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Tag: January

  • El-rufai Orders Reopening of all Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna

    El-rufai Orders Reopening of all Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna

    Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State have approved the resumption of all tertiary institutions in the State from Monday 25th January.

    Kaduna State Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Mrs Phoebe Sukai-Yayi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. According to her the approval came after an Assessment Team had gone round all Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna State and ensure their level of preparedness and plans for Reopening.

    She said full complaince with the state’s Covid-19 preventive protocol and safe learning environments against the pandemic must be prioritised by the Institutions.

    “All the measures which have been assessed and confirmed to be in place must be sustained as any lapse will lead to the closure of the erring Institution without notice. Resumption by all Tertiary Institutions will be in phases aa provided by the Institutions and According to their academic levels and subject to School’s complaince with guidelines in place….” She said.

    She added that; “Meanwhile assessment based Covid-19 guidelines issued by the State Ministry of Health for all other levels of public and Private schools (Secondary and Primary) is ongoing and once this is concluded, reported and approved, a pronouncement will be made accordingly.

  • OPEC, non-OPEC countries to increase production by 0.5mb/d in January

    OPEC, non-OPEC countries to increase production by 0.5mb/d in January

    The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the non-OPEC countries have agreed to increase crude oil production by 0.5 million barrels per day (mb/d) in January.

    The group reached the agreement at the 13th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM), held via videoconference, on Tuesday in Vienna.

    The meeting acknowledged the need to gradually return two mb/d to the market, with the pace being determined according to market conditions.

    It reconfirmed the decision made at the 12th ONOMM to increase production by 0.5 mb/d starting in January 2021, and adjusting production to 7.7 mb/d from 7.2 mb/d.

    The adjustments to the production level for February and March 2021 will be implemented as per the distribution detailed in a table.

    It noted that production adjustments for April and subsequent months would be decided during the monthly ONOMM following the criteria agreed upon in the 12th ONOMM.

    The meeting reiterated the need to continue closely monitoring market fundamentals, including non-DoC supply and its impact on the global oil balance and overall market stability.

    It further noted that high conformity levels had contributed significantly to market rebalancing and stability.

    “Between May and November, participating OPEC and non-OPEC countries contributed to reducing the global supply by approximately 1.9 billion barrels, including voluntary adjustments, and this has been key to the rebalancing of the market.

    “The meeting drew attention to the exceptional year of 2020 as an outlier that distorts the latest five-year average of OECD commercial oil stock levels.

    “It recommended retaining the 2015-2019 average as a more representative metric, while keeping the latest five-year average for the time being.

    “Furthermore, the meeting expressed appreciation to participating countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Angola, which have performed beyond expectation.

    “At the same time, it reiterated the critical importance of adhering to full conformity, and compensating the overproduced volumes in accordance with the statements of the 11th and 12th ONOMM, in order to achieve the objective of market rebalancing and avoid undue delay in the process,’’ it said.

    The meeting requested all underperforming participating countries to submit their plans for implementation of the required compensation for the overproduced volumes to the OPEC Secretariat by Jan. 15, 2021.

    It welcomed Dr Mohammad Alfares, Kuwait’s new Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water, and expressed its appreciation to his predecessor, Dr Khaled A. Al-Fadhel, for his dedication to the DoC process.

    It further decided to hold the next Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) Meeting on Feb. 3, 2021, followed by a JMMC Meeting on March 3, 2021 and ONOMM on March 4, 2021

  • ‘Liverpool need a defender by January 3’

    ‘Liverpool need a defender by January 3’

    Liverpool need to be looking at tying up a deal for a new centre-half by January 3 according to John Aldridge, with the Reds board charged with the task of delivering more transfer “magic”.

    The reigning Premier League champions have found considerable value in recent deals, including Mohamed Salah, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota.

    More of the same may be required in the current window, with a string of untimely injuries leaving Jurgen Klopp down to the bare bones at the back.

    Finding value in winter markets is never easy as asking prices soar mid-season, but Liverpool are in a tough situation.

    Aldridge hopes those at Anfield will act decisively with Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all stuck on the sidelines, and the former Reds striker is convinced that there is “someone out there” for Klopp.

    He told the Liverpool Echo after seeing Kalidou Koulibaly and Dayot Upamecano linked with moves to England: “The manager has got to pull a rabbit out of a hat. He’s got to get the backing from the owners – we’ve got to get a centre-half, an experienced one. We’ve only got Fabinho now who can play there – and he’s a midfield player – and two young kids.

    “As well as the kids have done and Fabinho has been magnificent, we won’t win the Premier League if we’re depending on the youngsters, we’ll get caught out too many times.

    “The sooner the better for me. The first, second or third of January, we have to get a centre-half.

    “We’ve also got the return of Champions League football in a few weeks and Matip could still be out.

    “We sold Dejan Lovren and never brought a replacement in but you can’t just bring someone in for the sake of it.

    “You have to find someone who fits the bill across the board and can play the Liverpool way and the Jurgen Klopp way. There’s got to be someone out there.

    “Teams might hold you to ransom and it’s not a great market in January but Michael Edwards and his recruitment team have been fantastic over the years and they’ve got to come up with another piece of magic now.”

  • January: Offloading players is Arsenal priority – Arteta

    January: Offloading players is Arsenal priority – Arteta

    Arsenal will prioritise offloading players in the January transfer window, says manager Mikel Arteta.

    Midfielder Mesut Ozil, whose deal expires in summer 2021, has been left out of the Gunners’ Premier League and Europa League squads this season.

    Defenders Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac have barely featured in the league in 2020-21.

    “We cannot sustain the numbers that we have in certain positions,” said Arteta.

    “There are some players that are going to go on loan and going to leave, and that is the priority.

    “Then we will see if we have the right opportunity in the positions where we need some more help.”

  • Wike threatens fresh COVID-19 lockdown in Rivers from January

    Wike threatens fresh COVID-19 lockdown in Rivers from January

    The Government of Rivers, on Sunday, in Port Harcourt, has warned that it may re-impose lockdown in January to contain the new surge in Coronavirus cases in the State.

    Gov. Nyesom Wike handed the warning at a thanksgiving service in celebration of the 90th birthday of Mrs. Priscilla Mark, at the St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa.

    The governor expressed his worry over the refusal of most churches and markets to enforce the wearing of face masks as required as a COVID-19 protocol in Rivers.

    He said that although the State government had initially relaxed the restriction on the number of persons who worshipped in churches, new measures would be announced to curb the spread of second wave of COVID-19 in Rivers.

    “When you go to some churches, they don’t wear mask. Go to market, they don’t wear mask. They believe COVID is not real.

    “It is not real because it has not happened to you; nobody had died whom you know. When somebody has died and the person was close to you, you will know that COVID is real.

    “So, it is real and I want to appeal to all of you that we have to be stricter now because the second wave is more dangerous than the first wave. It’s very, very dangerous. I know how many people we have lost since the second wave started”, the governor said.

    Gov. Wike implored the Bishop, Diocese of Ikwerre to prevail on members of all the churches under his jurisdiction to always wear their face mask.

    “If you don’t comply, I have no choice, but to shut down the churches; Pentecostal, Catholic, Anglican. I have no choice, because when you have it, who spends the money? It is the state that treats.

    “So, we need to use the money for some other things, but not for this. Let us discipline ourselves and know that COVID is real. Let nobody tell you that there is nothing like COVID. It’s real.”

    The governor urged PDP leaders in Ikwerre Local government area to use Mrs. Mark’s 90th birthday to work in unison for the development to the area, and in particular for the chairman of Ikwerre local government, Samuel Nwanosike to respect party leaders and ensure that all stakeholders worked in unison to move the State forward.

    The governor, who was accompanied by the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, announced a donation of N50 million to the church.

    Delivering a sermon titled “Thanking God for His Mercy” the Bishop, Diocese of Ikwerre, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Blessing Enyindah, stressed the need for people to always acknowledge God’s mercies in their lives.

    Bishop Enyindah, who observed that in an era where people lived below 50 years, said it was God’s mercy that made Mrs. Priscilla Mark to attain 90 years of age.

    He admonished people to inculcate the habit of healthy living and commit their lives unto God in order to attain a 90 years on earth.

  • BREAKING: Varsities will reopen in January – Ngige

    BREAKING: Varsities will reopen in January – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has said the Academic Activities in Nigeria Universities (ASUU) will resume back to work in January 2021.

    He says the negotiations between the ASUU and the Federal government had reached 98 percent, adding that it remains only two percent to be completed

    He spoke Monday in Alor, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, during the launch of Ngige free medical outreach at the Community’s Health Center.

    Ngige said, “We have met about 98 percent of the request of ASUU. Some 5 to 2 percent is what you can call promissory notes.

    “So, I am very hopeful that by midnight today, there are some works we are supposed to get on to do. They also have some work they are supposed to do on their own side with their people.

    “Tuesday, we will meet in the afternoon and we will compare notes. We will put everything on the table and compare. I believe that we might have come to the end of the strike when we meet tomorrow.

    “Well, it is a journey of a thousand miles which you will have to take one step first. Tomorrow, all things being equal, we will agree now to agree because we were disagreeing before.

    “We disagree to agree and agree to disagree formerly. But tomorrow, I hope we will agree to agree. Once we do that, schools will re – open in January,” the Minister said.

    Meanwhile, Ngige said the free medical outreach that was launched in Alor Monday, was equally extended to neighbouring communities like Abatete, Oraukwu, Ideani and Nnobi among others

    He said those with different ailments like hepatitis, eye problems among others should go and be treated free of charge, adding that about 15 medical Doctors in different fields would handle the cases at the Health Center.

  • Juve plan double January raid on Chelsea

    Juve plan double January raid on Chelsea

    Serie A champion Juventus are lining up a double January raid on Chelsea.

    Il Bianco Nero says Juve coach Andrea Pirlo wants to bring in Olivier Giroud and Emerson Palmiero to help kick-start his campaign while he is also eyeing up moves for Sassuolo star Manuel Locatelli and Udinese ace Rodrigo De Paul.

    Giroud has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge for the last year as he continues to search for more first-team minutes in order to secure his spot in France’s Euro 2020 squad.

    Italian left back Emerson has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge behind Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso and has been reduced to cameo appearances this season.

  • Arsenal prepared to sell Pepe in January

    Arsenal prepared to sell Pepe in January

    Arsenal are prepared to sell Nicolas Pepe in January.

    The Daily Star says Nicolas Pepe is set to be eased out of Arsenal – but the Gunners are desperate to avoid a repeat of the Mesut Ozil situation.

    Their £72million record signing bagged a stunning opener in the 3-0 win over the Molde on Thursday side but the die has already been cast.

    He won’t feature in today’s Premier League fixture against Wolves – or in the subsequent clashes with Tottenham and Burnley – following a red card last weekend.

    The Ivory Coast international, 25, was sent-off in the 0-0 draw at Elland Road for headbutting Leeds left-back Ezgjan Alioski.

    Behind the scenes the Gunners are ready to offload £140k-a-week Pepe if a suitable buyer can be found.

    The former Lille man has been working hard in training but there are growing concerns that he’s not cut out for the Premier League.

  • LaLiga: Barcelona to offload six players in January

    LaLiga: Barcelona to offload six players in January

    Barcelona are planning to sell as much as six players in the January transfer window, Marca reports.

    New manager, Ronald Koeman, is still shaping his squad at the Nou Camp, having completed no less than 14 deals in the summer.

    The likes of Luis Suarez, Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic were all moved out, while Miralem Pjanic, Francisco Trincao and Sergino Dest arrived.

    However, the club is planning to sell defenders Junior Firpo and Samuel Umtiti, who have been deemed surplus to requirements.

    Matheus Fernandes only arrived in the summer after agreeing a deal in January, but he is also on the list to be axed, as well as Danish striker Martin Braithwaite, who has been used regularly off the bench this season.

    Barca will also loan out youngsters Riqui Puig and Carles Alena, who are on the fringes of Koeman’s squad.

  • Koeman reveals number of players Barca will buy

    Koeman reveals number of players Barca will buy

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has reaffirmed aims to buy two players in January.

    Ansu Fati has undergone surgery and will be sidelined for the next four months. However, Koeman has revealed that Barcelona are not planning to sign any player to cover for him in January.

    “We don’t have to sign [any player] for this injury,” Koeman noted. “We had already spoken with [Barcelona technical secretary] Ramon Planes and everyone already knew which positions had to be strengthened.

    “We were looking for a forward and a centre-back and everything remains the same.”