Customs rejects 1,800 bags of rice returned by Oyo

 

   A drama played out between the officials of the Oyo State Government and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, Ibadan, on Wednesday as the Customs rejected the 1,800 bags of rice donated to the state by the Federal Government.

   The officials of the Oyo State Government, led by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Jacob Ojemuyiwa, were denied entry at the main gate of the NIS zonal headquarters in Ibadan.  Recall that Dr Debo Akande, a Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde, on Friday alleged that the rice was not good for human consumption.

Experimental drug, Remdesivir proves effective against Coronavirus

 
   An experimental drug, Remdesvir, has proved effective against the new Coronavirus in a major study done by the National Institutes of Health, the US Government have announced .

   White House health advisor and top US infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci has revealed that data collected from the Coronavirus drug trial testing with the antiviral drug Remdesivir showed 'quite good news' and has set a new standard of care for COVID-19 patients.

   According to the study led by the US National Institute of Health, the drug shortens the time it takes for patients to recover by four days on average, and it is the first drug treatment to pass such a strict test against the virus. Remdesivir, produced by Gilead Sciences was tested in 1,063 hospitalized Coronavirus patients around the world and according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31%, 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

Court remands cop who allegedly shot dead Rivers policewoman

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, remanded a police sergeant, Bitrus Hosea, who allegedly shot dead a policewoman on duty in a correctional facility.

The policewoman, Lovender Elekwechi, also a sergeant, was allegedly shot in the head by Hosea at the Eneka Market roundabout in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state last Thursday. The police said the offence was punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

21 die after consuming contaminated liquor in Mexico

  21 persons have died and 13 others have been seriously injured in the Mexican state of Jalisco after ingesting contaminated liquor, regional authorities have said.

Sowore arrives Court of Appeal, Abuja

   

  Omoyele Sowore has arrived the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. Omoyele Sowore filed an appeal against the bail conditions imposed on him by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal high court Abuja, while granting him bail on a two count charge of Treasonable felony and conspiracy to commit Treasonable felony brought against him by the Federal government.

Japan To Extend State Of Emergency Over COVID-19

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to extend a nationwide state of emergency imposed over the coronavirus, possibly by another month, local media reported on Thursday.

The measure was initially declared on April 7 across seven regions experiencing a spike in infections, but was later expanded to cover the entire country.

With the initial month-long period coming to an end next week after the country’s annual Golden Week holidays, local media reported that Abe was now expected to extend the measure, either until the end of May or for another full month until June 6.

Nigeria Records 196 New Cases Of COVID-19, Total Infections Now 1,728

 

Nigeria has recorded 196 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total infections to 1,728. According to a tweet by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in the early hours of Thursday, of the new infections, 87 are in Lagos, 24 are in Kano, while 18 are in Gombe.

   Seventeen were recorded in Kaduna, 16 in the FCT, 10 in Katsina, eight in Sokoto, seven in Edo, six in Borno and one each in Yobe, Ebonyi and Adamawa states.

 196 new cases of #COVID19 reported;

87-Lagos
24-Kano
18-Gombe

Moroccan inmates test positive for coranavirus

   About 313 coronavirus cases have been reported in Moroccan jails following mass testing for Covid-19. The authorities say Ouarzazate prison in central Morocco recorded 303 cases, while 10 other cases were in Oudaya prison in Marrakesh and Ksar Kebir prison in the north-west.

President Buhari gives appointment to a dead person

   

  President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, allegedly appointed a dead person into the board of one the federal government agencies. Chief Tobias Chukwuemeka Okwuru is one of the member-nominees (Ebonyi State) in Buhari’s letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

Court Dismisses Maina’s Application For Bail Variation

   A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the bail variation filed by the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

House of Reps To Probe Legality Of Chinese Nationals In Nigeria For Repatriation In Response To Poor Treatment Of Nigerians In China

 

   Members of the House of Representatives have resolved to investigate the legality of Chinese nationals living in Nigeria for possible repatriation to their country,following the poor treatment of Nigerians in China, especially those living in Guangzhou city in the Asian country.

They made the resolution on Tuesday at a resumed plenary following their return from recess which lasted about five weeks as a result of the outbreak of coronavirus in the country. During the plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, the lawmakers considered a motion on the “Maltreatment and Institutional Acts of Racial Discrimination against Nigerians Living in China by the Government of China”.

The lawmakers mandated the House Committees on Interior, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring, as well as Commerce, to take up the assignment.

The committees were asked to investigate the Nigeria Immigration Service, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigerian Content and Development Monitoring Board, and any other relevant Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA), to check the validity of all immigration documents of every Chinese national in Nigeria.

COVID-19- Over one million cases recorded in U.S.A

 

  More than 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the U.S., marking a grim milestone in the country with the most reported Coronavirus infections in the world. This is according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

I have no accounts or property abroad - Goodluck Jonathan

   Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, has again said that he has no account or property abroad. Mr Jonathan said this in a statement on Tuesday.

   The statement, signed by Ikechukwu Eze, spokesman to Mr Jonathan, was issued in response to moves by the Nigerian government to subpoena bank records purportedly belonging to Mr Jonathan and his wife, Patience.

UNIBEN produces ventilator that works without electricity

 

  A clinically-tested ventilator that can work without electricity has been presented to the management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami.

IMF Approves $3.4bn For Nigeria’s COVID-19 Fight

   The board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the sum of $3.4 billion to support Nigeria’s COVID-19 fight. The emergency financial assistance to Nigeria is the highest so far to any member country.

Nigeria Records 195 New Cases Of COVID-19

 

  Nigeria on Tuesday recorded 195 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total infections to 1,532.

According to a tweet by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), of the new infections, 80 were recorded in Lagos, 38 in Kano, while 15 were recorded in the Ogun State.

COVID 19- Tinubu and wife test negative

      Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi, have tested negative to COVID-19. The former Lagos State governor, his wife and their aides submitted themselves to COVID-19 tests at the weekend, following the death of his Chief Security Officer, Alhaji Lateef Raheem.

Nasarawa records first COVID-19 case

     Nasarawa has recorded its first coronavirus case. Governor Abdullahi Sule announced this in a press briefing. “It is sad to announce that Nasarawa has recorded the first case from this lady that travelled from Kano to Kokona local government area of the state.

CBN lifts suspension on cheques’ clearing

   The Central Bank of Nigeria has lifted suspension on cheque clearing by the Deposit Money Banks. It stated this in a circular to all the DMBs and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System issued on Monday, titled, ‘Temporary suspension of cheque clearing in the Nigerian clearing system’, which was signed by its Director, Banking Services Department, Sam Okojere.

Photos of three sisters who drowned in Ebonyi river

  Three siblings in Ebonyi State have drowned in a river at Amaeze in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

National Assembly Resumes Plenary After COVID-19 Recess

Members of the National Assembly have resumed plenary after about five weeks of recess over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers returned to the Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday after they went on break as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Buhari Approves Partial Lockdown In Lagos, Ogun, FCT From May 4

 

     President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the phased and gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The President announced this during his third nationwide broadcast on COVID-19.

“Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May, 2020.,” he said.

However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.

The announcement will enable many who have been forced to stay at home for more than a month as well as businesses to reopen. President had on March 29 first announced a two-week lockdown, which became effective on Monday, March 30. He would extend it for another two weeks.

Read his full speech below:

ADDRESS BY H.E. MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE CUMULATIVE LOCKDOWN ORDER OF LAGOS AND OGUN STATES AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ON COVID- 19 PANDEMIC AT THE STATE HOUSE, ABUJA, MONDAY, 27th APRIL, 2020

1. Fellow Nigerians

2. I will start by commending you all for the resilience and patriotism that you have shown in our collective fight against the biggest health challenge of our generation.

3. As at yesterday, 26th April 2020, some 3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded globally with about 900,000 recoveries. Unfortunately, some 200,000 people have passed away as a result of this pandemic.

4. The health systems and economies of many nations continue to struggle as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

5. Nigeria continues to adapt to these new global realities on a daily basis. Today, I will present the facts as they are and explain our plans for the coming months fully aware that some key variables and assumptions may change in the coming days or weeks.

6. Exactly two weeks ago, there were 323 confirmed cases in 20 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

7. As at this morning, Nigeria had recorded 1,273 cases across 32 States and the FCT. Unfortunately, this includes 40 deaths.

8. I am using this opportunity to express our deepest condolences to the families of all Nigerians that have lost their loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is our collective loss and we share your grief.

9. Initial models predicted that Nigeria will record an estimated 2,000 confirmed cases in the first month after the index case.

Two Chinese nationals arrested for illegal mining in Zamfara

   

  Two Chinese nationals identified as Wang and Chu, have been arrested by men of the Zamfara state police command for their alleged involvement in illegal mining of Gold at Nasarawa Burkullu village in Kwali, Bukkuyum Local Government Area (LGA).
 
   They have been accused of going against the directive of the Federal government, that all mining activities be stopped in the state. The directive was issued on April 7th. Confirming their arrest, the spokesperson of the state police command said the arrest followed a tip-off received by the police on April 19, that some persons including foreigners were engaged in illegal mining despite federal government’s ban on all mining activities.

Oyo civil servants resume duty at state secretariat

 

   Oyo state public and civil servants on Grade Level (GL) 13 and above on Monday reported for work at the state secretariat.

Kano Confirms Two More COVID-19 Deaths

  The Kano State government has confirmed the death of two more patients who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.

  The state Ministry of Health announced this in a tweet, saying that was the situation in Kano as of 12:15pm on Monday. This brings the total number of COVID-19 patients that have died in the state to three.

Fire Guts NNPC Petrol Station In Ogba

 

   There has been a fire outbreak at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) petrol station located along College road in the Ogba area of Lagos State.

South Korea denies that Kim Jong-Un is dead

    The South Korea Government has denied that North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, is dead, saying that the dictator of the hermit nation is ‘alive and well’. There have been media reports in Chinese, Korean and American outlets that Kim was in a very poor state physically after undergoing heart surgery last week.

   Reports of Kim’s poor health emanated after he missed the celebration of his grandfather’s birthday on April 15, a very important celebration that he never misses. He had been seen four days before that at a politburo meeting, according to North Korean state media, KCNA.

Kaduna State Governor Extends Coronavirus Lockdown By 30 Days

 

    Kaduna, Governor Nasiru El-rufai of Kaduna State has extended the state's coronavirus lockdown for 30 days.

Comedienne Real Warri Pikin And Hubby Celebrate 7th Wedding Anniversary

 

   Comedienne Anita Asuoha a.k.a Real Warri Pikin and her hubby are celebrating their 7th wedding Anniversary today April 27, 2020

COVID 19- Lockdown extension; Nigerians await Buhari's Decision

 

   There was uncertainty on Sunday night over whether the lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus will continue, it was learnt.

  President Muhammadu Buhari on April 13 renewed the two-week stay-at-home order on Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), saying the extension was the right thing to do to contain the pandemic. As at the time the President imposed the first lockdown on March 30, there were 131 cases in the country which moved to 343 on April 13.

House of Representatives to resume plenary session Tuesday

   The leadership of Nigeria’s House of Representatives has directed its members to resume plenary session on Tuesday. This is contained in a statement signed by the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Patrick Giwa.

   The statement says copies of the Covid-19 guidelines approved by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control as well as additional guidelines developed by the House will be sent to Members’ pigeon holes for collection on resumption.

Mysterious deaths in Kano not connected to coronavirus - Kano Government

   The Kano Government has said the scores of deaths, in recent days, were unrelated with the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic. But it also quickly acknowledged it was jumping to conclusion by stating that the health ministry is probing the causes.

Ondo state also rejects 'expired' Federal Government rice

 

   Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has rejected bags of rice sent to the state by the Federal Government as palliatives. It was gathered that most of the 1800 bags received by the state from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management were not fit for human consumption.

Nigeria Records 91 New Cases Of COVID-19

    Nigeria on Sunday recorded 91 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total infections to 1,273 , according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

  According to the NCDC in a tweet via its official handle, 43 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos, 8 in Sokoto and 6 in Taraba. The country’s total deaths from the virus now stand at 40 while 239 have recovered. 91 new cases of #COVID19 reported;

43-Lagos
8-Sokoto
6-Taraba
5-Kaduna
5-Gombe
3-Ondo
3-FCT
3-Edo
3-Oyo

Coronavirus: Nigerian lawyers sue China for $200b

    After US lawyers sued China for trillions of dollars,  a coalition of Nigerian legal experts have also filed a class action suit against the Peoples Republic of China over the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic effect on Nigerians.

   They are demanding $200 billion as damages for the “loss of lives, economic strangulation, trauma, hardship, social disorientation, mental torture and disruption of normal daily existence of people in Nigeria.”

Imo state confirms first case of coronavirus

 

  The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday said Imo State has recorded its first case of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Federal government, governors disagree over lockdown lifting

   The Federal Government is not disposed to the call by State Governors for the relaxation of the current lockdown in the country on account of the coronavirus pandemic, The Nation gathered last night.

    The federal authorities, sources said, are much in favour of partial restrictions in 33 of  the 36 states with a view to mitigating the effects of the current lockdown in many parts of the country as against the relaxation being sought by the governors. Governors Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Seyi Makinde have already relaxed the restrictions in their states.

   The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which President Muhammadu Buhari relies on principally for advice on the pandemic is not in agreement with the governors that government should soft pedal in the FCT, Lagos, Ogun and Kano States. Buhari who is billed to address the nation on Monday is said to be weighing the options before him.

COVID-19: Four new cases recorded in Ekiti state

  Ekiti state has recorded four new cases of the Coronavirus. The state government received notice from the NCDC of the four COVID-19 positive cases on Saturday. The new cases are primary contacts of the 4th recorded case, a male doctor, aged 45 years old, who carried out a surgery on the recently deceased third positive case, during childbirth.

Boko Haram kill five persons in the convoy of a former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff

   Boko Haram has killed five persons in the convoy of a former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. A security source said the terrorists attacked Sheriff’s convoy around Auno, few kilometres to Maiduguri.

Lagos To Organise Mass Burials If Mortuaries Not Decongested Within Two Weeks

 

  The Lagos state government says it will be forced to “have a mass burial” if mortuaries across the state are not decongested within two weeks.

  Speaking during a COVID-19 briefing on Saturday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted the mortuary overload was not as a result of COVID-19 deaths. Less than 20 deaths have been recorded in the state, according to the government.

Nigeria Reports 87 New Cases Of COVID-19, Total Infections Now 1,182

 

    Nigeria on Saturday recorded 87 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total infections to 1,182 , according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

   According to the NCDC in a tweet via its official handle, 33 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos, 18 in Borno, 12 in Osun, nine in Katsina, four each in Kano and Ekiti, three each in Edo and Bauchi and one in Imo. The country’s total deaths from the virus now stand at 35 while 222 have recovered.

Lai Mohammed lied about police killing of petrol attendant – Abia govt

      Abia State Government has countered a claim made by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, over the recent killing of a petrol attendant in the state.

     Mr Mohammed, during a recent briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 said the man was killed by a motorist, and not the police. “The petrol attendant was not actually killed by the policeman,” Mr Mohammed had said. “Fact at our possession is that the policeman hit a Keke, people were protesting so during the protest another motorist hit the petrol attendant.”

   Continuing, he said, “Well, it does not matter who killed, a life is very precious but we just wanted to establish the fact of the matter that the petrol attendant actually died when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle during the protest.” The Commissioner for Information in Abia, John Kalu, in a statement on Friday, however, insisted that the petrol attendant, Chibuisi Okameme, was shot dead by a police officer, contrary to the minister’s claims.

U.S. states to cut oil production

     U.S. President Donald Trump has disclosed that Texas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota will cut their oil production, without giving specifics on numbers, amid a glut in energy supplies and shortages of storage that led to massive drops in prices on the market. “They gotta cut,” Trump said, speaking to reporters at the White House.

    He also said Canada would make cuts. “I want to help that industry,” Trump said, calling himself an “energy person.” He described the cuts as a “natural” evolution, responding to the market. The benchmark U.S. oil price, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), plummeted to an unprecedented minus 37 dollars at the end of Monday’s session.

WHO Appoints Okonjo-Iweala As COVID-19 Special Envoy

 

  The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday named former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as a Special Envoy for the newly inaugurated Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.

   She is to serve alongside British business executive, Sir Andrew Witty in the same capacity, to mobilise international commitment to the initiative. Director-General of the organisation, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, made the announcement during the launch of the ACT Accelerator — via webinar from Geneva.

Liverpool legend Carragher’s wife tests positive for Coronavirus

  Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed his wife Nicola has tested positive for coronavirus and is now second person in his family to contract the virus.

One Million Masks Purchased From China Unfit For Health Workers – Canada Government

     The Canadian government said Friday that one million KN95 masks imported from China did not meet its strict standards and so could not be distributed to frontline health workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Public Health Agency of Canada “has identified approximately one million KN95 masks as non-compliant with specifications for healthcare settings,” a spokesman told AFP. “These items were not distributed to provinces and territories for frontline health care response, and are being subsequently assessed for use in non-healthcare settings,” he said.

   Chinese model KN95 masks are similar to N95 masks, as well as the FFP2 model used in Europe. “Much of the world’s supply is manufactured in China and moving materials out of that country is highly complex,” said Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand. The relationship between Ottawa and Beijing has been on the rocks ever since the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, an executive at Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, in December 2018 in Vancouver.

Covid-19: Lagos discharges 2 Indians, Filipino, 7 others

 

  Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday disclosed that ten more Coronavirus patients have been discharged by the state. This brings to 119, the total number of Coronavirus patients so far discharged by the State since the pandemic started.

   However, Coronavirus patients discharged on Friday includes three females and seven males. Among those discharged are three foreigners: two Indians and one Filipino.

Bra-shaped face mask goes viral in Japan sell out minutes after launch

 

    Bra-shaped face masks in Japan sold out minutes after launch. Recently, bra-cup face mask memes surfaced online and went viral but a Japanese company decided to make them a reality and they sold out almost instantly.

Obaseki’s Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele resigns

   Taiwo Akerele, the Chief of Staff to Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has resigned his appointment. It was gathered the youthful Akerele, an indigene of Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, accused Obaseki of sidelining him.

Kanye West Officially A Billionaire – Forbes

 

   US rapper and music producer Kanye West has joined the exclusive club of hip hop billionaires, according to business magazine Forbes. Yeezy, as he’s also known, becomes the second hip hop star, after Jay Z, to be certified a billionaire by the magazine.

Last year, his 15 percent royalty from his Yeezy footwear sales (in partnership with Adidas) fetched him roughly $140 million. “Conservatively, as we typically are with such figures, a 10x multiple, applied to West’s Yeezy cut of $140 million makes his stake worth about $1.4 billion,” Forbes reported.

COVID-19- NCDC Confirms 114 More Infections

   Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases exceeded 1000 on Friday, following the recording of 114 new cases of the novel coronavirus.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 80 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos, 21 were in Gombe and 5 were recorded in the FCT. The country’s total deaths from the virus now stands at 32 while 208 have recovered. 114 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;

80 in Lagos
21 in Gombe
5 in FCT
2 in Zamfara
2 in Edo

Veteran Nollwood actor, Yomi Obileye is dead

 

  Veteran Nollywood actor, Yomi Obileye is dead. The actor passed on this morning, April 24th, from an undisclosed ailment.

  Comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka who shared a post announcing his death wrote on his page; “If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane, we would walk right up to heaven and bring you back again. “

Adamawa Govt Extends Lockdown By Two Weeks

   Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri has ordered a two weeks extension of the lockdown in the State to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

COVID-19: Spain records 6,740 infections in 24 hours

 

   Spain has recorded its biggest daily leap in coronavirus cases for nearly three weeks as another 6,740 people were added to the tally today.

The thousands of positive tests bring the Spanish total from 213,024 to 219,764 in the biggest increase since 7,026 were recorded on April 4.

The jump is partly explained by the growing use of antibody tests, which have added nearly 17,000 people to the total since they were introduced.

Nigerian government received Received Life Insurance Cover For All COVID-19 Frontline Workers

     The Nigerian government has received a life insurance cover for all frontline workers in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

  This was revealed by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, during a briefing in Abuja on Friday.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), explained that this was the contribution of the nation’s insurance industry to the effort towards curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

“I am pleased to inform you that in addition to what the Federal Government is doing, the insurance industry has responded massively to the call for support.

“The Presidential Task Force has received a life insurance cover to all frontline workers on COVID-19 for a maximum of 5,000 health workers who are employed to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in his opening remarks at the briefing.

The task force chairman added, “The premium, in the sum of N112,500,000 for cover, has been fully paid by the Nigeria Insurance Industry, in line with the principle of no premium, no cover.”

He thanked the insurance industry for the contribution and called on other sectors of the economy to rise up to support the effort to fight COVID-19.

ASUU rejects BVN submission as condition for payment of withheld salaries

     The Academic Staff Union of Universities has rejected the submission of Bank Verification Number as a condition for the payment of February and March withheld salaries of its members at federal universities. ASUU President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

ECOWAS Will Regret Appointing Buhari As Champion Against COVID-19: Fani-Kayode

 

    Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has described the decision of ECOWAS leaders to make President Muhammadu Buhari as the Coordinator of the fight against COVID-19 in the region as a big mistake.
   Recall that on Thursday, it was announced that President Buhari has been appointed as the Champion of ECOWAS in the fight against COVID-19. Reacting to this development, the former minister expressed the appointment of Buhari is an error he organisation will deeply regret. He tweeted:

Coronavirus: Thailand records zero new death

   Thailand on Friday reported zero new death from the novel coronavirus. The nation, however, recorded 15 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases since its outbreak in January to 2,854 cases and 50 deaths.

20 oil thieves arrested in Rivers

   20 suspected crude oil thieves have been arrested in Rivers State by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

  The operatives also impounded two boats, two trucks, vehicles and pipes deployed by the suspects to move stolen products to different locations in the state. Speaking in Port Harcourt, the state Commandant, NSCDC, Muktar Lawal, said despite the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the corps would continue to pursue its  mandate of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure in the state.

President Trump May Postpone US Polls

   Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has predicted that US President Donald Trump will try to postpone the country’s November election in an attempt to win. “Mark my words, I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held,” Biden said during an online fundraiser Thursday.

The 77-year-old former vice president said it is “the only way he thinks he can possibly win. “Six months before US voters head to the polls, Trump’s mind is already in election mode. But with a pandemic raging and job losses climbing to 26.4 million on Thursday, Trump’s path to victory may be harder than he anticipated.

Nigeria Reports 108 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 981

  Nigeria on Thursday recorded 108 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total infections to 981, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

According to the NCDC, 78 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos, 14 in FCT, and 5 in Ogun state.

The country’s total deaths from the virus now stand at 31 while 197 have recovered.

108 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;

78 in Lagos
14 in FCT
5 in Ogun

China donates N48m to support Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19

 

  The Chinese Government has donated about forty-eight million, one hundred and twenty thousand naira to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to support Nigeria’s fight in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

   The Chinese Ambassador, Zhou Pingjian, who was speaking at the presentation on Thursday in Abuja said the donation is an acknowledgment of the long-standing relationship with the Nigerian government.

About 40 Health Workers Tested Positive For COVID19- Ehanire

 

  The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says about 40 health workers have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. Dr Ehanire disclosed this on Thursday during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

   He, therefore, appealed to medical workers in the frontline of the COVID-19 fight to always protect themselves while giving treatment to infected patients. “I applaud all our health workers in the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government will continue to provide you with the necessary protective equipment,” the minister said.

   He added, “I urge you all to take all the necessary precautions for your own safety, please do not try to treat patients without using adequate PPE. “Frontline workers must undertake refresher courses training in IPC at intervals. This advice is necessary due to the number of health workers who have tested positive – they are over 40 now.”

COVID-19: Group Rejects Nigerian Governors' Two-week National Lockdown Decision, Threatens To Defy Order

    A group, Oodua Youth Coalition, has condemned the decision of the 36 state governors across Nigeria to institute a further two-week national lockdown in the country in order to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

The group said any attempt to force the people to remain indoors without adequate preparation for their welfare and well-being shall be resisted. The 36 state governors had on Wednesday recommended a national lockdown for another two weeks in addition to the almost elapsing four-week lockdown in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory and Ogun State to deal with the pandemic.

President Donald Trump signs executive order halting immigration into US

 

   President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has signed an executive order limiting immigration to the U.S. for the next 60 days due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lebanese who advertised Nigerian for sale arrested

  A Lebanese man, Wael Jerro, has been arrested for advertising a Nigerian lady for sale on Facebook. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) confirmed this in a tweet on Thursday, a day after Lebanese authorities condemned the incident.

Lagos state record two new coronavirus death

   

   Lagos Commissioner for Health Professor Akin Abayomi confirmed this in a Tweet on Thursday. He  said 74 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday which brings the total confirmed cases in the state to 512.