₦airaland Forum

Michigan spent $135.3 million on masks, gloves and other gear during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, when officials were racing against time — and other states — to protect medical personnel and other essential workers, an Associated Press analysis found.

The nationwide analysis found that states paid more than $7 billion for personal protective equipment and crucial medical devices such as ventilators and infrared thermometers between early 2020, when COVID-19 first emerged in the U.S., and late spring.

In response to an AP request, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget provided a list of 69 orders placed between March 21 through May 8. They provide a snapshot of the state's priorities and choices during a crucial period.


Read full Article

https://optimistsky.com/breaking-michigan-spent-135m-on-medical-gear-early-in-pandemic/

Apple Inc is moving forward with self-driving car technology and is targeting 2024 to produce a passenger vehicle that could include its own breakthrough battery technology, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The iPhone maker's automotive efforts, known as Project Titan, have proceeded unevenly since 2014 when it first started to design its own vehicle from scratch. At one point, Apple drew back the effort to focus on software and reassessed its goals. Doug Field, an Apple veteran who had worked at Tesla Inc, returned to oversee the project in 2018 and laid off 190 people from the team in 2019.

Since then, Apple has progressed enough that it now aims to build a vehicle for consumers, two people familiar with the effort said, asking not to be named because Apple's plans are not public. Apple's goal of building a personal vehicle for the mass market contrasts with rivals such as Alphabet Inc's Waymo, which has built robo-taxis to carry passengers for a driverless ride-hailing service.

Read Full Article


https://optimistsky.com/apple-targets-car-production-by-2024/

Microsoft Company say by 2021 password will be useless as they about to change how to unlock laptops and smartphones. In the latest blog post the company has spoken about its efforts in moving towards a passwordless future and its intentions to reach that stage in 2021.

In the blog post, the company has stated that almost 80% of the cyber-attacks are targeted towards the password with every 250 corporate accounts being hacked every day. And this has pushed the company to bring a password free solution.



Read Full Article

https://optimistsky.com/microsoft-plans-to-kill-password-by-2021/

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Bawa Wuse and his 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 in Minna. Mohammed Idris who did not give more details on the issue, simply said that 'it was true'.

Also, the member representing Bida 11, at the State Assembly, Alhaji Haruna Baba, also confirmed the development.

He explained that two weeks ago, the member representing Gurara, Binta Mamman, tested positive, which made the entire legislators and staff of the assembly undergo testing for coronavirus.

"Unfortunately, the results of the speaker and that of clerk turned out positive," he said.

He said that all the lawmakers and principal staff have gone into self-isolation. Another source at the assembly, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists that many of the test carried out on the lawmakers returned negative, except that of the Speaker and the Clerk.

The source confirmed that the two of them are responding positively to treatment.

Read full article

https://optimistsky.com/covid-19-update-niger-assembly-speaker-and-clerk-test-positive/

Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has responded to reports that she fled Nigeria to Dubai due to security issues in the Presidential Villa.

Mrs Aisha Buhari disclosed that she travelled out of the country for medical checkup.

The First Lady disclosed this through one of her aides, Kabiru Dodo, in Jalingo, Taraba State over the weekend when her foundation presented some items to widows.

Representing Aisha Buhari, Dodo said the First Lady left her children, husband, and family in the country.

According to the Aide, Dodo: “The First Lady travelled for her medical trip, she did not flee the country because of insecurity.

“She left her children, her husband and family in Nigeria.

“What people are saying is baseless and worth nothing to be considered.

Read full article

https://optimistsky.com/aisha-buhari-respond-to-report-of-abandoning-aso-rock-for-dubai/

The Nigerian Navy will continue the training of its personnel to keep abreast of emerging developments, challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding.
Rear Admiral Frederick Ogu, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos, made the declaration at the Social Dinner Night of the Command on Sunday.

“Our colleges and schools are spread around the nation and we have been carrying out our mandate dedicatedly in spite of the challenges of the pandemic.

“We made provisions in spite of the challenges so that our trainings do not stop throughout the year.

Read more >>>>>

https:///pclvWX-6C

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has implemented the new Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards rules in the country.

NCC Director of Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Adinde said the implementation followed the earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.

He said that the minister had convened an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry.

According to him, the meeting had in attendance the NCC Management, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and CEOs of Service Providers in the industry.

Read full article

https://optimistsky.com/new-strategy-as-ncc-implements-new-sim-registration-rules/

Wahala for who get girlfriend oo, Since i no kuku get GirlFriend Na to just jejely go pick the money lobatan.

For those of you out there that have lover, as in “eni bi okan mi” ''ayan fe mi'' ''enikeji mi'' ''idunu mi''. How would you handle this situation? Would you deny your partner as in your Lover because of ordinary N10 Million?

Make your on the website


https://optimistsky.com/fact-to-say-n10-million-or-your-current-lover-which-one-would-you-go-for/

World Bank made this known in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the loan is aimed to boost Nigeria’s efforts to reduce poverty.

The apex Bank Board of Directors approved the $1.5 billion for two projects, which include: Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus –Program for Results (Nigeria CARES) and the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program for Results (SFTAS).

It also stated that Nigeria is at a critical juncture, hence the approval of the loan

“With the sharp fall in oil prices as a result of COVID-19, the economy is projected to contract by over 4% in 2020, plunging the country into its deepest recession since the 1980s. Government revenues could fall by more than 15 billion dollars this year, and the crisis will push an additional 5 million Nigerians into poverty in 2020,” the statement read in part.

The CPF will prioritise four areas of engagement including investing in human capital by expanding access to basic education, sanitation services and quality water; improving primary healthcare; and enhancing the coverage and effectiveness of social assistance schemes.

It will also promote jobs and economic expansion and diversification by supporting reforms to unlock private investment and employment generation and increasing access to dependable and sustainable power for households and firms

Read Full Article

https://optimistsky.com/world-bank-approves-1-5bn-loan-for-nigeria/

Anthony Joshua brutally knocked Kubrat Pulev out in the ninth round of their world heavyweight championship fight at The SSE Arena, Wembley, on Saturday night.

Joshua floored Pulev heavily on three occasions, twice in the final round, and ended the fight with a vicious right hand to retain his IBF, WBA and WBO titles.

The explosive performance from Joshua would have demanded the attention of Tyson Fury - they remain on a collision course to decide an undisputed champion in 2021.


https://optimistsky.com/anthony-joshua-knocks-out-kubrat-pulev/

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was pleased with Manchester United's response to crashing out of the Champions League as his players fought for a point against Manchester City in a forgettable derby draw.

After dreadful defending played a key role in a costly defeat at RB Leipzig that saw them slip into the Europa League, United's players showed the kind of focus and organisation that had been lacking in Germany.


https://optimistsky.com/ole-gunnar-solskjaer-hails-manchester-uniteds-draw-with-the-derby-match-against-manchester-city/

Ten youths intending to join the Nigerian Navy died on Saturday in an auto crash in Jigawa State.

The young indigenes of Gagarawa Local Government Area were said to be on their way to the venue of the recruitment exercise in Kano when the accident occurred on Hadejia-Kano Road in Ringim Local Government Area.



Read full article

https://optimistsky.com/tragic-10-intending-navy-recruits-die-in-auto-crash/

Nigerians are beginning to express anxiety due to reports of a likely second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid an economic recession and job losses reputedly caused by the first wave of the pandemic.

This is as the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19, while his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, also on Friday evening announced that he was going into self-isolation as one of his family members and a government official tested positive for the virus.


Read Full article

https://optimistsky.com/anxiety-as-sanwo-olu-tests-positive-el-rufai-in-isolation-amid-second-covid-19-wave/

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied that it reached an agreement with the federal government, to call off its ongoing strike on December 9, 2020.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Tuesday claimed that ASUU promised to call off their nine-month old strike before Wednesday.

Ngige further stated that the government has delivered on offers made to ASUU.

However, ASUU president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a statement on Wednesday, made it clear that representatives of the union, don’t have the powers to suspend industrial action.

Read full article


https://optimistsky.com/federal-government-lied-about-agreement-on-date-to-call-off-strike-ASUU/

Burna is no doubt one of African’s leading Artiste right now and after the release of his 2019 album, “African Giant” which got him Nominated in the 62nd Grammys Award for World Music Category in January 2020, one would think he would slow down. Sure, there are many reasons artistes consider before going back into the studio for another album but not Burna Boy. Losing the opportunity to win the award which was won by the legendary Beninese singer “Angelina Kidjo” hasn’t stopped the Odugwu from eyeing the prize.

Well, while Burna Boy can’t contest “Angelina Kidjo” greatness because he actually featured her on a song in the said album and has publicly praised her many times which she did in kind after taking home the award in January, he hasn’t given up the fight and sure he wants to take home the trophy even, it means beating her to it next year.


https://optimistsky.com/blog/05/12/2020/reason-why-burna-boy-might-take-the-grammys-award-with-twice-as-tall/

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, made the disclosure during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) in Abuja on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the theme for the 2nd Annual Summit is “Building Sustainable Transport Infrastructure in Nigeria: Opportunities, Innovations and Technologies”.



https://optimistsky.com/blog/04/12/2020/federal-government-approves-new-charges-on-lagos-ibadan-rail/

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has called President Muhammadu Buhari a failure who should resign and beg Nigerians for forgiveness.

According to him, Buhari has disappointed those who voted for him.

In an interview with the BCC Hausa Service on Thursday, Lamido said the killing of innocent farmers in Zabarmari village in Jere local government area of Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents, as well as the general insecurity in the country has shown that Buhari is a failure and that “something is wrong somewhere.”

According to Lamido, Buhari is very arrogant and needs to drop his arrogance and resign from the exalted office as he has nothing else to offer Nigeria and Nigerians.

Read full detail


https://optimistsky.com/blog/04/12/2020/president-buhari-is-a-failure-he-should-resign-and-beg-for-forgiveness-says-lamido/

In spite of the recent federal government pronouncement that the nation’s land borders would be re-opened soon after being closed for over a year, indications from across the country are that state commands of the main security agencies manning the borders –the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are still awaiting an official directive, hence there is no practical preparation at the borders yet to that effect.

LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that after identifying certain grey areas that may hinder effective manning of the borders, both the NIS and the NCS are strategizing to ensure effective security and scrutiny at the border posts when the re-opening order is given in order to separate genuine migrants from criminals.

The country’s land borders were closed since last year to, according to the government, curtail the smuggling and illegal importation of agricultural products, drugs, and small arms into the country.



https://optimistsky.com/blog/04/12/2020/border-reopening-customs-immigration-identify-grey-areas/

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Thursday, met with the Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, the Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Bisi Akande, a former National Chairman of APC.

The meeting, which was held behind closed-door at the residence of Akande in Ila Orangun, was to broker peace between Oyetola and Aregbesola.

Oyetola, a member of the APC, took over leadership from Aregbesola in 2018.

Read full article


https://optimistsky.com/blog/03/12/2020/details-of-asiwaju-tinubus-meeting-with-aregbesola-oyetola-akande-others-emerge/

UN Secretary-General António Guterres today delivered a landmark speech on the state of the planet at Columbia University, setting the stage for dramatically scaled-up ambition on climate change over the coming year.

While warning that current environmental and climate trends are dire, he pointed to the many solutions already within reach.

“Now is the time to transform humankind’s relationship with the natural world – and with each other. And we must do so together,” the Secretary-General said.

“Solidarity is humanity. Solidarity is survival. That is the lesson of 2020. With the world in disunity and disarray trying to contain the pandemic, let’s learn the lesson and change course for the pivotal period ahead,” he added.



https://optimistsky.com/blog/02/12/2020/united-nations-secretary-general-urges-scaled-up-efforts-on-climate-change/

The CBN made the clarification in a circular titled: “Re: Amendment to Procedures for Receipt of Diaspora Remittances,” dated December 2, 2020, which was signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji.

It explained: “Further to the Circular Ref. No. TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/011 of November 30, 2020, on the above subject, we wish to reiterate and clarify to all International Money Transfer Operators (IMTO) the following: IMTOs must ensure that all funds in favour of beneficiaries/recipients in Nigeria be deposited into the agent banks‘ correspondent account.

Read full article here


https://optimistsky.com/blog/02/12/2020/cbn-clarifies-policy-on-diaspora-remittances/

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed an increase in the number of N-Power beneficiaries.

Buhari ordered the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to increase N-Power beneficiaries from 500, 000 to 1,000,000.

Disclosing this on Monday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, said the order was part of Buhari’s promise to lift 100m Nigerians from poverty in the next 10 years.

She said Buhari also directed an increase in the number of beneficiaries of the Home-Grown School Feeding by 5,000,000.

Read full article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/01/12/2020/n-power-president-buhari-order-for-increment-of-beneficiaries-from-500000-to-1m/

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said on Monday a large number of police officers in the country abandoned their duties of fighting crimes and opted to carry bags for wives of Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

The governor, who stated this when he featured on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, decried the killings in Kaduna, saying the situation has overwhelmed the police.

He urged the National Assembly to undertake the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to give states the control of the police.

El Rufai said: “We’ve always made a very strong argument that one centralised police in a federation does not work. Nigeria is the only country in the world that has only one police force.

“We have made the argument that states should be allowed to have their own police and that even local governments should be allowed to have their own community policing.

“The number of policemen we have in Nigeria is inadequate; it is less than half of what we need and a lot of them are engaged in non-police duties like carrying the handbags of the wives of very important people.

Read full Article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/30/11/2020/policemen-abandon-their-main-duties-carry-bags-for-wives-of-vips-says-el-rufai/

There's a striking difference between the leaderships of ASUU and NLC as exemplified in their recent agitations.

In Nigeria of today, struggle for relevance becomes the key word to surviving the harsh economic realities in the country. It is no longer news that everybody fights for himself. The dependence on organised bodies to act as activists or mouthpieces for people, who are aggrieved over certain unpopular policies of government(s) most times turn out to be a sham.

No wonder, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is dancing in the sun just for the sake of seeking relevance while in the actual sense of it, the body is impotent. However, an organisation like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which acts as the main catalyst between universities lecturers and the government needs to be commended for standing to be counted.


Read full Article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/30/11/2020/ASUU-strike-between-potent-ASUU-and-ineffective-nlc/

The Argentina government has declared three days of national mourning for the death of football legend Diego Armando Maradona, the office of the presidency has said.

“The President of the Nation will decree three days of national mourning from the day (of his death),” according to the statement on Wednesday evening, reports Xinhua news agency.

Read full article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/26/11/2020/argentine-government-declares-three-days-national-mourning-for-diego-maradona/

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday approved about N39.7 billion for road maintenance and erosion/flood and pollution control projects.
This was announced at the end of a virtual council meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Read full article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/26/11/2020/federal-executive-council-provide-n39-7b-for-erosion-control-road-maintenance/

Diego Maradona, the Argentine soccer great who scored the “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and led his country to that year’s World Cup title before later struggling with cocaine use and obesity, has died. He was 60.

A person close to Maradona said he died Wednesday of a heart attack. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

Read full article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/25/11/2020/most-beloved-icon-in-football-history-diego-maradona-dies-at-age-of-60/

Two police stations were on Tuesday attacked in the Agodi-Gate area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city.

The affected stations include the Idi-Ogungun police station which was set ablaze and the Agodi II station which was vandalised.

The Idi Ogungun Police station is the oldest and first to be built in the Old Western Region.

It was built in 1929.

The attack on the facility followed a pandemonium that erupted after a commercial motorcyclist was allegedly shot by an official of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in Agodi-Gate.

Read full article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/25/11/2020/oyo-state-ever-and-oldest-police-station-went-down-by-hoodlums/

The Waltersmith modular refinery in Imo State will refine 5,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday said the establishment of modular refineries in the country will make petroleum products available in the country and eliminate importation.

The President spoke at the virtual inauguration of the 5,000 barrels per day Waltersmith modular refinery in Ibigwe, Imo State, as well as the Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Phase-2 works to expand the capacity of the refinery to 50,000 barrels/day.

President Buhari said the deployment of modular refineries was one of the four key elements of his administration's Refinery Roadmap rolled out in 2018, adding that its implementation will make Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products.

Read full article here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/25/11/2020/nigeria-president-buhari-inaugurates-nigerias-largest-modular-refinery/

Onochie had posted the picture on her Twitter page while urging Nigerians to ensure they wore face masks.

She wrote, “Wearing a mask is not a political statement, it’s not punishment by the government. Protect yourself, wear one. These have made efforts with masking where those of us who are more vulnerable and susceptible to COVID-19 are still swearing that it’s a scam. God bless their efforts.”

Read full article here


https://optimistsky.com/blog/25/11/2020/nigerian-celebrity-actress-adesua-etomi-wellington-blasts-president-buharis-aide-onochie-describes-her-as-a-disgrace/

A Professor and Consultant Surgeon at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka, Felix Chukwuneke, has taken to social media to mourn his daughter, Chisom, who died on October 18, 2020, barely a year after being named the best graduating student of Graceland School, Enugu.

Chisom, according to the school, obtained seven distinctions at the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in 2019.

Read full details here

https://optimistsky.com/blog/24/11/2020/strange-thing-girl-dies-after-obtaining-seven-a1s-in-wassce/