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The Senate on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to immediately brief Nigerians on efforts by the government to address the outbreak of the #Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in the country. The call on the President was contained in resolutions reached sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senator Danjuma Goje (APC – Gombe Central). Oluremi Tinubu (APC – Lagos Central), in her contribution to the motion, said the outbreak of the disease is a wake-up call for Nigerians to take personal hygiene seriously, adding that Nigerians should not go about in fear. Ajayi Boroffice (APC –…

Sokoto State Government has canceled public inauguration of 2020 International Trade Fair organized by the Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SOCCIMA). The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Bashir Gidado, announced this at the venue on Wednesday in Sokoto. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manniru Dan’iya and other dignitaries were already seated for the event. Gidado said other trades and displays at the fair would continue, adding that the cancellation of the inauguration was to comply with Federal Government directive to contain the spread of to coronavirus. NAN reports that…

Prof. Abdalla Adamu, the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University in Nigeria (NOUN) says the institution has admitted a total of 615 prisoners. Adamu made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. He said that all the inmates were studying free as NOUN was responsible for payment of their fees up to the Ph.D. level. The professor of science education said that it had been his joy to encourage prisoners to acquire education and be useful on re-integration into the society. Adamu added that he was happy seeing people who were incarcerated and…

African Centre for Media and Information Literacy in partnership with Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth, and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa, TechHer and some media organizations, says it will engage young Nigerians to produce 60 essays dwelling on how to make the country great. Dr Chido Onumah, the coordinator of the centre, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja. He said that the aim of the project was to produce a book of 60 essays entitled “60 years of 60 voices –Essays on Nigeria at 60’’. Onumah, who listed the media partners as Sahara Reporters, Oak TV, and Premium…

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has unveiled a new Electronic and Automated platform for taxpayers to file transfer pricing declaration and disclosures with a view to block leakage in tax collection in the country. The FIRS made this known in a statement issued by Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, Director, Communications and Liaison Department in the service in Abuja on Wednesday. Ismaila said while unveiling the electronic solution platform in Lagos before bank executives and other stakeholders in the tax sector, Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami said this was necessary because of the stamp duty being collected by banks across…

The Senate has reassured Nigerians that the Second Niger Bridge would be completed in February 2022 as the project was well funded by the Federal Government. Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Adamu Aliero, gave the assurance when he led members his committee on inspection tour of the bridge and other road projects in the South East. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 11.9 kilometers-long bridge was awarded by the Federal Government to Julius Berger on Sept. 1, 2018, at the contract sum of N206.1 billion. He said: “We are at the construction site of the Second…

The Ondo State Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Nigerian Army in mobilizing its youths for the forthcoming recruitment into the military. Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made this known on Wednesday in Akure while receiving the Nigerian Army Director of Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve, Brig.-Gen. Henry Akpan. Akeredolu, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, while appreciating the efforts and sacrifices of soldiers in sustaining Nigeria’s unity, called on the military not to compromise in the recruitment exercise. According to him, the government will support the military to enlighten able-bodied youths who are mentally and physically…

The National Examinations Council (NECO), has vowed to sanction schools charging above the government-approved fee of N9,850 as registration fee for the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination. Dr Abubakar Gana, Acting Registrar, NECO, said this on Wednesday when the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services paid an oversight visit to the Council’s liaison office in Abuja. The committee had earlier made the observation that some schools were charging between N19,000 and N20,000 as registration fee for the examination. Gana He said that the exam body had written to commissioners of education of the 36 states and the…

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday said it would suspend all routine visa interviews in line with a State Department measure to respond to the new Coronavirus outbreaks. According to the embassy, the measure, set to take effect from Thursday, will not affect the visa waiver programme for Korean citizens or services for U.S. citizens. “The U.S. Embassy to the Republic of Korea will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 19, 2020. “The State Department is suspending routine visa services in all countries with a level 2, 3 or 4 travel advisory,” the embassy…

The Kwara Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned commercial tricycle operators against overloading or risk sanctions. Mr Jonathan Owoade, the Sector Commander, issued the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin. Owoade said a decision had been reached during officers’ management briefing March 17 to clamp down on violators. He explained that the sector would commence special patrol to refrain tricycle riders from carrying two passengers in the front as such practice regularly contributed to the high turnover of accidents on the roads. “The sector commander wishes…