The Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba has confirmed that no official records were lost in the fire which gutted the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation earlier today.

Agba also told newsmen that the fire at the treasury house was caused by a spark from one of the Air Conditioners on the 4th floor of the building at about 10am Wednesday. He said the fire was successfully put out by 25 fire trucks within 35 minutes.

The Minister revealed that the only damage to the data centre is the exterior which houses the cooling units. According to him, there is also a back up Centre outside Abuja to enable recovery in the event of any loss. He said the immediate steps taken was to immediately shut down the data centre since the cooling units are no longer cooling optimally.

Agba said;

 “We have gone round the rooms and offices where the fire affected, and I am glad to report that our data Centre where all our records are kept are fully intact. There is no destruction, so we haven’t lost any record.

 “As a government I want to assure you that our records are intact, a few documents are burnt, we haven’t started recovery to check what actually burnt, but all our financial transactions are intact.

 “We would be doing full scale investigation using the right professionals to determine exactly what happened."

The Minister disclosed that the only unit affected by the fire is the unit from where MDAs capital releases are made.

Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris also confirmed that no casualty was recorded and no offical document was lost.

Idris said;

 “For emphasis, our data Centre is intact, no harm in any way except for the cooling system which we are now working hard to put back to operation. We are also glad there is no casualty."

The AGF never ruled out the possibility of sabotage as he maintained that a thorough investigation will be carried out.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now 'sitting up in bed' and 'improving' according to UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Johnson was admitted to hospital on Sunday barely two weeks after testing positive for Coronavirus and on Monday was transfered to the Intensive Care Unit and placed on oxygen as his condition worsened.

But information coming out of Downing street, says the UK leader is getting better as he continues to receive treatment even though he is still being treated in the ICU.

Speaking at Downing Street's daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the prime minister was recovering.

"The latest from the hospital is the prime minister remains in intensive care where his condition is improving," the chancellor said.

"I can also tell you that he has been sitting up in bed and engaging positively with the clinical team.

"The prime minister is not only my colleague and my boss but also my friend, and my thoughts are with him and his family."

'His situation reminds us how indiscriminate this disease is".

15 Chinese doctors have arrived Nigeria to help in the fight against Coronavirus. The doctors arrived the country in an Air Peace flight.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian; Executive Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Mr Jacques Liao as well as senior officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health received the doctors who arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by 5:15pm today April 8.

The fire at the office of the Accountant General of the Federation earlier today April 8, gutted two key departments including the one that processes consolidated revenue sharing amongst the three tiers of government.

The fire at the Treasury House located in southeast of Abuja city centre was successfully contained within an hour, as fire fighters and other first responders including the police and emergency management officers, raced to the scene shortly after the outbreak.

Premium Times reported that two senior officials briefed on the fire incident said two key offices were razed by the inferno before it was put out. The fourth and fifth floors were also affected.

An official said;

 “The fire started at the fourth department where federal, state and local government allocations and other crucial payments are processed and then found its way up to the fifth floor where the accountant-general has his office.

“We had to suspend a meeting we had scheduled for 11: a.m. via video conferencing."

Another official said the fire did affect their data centre. He said;

 “The fire did not affect our data centre, which is actually fully backed up. We have been using computer to process and back up information for the past 11 years.”

Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Sandra Ugo told journalists that personnel of the FFS arrived on time and were able to put out the fire before much damage was done to the building.

The federal government has reduced the 2020 budget following the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the economic activities of the country.

In a new proposal sent to the National Assembly by the federal government, the 2020 budget was reduced from N10.594 trillion to N10.276 trillion.

The oil bench mark was reduced from $57 per barrel to $30 per barrel, while the oil production volume was reduced from 2.17 million barrel to 1.70 million barrels.

The Nation reported that the exchange rate was also increased from N305 to N360 to a dollar.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa says there are now over 10,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, with over 500 deaths reported in 52 out of 54 African countries.

The organization gave the update via its official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Wednesday, April 8.

“There are over 10,000 COVID-19 cases reported across 52 countries in Africa; initially, mainly confined to capital cities, a significant number of countries in Africa are now reporting cases in multiple provinces,’’ it stated.

South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon had continued to top the list of countries with the highest reported cases.

South Africa has 1,749 cases and 13 deaths followed by Algeria 1,468 cases with 194 deaths and Cameroon, 650 confirmed cases with nine deaths.

The country with the lowest confirmed case is South Sudan which has reported only one case.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, raised concerns over the high cases of the deadly virus reported on the continent.

Moeti, via her twitter account @MoetiTshidi, said COVID-19 cases in Africa had risen to more than 10,000.

She added: “Tackling this pandemic requires a decentralised response. Communities must be empowered and get the resources and expertise needed to tackle outbreaks locally.’’

The World Health Organization has angrily reacted to some French doctors' suggestion of Africa being the test ground for new Coronavirus drugs.

Earlier reports that Jean Paul Mira and Camille Locht who spoke on a live TV interview, insisted that Africa is the best place to conduct such test as they recalled how an experimental treatment for AIDS was carried out in Africa.

However the international health agency's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the comment as “racist” and a hangover from “colonial mentality”.

Speaking in a virtual news conference, he said;

“Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine. We will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world… whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to the intensive care unit after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

A Downing Street spokesman said he was moved on the advice of his medical team and has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary.

A statement read: “Since Sunday evening, the Prime Minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus,” a spokesman for No. 10 Downing Street said in a statement.

“Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital,” the spokesman said.

“The PM has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary,” the spokesman added. “The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication.”

Mr. Johnson, 55,  was taken to hospital last night for routine tests after testing positive for coronavirus ten days ago. His symptoms included a high temperature and a cough.

Earlier on Monday, he tweeted that he was in "good spirits" and was keeping in touch with his team.

'Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.'

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the 'engagement' of 774,000 Nigerians for the Special public works programme to help cushion the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed disclosed this at a press conference on fiscal stimulus measures in response to COVID-19 outbreak and the shock from drop in Oil prices, on Monday April 6.

According to Mrs Ahmed N60b has been earmarked for the initiative and each of the 774 local governments in Nigeria will provide 1000 youths for the initiative and wikll help to financially empower individuals who lose their jobs due to the economic crisis.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning is also evaluating how best to extend the Special Public Works Programme, to provide modest stipends for itinerant workers to undertake Roads Rehabilitation and Social Housing Construction.'' Mrs Ahmed said.

“And also Urban and Rural Sanitation, Health Extension and other critical services. This intervention will be undertaken in conjunction with the key federal ministries responsible for Agriculture, Environment, Health and Infrastructure, as well as the states, to financially empower individuals who lose their jobs due to the economic crisis.

“Mr. President has approved the establishment of a-N500 billion COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund. The establishment of the Fund will involve drawing much-needed cash resources from various Special Funds and Accounts, in consultation with and with the approval of the National Assembly.

“The N500 billion is proposed to be utilized to upgrade healthcare facilities as earlier identified by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and approved by Mr. President.

“This will help to finance the Federal Government’s Interventions to support states in improving healthcare facilities, finance the creation of a Special Public Works programme and Fund any additional interventions that may be approved by Mr. President”.

The Chief Magistrate Court 1 Ogba has sentenced actress Funke Akindele and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz, for defying the social distancing order of the Lagos state government.

The court in its ruling ordered the couple to pay a fine of N100,000 each and also sentenced them to 14 days community service, three hours per day, excluding Saturday and Sunday.

The couple must also visit 10 important public places within Lagos State to educate the public on the consequences of non compliance with the restriction order and must submit the names and phone numbers of every person who attended their house party.

Furthermore, the court ordered that they shall be placed on isolation by the State Government to determine their COVID-19 status. Failure to abide by the above directives shall attract more severe punishments.

The charge sheet filed against them reads

''On 04/04/2020, the two accused persons held a party at their residents with over twenty persons in attendance contrary to the social distancing directives made in pursuant to Regulation  8(1)(a) and (b) & 17(1)(i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 and therefore committed an offence under Section 58 of the Public Health Law Cap P16 Vol. 9, Laws of Lagos State 2015.''

President Buhari has ordered the withdrawal of $150 million from the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, confirmed the development in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

She revealed that the withdrawal would be made from the NSIA stabilisation fund to augment disbursements by the federation accounts allocation committee to the three tiers of government.

The Lagos state police command says it has arrested actress Funke AKindele-Bello for violating the restriction order placed on the state by President Buhari in a bid to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

The actress and her hubby, JJC Skillz had a house party last night in their home in Amen estate, Lagos to celebrate his birthday .

A statement from the spokesperson of the police command reads

Funke Akindele arrested for violating restriction orders in Lagos

The Attention of Lagos State Police Command was drawn to a viral video showing a large number of persons mainly in the entertainment industry in an Estate, along Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki axis, Lagos celebrating a birthday party organised by Funke Akindele Bello and her husband.

Police detectives from the State CID Yaba were promptly drafted to the location.

Funke Akindele was arrested.''.

The statement adds that the police is in search for her hubby and Naira Marley

Investigation is ongoing, efforts are intensified to arrest the remaining persons in the video, among whom are Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley and Abdul Rasheed Bello a.k.a. JJC Skillz.

They are in their best interests urged to report at the State CID Yaba on Monday 6th April, 2020 or risk being declared wanted.

Boko Haram leader, Ibrahim Shekau was heard in a viral audio tape begging his fighters not to run after many of them were killed in an attack led by Chad's President, Iddris Deby.

Recall that President Deby led the offensive against Boko Haram, in retaliation over an ambush in which over 90 Chadian soldiers were killed by the terrorists. He described it as the worst attack ever on the country’s military, and vowed to ensure Boko Haram is crushed around the Lake Chad region.

The offensive launched by the Chadian army with the help of the Israeli Army, has been successful after they mapped out the entire Lake Chad region containing both natural and artificial islands for the operation. A recent battle at Kelkoua (bank of the Lake Chad), saw the killing of many Boko Haram terrorists while bunkers hiding key commanders where discovered and destroyed.

Private Military contractor, @DonKlericuzio shared a graphic video of Boko Haram fighters who were killed by Chadian forces in the ongoing Operation Wrath of Bohoma.

Shekau who was quite sober in a recently obtained audio by Sahara Reporters, told his fighters that the attack launched by the Chadian army is not approved by the Qur'an. He also told the People of Chad to leave them alone.

He was heard saying;

 "People of Chad, leave us alone, this operation is not approved by the Qur'an. It is not the will of the Prophet Muhammed but if you want to continue, God will help us too because he is bigger than you.

"To my fighters, take heart. It is I, Abubakar Shekau, your leader."

Nigeria has recorded eight new cases of coronavirus in Lagos State, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kaduna State.

The eight new cases bring the total number of infections in the country to 232.

While five of the new cases were recorded in Lagos, FCT had two and Kaduna, one.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known via its Twitter handle at 09.32pm on Sunday.

It tweeted, “Eight new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria: Five in Lagos, two in the FCT and one in Kaduna State

“As of 09:30 pm on the 5th of April, there are 232 confirmed cases of #COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. 33 have been discharged with five deaths.

For a breakdown of cases by state, Lagos has 120, FCT- 47, Osun- 20, Oyo- nine, Edo- nine, Bauchi- six, Akwa Ibom- five, Kaduna- five, Ogun – four, Enugu – two, Ekiti – two, Rivers – one, Benue – one and Ondo- one.”