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The World Bank has finally approved Nigeria’s request for a $1.5 billion loan. The Bretton Wood institution earlier delayed the loan which was sought by Nigeria in the wake of the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic due to concerns over reforms as it feels that the country has not shown enough commitment towards achieving them. Some of the reforms include the unification and flexibility of the exchange rate, removal of fuel subsidy, increase in electricity tariffs amongst others. Announcing the approval of the loan in a statement on Tuesday,  the Bretton Wood institution said the facility is a five-year country partnership framework (CPF) that would last from 2021 to 2024. Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said the loan would focus on four areas of engagement namely, investing in human capital, promoting jobs and economic transformation and diversification, enhancing resilience and strengthening the foundations of the public sector. Chau

A meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities was again cancelled on Monday. This is the second time in a row the meetings were cancelled. However, no reason was given for the cancellation of the parley scheduled to discuss the union’s current strike. According to the Nation, it was gathered that ASUU was still consulting with its organs on the latest offer by the Federal Government to the striking university teachers. The Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Charles Akpan, announced the postponement in a text message. “Good morning, colleagues. Please, note that the meeting with ASUU, earlier scheduled for today (yesterday), is cancelled. The inauguration of the technical committee on PMS is as scheduled,” the message read. When contacted, ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, said the union’s leadership did not agree on any meeting with the government as

Lagos State COVID-19 deaths hit 223 on Friday, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has revealed.  The deaths were disclosed by the Commissioner through his verified Twitter account @ProfAkinAbayomi, while giving the state’s COVID-19 update for December 11. “Two #COVID-19 related deaths were recorded. A total number of #COVID19 related deaths now stand at 223,” he said. The Commissioner noted that 225 new COVID-19 infections were confirmed out of a total of 2,225 tests conducted in the state on the reported day. Abayomi stated that the new cases bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Lagos to 24,872. He added that the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the state since the inception of the pandemic now stands at 186,335. Abayomi’s tweets read, “2, 595 of the confirmed cases have since been discharged from #COVID19 Care Centres following full recovery. “20, 419 of the confirmed cases monitored in communities by #COVID19 Lagos Re

Abubakar Shekau of  Boko Haram sect has claimed responsibility for the abduction of at least 333 school pupils in Kankara, Katsina State, saying the act was to discourage “un-Islamic practices such as Western education.” In the audio, a terrorist leader, believed to be Abubakar Shekau, added that the government was not teaching the pupils what Allah and his Holy Prophet commanded. HumAngle “What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his Holy Prophet,” he said. “They are also not teaching what Allah and his Holy Prophet commanded. They are rather destroying Islam. It may be subtle, but Allah, the Lord of the skies and earth, knows whatever is hidden. May Allah promote Islam. May we die as Muslims. In a nutshell, we are behind what happened in Katsina,” the leader said, according to a report by Daily Trust.  SaharaReporters · Boko Haram Claims Responsibility

Joe Biden President-elect Joe Biden, speaking after the Electoral College affirmed his election win, said the “will of the people prevailed” today. “Once again, in America, the rule of law, our Constitution, and the will of the people prevailed,” Biden said. Joe Biden WowkTV “Our democracy pushed, tested, threatened, proved to be resilient, true and strong.” Biden noted that he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris received more votes “than any ticket has received in the history of America.” See Also Sahara Reporters Electoral College Confirms Joe Biden's Victory 0 Comments 1 Hour Ago President-elect Joe Biden praised the efforts by local and state officials and volunteers who “did their duty in the face of a pandemic” by upholding the election results. “American democracy works because America makes it work at a local level. One of the extraordinary things we saw this year was that everyday Americans, our friends and our neighbours, often volunteers, Democra