Photonews: Schools have finally resumed to exit classes in Secondary, Primary and Technical colleges
Schools have finally resumed to exit classes in Secondary, Primary and Technical Colleges across the country. The instructions to them remain that they must wash their hands, use their masks, use sanitizers, have their temperatures checked, and maintain physical distancing. The pictures above and below is of some schools in Lagos state. It shows the level of compliance as the students get back to school to prepare for their examinations.
ShopRite Set To Exit Nigeria And Sell Off Their Facilities Due to Decline in Sales
South Africa’s grocery retailer ShopRite is leaving Africa’s biggest market, Nigeria, 15 years after it opened shop in the West African country.
The announcement by ShopRite came months after another South African brand, Mr Price, exited the market.
International supermarkets (excluding Nigeria) contributed 11.6% to group sales and reported 1.4% decline in sales from 2018. South African operations contributed 78% of overall sales and saw 8.7% rise for the year.
The company said it has been approached by potential investors willing to take over its Nigerian operations. It said it considering an outright sale of its operation or selling a majority stake in its Nigerian subsidiary.
“As such, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited may be classified as a discontinued operation,” ShopRite said in a statement on Monday.
In April the supermarket announced it lost 8.1% of its sales in constant currency terms at the end of the second half (H2) of 2019 due to the September xenophobic attacks.
In September, Shoprite stores in Nigeria were vandalised and looted following an alleged xenophobic attack in South Africa, targeting Nigerians.
Owing to fears of further attacks several Shoprite stores across Lagos were sealed and guarded by police.
In the report released in April, the parent company stated that the impact of the store closures and drop in customer count resulted in a difficult half for the company.
ShopRite said the subsequent reduction in customer count during and after the crisis implies that some customers of the supermarkets in Nigeria boycotted the brand.
The difficult half development is not limited to Nigeria alone, as activities in some African nations also created holes in the revenue of Shoprite Holdings, especially the supermarkets out of the shores of South Africa (Non-RSA).
Also, the challenging trading conditions, store closures, load shedding, and currency devaluations in these counties resulted in the company’s furniture division, which includes its Non-RSA business. Due to this, Shoprite’s sale of merchandise dropped by 2.7%, while credit participation increased to 13.7% (2018: 12.5%) of the business’ R3.3 billion sales for the interim period.
However, ShopRite is not the only South African country leaving Nigeria. In June, Mr. Price Group also stated plans to close its Nigerian business to focus on its home market business in South Africa.
The popular affordable clothing, sport, and home wear brand has closed four out of its five Nigerian stores and expects to close the last one in the coming months.
Nigeria is the third country where the company has exited, as it had left Australia and Poland in 2019.
The Durban-based company cited challenges like supply-chain disruptions and challenges in getting funds out of the country as reasons it has struggled to operate in Nigeria.
OPEN LETTER TO THE ARMED FORCES __ By Martinaluther
OPEN LETTER TO THE ARMED FORCES!!!
Hey dear friends, how are you doing?? I miss you, it’s been a while since I last hear from you. Maybe in the next few days, I might see you again, just like my friends saw you exactly this time last year.
By now, you must have heard that some set of intruders will be attacking the streets with placards this coming Wednesday (Aug 5). I hope you are so well prepared for them. Hopefully, you should be planning to do more than what you did to them last year…
It’s so sad that despite being friends, we always have to stand against each other, though, but…
Guess you are wondering who I am. I am one of those people you told that you are their friends, or you didn’t remember saying something like “We are your friends”. Now you remember right, good! …
Sincerely, I love you and I respect you. I mean it. You are the ones who stay up all night while I’m still fast asleep to protect me, isn’t it?? And each time there’s a robbery case, you are the one who show up, isn’t it?.. Seriously, I know your worth. You help in keeping orders….
Hmm, but beyond your bossy look lies a man who needed help… Oh yes, I do know that too.
I know of how much you struggle to maintain a standard life, how much you couldn’t boast of serving your nation. I know of how much you couldn’t say the truth with all your mouth, and how you would rather say “yes sire”, against your dignity and integrity just to safe your work. I know of how your life never mattered, how those who send you off to war wouldn’t care if you die or live. I know of how your pensions get delayed, even your salaries, I know of how you can’t protest when it looks not enough… I quite know you well….
I know of how you can’t shout out that you need help. It’s obvious you are handicapped.
Sadly, you are still the tool use in stopping those who wants to help you shout. In the oppressed class, your own seat is special. You are the oppressed used in oppressing the oppressed… I do not hope to make jest of you. I’m only being sincere with you.
See, you have to pick a side. Enough is enough. You have to choose your tent between the oppressor and the oppressed. You are the major disturbance to the change! While we sometimes feel like we should pity you, we get angry because you are indecisive.
Lance Corporal Martins already opened the floor.. Just imagine if he is not alone. imagine if you had joined him in getting free. just imagine what would happen if you loose your chains, and stand up for liberation and freedom. Just imagine..
Well, Dear Friend, there is a lot I wish to say to you, but I have to go prepare for our next encounter. Please friend, don’t be too harsh on me, if we actually meet, hmm, because I won’t hurt you back even if you do.
Yeah, I still love you. My friends love you too. We would keep hoping that one day, just one day… You break loose from your chain and join the revolutionary train.
Your friend at barricade!
I’m Martinaluther …
Assignment Send this letter to any close armed force member that know. Or better still, send them a lovely message, appreciating their service and telling them about Revolution!!!… They are never our enemies, they are our friends in a stronger chain!!!
Akpabio Names James Ibori, Orji Kalu, Uduaghan,Others As Beneficiaries Of NDDC Contracts
Akpabio has named James Ibori and Orji Uzor Kalu among those who got NDDC Contracts. Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, linked former governors of Delta State, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan to the contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) according to THE EDITORNGR.COM. Others on the list released by Akpabio and forward to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on July 23 are the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, among others. Akpabio’s letter, which was also copied to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, was addressed to the Clerk to the House, Mr Patrick Giwa, with Reference Number MNDA/HM/04/IV/158. The letter was titled, ‘Some Niger Delta Development Commission Contracts Allegedly Given to Some Members of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives).’ According to the document forwarded to the Speaker by Akpabio, one of the projects linked to them was awarded in 2018 at a cost which ranges from N400m and N560m each. Meanwhile, one of the projects linked to James Ibori by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom state was the emergency repairs of Onoghove community road from Ajanesan to Western Delta University at a cost of N485.7m. Uduaghan on the other hand, was linked to the emergency repairs of Close B, Alhaji Estate & Environs, Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt at a cost of N429m. Like Uduaghan, five projects were linked to Kalu, who was simply identified in the document as OUK-Kalu (the project source). The emergency repairs on roads projects linked to Kalu are in Abia State and the costs ranged from N517m to N560m. The details are Emergency repairs of Ezere-Acha-Ndiokoukwu Road (N517.9m) and repairs of Amaubiri-Eluama-Uru Ring Road, Lokpaukwu, Umuchieze (N560m). Others linked to Senator Kalu are Ndi Oji Abam-Atan Road (N523.7m), Okafia-Ozuitem-Bende road (508m), and the Ozu-Amuru-Abam Road at the cost of N523.4m. On the other hand, the cost of the 12 projects linked to Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, located in Imo and Rivers states, were not indicated in the documents.
Private school students must pay N25,000 for COVID-19 test, government says
The Ogun state government has told private school students who are resuming school on Tuesday August 4, 2020 to prepare for the Senior School Certificate Examination to be conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to pay N25,000 for COVID-19 test before they can be allowed to resume school. The PUNCH is reporting that parents are kicking against the move as they are demonstrating in Abeokuta, the state capital, saying the decision was inhuman and cannot be accepted by them. According to the newspaper, the state government had ordered that no boarding school will resume without a valid COVID-19 test certificate. The government is demanding for COVID-19 results from students even when they could not give COVID-19 results to people who have tested positive to the virus in the country. The test in the state will be conducted for the students in designated centres between Monday and Friday in the state. This is even as students are expected to be in school from Tuesday to do final touches to their works before beginning examination on August 17. Reports say parents who attempted to take their children for the test were barred from entering the venue as the N25,000 was demanded before entering the centre. PUNCH reports that many parents were locked out of the venue for their inability to provide the money. . Attempts to get the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Primary and Secondary Education, Ronke Soyombo, failed as she did not pick calls to her line and did not reply to the messages sent to her mobile.
“Fire will fall if Churches are shutdown again” – Bishop Oyedepo Threatens
The General overseer of living faith ministries, David Oyedepo has threatened that ‘fire will fall’ if churches are shut down again in Nigeria. It will be recalled that the Nigerian government shut down church due to the COVID-19 Pandemic that has claimed several lives worldwide. Oyedepo in a recent sermon said; “I know the world will come to the point where we’ll say we are being fooled cause the devil that is deceiving the world, he has the capacity to deceive the whole world.” “Thank God we are not fooled, Thank God we have not been fooled, Thank God he made us smarter than our enemies. Its only here they lay hands on Coronavirus patients and then walk free and heal them straight.” “Could they have asked me in person, Should we shut down the church? Can anybody ask me that question? No.. they know where to ask, they know who to call. There are many pastors like that in this country, you can’t dare them. Did you close down the occult houses? the Ogboni houses? Did you close them down? Don’t you go there yourself? “The next time anybody tries that, Fire will fall!”.
NUC gives Universities 1 week ultimatum to submit a template for safe reopening
The letter reads below: “Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities will please recall that, as part of the measures to contain and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, ordered the immediate closure of all Schools, including Universities on 23rd March, 2020. All Schools have since remained closed, until the recent decision to allow only Exiting Classes to resume to enable final year students to participate in the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination including other examinations, to be conducted by NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS. As Vice-Chancellors are already aware, following the gradual easing of the restrictions as part of the management of COVID-19, there have been several stakeholder consultations as well as meetings with the Honourable Minister of Education with the attendant clamour by concerned citizens for the reopening of Higher Education Institutions (HEIS) and resumption of academic activities. In the midst of all these, the Federal Ministry of Education had since developed and circulated Guidelines for Schools and Learning Facilities, to provide the required support for the safe reopening of schools and resumption of academic activities. Cognisant however, of the peculiar circumstances and the distinct nature of the University sub-Sector, the National Universities Commission has developed the attached template, to generate data/ information on the preparedness of Universities for possible reopening and resumption of academic activities amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. The template also provides for data on physical facilities such as infrastructure for Digital Delivery, Lecture Theatres, Halls and Classrooms, Laboratories/ Workshops/Studios; and students’ accommodation. The University is also required to indicate the measures/strategies that have been put inplace preparatory to a safe and hitch-free reopening of institutions, in readiness for the commencement of full academic activities. Such information when generated across the entire sub-sector, will provide the Commission with a full picture of the challenges as well as guide policy options by Government. I am to add that all duly completed templates are to be endorsed by the Vice-Chancellor and submitted to the Executive Secretary’s Office within one week, while also using the following email addresses on the letter. Please accept the renewed assurances of the Executive Secretary’s highest regards.”
BREAKING News] Lagos govt announces closure of COVID-19 isolation centres
As the Nigerian government keeps making efforts and taking safety measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country, Lagos has recorded a decline in the number of cases. As a result of this, the state has closed down some COVID-19 isolation centres. The Eti-Osa facility was shut and another one in Lekki. The Agidingbi isolation centre will also be shut and the patients relocated to a large capacity Centre in Anthony area, which will be soon commissioned. This was disclosed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House, Marina, during the 17th update on the management of coronavirus in the state.
Ogun state government mandates all students to undergo COVID-19 tests
As students in exiting classes prepare to resume for academic activities nationwide on Monday, August 3, the Ogun state government has mandated all students in boarding houses to undergo Malaria and COVID-19 tests as that would make them admissible into their boarding houses. In a statement released today August 1, Ronke Soyombo, the Special Adviser to the governor on Primary and Secondary Education, said all boarding students must stay in school hostels only as private hostels would not be allowed to accommodate students in order to ensure effective monitoring. Read the statement below Click Here to Visit Orignal Source of Article http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2020/8/ogun-state-government-mandates-all-returning-students-to-undergo-covid-19-tests-2.html SHARE 087 0 AS PART OF THE FRANTIC EFFORTS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE A SAFE LEARNING ACADEMIC ATMOSPHERE FOR BOTH LEARNERS AND TEACHERS OF ALL OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS PARTICULARLY AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND AS INSTRUCTED BY NCDC, ALL PRINCIPALS OF SCHOOLS (PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ) IN OGUN STATE ARE HEREBY INSTRUCTED TO INFORM AND UPDATE ALL SS3 LEARNERS ON THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS;
THAT ALL THE RETURNING BOARDING STUDENTS ARE TO STAY IN THE SCHOOL HOSTELS ONLY
THAT PARENTS ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT PRIVATE HOSTELS ARE EXEMPTED FROM ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS DURING THIS PERIOD TO ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH NCDC DIRECTIVES.
THAT THE OGUN STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS MADE PROVISION FOR A COVID-19 AND MALARIA TEST FOR ALL SS3 BOARDING STUDENTS IN OGUN STATE AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS FOR THE RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS IN THE UNDER LISTED PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FACILITIES BETWEEN FRIDAY 31ST JULY AND MONDAY 3RD AUGUST, 2020 (A) ABEOKUTA : THE 250 MTR, OKEMOSAN, ABEOKUTA (A WHITE EDIFICE OPPOSITE THE STATE SECRETARIAT) (B) ADO-ODO OTA : OGUN STATE GENERAL HOSPITAL, OTA. (C) SAGAMU : OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SAGAMU
THAT PART OF THE STRONG CONDITION OF ADMITTANCE TO SCHOOL FOR BOARDING STUDENTS IS THE COVID-19 CERTIFICATE SHOWING NEGATIVE TO THIS END, ALL PRINCIPALS ARE THEREFORE DIRECTED TO IMMEDIATELY DISSEMINATE THE ABOVE IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ALL SS3 LEARNERS IN THE STATE AND TO ENSURE THAT THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS ARE STRICTLY ADHERED TO AS SANCTIONS WILL BE METED OUT TO ANY DEFAULTING SCHOOL. E – SIGNED MRS RONKE SOYOMBO S A ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
PurpleWorld 