Author: darelasisi@gmail.com

The death toll from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic reached 910 as the number of confirmed cases hit 17,247 across the African continent as of Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, a specialized agency of the 55-member African Union (AU) Commission, in its latest situation update, said that South Africa, with 2,506 confirmed cases ranked first among African countries most severely affected. AU also mentioned Egypt with 2,505 cases, Algeria with 2,160 cases, as well as Morocco with 2,024 cases as other countries in the continent most severely affected. The agency also…

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called for the establishment of the Disaster Endowment Fund to provide immediate palliatives for victims of disasters. Makinde made the appeal on Thursday when he visited the scene of Wednesday’s fire disaster at the popular Dugbe Market, Lebanon Street, Ibadan, where properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. According to the governor, the victims of Wednesday’s fire disaster can be given immediate palliatives if such an endowment was in place. Makinde, who sympathized with victims of the disaster, said it was unfortunate that such an ugly incident happened now when the country was…

The Adamawa Police Command has warned members of various transport unions in the state against violation of restriction order. Mr Audu Madaki, the state Police Commissioner, gave the warning in a statement signed by the command Spokesperson, DSP, Sulaiman Nguroje, on Thursday in Yola. Madaki warned of tough consequence for members of the organised transport sector who were breaching the existing lockdown order in the state. He said the violation of the restriction of movement has proven to be counter productive and undermine government efforts in curbing the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ”The warning is sequel to…

The Joint Security Team for the enforcement of lockdown order by the Federal Government has arrested 10 suspects for mounting illegal road block and using same for extortion in Abuja.The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), DSP Anjuguri Manzah, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.He said the suspects were arrested over alleged extortion of motorists and other members of the public at the boundary between the FCT and Nasarawa State.Manzah said the suspects were arrested along Nyanya-Mararaba axis, following intelligence report by the security operatives for the enforcement of the lockdown order.He…

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja  The Federal Government has clarified that Nigeria will not benefit from the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt relief for 25 countries. This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Communication to the Finance Minister, Mr Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, in Abuja on Thursday. The statement quoted Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning as saying, “It is true that Nigeria is not a beneficiary of the recent IMF debt relief for 25 countries.” “This is because, as stated in the IMF Executive Board statement, the relief ‘provides grants to…

Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) remained upbeat on Thursday with the market indices improving marginally by 0.07 per cent. Specifically, the index rose by 14.90 points or 0.07 per cent to close at 22,554.84 against 22,534.94 recorded on Wednesday. Also, the market capitalization, which opened at N11.746 trillion, appreciated by N8 billion or 0.07 per cent to close at N11.754 trillion. The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalized stocks, amongst which are; Nestle, MTN Nigeria, Dangote Cement, Nigerian Breweries and Conoil. Nestle dominated the gainers’ chart in percentage terms, improving by 10 per…

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has reassured that it will spearhead the joint efforts in re-establishing healthy oil market fundamentals and restoring balance to the oil market in support of the global economic stability. The OPEC Secretary-General, Mr Mohammed Barkindo, gave the assurance in a statement to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Meeting of Ministers and Governors, at the ongoing World Bank/IMF virtual meeting. “OPEC would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm its long-standing commitment to supporting oil market stability for the mutual benefit of consuming and producing nations; thus, contributing significantly to the health…

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has introduced palliative measures for customers to give them some relief, in view of the challenges of COVID-19 lockdown extension. Dr Adesola Adeduntan, FirstBank Chief Executive Officer, made the announcement in a statement in Lagos on Thursday. Adeduntan said the bank was introducing special waivers on repayment fees on its credit cards and a 60-day loan moratorium on First Edu and First Trader Solution. first loan is available to private schools owners who require extra funds for the smooth running of their operations First Trader Solution is a short-term overdraft facility offered to traders in…

Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) Ekye branch, Doma local government area of Nasarawa state, on Thursday protested over the nonpayment of their March salaries by the local government. Mr Adamu Musa, Secretary of the union-led members to Lafia to defend their petition before the State House of Assembly Committee on Public Complaints, Petitions, and Security, Chaired by Mr Danladi Jatau (PDP- Kokona West). Musa said the union petitioned the council chairman, Alh. Rabo Sani over nonpayment of their March salaries, which had created more hardship for the health workers and their family members especially at this critical…

The United States opposes the creation of liquidity through the issuance of the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said on Thursday. In a statement to the IMF’s steering committee, Mnuchin said 70 per cent of the funds created through an SDR allocation, something akin to a central bank “printing” new money, would go to G20 countries that did not need it. He added that only three per cent would go to low-income countries. According to him, members should instead, contribute to two IMF facilities…