The Federal Government has received samples of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Alexey Shebarshin, Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, delivered them to Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health, on Friday.

This was contained in a statement signed by Olujimi Oyetomi, the ministry’s Director of Information, Media, and Public Relations.

The statement was titled, ‘Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Health Ministers, Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine finally here.’

Ehanire said the vaccine would be “quickly referred” to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control as well as the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, amongst other agencies, for review and possible validation.

Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Minister of State for Health, top management of the Health Ministry and other Nigerian Scientists were present at the presentation.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed over 50,000 COVID-19 cases in the country.

Lionel Messi has broken his silence on his Barcelona future after a saga at the club that has played out for more than a week.

Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge has hit back at La Liga following ongoing uncertainty about the contract of the Barcelona star.

The future of the 33-year-old has been uncertain since his bombshell announcement, followed up by the player refusing to turn up for pre-season testing or training with the club. La Liga have waded into the situation, attempting to shore up the position of Barcelona and thus the league with their interpretation of one of the disputed clauses in Messi’s contract.

Messi Sr flew into the city on Wednesday for talks with the club president to try and negotiate an amicable exit, with Manchester City waiting to see if the player will be available to sign this summer and what the financial cost of that would be. However, having started the talks by saying it would be difficult for his son to stay in Barcelona he conceded the next day that seeing out his contract could yet happen.

On Friday, Jorge put out a statement addressed to the head of La Liga Javier Tebas insisting that the €700m release clause is not active.

It read: “Mr. Jorge Horacio Messi, representing the professional soccer player, Mr. Lionel Andres Messi, in response to the Informative Note published on August 30, 2020 by La Liga Nacional de Futbol Profesional, in relation to the player’s contractual situation. Apart from its obvious partiality for the role that such an institution represents, in defense of the interests of its associates (soccer clubs), I must state that:

“1: We do not know which contract is the one they have analyzed, or what bases they conclude that it would have a “termination clause” applicable in the event that the player decided to urge its unilateral termination, with effect from of the end of the 2019/20 sports season.

“2: This is due to an obvious error on your part. As the clause 8.2.3.6 literally indicates. of the contract signed between the club and the player:

“This compensation will not apply when the termination of the contract by unilateral decision of the player takes effect from the end of the 2019/20 sports season.

“Without prejudice to other rights that are included in the contract and that you omit, it is obvious that the compensation of 700 million euros, provided for in the previous clause 8.2.3.5., does not apply at all.”

La Liga subsequently put out a response insisting that their interpretation of the contract is correct.

Nigeria has secured a landmark victory in its pursuit to overturn a $10 billion judgement awarded against it in a case against Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID), TheCable reports.

In the judgment delivered on Thursday, Ross Cranston, a judge of the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, granted Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanctions.

It’s understands that the case will either go back to arbitration base on the new evidence or both parties will now settle out of court.

On January 31, 2017, a tribunal had ruled that Nigeria should pay P&ID $6.6 billion as damages, as well as pre- and post-judgment interest at 7 percent.

The current outstanding amount is estimated at $10 billion.

The federal government had approached the court to establish that the contract was awarded on illegal terms.

Nigeria’s lawyers told the court in July that P&ID officials paid bribes to get the contract.

P&ID reportedly entered a gas supply and processing agreement with Nigeria in 2010.

Claiming Nigeria breached the terms of the contract, it took a legal recourse and secured an arbitral award against the country.

Nigeria has been making moves to overturn the judgement and has gotten court clearance to request documents from a P&ID stakeholder and review bank statements of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani Alison-Madueke and Rilwanu Lukman, former ministers of petroleum.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on August 18, arraigned James Nolan, a Briton, and six companies over their alleged involvement in the contract.

(Thecable)

A coalition of civil societies in Osun state have stormed the streets of Osogbo, the state capital in protest over hike in fuel price and electricity tariff.

The protesters, mostly youths, gathered at the Freedom Park at Old Garage,Osogbo to demand immediate reversal of the increments.

Armed with placards bearing varying inscriptions like “Enough is Enough!, Revert Pump Price Now!, All We Want Is a Better Life, Electricity Tariff Hike Is ill-Conceived,” among others, the protesters chanted anti-government songs while marching peacefully along the road.

Details Later!

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has commissioned the Judges Quarters built by the Rivers State Government.

The exercise was carried out in Port Harcourt on Thursday by a justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili who represented the CJN.

Speaking during the commissioning of the quarters, Justice Odili thanked Governor Nyesom Wike for building the edifice and naming it after a late Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chinwe Aguma.

“To the glory of God, on behalf of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, I hereby commission this befitting residential estate for use by our honourable judges and justices of Rivers State judiciary and the Court of Appeal,” she said.

The gesture by the state government should be replicated in other states of the federation, Justice Odili said.

According to her, the nation’s judiciary deserves more than it is currently getting.

“The time to change the unpalatable narrative has come. The judiciary deserves more than it is currently getting.

“The good example emanating from Rivers State should be a role model to be adopted and replicated across the country,” she said.

On his part, Governor Wike said the commissioning of the judges’ apartment is in fulfillment of the promise made by his administration in 2015.

Wike explained that the move is necessary to improve on the living conditions of the judges who contribute to the dispensation of justice in the country.

He, however, assured them that the Certificates of Occupancy was duly signed two days ago, stressing that Justice Muhammad would issue the certificates.

“Giving the constitutional restriction on legal practice, post-service life could be miserable for judges who were unable to buy or build their own homes before leaving the service,” Wike said.

“This challenge or circumstance has embedded the potential for encouraging corruption among judges with the attendance of negative circumstances on impartial justice delivery.

“With the new policy, however, the state now bears the full responsibility of providing all judicial officers of Rivers State origin beyond their service years for life.

“The policy is implemented in either of two ways – Judges have a choice to receive a purpose-built house in the state government or opt for cash payments to build or buy their houses for themselves.

“Furthermore, the policy applies to all judicial staff of Rivers State origin including those serving in any of the Federal Judicial Divisions that is the High Court or the Federal Capital Territory.”

(Channels)

As part of strategy to prevent spread of coronavirus to Nigeria, the Federal Government has said that Air France, KLM airline and five other airlines would not be allowed to fly into the country

Other airlines barred by the apex government when the international airspace resume were: Lufthansa airline, Etihad airline, Rwanda Air, Air Namibia, and Air Maroc.

The decision came less than 48 hours to the reopening of Nigeria’s international airspace which was closed about five months ago after spread of COVID-19 became prevalent globally.

Announcing the apex government decision on Thursday at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) COVID-19 press briefing held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said that the move would afford the government opportunity to curtail the virus spread.

DETAILS LATER…

The Federal Government has given the nod for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to begin preparations for reopening of orientation camps nationwide.

Orientation camps were shut in March as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu: “For the National Youth Service Corps, the NYSC is to consolidate on safety measures currently being put in place and start preparing for the reopening of orientation camps when educational institutions open.

“We are in the process of developing strict guidelines to ensure there is no outbreak of Covid-19 when this process starts.”

The Federal Government says state governments and school administrators should start making preparations for the full reopening of schools in the country.

Speaking on Thursday, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, said the task force recommends phased return of students.

Aliyu said, “For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.

“However, we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess, create, and monitor this level of preparedness.

“Meanwhile, all daycares and educational institutions are to remain closed to in-classes until this level of risk is assessed. And if there will be opening of schools, it must be staged and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the general public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home.”

Details later…