Author: darelasisi@gmail.com
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has announced the launch of Beta Health, a low-cost health financing product that offers instant access to health insurance for every Nigerian. The first of its kind in Nigeria, Beta Health provides coverage for basic and essential health services such as; general consultations, treatment for malaria, Ante Natal care, amongst others, for a subscription of N500 a month. As of 2018, more than 90 percent of the Nigerian population are not enrolled in any health insurance scheme, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. This is because health insurance is either too expensive or not very…
By Harry Awurumibe, State House, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja unveiled the National Broadband Plan 2020 to 2025; National Emergency Communications Center and 112 toll-free number which can link up Nigerians to all emergency response agencies in the country at once. He also commissioned the multi-million naira ultra-modern Communications & Digital Economy Complex at Mbora in the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja even as he performed the Flag-off of the Digital, Innovative and Entrepreneurship Training at the same place. In his address, President Buhari said, “the launching and unveiling of Nigeria National Broadband Plan…
By Harry Awurumibe, State House, Abuja Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has said that the Corporation has adjusted its pump prices to reflect the new Federal Government directive to reduce the pump prices. Speaking to the State House Correspondents today in Abuja on enforcement of N125 pump price of petrol Kyari said,” As you are aware this announcement was made just yesterday. Our pricing at NNPC stations which will definitely recover our cost at N125 is the decision that the NNPC has made and we have adjusted our prices in our filling stations.…
By Harry Awurumibe, State House, ABUJA Governors of 36 states of the federation and Heads of Federal Government agencies have agreed to work together to tackle the novel Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world. This much was disclosed on Thursday evening by representatives of both the Governors and Heads of Agencies while briefing State House Correspondents after the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osibanjo at Presidential Villa, Abuja. Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Nasarawa counterpart, Governor Abdullahi Sule revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Group Managing…
By Ayo Oye, ABUJA Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari has announced that one of her daughters who returned to the country from the United Kingdom this afternoon (Thursday) has gone into self-isolation. Mrs Buhari announced this via her verified twitter handle @aishambuhari but hastened to add that she has not displayed any symptoms of #Coronavirus. She also said her office has been shut for two weeks directing her staff to work from home. The series of tweets read: “Good afternoon Nigerians, Earlier today my daughter returned from the UK being among the high Burden listed countries of COVID-19. “Based on…
The Lagos State Government has confirmed four new cases of COVID-19, saying the total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 11. Prof. Akin Abayomi, the State Commissioner for Health, who made this known during the COVID-19 update on Thursday in Lagos, said the state government had immediately commenced contact tracing of 1,300 people. Abayomi said that 19 people were tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday, with four out of them testing positive to the virus, adding that they had been isolated for treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba. According to him, one of the four new…
The EFCC on Thursday arraigned one Ope Saraki, cousin to the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki before a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, for alleged contract scam. The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arraigned Ope on a two-count charge bordering on employment scam, put at over N200 million. The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendant while serving as Special Adviser to the Kwara State Government knowingly acquired a contract. “A supply of 13 Ambulances to General Hospitals, into a company of interest,” the prosecutor told the court Count one of the…
Around 640 COVID-19 cases have been reported in 34 African countries so far, the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) disclosed on Thursday. Speaking in Addis Ababa, John Nkengasong, Africa CDC Director, said, “In Africa we now have around 640 COVID-19 confirmed cases coming from 34 countries. “The death count in Africa is currently 16 from five countries. “Those 16 deaths are distributed among Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Morocco, and Sudan,” said the Africa CDC Director. Nkengasong said the number of African countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 has dramatically increased in less than a week, a…
The Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) has called on the Federal Government to extend COVID-19 testing laboratories to all states of the country. The group also suggested for at least a minimum of one laboratory per geopolitical zone. Prof. Dimie Ogoina, the President of NIDS, made the appeal in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja. NIDS is a multi-disciplinary professional society consisting of infectious disease specialists, clinical microbiologists, public health practitioners, and other healthcare workers and researchers. Members of the NIDS are currently actively engaged in the containment and response to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases…
As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Lagos State Government is closing down all public and private schools from Monday, 23rd March 2020. The move becomes necessary to prevent our children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic, commissioner for education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo said in a statement on Wednesday. According to her “It is important for parents to ensure that their children practice ‘social distancing’ while at home, wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitizers and observe high standards of personal hygiene. “Children should be encouraged to remain…