Month: January 2021

Blacks would’ve been treated differently at Capitol Hill riot – Biden

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The United States President-elect Joe Biden has declared that African-Americans would have been treated differently by the Police if they were the ones that staged a violent protest at the Capitol Hill. Describing the riot as the darkest in America’s democracy, Biden, in a televised press conference, expressed displeasure over the “lenient treatment” given to pro-Trump protesters who invaded Capitol Hill by the US police. Protesters against racism would have been dispersed with force, he said. He recalled how anti-racism demonstrators were dispersed with maximum force by police in…

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Bonny Light hits 2021 highest, trades for $54.11 per barrel

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The Price of Nigeria’s premium crude oil grade, Bonny Light, has surged to $54.11 per barrel, apparently the highest in 2021. The new price is an excess of $14 per barrel when compared to the $40 per barrel benchmark of the nation’s 2021 budget. This came as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, and others pressed for stability in the market. OPEC, which concluded its 13th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM), held via videoconference, January 5, 2021, called for the cooperation of all stakeholders in order to…

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Challenges ahead as Ghana president Akufo-Addo takes Second Oath of Office

ADEOLA YUSUF

  Nana Akufo-Addo has been sworn in for a second term as Ghana’s president, hours after scuffles between rival politicians broke out in parliament. He faces the twin challenges of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and trying to boost the economy Soldiers were briefly deployed after the unusual scenes in one of Africa’s most stable democracies. The president defeated his main rival, former President John Mahama, in December’s tightly fought election. Ghana has had more than 50,000 confirmed cases of the virus, and like many countries has experienced major economic…

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COVID-19 And The Professors by Femi Adesina

ADEOLA YUSUF

  I hate to see professors die. And in recent days, we have lost three of them to the strange ailment called COVID-19, currently ravaging the world. Within two weeks, we lost three professors in quick succession. Habu Galadima, Director-General, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). Femi Odekunle, renowned criminologist and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC). And Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos. Each time a professor dies, I say to myself: what a waste! All the learning, gone. All the intellect,…

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Nigeria’s Power transmission hits all-time peak of 5,552.80MW

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has successfully transmitted an enhanced all-time peak of 5,552.80 Mega Watts (MW) on Wednesday at 8.15pm. General Manager, Public Affairs of the company, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, who said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, added that this latest all-time peak transmitted, surpassed the last peak generation of 5,520.40MW which was effectively transmitted by TCN on Oct. 30, 2020 by 32.40MW. The new peak, she said, was an indication of the gradual but consistent growth in the capability of the…

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Nigeria shifts electricity tariff hike implementation to January End

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The Nigerian Government has shifted the implementation of fresh electricity tariff hike for its citizens to the end of January 2020. Country’s Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, who stated this in a statement obtained by Platforms Africa, maintained that he had directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to inform all Electricity Distribution Companies(DISCOs) to revert to tariffs that were applicable in Dec. 2020 pending the time. Speaking through the statement by Mr Aaron Artimas, his Senior Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Mamman declared that the reversal to…

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Refinery: NNPC takes hunt for $1bn loans to Afreximbank, Others 

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is in talks to raise around $1 billion in a prepayment with trading firms to refurbish its largest refining complex at Port Harcourt. Reuters, which reported this on Thursday quoted seven sources familiar with the discussions including the spokesperson for Afreximbank. If the financing is concluded, the long overdue rehabilitation of the refinery should reduce Nigeria’s hefty fuel import bill. It would also mark Nigeria’s second oil-backed financing since the COVID-19 pandemic that has added to the difficulty of finding investors as fuel…

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Soldiers Step In as Ghana Parliament erupts in Chaos

ADEOLA YUSUF

  Ghanaian soldiers intervened overnight to quell a clash between opposing parties in parliament ahead of the body’s swearing-in set for Thursday. Chaotic scenes erupted after a ruling party deputy, Carlos AHENKORAH, tried to seize the ballot box during the vote for parliament speaker. The ensuing clash lasted several hours until the army stepped in, with national television broadcasting the drama live. “There was a total breakdown of law and order,” said MP-elect Kwame Twumasi Ampofo of the opposition National Democratic Congress. “Looking at a member of parliament and a…

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China mocks ‘beautiful sight’ of US Capitol chaos as shot protester dies

ADEOLA YUSUF

  China’s internet erupted in mirth at America’s troubled democracy after supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, comparing the chaos to the Hong Kong anti-government protests of 2019. On Thursday morning, state media tabloid Global Times tweeted side-by-side photo comparisons of Hong Kong protesters occupying the city’s Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with Wednesday’s Washington riots. The latter, a report by AFP read, saw hard-core Trump fans invade the US Capitol to protest the election defeat, taking selfies, scuffling with security and ransacking parts of the building.…

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COVID-19: Nigeria Hits Fresh Daily Record of 1,664 New Infections

ADEOLA YUSUF

  Nigeria has recorded 1,664 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. This was disclosed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its daily update on Wednesday night. According to the centre, in the last 24 hours, 903 recoveries were recorded. It noted that the discharges include 388 community recoveries in Lagos State, 261 in Kaduna State, 87 in Plateau State and 20 in Imo State managed in line with guidelines. But 5 new deaths were also recorded. 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded…

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