA Katsina appreciates the numerous phone calls and concern raised about the report as regards his testing positive to COVID 19,” “We wish to confirm that he is in high spirits, not bedridden, as he personally called in the NCDC officials…
A six-year-old girl, who is the daughter of the coronavirus index case in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State, has tested positive for the disease. The state Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the Task Force on COVID-19 in Jigawa State, Dr Abba Zakari, in Dutse made the disclosure on Wednesday. Zakari said: “the girl’s father is the index case in Kazaure and was confirmed to be Coronavirus positive upon his arrival to Kazaure from Enugu State.” He said she was the only one who tested positive for the disease, out of the 18 samples collected for testing in…
The Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmad Asha died in the early hours of Sunday, The Punch reports. Emir Asha was said to have died of suspected coronavirus-related complications. According to the Publicity Secretary for the Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in the state, Alhaji Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, the Emir of Kaura-Namoda, had been in isolation at the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau three days ago. Mustafa stressed that his blood sample had been sent to Abuja for the COVID-19 test, explaining, however, that “the result is still being awaited”. He said the remains of the late…
Inmates have reportedly set the Sapele Correctional Service Centre on fire because 25 inmates were granted amnesty by the state government while only three persons were released. A source told The PUNCH that lack of food and water in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State also contributed to the cause of the protest. It was gathered that the inmates had around 8 am protested over poor welfare situation in the correctional centre. It took the efforts of security agencies to ensure that none of the inmates escaped. A source said, “No inmate escaped, but the inmates are angry because they…
A magistrate court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital has remanded the four suspected killers of the daughter of Afenifere Yoruba Socio-cultural group leader, Pa Fasoranti, Funke Olakunrin in the Owo facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service. The four suspects, Lawal Mazaje, Adamu Adamu, Mohammed Shehu Usman and Auwal Abubakar were arrested by the Nigeria Police in connection to the murder of Olakunrin and were today, Friday arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Victoria Bob-Manuel. However, given that the four culprits had no legal representation, the trial judge, Bob-Manuel agreed that they be remanded in the prison custody pending legal…
Insults mean nothing to me. They only fuel my resolve and strengthen my determination. They are like water off a duck’s back and neither can they deter me from speaking my mind on any pressing or burning issue no matter how unpopular my position may be. Those that do not have the prescence of mind or the discipline to read beyond three lines or that are so filled with hate and blighted by ignorance that it has beclouded their better judgement should not bother attempting to read this contribution. For those that are interested in knowing the truth and in…