FG Warns As COVID-19 Deaths Approach 1,000
The Federal Government has warned that the 945 deaths recorded in COVID-19 pandemic cases is a wake up call for citizens to take appropriate measures to avoid being infected.
According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, as at August 10, 2020, Nigeria has recorded 46,577 cases from 317,496 samples tested so far, while 33,186 persons have been treated and discharged.
The Minister said that many more Nigerians today personally knew a person who succumbed to COVID-19, warning that COVID-19 which had now been identified in 549 of the 774 local government areas was still around and would be for a long time.
FG Inaugurates Gas Network Code To Deepen Gas Market
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Nigeria Gas Transportation Network Code to deepen the growth of gas market in the country.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Slyva, disclosed this. He said that, following the declaration of 2020 as a year of gas, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was driving key policy and regulatory initiatives that would enhance gas reserves growth to support domestic and export project.
Sylva said that other focus was to expand domestic gas supply and address the perennial challenges of gas flaring, with its attendant waste and environmental impact.
He said that the aggregate impact hangs on three anchor programme on gas, namely the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC), National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) and Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP).
This, he said, would help the sector achieve the presidential mandate of gas penetration, gas-based industrialisation, and economic diversification
In his remarks, the Group Managing to Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyar said that the code was an opportunity to widen the income source of gas in Nigeria.
COVID-19: US Hands Over 200 Ventilators To Nigeria
The United States Government has handed over 200 ventilators to the Nigerian Government.
The items were presented on Tuesday by the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Bert Leonard at the Abuja Premier Medical Warehouse in the nation’s capital.
This comes four months after President Donald Trump administration promised to support the country with ventilators as the Federal Government battles the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the world.
Malami Writes Buhari, Denies Corruption Allegations
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, denying the allegations of corruption levelled against him.
This follows a call from a coalition of Civil Society Organisations asking President Buhari to probe the AGF over 14 high-profile corruption cases and calling for his resignation.
The allegations levelled against Malami, by the CSOs include “financial fraud” and “influence peddling”, as well as “illegally” auctioning sea vessels holding crude oil seized by the Federal Government.
But the minister wrote to the presidency, insisting that he had declared all his assets and statements of accounts upon his assumption of office.
The Minister who has decided to seek redress in court, was also accused of being behind the ordeals of the former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, after criticising some of his actions.
Money Laundering: Trial Of Ex-AGF Stalled, Adjourned Till August 13
The trial of the Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke has been stalled.
Mr. Adoke’s trial was stalled due to the failure of the prosecutor to serve the defendants with the proof of evidence and statement of the witness.
The Former AGF was arraigned today alongside Aliyu Abubakar who is an Abuja based businessman, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court; who frowned at the late filing of the amended charge. He then adjourned the trial till August 13, 2020, on the ground that he is yet to sight the amended charges.
Meanwhile, during the last sitting, the defendants pleaded not guilty to a 14-count charge filed against them bordering on money laundering.
World Exceeds 20 Million Coronavirus Cases, WHO Warns Against Despair
The coronavirus pandemic chalked up another horrific milestone Monday as the world surpassed 20 million recorded cases of infection from the tiny killer that has upended life just about everywhere.
The number as of 2215 GMT was 20,002,577 cases, with 733,842 deaths recorded, according to an AFP tally of official sources.
In yet another staggering landmark, the death toll is expected to surpass 750,000 in a matter of days as the global health crisis that began late last year in China rages on.
As more things once unthinkable became harsh reality — having to wear a facemask in touristy spots in Paris, or reserve a spot on Copacabana beach in Rio via an app and then social distance on the sand — the World Health Organization urged people not to despair.
A WHO overview said 165 candidate vaccines are being worked on around the world, with six reaching Phase 3 of clinical evaluation.
But the WHO’s Emergencies Director, Michael Ryan warned that a vaccine was “only part of the answer,” pointing to polio and measles as diseases with vaccines that have not been fully eradicated.
Facebook Creates Unit Devoted To Financial Services
Facebook on Monday said it has created a new unit devoted to financial services to harmonize payment systems on its platform.
The new group, called Facebook Financial, will be headed by e-commerce veteran David Marcus, who was a president at PayPal before joining the leading social network six years ago.
Marcus is one of the creators of Facebook’s digital money network Libra, and heads the team building a Novi digital wallet tailored for the currency.
The Novi wallet — set to launch when Libra coins debut — promises to give Facebook opportunities to build financial services into its offerings, offer to expand its own commerce and let more small businesses buy ads on the social network.
Facebook Financial will handle management and strategy for all payments and money services across the Silicon Valley company’s platform.
NUPENG Reaches Agreement With Lagos Govt, Suspends Tanker Drivers’ Strike
Fuel tanker drivers under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have suspended their strike in Lagos State.
The union took the decision on Monday following a meeting between its leadership and representatives of the state government.
A communique jointly signed by the Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, and the Deputy National President of NUPENG, Solomon Kilanko, was issued at the end of the meeting.
It contains the seven agreements reached by the union and the government which lead to the suspension of the industrial action of the tanker drivers in the state.
Read the full communique issued at the end of the meeting below:
102 Local Governments Across Nigeria Will Experience Heavy Flooding – NEMA
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Retired Air Vice-Marshal Muhammadu Muhammad has cautioned Nigerians residing in areas identified as flood risk areas to evacuate their facilities immediately to avert any form of disaster that may arise as a result of flooding.
Air Vice-Marshal Muhammad says, about 102 local governments are expected to experience a high rate of flooding. He, however, noted that the agency has put in place measures to mitigate the impact.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Muhammed, said Kaura and Zaria local government areas in Kaduna state are among the high-risk areas and urged state emergency management agencies to help sensitize residents and prepare to evacuate communities.
The NEMA DG also advised governments to organise state humanitarian coordination forum meetings in order to prepare stakeholders for mitigation and response to floods when they hit.
In like manner, as the rain intensifies in the coming days, residents of some local government areas in Lagos state may have to prepare for severe flooding.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ibeju-Lekki, and Ikorodu are likely to experience flooding as a result of high rainfall.
He also identified 14 other local government areas that could face flood risks this year.
They include Lagos Island, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Ikeja, Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, Agege, Ifako Ijaiye, Badagry, Surulere, and Ajeromi-Ifelodun.
While promising that efforts at clearing the drains continue, the commissioner warned against dumping of heaps of pet plastic bottles, styrofoam, and solid waste in drainage channels especially in Mushin, Idi Oro, Idi Araba, LUTH and Mile 2 areas of the metropolis.
ASUU Set To Present Alternate Salary Payment Platform To FG
After months of opposition to the implementation of the Integrated Payment and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to make an initial presentation of its own platform known as University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to the Federal Government.
ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, disclosed this in a letter addressed to zonal coordinators, chairpersons and members of the union.
ASUU has consistently asked the Federal Government to drop adopting IPPIS to pay its salaries but rather embrace UTAS as one that captures the peculiarities of the university system.
The academic staff union lampooned the implementation of IPPIS as an affront on the university autonomy act, alleging that vested interests are uncomfortable with the emergence of the UTAS because of its potential for exposing fraud in IPPIS.
Buhari Signs African Trade Insurance Agency Instrument
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the instrument of accession of the agreement for the establishment of the African Trade Insurance Agency. A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed this on Monday evening.
The Agreement and the Agency are registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations in accordance with Charter of the United Nations and is in cognizant of the fact that lack of adequate political, non-commercial and commercial risk insurance is a significant impediment to the availability of finance for investments in Africa and the expansion of African foreign trade and intra-Africa trade.
The Agency when executed will acknowledge previous multilateral efforts made by African States towards regional economic integration through co-operation in trade liberalization and development so as to attain sustainable growth, promote economic activity and create an enabling environment for foreign trade, as well as cross-border and domestic investments.
A memorandum from the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, stated that the request for the President’s signature on the agreement was sequel to the directive of the Federal Executive Council, that the instrument be prepared and forwarded for execution.
Edo Guber: Court Hears Suit Seeking Ize-Iyamu, Deputy’s Disqualification Aug. 24
The ongoing political drama in Edo State on Monday shifted to Abuja where some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have approached the Federal High Court with a suit seeking the disqualification of the party’s candidate for Governor, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and candidate for Deputy Governor Mr. Audu Ganiyu, in the forthcoming governorship election in the State.
The case has, however, been adjourned to August 24 for hearing by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who is sitting as a vacation judge of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
Before the adjournment, the judge granted an application for substituted service of the court processes on the third and fourth defendants, Ganiyu and Ize-Iyamu, respectively.
Two chieftains of the APC, Honourable Momoh Abdul-Razak and Honourable Zibiri Muhizu, had sued the party candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State over alleged perjury.
Defendants in the suit are the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Audu Ganiyu and Osagie Ize-Iyamu as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively.
