COVID: NCDC announces 197 infections, 2 deaths as Omicron variant hits 38 countries

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced  two additional fatalities from the coronavirus pandemic on Friday with 197 fresh cases reported across five states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NCDC made the disclosure in its daily COVID-19 report on Saturday morning.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 197 additional cases reported on Friday indicate an increase from the 47 cases reported in the country on Friday, Dec. 3.

NAN reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that the omicron variant, now detected in 38 countries, appears to be more contagious than the COVID-19 delta variant.

No Explosion At Maiduguri Airport – FAAN

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has debunked reports that an explosion rocked Maiduguri Airport in Bornu State.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, in a statement on Saturday said the information was false as there was neither an explosion nor any attack at the airport.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) hereby wishes to notify passengers and the general public that there was neither an explosion nor intrusion at the Maiduguri airport,” the statement read in part.

“The airport was not targeted, and is not under any attack whatsoever”.

Maid Strangles Lucky Igbinedion’s Mother To Death, Disappears With Her Money, Jewelries

The Igbinedion’s household has been thrown into a mournful mood following the manner Maria Oredola Igbinedion, mother to two-time former governor of Edo State, Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion was killed.

The maid strangled her in her home, ransacked her home for jewelries and money and disappeared into thin air.

Maria had remained confined to a wheel chair since her 80th birthday, unable to move around, just managing to stay alive.She managed to survive the dark days of the Covid19 pandemic only to be killed by a hired hand entrusted to take care of her.

Efforts are being made to track and apprehend the killer thief who is reportedly from Cross River State.

Africa requires $7.1Trn ‘New Deal’ to recover from pandemic – ECA

With many African countries struggling from the shackles of debt servicing amid downward economic trend occasioned by COVID-19, a ‘New Deal’ worth 7.1 trillion dollars has been suggested as the only solution.

This was the position of Mr Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the ongoing African Economic Conference (AEC) to chart a new path for Africa’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

He likened the proposed New Deal to a similar deal by the US between 1933 and 1939 during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt.

Pedro said that the new deal for Africa would form part of the external funds required by Africa to, among other things, address the rising risk of African debt defaults amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Dubai-Bound Nigerian, Two Others Caught With 1,144 ATM Cards At Kano Airport

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have arrested three suspects at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) while attempting to smuggle 1,144 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards out of the country.

The suspects, Abdullahi Usman, Musa Abubakar and Abdulwahid Auwalu, were arrested by the Kano Zonal Command of the EFCC between November 24 and December 1, 2021.

Spokesperson for the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, said, one of the suspects, Musa Abubakar who was on his way to Dubai, UAE, concealed 714 ATM cards while Abdullahi Usman who was heading to Saudi Arabia, had 298 ATM cards in his possession.

Abdulwahid, on the other hand, was arrested with 132 ATM cards while trying to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

EXPO 2020: Nigeria Remains Most Viable, Attractive Investment Destination In Africa – Buhari

 President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday declared that Nigeria remains the most viable and attractive investment destination in Africa.

Buhari also said that Nigeria is on the path of becoming Africa’s leading industrial and trading nation.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement on Saturday, said President Buhari spoke in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE), while addressing a trade and investment forum at Dubai Expo 2020.

While addressing a trade and investment forum at the Expo, organised by Nigerian Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the President said Nigeria is reaping from the efforts his administration has made to consciously improve the investment environment.

South Africa Considers 10-Year Visa For Nigerian Business Travellers

The South African government says it is considering issuing a 10-year visa to Nigerian business personnel to boost relations between both countries.

South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Thamsanqa Dennis Mseleku, who made this known on Arise TV programme, ‘The Morning Show’, encouraged more Nigerian businesses, especially financial institutions, to expand their businesses to South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa had recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria.

During the visit, new memoranda of understanding (MOU) between Nigeria and South Africa were signed while existing ones were reviewed.

Woman Arrested For Allegedly Setting Husband’s Mistress On Fire

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested one Kehinde Wasiu, 32 for setting her husband’s mistress on Fire.

This is according to a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ogun Police Command DSP, Abimbola Oyeyemi.

“The suspect was arrested following a report lodged at Onipanu Divisional Headquarters, Ota, by the husband of the deceased Fatai Olugbade who reported on the 22nd of November that sometime in August 2021, he accused his wife of having extramarital affairs with one Ismail Wasiu,” he added

According to the police public relations officer, the deceased was rushed to the hospital by her family members but later gave up the ghost while receiving treatment.

FG Approves COVID-19 Booster Shots Amid Omicron Variant

In a statement issued on Friday, the Head of Public Relations Unit, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mohammad Ohitoto, explained that the booster shots are for those who have taken their first and second douses of AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer Bio-N-Tech, or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

He quoted the Executive Director of the agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, as saying that the booster doses are for people from 18 years and above.

The approval of the booster doses in Nigeria is coming at a time when the world is battling the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

Explosion Rocks Residential Area In Maiduguri

A mortar bomb exploded early Saturday morning in a residential estate in Maiduguri-Damaturu expressway.

The name of the estate is 1,000 Housing estate, located along the Maiduguri-Damaturu expressway. At least 12 houses were affected, but no loss of life has been recorded.

The bomb is said to have exploded less than 100 meters away from a holding camp for repentant Boko Haram members.

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has debunked reports that an explosion rocked the Maiduguri airport in Borno State.