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The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has donated its laboratories in Abuja and Odi, Bayelsa, for more tests to be conducted. The agency also said it has produced hand sanitizers to support government efforts at fighting Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. Prof. Alex Akpa, the Director-General of NABDA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja. Akpa said the two molecular diagnostic laboratories made available in the two centres of Abuja and Odi have sophisticated equipments like Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRt-PCR), sequencers among others. According to him, both laboratories…

A former President of the Trade Union of Nigeria, Mr Peter Esele, on Monday, expressed his delight on the posthumous pardon granted to two prominent Edo citizens by the Federal Government. On April 9, President Muhammadu Buhari granted pardons to a former Governor of old Bendel State, Prof. Ambrose Alli and a former leading nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro. Both were jailed decades ago by the Federal Government for various offences. Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin, Esele said that the presidential pardon had closed a sad chapter in the lives of Alli and…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has described as “outstanding and courageous”, the excellence and professionalism so far demonstrated by Nigerian medical doctors, nurses and other health workers in managing the Coronavirus pandemic since the first was reported in the country. Mr. Chris Isiguzo, President of NUJ, gave the commendation in a statement on Monday.“The Union is indeed proud of what our homegrown medical practitioners and health workers have achieved so far in the fight against this pandemic, in spite of poor facilities.“With a very low mortality rate, an increasing number of discharged persons and effective management of positive patients,…

President Muhammadu Buhari will broadcast to the nation on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. The President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina in a statement in Abuja on Monday, advised Television, radio and other electronic media outlets to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the broadcast. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President had on March 29 addressed the nation over the novel Coronavirus pandemic where he directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT for an initial period of…

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the Coronavirus lockdown in the area after the expiration of 14 days. The residents, who pleaded with the president, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Abuja, in separate interviews. They said they were experiencing varying degrees of financial and economic constraints and frustrations caused by inactivity. Mr Alfred Oshemughen, an electrical contractor, said the lockdown was a good decision by the government, adding, however, that the strain it brought on its wake was frustrating. He said…

By Harry Awurumibe, Head, Abuja Bureau Nigeria’s Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has revealed that part of the medical assistance promised the Federal Government by the European Union (EU) has arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Answering questions at the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 Briefing in Abuja Monday afternoon, Ehanire disclosed that about five tons of medical equipment including 50 ventilators and other medical consumables donated by the EU to Nigeria to fight the novel Coronavirus pandemic have arrived Abuja. Chairman of the PTF and the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Barrister Boss Mustapha also confirmed…

Ministers of the OPEC+ countries agreed in a video conference on Sunday to boost oil prices by cutting production by 9.7 million barrels a day for May and June, Mexico’s Energy Minister Rocio Nahle tweeted. The reduction is 300,000 barrels below the production cut which the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and all its allies within the expanded OPEC+ format had agreed on Friday. Mexico refused to reduce its production by 400,000 barrels as demanded and maintained its offer of cutting 100,000 barrels. The Energy Ministry in Kazakhstan also confirmed the agreement, Russian news agencies reported, along with…

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has described as false reports in the social media circles that loan seekers and owners of small-scale businesses who apply for loans provided to cushion the effects of COVID-19 are required to pay a certain amount as application processing fee. A statement by the Director of Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor, in Abuja on Monday said “there are clearly spelled out procedures for accessing the N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) stimulus package to support households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which are disbursed…

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has denied conducting any recruitment exercise as being speculated on social media. The Commission said in a statement Monday, that it’s attention “has been drawn to some messages and a video being circulated in the social media, wherein the Commission is alleged to have carried out a recruitment exercise where 811 persons were employed, all from Anambra State with 1 from Kano State”. According to the statement signed by SEC Head of Corporate Communications, Efe Ebelo, “The messages parade the person shown in the video as Ms Mary Uduk, the…

Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, has revealed his family advised him to leave Old Trafford when he made his move to Juventus. Pogba left Old Trafford in 2012, after failing to nail down a regular first-team place under Sir Alex Ferguson. The France midfielder eventually returned to the club in a world-record deal four years later. “My brother, the United fan, told me he was really angry – even more than me – when I didn’t play,” Pogba told The Official Manchester United podcast. “He told me, ‘No, go. You can play on this team. If they don’t want you…