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May 16, 2020

Nigeria records 288 new cases of COVID-19

Nigeria records 288 new cases of COVID-19 - Voice of Nigeria

Nigeria has recorded 288 new cases of the novel coronavirus.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC, 179 of the new cases were discovered in Lagos alone. 20 in Kaduna, 15 in Katsina, 15 in Jigawa, 13in Borno, 11 in Ogun, 8 in Kano, 7 in FCT, 4 in Niger, 4 in Ekiti, 3 in Oyo, 3 in Delta, 3 in Bauchi, 2 in Kwara and 1 in Edo.

Nigeria now has 5445 confirmed cases of the viral disease. 1320 patients have so far been discharged while 171 deaths have so far been recorded.

Nigeria records 288 new cases of COVID-19, 179 in Lagos alone
May 16, 2020

Coronavirus lockdown pushes Germany into recession

COVID-19 pushes Germany into recession - The Nation Nigeria

Germany is officially in recession after official figures released on Friday May 15, that showed that the European country's economy shrank by 2.2% in the first three months of this year.

The figures released by the federal statistics authority Destasis, also showed revisions to 2019 fourth-quarter figures from zero growth to a contraction of 0.1%. This meant that Germany's GDP growth has been negative for two successive quarters, the technical definition of a recession.

The first quarter figures are only a partial indication of how much the Coronavirus pandemic has harmed Europe's largest economy.

Though experts had expected a contraction of around 2%, the drop is not as bad as in some of its neighbours, such as France which has seen a decline of 5.8%, and Italy which reported a 4.7% fall. This was aided by Germany's 16 states' decision to allow factories and construction sites to stay open, as well as an unprecedented rescue package by the government.

Germany had imposed restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and this remained in place through early May. It also drastically reduced exports and consumer spending.

Employment figures remained stable in the first quarter. The coronavirus outbreak had only a "modest" effect on employment between January and March, the agency said, partly thanks to Germany’s reduced-working-hours program, which allows firms to keep workers at home without laying them off.


May 13, 2020

Zenith Bank CEO admits COVID-19 will severely impact banks

Home Page - Nigeria Business News |Nigeria Financial News ...

The CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, has corroborated earlier forecasts and reports about how the COVID-19 pandemic is bound to adversely affect the Nigerian banking industry.

Speaking to CNBC Africa, Onyeagwu stated that one of the most immediate impacts of the Pandemic is the fact that the oil price crash will have negative implications for banks’ revenue targets.

“In terms of banking, the drop in the price of crude is affecting directly the exposure that banks have created in the oil and gas sector. Revenues are challenged now, no doubt. And you have a situation where revenues are challenged, the obvious next step will be for you to restructure,” Onyeagwu stated.

He also noted that the situation will remain very challenging until there is a vaccine to remedy the virus. For now, efforts are being made to flatten the curve by preventing further spread of the virus. And while this effort continues, banks are not expecting much growth. He said:

“In this moment too, as far as banking is concerned, we are also going to experience the fact that we don’t expect a situation where there will be growth in loan books. Loan growth will be challenged. World Bank’s screen now is on different sectors of the economy and how the COVID impacts them restructuring the loan book. The Central Bank has even given a dispensation to this effect, asking banks to come up with the  various proposals they have for the restructuring of the loan book.”

He then disclosed that there have been some positives arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, Zenith Bank has recently witnessed a massive increase in the number of businesses being transacted through various digital channels. Apparently, customers who were hitherto disinterested in digital banking are now showing interest.

The Zenith Bank CEO then clarified that the pandemic is not only affecting the banking industry alone. It affects every aspect of the economy, he said.

“In a situation where you have a lockdown of the economy, if you lock down all the agents, there is no way business volumes will not be bad or impacted.”

Zenith Bank’s profit before tax rose by 3% to N58.7 billion in the first quarter of 2020, according to an earlier article published by Nairametrics.


May 13, 2020

Khoe Kardashian reacts as she's called out following speculations, she's pregnant for Tristan Thompson again

Tristan Thompson's Reported Reaction To Khloe Kardashian Dumping ...

Khloe Kardashian is the number 1 trend on Twitter as people called her out and demanded she apologizes to Jordyn Woods following speculations that she's expecting another baby with ex-boyfriend, Tristan Thompson.

Khloe publicly called out Jordyn Woods after she was filmed partying with her baby daddy Tristan following the birth of their first child together, True Thompson. As a result, Jordyn, who was a good friend of the Kardashian family, became estranged from the family.

Khloe also broke up with Tristan but they have now reconciled and are reportedly quarantining together. Khloe even recently discussed freezing her eggs with Tristan's sperm to ensure a second baby on a recent episode of the family's reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Well, for some reason, social media users believed Khloe is pregnant with her and Tristan's second child and they took to the platform to criticize her.

They called her a clown and a hypocrite for shaming her sister's best friend Jordyn. They also accused her of making Kylie let go of her best friend, while Khloe refused to let go of the man who cheated with the same best friend.

 

The Good American co-founder has now reacted.

She tweeted: "I don’t go on social platforms much these days AND this is one of the main reasons as to why I stay away. The sick and hurtful things people say. I am disgusted by so many things I am seeing. SMH people swear they know everything about me. Including my uterus. Sick.

"The nasty things you’re saying about me over A RUMOR! I have seen so many hurtful/despicable stories and tweets about me over a false story. And if it were true.... it’s MY LIFE, NOT YOURS.

"Funny how picky&choosy some can be with who and how you feel others should live their lives. I believe people should focus on their own lives/families, put energy into bettering the scary world we are currently living in, and try projecting positivity as opposed to nastiness."


May 13, 2020

Federal Executive Council approves revised 2020 budget

FEC Approves Additional N318bn for Revised 2020 Budget ⋆

The revised Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2020 budget has been approved by the Federal Executive Council.

The revised budget is based on $25 per barrel of crude oil at a production rate of 1.94 million barrels per day.

Recall that the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed said that the revision will be based on declining international oil prices and the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. She had also hinted that the federal government will drop the oil benchmark from the initial $57 per barrel to $30.


May 13, 2020

President Buhari appoints 75-year-old former External Affairs minister, Ibrahim Gambari, as new Chief of Staff

JUST IN: Buhari Appoints 75-Year-Old Ibrahim Gambari As Chief Of Staff

President Buhari has appointed former Minister of External Affairs, Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, as his Chief of Staff.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr. Boss Mustapha announced the appointment before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting this morning, May 13th.

Gambari takes over from late Abba Kyari who died on April 17, following complications from COVID-19 infection.

The new Chief of Staff was born on November 24, 1944 in Ilorin, Kwara State, and served as Minister for External Affairs when President Buhari was military Head of State between 1984 and 1985. He holds the record of being the longest-serving Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations (January 1990 to October 1999), and altogether served under five Heads of State and President. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari

He was subsequently appointed by the former Secretary-General of United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, and the chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur in January 2010.

On March 4, 2013, he was named by the Kwara State governor, AbdulFatah Ahmad, as the pioneer Chancellor of the Kwara State University.

Gambari attended King's College, Lagos. He subsequently attended the London School of Economics where he obtained his B.Sc. (Economics) degree (1968) with a specialization in International Relations.

He later obtained his M.A. (1970) and Ph. D. (1974) degrees from Columbia University, New York, USA, in Political Science/International Relations.

He is married with children and grandchildren.


May 11, 2020

Madagascar’s herbal cure for COVID-19 sent to Nigeria

Madagascar's COVID-19 cure drugs sent to Nigeria

Nigeria is set to receive Republic of Madagascar's herbal drug 'COVID Organics (COV)', which the country's leaders said cures and prevents Coronavirus.

The Nation reported that Nigeria’s consignment has been sent to Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja. It was gathered that African countries were divided into zones for ease of transportation, leading to freighting of Nigeria’s consignments to Equatorial Guinea.

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has been notified of the offer from Madagascar and arrangements are being made to bring Nigeria’s allocation to Abuja.

While some health officials are pushing for clinical trial of Covid Organics before being used in the country, there is reportedly pressure on the Federal Government by different medical and scientific organizations to allow the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) subject the drug to further analysis.

 

The Nation source said;

“The consignments of the drug are being distributed to different countries in Africa based on zonal grouping. We have been told that Nigeria’s consignment is in Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.

 

“When the herbal drink is brought into the country, we will know the next step. But some medical and scientific organisations are pressurising that the drug be subjected to clinical trial.

“Some countries like Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea have subscribed to the drugs. Also, while South Africa has offered to conduct a scientific analysis of the drug, Senegal said it will subject it to clinical trial.

“I can assure you that the Federal Government will take the best decision on the drug in the overall interest of Nigerians.

“Before any food or drug can be administered in this country, there are certain protocols that must be followed. The government will not circumvent these protocols. We want solution; we want the best for Nigerians.”

Recall that on April 28, the Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha said the nation was ready to give Madagascar’s herbal drink a trial.

Mustapha said at that time;

“I want to assure you that whatever is happening in the world, we are mindful of it and we are keeping a tab.

“I was reading of the experiences in Madagascar– of why everybody is drinking some solutions that have been prepared. This morning I was sharing with my wife, and I told her that probably I would request that Mr. President allow us import a plane load for a trial.

“We are all navigating an unchartered cause. Nobody has ever been on this road. So, every attempt to find solution that would bring succour to our people, be rest assured that this task force is very responsible and we would do everything to ensure that we get what will benefit our people, what will help them in the processes that we find ourselves today.”

This is coming after the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintained that the efficacy of the drug was unproven.


May 11, 2020

248 new cases of Coronavirus recorded in Nigeria

Nigeria: Coronavirus - Nigeria Records 248 New Cases, 17 Deaths ...
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The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced that a total of 248 new cases of Coronavirus has been confirmed in different states in the country.

A breakdown of the new cases across states in the country is as follows; 81-Lagos, 35-Jigawa, 26-Borno, 26-Kano, 20-Bauchi, 13-FCT, 12-Edo, 10-Sokoto, 7-Zamfara, 4-Kwara, 4-Kebbi, 2-Gombe, 2-Taraba, 2-Ogun, 2-Ekiti, 1-Osun, 1-Bayelsa.

The NCDC also rectified an error it made in its announcement on Saturday May 9. According to the health agency, FCT recorded 13 discharged cases and 2 deaths on May 9, 2020 and not 32 discharge cases as earlier announced.

As at Sunday May 10, Nigeria has a total of 4399 cases of Coronavirus. 778 patients have been discharged and 143 have been recorded.


May 08, 2020

Nigeria records 386 new COVID-19 cases, total now 3, 912



Confirmed cases of coronavirus have increased to 3,912 in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known on Friday.
The centre also said 386 new cases were recorded in the country.
NCDC said, “On the 8th of May 2020, 386 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
“No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
“Till date, 3912 cases have been confirmed, 679 cases have been discharged and 117 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory
“The 386 new cases are reported from 20 states- Lagos (176), Kano(65), Katsina (31), FCT(20), Borno(17), Bauchi(15), Nasarawa (14), Ogun(13), Plateau(10), Oyo(4), Sokoto(4), Rivers(4), Kaduna(3), Edo(2), Ebonyi(2), Ondo(2), Enugu(1), Imo(1), Gombe(1), Osun(1).”
Data obtained from the NCDC showed that 68 per cent of those infected with the virus are males while 32 per cent are females.
It also showed that how 61 per cent of COVID-19 patients contacted the virus is not known.
While the country has a recovery rate of over 17 percent, about 80 percent of the cases in the country are active.

May 08, 2020

Father and son involved in the killing of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery were arrested at their home by heavily-armed officers



This is the moment the two white men involved in the killing of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery, were arrested at their home in Brunswick, Georgia.
Heavily-armed officers with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrived at the home of ex-cop Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis McMichael, 34, at around 7.50 pm and led them out in handcuffs.
The father and son were booked into Glynn County Jail on charges of murder and aggravated assault.
Their arrest comes days after a graphic video of Arbery's final moments was shared online this week, prompting a national outcry from people who called for the suspects to be arrested and charged.
In the video, Arbery was seen jogging in a white neighborhood when he was stopped by McMichael and his father in a white pickup truck. McMichael was armed with a shotgun. Arbery ran around the
After at least two shots, the men continued struggling over the gun, until Arbery stumbled away, and then collapsed to the ground. He was later pronounced dead.

May 08, 2020

190,000 people could die in Africa if Coronavirus containment fails – WHO



The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that about 190,000 people in Africa could die of Coronavirus in the first year of the pandemic, if containment of the disease fails.
In a new study carried out by the agency's regional office in Brazzaville, it was found that between 83,000 and 190,000 could die and 29 to 44 million be infected during the period. The research is based on prediction modelling and covers 47 countries with a total population of one billion.
AFP reported that though spread of the virus has been slow across the continent which has not yet recorded the soaring number of infections or deaths seen in Europe, the United States and other places, experts have consistently warned that Africa is particularly vulnerable to an outbreak, due to weak health infrastructure, high rates of poverty, numerous roiling conflicts and a proven susceptibility to previous epidemics.
The statement released by the UN agency on Thursday reads in part;
“The model predicts the observed slower rate of transmission, lower age of people with severe disease and lower mortality rates compared to what is seen in the most affected countries in the rest of the world.
“The lower rate of transmission, however, suggests a more prolonged outbreak over a few years.”
WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti added;
“While COVID-19 likely won’t spread as exponentially in Africa as it has elsewhere in the world, it likely will smoulder in transmission hotspots”.
“COVID-19 could become a fixture in our lives for the next several years unless a proactive approach is taken by many governments in the region. We need to test, trace, isolate and treat.”
Africa has so far recorded 53,334 cases and 2,065 fatalities — out of a global death toll of nearly 267,000

May 08, 2020

Supreme Court nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu’s conviction



The Supreme Court has nullified the judgment which convicted former Abia state governor and serving senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Ude Udeogo, the former Director of Finance and Accounts during Kalu's administration.
Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Ude Udeogo were arrested and jailed for diverting N7.6 billion belonging to the state government during their time in office.
Justice Idris Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos on December 12, 2019, sentenced Kalu to 12 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of N7.1bn fraud charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Udeogo was also sentenced to 10 years.
Displeased with the judgement of the Federal High Court, Kalu and Udeogu filed an appeal to challenge their sentencing at the Supreme Court.
The apex court, in a unanimous verdict by a seven-man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, held that the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu. It held that trial Justice Mohammed Liman was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at the time he sat and delivered the judgement that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1billion from Abia state treasury.
The apex court, therefore, ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case for trial.
Kalu served as the Governor of Abia State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.

May 07, 2020

Nigeria records 381 new COVID-19 cases, total now 3,526



Nigeria has recorded 381 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 3,526.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known via its verified Twitter handle on Tuesday.
It tweeted, “On the 7th of May 2020, 381 new confirmed cases and four deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
“No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
“Till date, 3,526 cases have been confirmed, 601 cases have been discharged and 107 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The 381 new cases are reported from 17 states – Lagos(183), Kano(55), Jigawa(44), Zamfara(19), Borno(9), Bauchi(19), Katsina(11), Kwara(8), Kaduna(7), Gombe(6), Ogun(5),Sokoto(4), Oyo(3), Rivers(3), Niger(2), Akwa Ibom(1), Enugu(1), Plateau(1).”

May 06, 2020

195 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria as total number hits 3145



195 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Nigeria on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
According to Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC, out of the 195 new cases of COVID-19, 82 were recorded in Lagos, 30 in Kano, 19 in Zamfara, 18 in Sokoto, 10 in Borno, 9 in FCT, 8 in Oyo, 5 in Kebbi, 5 in Gombe, 4 in Ogun, 3 in Katsina, 1 in Kaduna, and 1 in Adamawa.
Nigeria now has 3145 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 534 patients have been discharged from various Isolation centers across the country, while 103 deaths have been recorded.

 195 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria as total number hits 3145?