Nigeria has recorded 610 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

In the agency’s latest report on Wednesday morning, the infections were recorded on Tuesday in 13 states. Lagos, the epicenter of the disease, took the lead with 281 cases, followed by Rivers (152) and Akwa Ibom (85).

Others are Ogun (21), Oyo (21), Ekiti (14), FCT (13), Delta (7), Edo (6), Ondo (4), Bayelsa (2), Kano (2), and Plateau (2).

Till date, a total of 179,118 cases have been confirmed in the country, 166,131 patients have been discharged and 2,194 deaths recorded in 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

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A third wave of the pandemic, triggered by the deadlier Delta variant, has restricted moves by governments across the globe to ease restrictions and revive economic activities which were grounded for the most part of the previous year.

The development has also posed a barrier to the global vaccination drive with the efficacy of some vaccines less when it comes to the strain.

Currently, over 200 million cases of the virus have been confirmed with a death toll pegged at four million worldwide.

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COVID-19: Nigeria Records 610 New Cases, Two Deaths

Multiple award-winning singer and DMW boss, Davido has revealed he will be harnessing his acting skills as he will be properly featuring in a new Hollywood movie.

The “Shopping Spree" singer confirmed in an interview with DJ Carisma that filming is ongoing in California although details of the movie remains undisclosed.

Davido also disclosed the new movie is partly the reason he’s still out in the US as he will be taking on an actual acting role unlike his debut in the movie, “Coming 2 America.”

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He said: “I got movies coming on, I did a little acting in ‘Coming to America 2’ but I didn’t really act, I performed at the wedding.

“Now I’m about to do a little acting, I just got enrolled in this movie, part of why I’m out here.”

Recall the 30BG boss featured in the 2021 sequel of 1988 hit comedy film “Coming to America.”

In the comedy film, he featured as himself where he performed one of his hit songs, “Assurance.”

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Afrobeats Singer, Davido to act in new Hollywood movie

The long-running corruption trial of South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma over an arms deal dating back more than two decades was postponed on Tuesday to next month after he was hospitalized last week.

The 79-year-old was admitted to hospital for observation on Friday for an undisclosed condition, which prompted Tuesday’s hearing to be held virtually rather than in open court.

“The matter is postponed to 9th and 10th of September, 2021,” Judge Piet Koen declared, pending a medical report on Zuma.

The case has been carrying on for years and suffered a string of holdups.

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Wim Trengove, a lawyer representing the state, last month acerbically referred to the postponements as “Stalingrad: Season 27,” apparently referring to an entrenched strategy of delay by the defence.

Tuesday’s hearing was to involve a plea by the defence to remove a state prosecutor and thus have the charges against Zuma dropped.

Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering linked to the 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and equipment from five European arms firms when he was deputy president.

He is accused of taking bribes from one of the firms, French defence giant Thales, which has been charged with corruption. Both Zuma and Thales have pleaded not guilty.

Zuma last month began serving a 15-month jail sentence for snubbing a commission probing state corruption under his 2009-2018 presidency.

He remains in hospital at an undisclosed location.

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Zuma’s Corruption Trial Postponed To September 9

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus has declared he will not resign.

He said the minority calling for his resignation should come clean on his offence.

The PDP National chairman broke his silence in a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ike Abonyi

The statement reads: “The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has said that he will not resign his position."

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“Prince Secondus said in a short statement from his media office that nothing so far warrants his resignation from the party position and those tiny minority calling for his resignation should come clean and tell party members across the country his offense why he should resign."

“He said he will remain focussed and committed to the ideals of the party which he swore to protect and defend upon his election to lead this great party 44 months ago.”

PDP chairman refuses to step down from his office

PDP Controversy: I won’t resign, says Secondus

The Federal Government has announced a new date of Aug. 16 to begin administering the second batch of COVID-19 Moderna vaccines doses donated by the U.S.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the announcement on Monday when he featured on “Good Morning Nigeria’’ a live program of the Nigerian Television Authority.

Speaking on the program monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the minister said the postponement of the vaccination exercise from Aug. 10 to Aug. 16 was “purely administrative’’.

“We have received 4,80,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and we will commence administering the doses on Monday Aug. 16.

“The exercise was supposed to commence tomorrow Aug. 10, but we suspended it till Monday, and the reason is purely administrative.

“You see, when vaccines arrive the country, they are taken to National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

“The agency which will analyze them and thereafter give us a green light for the use,’’ he said.

The minister debunked reports in certain publications that the exercise was postponed indefinitely over concerned raised by some experts on the propriety of using Moderna vaccines.

He said, like the first batch of the AstraZeneca Vaccine which had been fully administered without hitch, the doses of Moderna vaccine donated to the country by the US were “safe and meant to save lives’’

“I want to thank Nigerians for the way they responded to the first batch of AstraZeneca Vaccine.

“I can say authoritatively that we succeeded administering the four million doses of the vaccine and we do not have a single expired vaccine.

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“They were all administered to the targeted population.

“I want to encourage Nigerians to come out also to take the Moderna vaccine.

The minister also disclosed that the second phase of the vaccination exercise would target people from 18 years and above.

He explained that the 18 years and above were targeted because the younger ones, even in the US, were now becoming more vulnerable to COVID-19infection and attack

Mohammed underscored the need for people to come out to take the vaccine stressing that “Nigeria has entered the third wave of COVID-19’’.

He explained that the Delta variant of COVID-19 pandemic which is more virulent and deadly had been recorded in some states since July.

“If you have our two doses, it is clear that even if you are infected with COVID-19, it will be very mild.

“You will not be hospitalized, talk less of death as opposed to the fellow that has not taken the vaccine.

“So, we must encourage people to go out and take the vaccine,’’ he said.

Mohammed said following the pandemic, a major challenge faced was “infodemic’’ caused by fake news around the vaccine.

“For instance, they first came up with the fake news that it has magnetic effect if you take the vaccine.

“After that, they said it was meant to depopulate certain part of the country.

“ All this is not true because every vaccine you use today has been proven to be safe and to safe life.

“ If the vaccines are not safe, they will not be administered,’’ he said.

Mohammed reiterated the call on religious and community leaders, media and other influential people to join the Presidential Committee on COVID-19 in fighting fake news and disinformation around the vaccines.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Aug.2, Nigeria received four million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States government.

Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said the vaccines, which arrived are undergoing validation by the country’s drug regulator.

He said the doses will be distributed to the local states once they are certified fit for use.

The U.S. government last week shipped nearly 10 million doses to two of the most populous African countries – Nigeria and South Africa.

COVID-19: FG sets Aug 16 for phase 2 vaccination

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday painted a scary picture of teachers’ truancy in the state’s public schools.

He said recent census of schools in four local governments showed that 41 per cent of teachers were absent from their duty posts.

The governor spoke in Ilorin at the ‘Kwara Education Futures Summit.’

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Said he: “Huge gaps still exist. For instance, our recent school census across four local governments shows that 41 per cent of our teachers are absent at their duty posts. “No single teacher was seen in 54 of the 368 schools sampled, while 23 per cent of students in head teachers’ record were not in school during the census.

“Only 15 per cent of the schools sampled were rated as needing no repair, implying that 85 per cent of our classrooms require rehabilitation. The picture is bleaker when you consider availability or adoption of technology in our schools. The gender parity index for ratio of girls to boys in our school is another source of worry.

The governor added that at the summit, “we will analyze the current state of education in Kwara and develop actionable plan to build a new generation who can hold their own anywhere in the world.”

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Kwara state governor speaks on teachers neglecting their duties 

41% of teachers skip duties, says governor

Kidnappers of the 80-year-old Madam Betinah Benson, mother of the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Dr Kombowei Benson, have demanded a ransom of N500m for her release.

Another group also demanded N200m for the release of Tari Ajanami, the owner of Club 64, a nightclub.

It was gathered that investigators were looking at the possibility that both abductions were planned by one group.

Calls to police spokesman Asinim Butswat were not routed, so he could not confirm the ransom demands.

But a member of the family of the club owner confirmed that they were contacted by the kidnappers who demanded a ransom of N200m.

“I was shocked when they demanded N200m. I hope and pray that they release our brother unhurt,” the family source said.

Abductors demand N500m to free Bayelsa SSG’s mum

There was a mild drama on Thursday as Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike stormed the venue where members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were meeting.

Wike’s sudden appearance at the meeting must have unsettled the meeting as Governors are not members of the BoT and do not attend the party’s BoT meetings.

The Rivers Governor had walked into the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall where the meeting was being held when the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus was delivering his opening address.

Many eyes turned to behold the arrival of the Governor who promptly took his seat among the attendees.

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As of the time of filing this report, it could not be ascertained if the Governor was attending the meeting on the invitation of the BoT.

Spotting a pair of white short-sleeved kaftan with a red Igbo traditional cap, the Governor, who looked visibly agitated, was given the attendance register to sign as soon as he took his seat.

Wike has been at loggerheads with Secondus for the past few months and he is widely believed to be the mastermind of ongoing plots to remove the party chairman from office.

BREAKING: Drama as Wike storms PDP BoT meeting

German sportswear manufacturing giants PUMA has terminated its four-year contract with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

In the letter of termination of Sponsoring and Licensing Agreement, issued on Wednesday PUMA said, “we are referring to the licensing and sponsoring agreement signed between our company and your federation”.

“As a direct consequence of the recent developments, particularly at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and pursuant to clauses 9.2 and 7.3 of the Agreement, we hereby terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.

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“PUMA especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals,” the statement added.

The termination of the deal comes amidst an alleged leadership tussle between the Ibrahim Gusau-led AFN board and that headed by the Minister for Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare.

Consequently, the minister is said to have vowed that the Nigerian Athletes will not wear the PUMA kits.

The Department of State Services had last year cleared Gusau and his vice president Sunday Adeleye over corruption allegations levelled against him by the sports ministry.

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PUMA and Athletics federation of Nigeria 

PUMA Terminates Four-Year Contract With Nigeria

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over a virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council(FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari is in London, UK, for a medical check-up after participating in the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2021 to 2025.

Ministers physically present at the virtual FEC meeting included Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, Abubakar Malami, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General and Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

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Others were, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education.

More so, Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Resources, Sabo Nanono.

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President are also in attendance.

At the last meeting on July 14, FEC approved N8.6 billion for the construction of vaccine laboratory, text kits for HIV/AIDS and procurement of medical equipment. (NAN)

vice president of Nigeria in FEC meeting 

Osinbajo presides over virtual FEC Meeting

Simone Biles made her long-awaited return to the Olympic Games on Tuesday, taking bronze in the beam final won by Chinese teenager Guan Chenchen at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.

It was the US superstar’s first taste of competition in Tokyo since dramatically standing down during the women’s team final last week, struggling with the “twisties”, a condition meaning gymnasts lose the ability to orientate themselves in mid-air.

It was Biles’ seventh Olympic medal, equalling Shannon Miller’s record for an American gymnast.

The four-time gold medallist from the Rio Games received a huge cheer from her US teammates when she entered the arena.

With bib 392 on her back, she filed in with the other eight finalists, blowing a kiss to the cameras.

Another cheer rang out when the stadium announcer said: “And now, representing the United States…Simone Biles..”

She looked pensive on her comeback as she waited for her turn to climb up onto the 10cm wide beam for her 90-second routine.

Among the audience was Olympic chief Thomas Bach and two canine cardboard cutouts of her beloved French bulldogs — Lilo and Rambo.

Peeling off her US Team red tracksuit, she practised her dance moves in her star-spangled banner leotard as she waited for her turn as the third to perform.

At 6:11 pm local time (0911 GMT), it was her time. One long week from her first shock withdrawal, the 24-year-old woman from Ohio was finally back at her day job.

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Wiping her brow, she approached the beam, chalked up, and finally got the wheels back on her derailed Olympic campaign.

While avoiding any twists incorporated in her favoured and most difficult moves, she put in a solid performance, ending with a double backward somersault, double pike dismount.

Her face breaking into a broad grin, she waved and hugged rivals and team officials, the relief of having performed clear on her face.

Her routine earned the triple world champion on the apparatus 14.000 points.

She was lying second behind Tang Xijing until 16-year-old Guan, the last of the eight finalists to go, put in a superb display to take gold with 14.633 points, relegating Biles to bronze, the same colour she won in Rio.

Bach was one of the first to congratulate her on her comeback, as were ‘Lilo and Rambo’ in their mute manner from the stands after her Tokyo nightmare ended in smiles on the third rung of the beam podium.

Simone Biles Wins Bronze After Mental Health Battle

Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye housemate, Yousef has revealed he has a crush on Liquorose.

Yousef told fellow housemate Whitemoney during a conversation on Monday.

Yousef and Liquorose had kissed during a truth and dare game on Sunday night.

Speaking to Whitemoney, Yousef said he kissed Liquorose because he is crushing on her.

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He said although he is yet to tell her about his feeling but he waited for Sunday night.

“Liquorose is my crush but I haven’t told her. For real she is my crush,” said Yousef

”Although I haven’t told her, I waited for that moment to kiss her during last night’s game.”

BBNaija: Yousef admits having a crush on Liquorose

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.