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Thursday, 26 March 2020 05:36

IMF, World Bank seek debt relief for Nigeria, others

The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund have urged all bilateral creditors to suspend debt payment from Nigeria and 75 other International Development Association (IDA) countries that request forbearance. IMF noted that the continued spread of the coronavirus pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa would adversely affect the region’s economic growth, with direct disruptions to people’s livelihoods, tighter financial conditions, reduced trade and investment as well as substantial decline in commodity prices. The Breton Woods institutions, which listed Nigeria as one of the IDA countries qualified to benefit from the debt relief for the poorest countries; in a joint statement issued…

Thursday, 26 March 2020 05:34

Prince Charles tests positive for Coronavirus

The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus, Clarence House has announced. Prince Charles, 71, is displaying mild symptoms "but otherwise remains in good health", a spokesman said, adding that the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, has been tested but does not have the virus. Charles and Camilla are now self-isolating at Balmoral. Buckingham Palace said the Queen last saw her son, the heir to the throne, on 12 March, but was "in good health". The palace added that the Duke of Edinburgh was not present at that meeting, and that the Queen was now "following all the appropriate advice…

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 04:47

Bauchi gov tests positive for coronavirus

Bauchi State Governor, Mr Bala Mohammed, has tested positive for coronavirus. Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Mukhtar Gidado, disclosed this in a media statement made available on Tuesday. The governor earlier said he met and shook hands with Mohammed, a son of former Vice-President of Nigeria, Mr Atiku Abubakar, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. Vanguard

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 04:46

N’Assembly shuts down, says no lawmaker tested positive for Coronavirus

The two chambers of the National Assembly yesterday suspended legislative activities for two weeks following the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease. Senate President Ahmad Lawan announced the suspension after the Red Chamber emerged from an about one-hour executive session. He, however, said the Red Chamber would be on hand to attend to emergency issues. He said, “The Senate further resolves to adjourn sitting for two weeks from today due to the pandemic of coronavirus ravaging the entire world. The Senate resumes on the 7th of April.” He urged the federal government to devote special fund to fight the coronavirus…

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 04:45

Medical consumables donated by Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma, arrive Nigeria

A consignment of medical supplies donated by Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, has arrived Nigeria. The Chinese billionaire had used his foundation to forward millions of face masks, testing kits and other protective equipment to Africa as the continent battles to arrest the spread of COVID-19, a deadly disease caused by coronavirus. A cargo operated by Ethiopian Airlines, which has been in charge of distribution of the material on the continent, arrived Lagos at about 3:20 p.m. with Nigeria’s share of the consignment, Business Day reported from the commercial capital. “We appreciate the donation of the Jack Ma Foundation and…

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 04:44

Boko Haram wipes out entire Nigerian army artillery unit in deadly ambush

At least 50 Nigerians soldiers were killed Monday in a deadly ambush by suspected Boko Haram gunmen near Goneri, a village in Yobe State, multiple security sources have told PREMIUM TIMES. The attack, perhaps the deadliest by the terror group in recent times, wiped out an artillery unit of the army, the sources said. A reliable security source familiar with the incident said the troops were on a special operation called Operation Ayiso Tamonuma when they were attacked. The source said amongst those who paid the supreme sacrifice were two majors of the Nigeria Army and an Airforce flight lieutenant.…

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 04:43

3 aides of Buhari’s Chief of Staff test positive for Coronavirus

Three members of staff to the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). A presidential source confirmed the development. Meanwhile, all aides at the Vice President’s wing, with the exception of his media aide, did not turn up for work. A source said the VP reported late to work Monday afternoon, unlike his usual practice. Most of his aides had face masks and hand gloves on when they came to work on Monday. Meanwhile, the Presidential Villa is on a gradual lockdown as nonessential staff have been asked to stay…

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 04:42

Manu Dibango: African saxophone legend dies of Coronavirus

African saxophone legend Manu Dibango has died in Paris after catching coronavirus. Dibango - best known for his 1972 hit Soul Makossa - is one of the first global stars to die from Covid-19. The 86-year-old fused jazz and funk music with traditional sounds from his home country, Cameroon. He collaborated with numerous artists over a long career, including US pianist Herbie Hancock and Nigeria's Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. The Cameroonian musician filed a lawsuit in 2009 saying Michael Jackson had stolen a hook from his song, Soul Makossa, for two tracks on the world's best-selling album, Thriller. Jackson settled…

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 04:41

Nigerian female senator dies in London hospital

A female senator, Rose Okoji Oko, representing Northern district of Cross Rivers State is dead. Her death brings the number of senators that have died since June, 2019 to three. Oko who died last Monday at a UK medical facility was aged 63. She was a second term member of the Red Chamber and chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment. A close relative, Mr Patrick Ikorgor Okoroji, broke the news of Oko’s demise. “Heart broken to hear of the passing of my dear cousin Mrs Rose Okoji Oko after a long fought battle with physical affliction. You gave your…

Tuesday, 24 March 2020 10:12

Buhari’s Chief of Staff tests positive for Coronavirus; president negative

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has tested negative for the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus), following a test for the disease that was carried out yesterday on the president by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). NCDC has informed the president on the outcome his negative result this morning in Abuja. According to presidential sources, the test for the president was necessitated after his Chief of Staff, Mr Abba Kyari tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. Kyari had travelled to Germany on Saturday, March 7th to meet with officials of Siemens in Munich on the Nigerian electricity expansion programme. He returned exactly…

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Tuesday, 24 March 2020 05:57

FG, states, LGs get N65bn less as FAAC deadlock over February allocation is resolved

Stalemate that followed last week’s Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting may have been settled, with the announcement of the sharing of about N581.566 billion to Federal, States and Local Governments for February 2020. The decision was announced at the end of the rescheduled meeting of the FAAC held in Abuja on Monday. A communique issued by Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on the behalf of the FAAC said the N581.566 billion comprised Statutory Revenue, Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain, and revenue from Forex Equalization Account. The communique said the balance in the Excess Crude revenue…

Tuesday, 24 March 2020 05:56

FG shuts land borders, puts on hold FEC, Council of State meetings

As the battle to contain the deadly Coronavirus rages, Federal Government has suspended its weekly Federal Executive Council FEC meetings as well as the proposed Council of State meeting earlier slated for March 26, 2020. This was as the government announced the total closure of all land borders that were hitherto partially closed. Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Pandemic, Mr Boss Mustapha who announced these on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja added that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been mandated to announce measures…

Tuesday, 24 March 2020 05:55

FG directs federal workers to stay at home

Federal Government on Monday issued stay at home order for Federal civil servants at grade levels one to 12 as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus in the country. A circular signed to the effect by Head of the Civil Service if the Federation, Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan, said all non-essential public servants on the grade levels must stay at home compulsorily from March 24, 2020. The circular was copied to Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice-President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, all ministers/ministers of state, all permanent secretaries, Accountant-General…

Tuesday, 24 March 2020 05:53

Following widespread condemnation, Oyedepo speaks on why he held church services against govt directive

Popular preacher and founder of Living Faith Church, Mr David Oyedepo, has responded to criticisms that followed his decision to hold church services on Sunday despite government restriction on large gatherings to combat coronavirus. Oyedepo on Monday said he allowed Sunday church services at Winners Chapel in Canaanland not in defiance of government directives against physical contact, but to enlighten members who may not have been aware of order. The cleric said the services were devoted to sensitising and mobilising members of the church regarding the dangers of COVID-19, a strain of coronavirus that has killed more than 10,000 people…

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