News

Monday, 20 July 2020 06:01

States, LGs borrowing more from banks; FG less. Here’s the details

The total loans taken by federal, states and local governments from banks rose to N954.27bn as of the end of March. Central Bank of Nigeria disclosed this in its report, entitled ‘Quarterly Statistical Bulletin-Commercial and Merchant Bank Accounts,’ obtained over the weekend. According to the report, Federal Government borrowed N93.56bn while states and local governments borrowed N860.7bn in the period under review. Total loans by the banking sector to the entire economy stood at N17.5tn as of March. The report showed that loans by Federal Government dropped from N132.14bn at the end of 2018 to N92.22bn at the end of…

Monday, 20 July 2020 05:59

Foreign Affairs minister tests positive for coronavirus

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The minister, who made this known on Sunday via his verified Twitter handle, said his fourth Covid-19 test returned positive on Saturday. Narrating the experience, Onyeama said he had felt slight itching in his throat and had had his samples collected for Covid-19 test. He noted that he was headed to an isolation centre for treatment while he hopes for quick recovery. He wrote, “(I) did my fourth Covid-19 test yesterday at the first sign of a throat irritation and unfortunately this time it came back positive.…

Monday, 20 July 2020 05:58

Madagascar herb doesn’t cure coronavirus – FG

National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) says its findings have shown that “Covid Organics”, the herb produced by Madagascar, cannot effectively cure coronavirus. The drug, branded as herbal tea, was launched on April 20, with its main ingredient being sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), a plant of Asian origin from where the antimalarial drug, artemisinin, came. In May, Madagascar donated some of the products to Nigeria through Guinea-Bissau. When President Muhammadu Buhari received portions of the drug from Mr Umaro Embalo, his Guinea Bissau counterpart, he directed that the drug be verified before use. “We have our institutions, systems…

Monday, 20 July 2020 05:57

JAMB sets date for commencement of 2020 admissions, releases guidelines

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released guidelines to all heads of tertiary institutions for 2020 admission exercise. The board also told all institutions to begin admission for candidates for first and second choices on August 21, 2020. In the document sent to all vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, JAMB Registrar, Mr Ishaq Oloyede, warned against flouting decisions of its 2020 policy meeting, held on June 16. Oloyede insisted that all admissions must be carried out in an honest and transparent manner. “The 1st and 2nd Choices Admission-Exercise be conducted for all institutions…

Monday, 20 July 2020 05:55

Universities won’t resume even if FG reopens schools – ASUU

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained that Nigerian universities may not be reopened even if the federal government orders the resumption of all schools amidst the coronavirus pandemic. President of the union, Mr Biodun Ogunyemi, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, on Sunday, also clarified his position on the reports that the union urged the government not to reopen schools until 2021. The government on March 19 ordered the closure of all tertiary, secondary and primary schools nationwide over the outbreak of the deadly virus in the country. A few days after the government’s directive, ASUU commenced…

Monday, 20 July 2020 05:52

Civil Defence boss gets tenure extension

Federal government has extended the tenure of Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Abdullahi Gana, by six months. NSCDC spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Abuja. Okeh said Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbeshola, approved an extension of the tenure of NSCDC boss for a six-month period and not five years as it had been speculated in some quarters. He noted that the tenure extension would be effective from July 17, 2020 to January 2021 and not for another five years as speculated in the…

Monday, 20 July 2020 05:50

Air Force releases findings on Tolulope’s death

A preliminary investigation into death of Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot Flying Officer, Ms Tolulope Arotile has concluded her death was caused by “blunt force trauma to the head and significant bleeding” after she was struck by a vehicle. The air force says it will hand the case over to the police for further investigation, considering it was a civil case. It released its findings on Sunday to address “the misinformed issues raised in the Social Media on the tragedy,” said Mr Ibikunle Daramola Air, director of public relations and information for the Air Force. The findings show Arotile…

Sunday, 19 July 2020 05:39

Buhari names new Railway complex after Goodluck Jonathan

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the naming of Itakpe-Warri Railway Complex in Agbor, Delta State after former President Goodluck Jonathan. The operational hub, henceforth, will be known as ‘the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Station & Complex,’ said Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi. In a tweet, posted on his page Saturday, Amaechi wrote, “Today, we continued test-run of our new coaches on the completed Itakpe-Warri standard gauge rail line.” “We have named the largest station on this route – the Agbor railway facility and station after former President Goodluck Jonathan.” The rail line has a length of 276 km that links…

Sunday, 19 July 2020 05:36

Ekiti workers issue strike threat to Fayemi over salary defaults, others

Ekiti State organised labour has given a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay all outstanding benefits to workers or face three days warning strike. The union gave the ultimatum in a letter dated July 16, addressed to Mr Fayemi and made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday. The organised labour said the ultimatum commences from Monday, July 20 and lapses on August 3, within which the governor is expected to redeem his pledge or face mass action. The letter was jointly signed by the Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr Kolapo Olatunde, his counterparts in the Trade…

Sunday, 19 July 2020 05:35

Kaduna directs civil servants to resume work

Kaduna State government has directed its civil servants to report to work on Monday, after working remotely for over three months at home, following the invoking of the Quarantine Act and Kaduna State Public Health Law, which quarantined all residents on March 26. A circular issued by office of the Head of Service on Thursday made available to Journalists on Saturday, stated that different categories of workers will work on different days of the week, from 9am to 3pm. According to the circular signed by Mr Ibrahim Jere, Permanent Secretary (Public Service Officer), all Permanent Secretaries, Directors General, Chief Executives…

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Sunday, 19 July 2020 05:32

Akpabio/Nunieh: Of sex and sleaze in high places - Festus Adedayo

Watchers of the flick of lurid but disgusting theatre in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) starring Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Godswill Akpabio and erstwhile Managing Director of the commission, Ms. Joy Nunieh, were served a menu of at least three blockbuster films, for the price of one. On the menu were the following: sex and power game in high places; monumental heist and a sneak preview of the rapacious bleeding of Nigeria by her elected representatives. Served a la carte, this scintillating thriller however came in the form of allegations. The allegations, let loose during an Arise TV …

Saturday, 18 July 2020 05:24

‘Many people will die’ due to acute hunger in Nigeria, Yemen, 23 other countries - UN Agencies

A report by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) has said Nigeria and 24 other countries will likely face ”devastating levels of hunger and food shortages” triggered by Covid-19. The report titled, FAO-WFP early warning analysis of acute food insecurity hotspots, was published early Friday by WFP on its webpage. “People in some 25 countries are set to face devastating levels of hunger in coming months due to the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic,” the report stated. The 25-page report highlights that while the greatest concentration of need is in Africa, countries in Latin…

Saturday, 18 July 2020 05:21

FG sets deadline for schools to meet conditions for reopening

Federal government has given school proprietors across the country up to July 29 to meet specific guidelines set towards reopening of schools. The date for the reopening is to be announced in due course. Minister of state for education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said this in Abuja on Friday. The minister said the announcement is coming just as Nigeria settles with four countries on a new date for the suspended West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). The minister did not mention the four countries. Federal government released guidelines ahead of the resumption of schools at every level in the country.…

Saturday, 18 July 2020 05:19

N'Assembly commission appoints new clerk

National Assembly Service Commission has appointed Mr Ojo Olatunde as acting clerk. The appointment comes a day after the commission queried Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori for refusing to retire as clerk of the national assembly after 35 years in service. The commission had approved the retirement of Sani-Omolori but he rejected it, saying the eighth assembly had approved his tenure extension. The previous assembly saw the conditions of service of the national assembly staff being amended. The federal legislators increased the requirement of retirement for the staff to 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service. Sani-Omolori refused to leave despite…

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