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Published 30 December 2020
What a year 2020 has been! It has been a turpsy-turvey leap year, an unusual year with lots of ups and downs. Nothing best defined this outgoing year as the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed over 1.7 million lives out of over 81 million infected persons globally as of Tuesday. At the end of every year, it is fit and proper to have an introspection and retrospection. This reflection is on my fatherland Nigeria and how we fared in four key areas of our national life, namely health, education, security and economy.
Starting with health, COVID–19 exposed the decadent nature of Nigeria’s health facilities. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said on Thursday, April 9, 2020 that he realised how bad it was, after he was appointed to head the team. He made this known during a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly. I
The surprise raids, abductions and release of 334 students of Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State and others across the Nothwest region and parts of the country can be prevented, if there was any such thing as aerial surveillance.
Vanguard News
The year of the scorched yams
On
By Obadiah Mailafia
WHEN some of us were young, our country had the promise of greatness. We entertained the vision of a New Jerusalem. Today, it has become a dream deferred. There is a creeping, odious, despondency in the atmosphere. The collective
zeitgeist is one of hopelessness. The flame has died. The signs everywhere foretell a coming age of thunder, fire, iron and blood.
The influential London-based Financial Times recently warned that our country is becoming a failed state. Nigeria has become a vast killing field – a graveyard of shattered dreams. Last year, a Diaspora couple from the United States were returning home for the first time in two decades. On the Lokoja road, they were abducted by kidnappers and spent a week wandering barefoot in the primeval savannah bush.
COVID-19: A Second national lockdown is needless!
By
Fri Dec 25 2020
The second wave of COVID-19 exacerbated by winter had sent panic across many parts of the world. Governments are taking steps to stem the rising tide of the pandemic with a variety of drastic measures, which include total or, partial lockdowns, the mandatory wearing of masks and other safety protocols. This is coming along with vaccinations.
The first wave of the pandemic had dealt a fatal blow on livelihood, the global economy and personal relationships. The social and economic consequences of the pandemic are catastrophic. It almost shut down the global economy with many losing their jobs and businesses.
Rescue of Kankara school boys alive a major achievement – DHQ
On
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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has described the rescue alive of 344 students of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, as a major achievement.
Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, said this on Thursday while giving update on nationwide military operations from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23.
“That is a big plus to the Armed Forces.
“Not minding whatever any person would say, the most important thing is life; the lives of these kids.
“So, for us, it is a major achievement, that even civilised societies, advanced armed forces and armies have acknowledged.