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By Kazeem Qudus, IBADAN The number of coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths in Nigeria has risen to 51 from 44 recorded on Tuesday. Also, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Wednesday night announced fresh 196 confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,728. Prompt News reports that the new cases spread across 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. “196 new cases of #COVID19 reported; 87-Lagos 24-Kano 18-Gombe 17-Kaduna 16-FCT 10-Katsina 8-Sokoto 7-Edo 6-Borno 1-Yobe 1-Ebonyi 1-Adamawa “As at 11:55pm 29th April- 1728 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Discharged: 307, Deaths: 51,” @NCDCgov tweeted. #Covid19Nigeria

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has approved the release of 5 basic life support ambulances together with teams of medical personnel of the Corps and 30 active Close User Group lines, to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 as part of its commitment towards facilitating the prompt evacuation of Coronavirus victims from point of identification to isolation centres. In a statement by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, the approval came shortly after the request was presented to the Corps by the Country Director, United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic…

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed an application filed Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) to further review the bail conditions granted him on Nov. 26, 2019. Justice Okon Abang, in his ruling, described the latest application by Maina as “unmeritorious.” News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina, who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on money laundering related charges, had been unable to meet the conditions attached to the bail. The court had, on Jan. 28, varied Maina’s bail conditions following his inability to meet the bail…

By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau National Coordinator of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic Dr Sani Aliyu today (Wednesday) in Abuja outlined the guidelines for re-opening of businesses nationwide from May 5, 2020. Speaking at the PTF on Covid-19 daily press briefing in Abuja, Dr. Aliyu restated the timeline for the gradual reopening of businesses nationwide as captured in the recent President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Broadcast. He hinted that the Federal Government guidelines will be implemented to the letter, pointing out that government offices will reopen effective May 4 while night curfew will start nationwide from the…

The Joint Unions of Tertiary Institutions of Kaduna State (JUTIKS) has rejected the deduction of 25 per cent of workers’ salaries by the state government. The union in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Noah Danlami, and the Secretary, Mr Jibril Makama in Kaduna on Wednesday, rejected the decision, describing it as an “illegal imposed levy”. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had on April 26 announced its decision to embark on the monthly deduction of 25 per cent of workers’ salaries pending when the coronavirus pandemic will end. The government particularly said…

Google Cloud on Wednesday announced it was making Google Meet, its premium video-conferencing solution, free for users and would be rolled out over the coming weeks. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Google Meet is an app used for Videoconferencing, which had become the order of the day during the lockdown. Mr Javier Soltero, Vice President, G suite, said from early May, anyone with an email address could sign up for Meet and enjoy the same features available to G Suite’s business and education users. Soltero said the features included scheduling and screen sharing, real-time captions, and layouts that…

The Oyo State Government says it will not demolish buildings encroaching into the dumpsite at Awotan in Ido Local Government Area of the state. Mr Kehinde Ayoola, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, stated this on Wednesday at a town hall meeting held in Ibadan with representatives of Awotan and Akufo communities. Ayoola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju, said the decision not to demolish the buildings as a result of the magnanimity of the Seyi Makinde administration. He urged the communities to support the new solid waste management initiative of the…

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) on Wednesday commended the Federal Government for gradually winding down lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and FCT, to enable businesses to come back to life after four weeks of total lockdown. It’s Director-General, Mr Timothy Olawale, who gave the commendation in a statement Lagos, said the move would balance the safety of lives with the safety of livelihood, the survival of businesses, and the economy. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on April 27 approved a phase and gradual easing of the lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said it had sent some key officials on mandatory leave, pending the conclusion and outcome of the ongoing forensic audit of the commission. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2019, ordered a forensic audit of NDDC finances, which took full effect on April 22. This information was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili. “The staff sent on mandatory leave are those indicted for acts of impropriety by the Police, Economic, and Financial Crimes Commission…

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja Following the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown both globally and in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has resumed the provision of foreign exchange to all commercial banks. In a statement by CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor on Wednesday, the move is to enable parents wishing to pay school fees and SMEs to make essential imports needed to revamp economic activities across the country. According to the statement, the Apex bank is particularly resuming the provision of over US$100million per week for both categories. The statement also disclosed that the…