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.