Author: Opalim Lifted

China said on Friday it will fully restore travel across its borders with Hong Kong and Macau next week, dropping Covid testing requirements and daily quotas after a lengthy pandemic separation. The semi-autonomous cities have both stuck to Beijing’s zero-COVID strategy for nearly three years, splitting families, cutting off tourism, and suffocating businesses. The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said on Friday that all remaining restrictions would be dropped starting midnight on February 6, with group tours allowed to resume. Limited travel across the border between Hong Kong and mainland China resumed in January after Beijing abruptly…

President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the February 25 presidential poll is not in doubt, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola confirmed yesterday. The President, they said, is solidly behind the ruling party’s candidate. Their confirmation came in the wake of an affirmation by Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, of the President’s backing for the aspiration of the one-time Lagos State governor. El-Rufai, who dismissed as a mere rumor that Buhari was not supporting…

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) yesterday said the United Kingdom Government rejected its request to extradite former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Garba Baba Umar, who is the Head of Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, said this on the sidelines of an investigative hearing by a House of Representative Adhoc committee. The committee is investigating the alleged illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil. Umar told the Committee, chaired by Mark Gbillah, that mutual legal assistance (MLA) processes were followed in a bid to bring Diezani back but…

Many customers of microfinance banks operating in Osun State have threatened to storm the streets to protest their inability to withdraw money from their accounts. In some of the banks visited in Osogbo by our correspondent on Wednesday, many officials of the banks, were not on seat, as many of the customers waited endlessly to withdraw from their accounts. Some of the customers claimed to be salary earners, who get paid their monthly salaries through their accounts domiciled in the banks. The customers while speaking to our correspondent during visits to Olubasiri Microfinance, Ibuaje Microfinance, and Osogbo Microfinance Banks -all…

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has assured Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) a.k.a Fuel will be sufficiently available across the country in the next few days. Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, told newsmen: “So, I am hopeful that within the next few days, the distribution challenges will be surmounted and the product will be available throughout the country.” He said the product was available offshore and the challenge was conveying it onshore because of the financial implication. He however noted that there were already discussions on how to transport the it onshore. Fuel scarcity worsens, bites harder…

The Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola has affirmed President Muhammadu Buhari is strongly behind All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He noted that the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “is hurting Nigerians” and needs to be reviewed. He said: “I saw the President, and I’m not one to tell you what I discussed with the President in private. I saw him and what he told me dispelled all rumors and I didn’t ask him. “We were just having a conversation, and he (Buhari) just said “I’ve to do this… This…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reversed itself and directed banks to commence paying customers new Naira notes Over The Counter (OTC). The apex bank said the order was to reduce queues around Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) across the country. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele gave the directive in Abuja on Thursday. A statement from CBN’s Director of Corporate Communication Osita Nwanisobi explained banks can only pay N20,000 of the new notes over the counter per day to individuals. The statement reads: “The Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has directed Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to commence the payment of the redesigned…

Nigerian singer, Simi, has launched her children’s clothing line – The Big Little Company. After the birth of her daughter, Adejare ‘Deja’ Kosoko, Simi was inspired to start a fashion company for children. The trendy, affordable line caters to kids ranging from ages one to ten, so that every child can enjoy the unique pieces. They are available, exclusively, online at www.biglittlecompany.com. Designed to be comfortable and stylish the collection boasts minimalist, but refreshingly unique designs. The styles are also very multifunctional. The collection includes dresses, jumpsuits and overalls – and is suitable for both girls and boys. Lisa Marie…

The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg in partnership with the South African police has effected the arrest of four policemen for allegedly beating a Nigerian into a coma. The policemen were arrested on Wednesday at the Boksburg North Police Station by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the consulate on the assault which was said to have incapacitated the victim. An official of the consulate, Elizabeth Wale-Ayodele, recalled that the incident happened on January 9 in Boksburg. She said, “Two weeks ago, 9th January 2023, a Nigerian was assaulted in Boksburg by four policemen. We…

The World Health Organisation  (WHO) said 160,000 children acquired the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in 2021. The WHO also said a child dies from AIDS-related causes every five minutes globally. The global health body in a press statement made available to our correspondent noted that ministers and representatives from twelve African countries have committed themselves, and laid out their plans, to end AIDS in children by 2030. “Currently, around the world, a child dies from AIDS-related causes every five minutes. “Only half (52 percent) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults of whom three quarters (76…