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Thursday, 25 June 2020 05:42

Global economic decline will be worse than previously calculated - IMF

International Monetary Fund has lowered its global growth forecast for this year and next in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. It now predicts a decline of almost 5% in 2020, substantially worse than its forecast only 10 weeks ago in April. UK economy is expected to contract more than 10% this year, followed by a partial recovery in 2021. That would be one of the most severe declines, although not as deep as forecast for Italy, France or Spain. IMF's managing director, Ms Kristalina Georgieva, had already warned that the April forecast had been overtaken by events, and that…

Thursday, 25 June 2020 05:38

Covid-19 vaccination trial begins in Africa

Africa's first participation in a Covid-19 vaccine trial started Wednesday as nervous volunteers received injections, while officials said the continent of 1.3 billion people cannot be left behind. The large-scale trial of the vaccine developed at the University of Oxford in Britain is being conducted in South Africa, Britain and Brazil. South Africa has nearly one-third of Africa's confirmed cases with more than 106,000, including more than 2,100 deaths. The country late Tuesday reported its biggest one-day death toll of 111. “I feel a little bit scared but I want to know what is going on with this vaccine so…

Thursday, 25 June 2020 05:36

FAAN moves headquarters to Abuja

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved its headquarters to Abuja. This is in compliance with the directive of Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, that all agencies in the sector relocate their headquarters to Federal Capital Territory (FCT). According to a statement by the authority’s spokesperson, Henrietta Yakubu, the relocation was aimed at ensuring operational efficiency, while improving the quality of service delivery to customers. The authority’s Managing Director, Rabiu Yadudu, directors and other critical members of staff have relocated and other directors and managers will follow in batches. The agency said all correspondence to the Authority should…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 16:51

Embassy demolition: ‘Nigeria will not engage in street fight with Ghana’ - Buhari

Presidency has said Nigeria would not pursue a retaliatory line of action against Ghana over the demolition of the Nigerian High Commission building in Accra, last weekend. This position was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, at the State House on Wednesday. He said this position was as a result of the apology tendered by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, over the incident. “President of Ghana has called and regretted the action and apologised to the President of Nigeria. I think he has shown leadership in the matter and what should…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 16:51

World Bank approves $750m loan to boost Nigeria’s power sector

World Bank has approved a 750 million dollars International Development Association (IDA) credit for Nigeria’s Power Sector Recovery Operation (PSRO) to improve electricity supply. The Bank, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the target was to also achieve financial and fiscal sustainability and enhance accountability in Nigeria’s power sector. It explained that about 47 per cent of Nigerians did not have access to grid electricity and those who had access, faced regular power cuts. According to the bank, the economic cost of power shortages in Nigeria is estimated at around 28 billion dollars, which is equivalent to…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 16:50

Pakistan plane crash that killed 97 caused by ‘human error’ - Official

Pakistan's aviation minister, Mr Ghulam Sarwar Khan, said Wednesday that “human error" on the part of the pilot, co-pilot and air traffic control caused last month's plane crash in the port city of Karachi that killed all 97 people on board. The announcement shed new light on the tragedy after Pakistani investigators had earlier said only that the crash resulted from engine failure. It also revealed previously unconfirmed details — including that the plane had made a failed attempt at landing during which its engines apparently scrubbed the runway, causing significant damage. The plane went down in a residential area…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 05:02

Nigerian High Commission in Ghana paid for land on which property was demolished 20 years ago - Report

ABC News says it has intercepted documents which suggest that a piece of land housing the Nigerian High Commissioner and purported to belong to the Osu Stool had been fully paid for by the High Commission in December 2000. On Friday, June 19, 2020, armed men stormed the residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner at West Ridge in Accra with bulldozers and destroyed some structures on the property. Though Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the act and opened investigations into it, Osu Traditional Council insisted that the land on which the said building stood belonged to the Osu stool, accusing…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 05:01

Ghanaian president to Buhari: ‘We’re sorry for the demolition of Nigeria’s embassy building

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana on Tuesday spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari, expressing his sincere apology for the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana. In a telephone call, the Ghanaian leader told Mr Buhari that he has directed a full investigation into the incident, a release by presidential spokesperson, Mr Garba Shehu, explained. The statement said earlier in the day, some suspects had been arrested, and will be arraigned in court. Some armed men reportedly invaded the building in the Ghanaian capital, on Friday night, destroying some apartments under construction. Ghanaian…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 05:00

UK Supreme Court hears Nigerian communities’ case against Shell

Britain’s Supreme Court heard an appeal on Tuesday from Nigerian farmers and fishermen seeking to pursue claims against oil major Royal Dutch Shell over spills in the Niger Delta. The appeal re-opens the possibility of British multinationals being held liable at home for their subsidiaries’ actions abroad. It comes after a setback in 2018 when a London court ruled that the claims could not be pursued in England. A judgement is expected later this year or in early 2021, a court spokeswoman said. Ogale and Bille communities allege Shell’s oil operations have polluted their land and waters. Leigh Day, the…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 05:00

Hajj commission promises to refund deposits as Saudi Arabia bans foreign pilgrims

Eligible Muslims from outside Saudi Arabia, who have prepared for hajj exercise, will not observe the spiritual obligation this year. Hence, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) yesterday assured pilgrims of quick refund of their deposits. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia barred 95,000 pilgrims, the quota for Nigeria, from the exercise this year. Those that are entitled to the spiritual obligation this year are only few residents of Saudi Arabia, as international flights into the country remained cancelled as the Coronavirus disease around the world subsists. Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated two days ago that it would…

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Wednesday, 24 June 2020 04:56

Minister submits proposal for reopening schools nationwide to NASS

Federal Ministry of Education has presented to the National Assembly a detailed proposal on its plan to reopen schools across the country. Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, stated this on Tuesday when he appeared before Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education. He was in the upper chamber to brief the federal lawmakers about his ministry’s plans for pupils who had been forced to stay at home following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nwajiuba refused to give details of the proposal, saying some people would misconstrue it as the ministry’s guidelines for schools reopening. He said,…

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 04:55

Makinde postpones reopening schools, announces new dates

Oyo State Covid-19 Task Force has postponed the reopening date for Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3, and Senior Secondary School 3 pupils in the state. The state task force gave the indication following a meeting held ahead of the planned resumption of schools in the state. It was earlier announced that academic activities would commence in the terminal classes in the state on Monday, June 29. However, the task force reviewed the directive in view of the current realities in the state. A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the Commissioner for…

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 14:15

Standards organisation approves 168 new standards

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Governing Council has approved 168 new standards for publication and dissemination to various sectors of the Nation’s economy in furtherance of Federal Government’s economic diversification policy. Rising from its virtual meeting, Chaired from Abuja by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Mr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Council also put its seal on the first ever Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy (NNSS) 2020 – 2022, developed by SON to identify priority areas to focus on based on national needs assessment. According to Sani-Gwarzo, the document is accompanied by a National Implementation Plan that…

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 13:42

Another batch of 315 Nigerians evacuated from UAE, Senegal

No fewer than 315 Nigerians stranded in the United Arab Emirates and Senegal due to Coronavirus pandemic have been evacuated. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known via Twitter. Onyeama said 298 nationals were repatriated from UAE while 17 citizens were evacuated from Senegal. The minister noted that the evacuees tested negative for the virus and would undergo 14-day self-isolation as well as get tested for the virus again. “Earlier today, an @emirates flight conveying another 298 of our nationals departed UAE for Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. “On arrival, all evacuees will undergo the mandatory…

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