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The management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, says nobody will be allowed to enter the institution without wearing a facemask as the school resumes on Jan. 18.

This is contained in a circular signed by Mr. Opeoluwa Akinfemiwa, the university’s Acting Registrar, on Tuesday announcing the continuation of the First Semester of 2019/2020 academic session.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/13/varsity-imposes-no-facemask-no-entry/

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, says the Armed Forces of Nigeria will deal with all forms of insecurity confronting the nation head-on in 2021.

Enenche told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the military would continue to improve on its kinetic and non-kinetic operations with a view to rid the nation of insecurity.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/11/military-gears-up-to-stop-insecurity-in-2021-enenche/

The Sahel region’s Great Green Wall Initiative received a major boost from the African Development Bank (AfDB) on Monday, January 11, 2021.

During a forum hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Bank pledged to assist in mobilising up to $6.5 billion over five years, to advance the landmark initiative.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/11/afdb-to-mobilise-6-5bn-in-support-of-the-great-green-wall-initiative/

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has said Boko Haram insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements have taken away Nigeria’s sovereignty.

While calling for a national mobilisation to combat the menace of insecurity bedeviling the country, Soyinka lamented President Muhammadu Buhari‘s lack of capacity to end the insecurity challenge in the country.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/10/soyinka-boko-haram-and-bandits-have-taken-away-nigerias-sovereignty/

The Federal Government (FG), has threatened to commence a fresh COVID-19 Lockdown to curtail the spread of the second wave of the infectious disease.

Briefing journalists in Abuja, Sani Aliyu, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 (PTF), stated that it will have no option other than to impose a fresh lockdown on the country if the rising cases of Covid infections recorded lately continue.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/08/fg-threatens-fresh-covid-19-lockdown/

The Federal Government on Tuesday emphasized a ban on rice importation.
Mr. Abdulhamid Ma’aji, Comptroller, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in charge of Sokoto and Zamfara, made the emphasis at the reopening of Illela Border in Sokoto State.
https://newsrand.com/2021/01/06/customs-emphasises-ban-on-rice-importation/

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno on Monday laid the foundation for Al-Ansar University, the first privately- owned university in the state.

Zulum whose administration allocated 100 hectares of land to the Al-Ansar Foundation for the university, also directed the construction of a 2.3-kilometer road and a borehole in the university in his address at the event.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/04/gov-zulum-lays-foundation-of-first-private-university-in-borno/

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) sees plenty of downside risks for oil markets in the first half of 2021, Mohammad Barkindo, its Secretary-General said on Sunday.

Barkindo’s remark is coming a day before meeting allies, led by Russia, to discuss output levels for February.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/04/opec-sees-oil-outlook-for-1st-half-of-2021-full-of-downside-risks/

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, on Saturday, visited some hunters injured by a bomb blast, while on patrol in Kayamala village in Konduga Local Government Area on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the blast, 16 of the hunters were injured, while seven died, including their leader, Bunu, as they rushed to intervene in a nearby village, after receiving information that some insurgents had rustled cattle in the area.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/03/gov-zulum-visits-injured-hunters-in-hospital-provides-support/

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, has revealed that Nigeria is suffering from lazy and uninspiring leadership.

In his New Year message addressed to Nigerians, Abubakar explained that asides from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year, poor leadership is another cause of economic instability and insecurity in the country.

https://newsrand.com/2021/01/01/why-nigeria-is-suffering-atiku/

Nollywood actor, Lateef Adedimeji has revealed why his role in filmmaker Tunde Kelani‘s forthcoming biopic of Àpàlà musician, Ayinla Yusuf, is difficult.

In an interview on Channels TV‘s Nollywood Uncut, Adedimeji said there was no video documentation of the legendary musician, which he explained gave him difficulty playing the role.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/31/why-my-role-in-ayinla-omowuras-biopic-is-difficult-lateef-adedimeji/

The Oyo State Police Command has begun the probe of a jungle justice incident, as an angry mob sets ablaze two suspected hoodlums.

The incident happened on Monday, December 28, 2020, at Asas, Molete, and Oke-Ado areas of Ibadan, Oyo State, around 9:00 am of the day.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/29/police-probe-jungle-justice-incident-as-mob-sets-2-ablaze/

Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, has disclosed that 48% of COVID-19 patients in the state do not know they are carriers of the infectious disease.

Speaking at a briefing in Alausa on Monday, December 28, 2020, the commissioner said 16% of the COVID-19 cases currently in the state were severe cases, while 1% are in critical condition.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/28/covid-19-most-lagos-dwellers-dont-know-they-are-positive/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is implementing one of the world’s largest and far-reaching social investment programmes.

Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, Secretary, APC Caretaker, and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/28/president-buhari-implementing-far-reaching-social-investment-programs/

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Tuesday inaugurated the newly elected 17 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen and their deputies with a charge to prioritize economic development in their various areas.

Speaking during the event in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said the task ahead of the newly elected council leaders would be challenging, adding that there would be high expectations from the people.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/23/ikpeazu-swears-in-newly-elected-17-lga-chairmen/

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Tuesday signed the 2021 budget of N123 billion into law ascribing the infrastructural transformation of the state to the support from President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

The governor said that unlike other states, Ebonyi would appreciate the president’s gesture, noting that the state acknowledged the depth of such support.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/23/gov-umahi-of-ebonyi-signs-2021-budget-lauds-buharis-support/

Pandemonium broke out on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, as some youths clashed with men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

During the clash, which started in the early hours of the day, at Kikelomo area in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, three persons were feared killed by stray bullets.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/22/pandemonium-broke-out-in-ogun-as-youths-customs-officials-clash/

The Speaker of the Niger House of Assembly, Bawa Wuse, and the Clerk, Mohammed Kagara, have gone into isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, confirmed the development to newsmen on Sunday in Minna.

https://newsrand.com/2020/12/21/niger-speaker-clerk-test-positive-for-covid-others-to-go-into-isolation/

Ijeoma Idaresit, a Lagos-based medical doctor, has burnt to death alongside her two daughters.

It was gathered that Idaresit of the Conference Director at Postpartum Support Network Africa (PSNAfrica), burnt beyond recognition with her children in the fire that engulfed their home at Parkview, Ikoyi area of the state.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/18/lagos-doctor-burnt-to-death-alongside-her-2-daughters/

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos is the latest public officials to come down with a case of COVID-19.

Sanwo-Olu joined the growing list of top-tier Nigerian politicians who have now contracted the infectious disease after being exposed to a confirmed case.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/18/covid-19-sanwo-olu-7-other-governors-that-tested-positive/

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has said the reopening of the four borders will revive and boost business and economic activities while generating revenue to government coffers.

NECA’S Director-General, Dr Timothy Olawale, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos while commending the Federal Government for reopening the borders.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/17/reopened-land-borders-will-boost-business-economic-activities-neca/

Senator Dino Melaye, who represented Kogi west senatorial district at the red chamber, has tendered a public apology to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former lawmaker, during a book launch in Abuja, apologised to Jonathan over his role in the 2015 general elections, in which Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/16/dino-melaye-to-jonathan-im-sorry-for-choosing-buhari-over-you/

The Senate, on Tuesday, summoned the Minister of Defence, the service chiefs, and heads of the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Service over the unending insecurity situation in the country.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Senator Bello Mandiya from Katsina State on the abduction of about 330 students of a secondary school in the state recently by unknown bandits.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/15/insecurity-senate-summons-defence-minister-service-chiefs-others/

Abdulazeez Garba-Gafasa, the Kano State House of Assembly Speaker and the Majority Leader of the assembly, Kabiru Dashi have resigned.

The Speaker announced his resignation in a letter titled ‘Notification of Resignation’ dated Dec. 14 and addressed to the Clerk and Permanent Secretary.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/15/kano-assembly-speaker-majority-leader-resign/

The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG), has disclosed the plan of its state chapters to trek to Daura, the country home of President Muhammadu Buhari, in protest against the abduction of students in Katsina.

Recall that on Friday, December 11, 2020, some gunmen rushed into the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina, at around 9:40 p.m., shooting AK-47 rifles into the air and rounding up students.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/14/northern-group-to-protest-students-abduction-in-buharis-hometown/

The U.S. has donated maritime security equipment worth $180,000 (70 million) to the Nigerian Navy, the U.S Consulate in Lagos said in a statement on Friday.

The equipment is to enable the navy to upgrade the anti-piracy and nautical security functions of the country’s Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC).

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/11/u-s-donates-maritime-security-equipment-worth-180000-to-nigerian-navy/

The Federal Government has disclosed to members of the public, that by early next year (2021), it will take delivery of no less than 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), while making the disclosure, said Nigeria is a member of COVAX, an international coalition, under the World Health Organisation (WHO) umbrella, adding that 92 countries came together to ensure access and safety of vaccines.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/11/fg-to-receive-20m-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines/

An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert, Mr. Femi Lawal, says poor computer literacy among Nigerian students is constituting a barrier to e-learning.

Lawal, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lawal Infotech, Sango, Ilorin, made the assertion on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Read Also: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/10/poor-computer-literacy-barrier-to-e-learning-in-nigeria-expert/

Former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, on Thursday, December 10, 2020, collapsed in court during his trial.

Maina collapsed when his counsel, Anayo Adibe was addressing the court on his no-case submission before Justice Okon Abang.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/10/n2bn-pension-fraud-maina-collapses-in-court-as-trial-continues/

Nigerians pay lesser for Data in 2020. This is according to Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

In a statement by his Technical Assistant on Information Technology, Femi Adeluyi, the minister said cost of data reduced by 50%

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/10/nigerians-paid-lesser-for-data-in-2020-says-minister/

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday disclosed that exploration and production in the Nigeria oil and gas sector were now fully indigenized.

Mr. Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, made the disclosure in a goodwill message to a workshop organized by the NCDMB and entitled ”Sustaining Nigerian Content Development Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of the Media”, held in Port Harcourt.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/12/08/nigerian-oil-and-gas-sector-now-fully-indigenized-says-ncdmb-boss/