Nigeria
Presidency: Nothing wrong with taking more loans
There is nothing wrong in taking more loans to finance specific projects, the Presidency said on Sunday. It urged those criticising efforts in borrowing to develop the country, to desist. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said Nigeria has more capacity to accommodate loans. He spoke while featuring on Southwest Political Circuit, a popular political interview programme on Ibadan-based radio station, Fresh F.M. Adesina called from his Aso Rock office to take questions on aspects of COVID-19 management and economic issues. He said that there was no need for Nigerians to raise concern about the country’s rising debt profile because the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is applying loans to the specific projects they are meant for. Although he pointed out that the huge debt, which th...
Troops raid militants hideout in Rivers, recover cache of arms
Nigerian troops on May 12 raided and destroyed an identified pirates/militants hideout in Arugbanama Community in Bonny Local Government Arwa of Rivers State, Defence Headquarters says. The Coordinator, Defence Media Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja, the troops were from the 146 Battalion deployed in Bonny Island in the state. Enenche explained that the troops engaged the militants/pirates in exchange of gun fire leading to the killing of two of the criminals. He added that there was recovery of one AK47 rifle and seven magazine, one pump action rifle, one pistol and magazine. Others are one round of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 102 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, three rounds of 9mm ball ammunition and one live cartridge. He said that one camou...
Nigeria records 338 new coronavirus cases, total now 5,959
Nigeria has recorded 338 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 5,959. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known on Sunday. Newsmen report that six patients died of coronavirus-related complications in the last 24 hours in Nigeria. Data obtained from the NCDC’s website showed that there are no fewer than 4,183 active cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The centre said, “On the 17th of May 2020, 338 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths were recorded in Nigeria. “No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours. “Till date, 5959 cases have been confirmed, 1594 cases have been discharged and 182 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The 338 new cases are reported from 18 states- Lagos(177), Kan...
PDP mourns Simeon Nwakaudu, condoles Governor Wike
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed shock over the death of the Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu. In a statement of condolence signed by the spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said: “the media industry and indeed Rivers state, have lost one of our brightest and patriotic media professionals; a loyal compatriot, who gave his all in serving our dear nation.” The statement further read: “Nwakaudu was a courageous and hardworking Nigerian, who dedicated his youthful life in serving our nation as an accomplished journalist, Special Assistant to Governor Wike during his tenure as Minister of Education and then as his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, where he contributed immensely in the implementation of...
Adamawa imposes curfew on crisis-ridden Lamurde communities
The Adamawa State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on warring communities in Lamurde Local Government Area. A statement to this effect said the curfew is government’s response to “the violence that erupted on Thursday, May 14th 2020 and the attendant tension.” The statement, signed by Humwashi Wonosikou, the Press Secretary to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, said, “Sequel to breach of peace in Tigno Dutse Tito, Sabon Layi and Bagashi communities, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved the imposition of a 24-hour curfew from 6:00pm to 6:00am with immediate effect.” The statement added that Governor Fintiri views the disturbances as unacceptable, warning that security agencies have been directed to enforce the curfew, and urging residents of Lamurde Local Government Area to shun rumor-mo...
Bauchi governor orders payment of salaries
Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has approved the payment of May, 2020 salaries of Civil Servants in the state ahead of the Eid-el Fitr celebration. His Senior Special Assistant on Media, Muktar Gidado, revealed this on Sunday in a statement. He said the Governor has directed the State Accountant General to ensure that the salaries are paid on or before the 20th of May. He explained the development was to enable workers, including pensioners enjoy a happy Eid-el Fitr celebrations. Mohammed assured civil servants in the state of the commitment of his administration to prompt payment of salaries in addition to other reforms introduced to ensure effective service delivery. He equally enjoined them to ensure total compliance with all the protocols against COVID-19 pandemic. Get more ...
Federal government donates 5,318 metric tons of foodstuff to Kano
The Federal Government said it has delivered a total of 139 truck-loads of foodstuff which is equivalent to 5,318 metric tons to Kano State, for distribution to the less-privileged, and people living with disabilities as palliatives against the effect of COVID-19. The relief items were 10 trucks of rice; 2,438 metric tonnes of Maize; 1,380 metric tonnes of millet and 900 metric tonnes of sorghum in a total of 139 trucks each ferrying 60 metric tons to feed 300,000 households. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, who stated this in a statement, yesterday, disclosed that the10 trucks of rice came from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), while maize, millet and sorghum were drawn from the country’s strategic food reserves as authori...
Governor Fayemi: Ibrahim Gambari’s appointment excites governors
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed excitement over the appointment of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. The Forum also expressed its readiness to work with Gambari for the progress and development of the country. In a congratulatory message signed by its Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in Abuja on Sunday, the NGF expressed confidence in Gambari’s competence for the job. “As you know, this appointment comes with great responsibilities and unconventional demands, requiring candour, discipline, professionalism, loyalty, focus, diligence and the highest level of service. “Your credentials, pedigree, experience and career trajectory both locally and globally speak to your capacity. As State Governors, we are excited a...
Madagascar records first death from coronavirus
Madagascar has registered its first coronavirus death, two months after its index case, the national COVID-19 taskforce said on Sunday, according to news site Reuters. The taskforce spokeswoman, Hanta Vololontiana, was quoted by Reuters to have said in a televised statement that the man had died on Saturday night. “A man died from COVID-19 in Madagascar … he is 57 years old and a member of the medical staff,” she said. The first casualty of the island on the east coast of Africa was said to be a 57-year-old medical worker who suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure. Newsmen had about a fortnight ago did a rundown of countries with a clean death slate. This included Vietnam, Rwanda, Faroe Islands, Madagascar, Cambodia, Nepal, Uganda, Central African Republic, and Mozambique, accordin...
NIDO flays Nigerian government’s directive on payment of N297,600 by stranded nationals in Thailand
Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Thailand, has described the directive by the federal government that stranded Nigerians in Thailand must pay the sum of N297,600 for their quarantine, isolation, accommodation centres or hotels before their departure as insensitive and harsh. Its President, Dr. Lloyd Nwafor, in a letter dated May 17 and addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, titled: ‘Appeal to Reconsider Decision on Payment for Quarantine, Isolation, Accommodation Centres or Hotels’, said it came to the stranded Nigerians in Thailand as a shock. He said that some of the evacuees are families who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic, some are at the Immigration Deportation Camp (IDC), while others are visitors stranded in Thailand. Nwafor...
Commission distributes aid to displaced persons in Kogi
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) over the weekend distributed relief materials to about 2,000 people in Kogi State who were rendered homeless as a result of recurrent floods that have ravaged their areas. The local government areas that benefited from the aid are Bassa, Dekina and Ibaji, all flood-prone communities located along the banks of the River Niger. The Federal Commissioner of the agency, Basheer Garba Mohammed, who presented the relief materials in Ayangba, said that the donation was meant to alleviate the sufferings of the displaced persons in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari who expanded the mandate of the agency to include providing reliefs to displaced persons especially at this time of national emer...
Onome Ebi: Why players hardly earn 100 caps for Nigeria
Super Falcons experience defender Onome Ebi has explained why it is difficult for players to make 100 caps for Nigeria. Only Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, and former Super Falcons assistant coach Maureen Madu are the only players who have played more than 100 games for the country. Ebi believes lack of proper structure and academy in the country is one of the major challenges. The Chinese base defender opined that Nigeria needs to learn from other countries and establish enough academies that will produce young talents for the country. “I will say in Nigeria we catch talents old, while other countries catch them young, in other countries that I’ve played, there are plenty academy and most players moved to national from 15, 16 years of age.” “It’s difficult in Nigeria, no academy, you have ...
