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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja  The fire incident which occurred on Wednesday at the Treasury House (Office of the Accountant General of the Federation), might have been caused by a spark in the air condition system, Minister of State, Budget & National Planning, Clem Agba has disclosed. Briefing journalists after inspecting the extent of damage to the Treasury House, the Minister of State said the fire started at about 10 am on the fourth floor of the imposing building, “when an officer put on the Air conditioner and there was a spark”. According to the Minister, when the officer noticed smoke,…

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria (COCSGIN) has commended the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu for leading the enlightenment campaigns to educate Abuja residents on the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The National Leader of COCSGIN, Mr Nwosu Emmanuel, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja noted that the minister demonstrated extraordinary capacity. The coalition berated the unsubstantiated claim by Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) that the minister violated the social distancing regulation by engaging in enlightenment campaigns to locations where citizens had refused to obey the stay-at-home-order. ” We wonder why HURIWA will call out the minister…

There was a fire outbreak on Wednesday at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, also known as the Treasury House, in Abuja. A staff of the office, who preferred anonymity, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started at about 10.15 a.m. when some workers were already at work. The FCT Police Commissioner, CP Bala Ciroma, who briefed newsmen at the scene of the incident, said the investigation into the cause of the fire had commenced. He advised motorists to use alternative routes into the area, noting that the Ladoke Akintola Boulevard would be cordoned…

The police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned an additional 17 residents who flouted the stay-at-home order of the state government. Those arraigned include Adekunle Peter, 28; Rikwan Babajide, 18; Bukola Oyekola, 30; Kennedy Ubogu, 30; Yusuf Lawal, 25; Saheed Isiaka, 24; Olamide Wasiu, 17; Wisdom Edokpayi, 34; Michael Duyilemi, 34. Others are: Francis Ofen, 20; Babatunde Mukaila, 19; Sunday Nwanga, 28; Ckukwuma Ifeadi, 30; Kareem Akeem, 23; Chibuzor Okonkwo, 40; Zakariyu Mohammed, 29; Olasunkanmi Akanbi, 37; Babatunde Olafusi, 40. The defendants appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court on a charge of gathering and loitering. The government had restricted movement…

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja  The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on Wednesday released its audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2019, showing strong and consistent growth, with a total comprehensive income of $324.2 million. The results, which reflected a net income of $313.3 million, 14.3 per cent increase over the 2018 performance of $275.9 million, were achieved mainly due to higher operating income of $622.5 million compared to $489.8 million in 2018. Afreximbank’s total assets grew by 7.6 per cent from $13.42 billion on 31 December 2018 to $14.44 billion as of 31 December 2019, explained mainly by the solid growth in net loans and advances.…

By Harry Awurumibe, Head, Abuja Bureau With the number of people testing positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja rising by the day, it is surprising that many residents have continued to disobey the stay at home order. Aside from Lagos State, FCT has recorded the second-highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 50 persons as last Tuesday night according to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC). But it is becoming very clear that many Abuja residents are not ready to follow through all the measures put in place by the…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state said on Wednesday that the State will explore home-grown solutions towards the prevention and cure of COVID-19. He stated that the State was not ruling out local solutions to cure the virus, adding that since Nigerians have always had their ways of dealing with flu, catarrh, and cough, in ways different from the Western world, the state would explore avenues and find a cure. He said that he was convinced that Nigerians have the capacity and intellect to look at things that work locally, stating that the State will encourage that. A statement signed…

Nigeria has again recorded 22 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number as of Wednesday night to 276. According to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, “Twenty-two new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria: 15 in Lagos, 4 in the FCT, 2 in Bauchi, 1 in Edo “As at 09:00 pm 8th April, there are 276 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Forty-four have been discharged with six deaths Below is the breakdown by state: Lagos- 145 FCT- 54 Osun- 20 Oyo- 11 Edo- 12 Bauchi- 8 Akwa Ibom- 5 Kaduna- 5 Ogun- 4 Enugu-…

The Ondo State Government has approved the request of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) in the state to observe the Easter Sunday worship in various churches across the state based on precautionary measures and guidelines earlier put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Christians would celebrate Easter on Sunday to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Commissioner for Information in the state, Donald Ojogo, said in a statement in Akure that government had allowed a special relief for the Christian faithful to mark the occasion. “Government acknowledges concerns…

Despite opposition by the Nigeria Medical Association, the visiting 15-member medical team from China has arrived in Nigeria. They were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire. Minister of Health, welcoming the Chinese Doctors on arrival at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. Photo by: TVC NEWS TVC NEWS reports that the personnel, who are experts in infectious diseases, respiratory illness, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery, and anesthesiology, arrived with 16-ton test kits, ventilators, disinfection machine, disposable medical masks, drugs, infrared thermometer and other items ordered by the Federal Government. Under the directive of…