Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Alpha Maidawa

COVID-19: CBN cautions Nigerians on activities of cyber criminals
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cautioned Nigerians on activities of cyber criminals taking advantage of the current COVID-19 pandemic to defraud citizens.
The CBN gave the warning in a statement signed by the Bank’s Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr Isaac Okorafor in Abuja on Monday.
Okorafor explained that the criminals steal sensitive information or gain unauthorized access to computers or mobile devices using various techniques.
He said this trend was not peculiar to Nigeria as there had been a rise in COVID-19-related cyber criminal activities all over the world.
According to him, the CBN priority is to ensure that Nigerian banking customers are aware of the ongoing trend, to prevent them from falling victims to such cyber crimes.
He stated that the criminals had also produced COVID-19 maps to steal information in the background.
Okorafor urged citizens to be wary of these antics and not to fall victims to these cyber crimes.
He said while Nigerians work to keep safe physically and prevent further spread of the virus, they must also endeavour to apply caution in order to beat not just the COVID-19 virus but also the cyber criminals seeking to take advantage of its spread for nefarious acts.
He stated that one of the cyber crime activities was phishing campaigns where the criminals sent out emails claiming to be from health organisations such as Nigerian Centre for Disease Control or the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The director said that the email might contain a link which if clicked, steals login credentials or other confidential information from the victim’s computer or mobile device.
Okorafor disclosed that other means were on relief package where cyber criminals had also been sending messages via social media or emails asking people to click on links to register in order to get their relief packages from government or other organisations.
He said that the criminals would simply use this to get confidential information from unwary victims.
According to him, the relief package scams also come in the form of phone calls asking people to provide their banking details to receive relief packages.
He stated that CBN would continue to monitor and investigate these activities and provide updates as they occur. (NAN)
April 6, 2020
NSE: Investors lose N222bn in 6 hours
Activities opened on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the week on a bearish posture with the market capitalisation losing N222 billion in about six hours of tradimg.
Specifically, the market capitalisation which opened for the week on Monday at N10.993 trillion shed N222 billion or 2.02 per cent to close at N10.771 trillion.
In the same vein, the All-Share Index dipped 425.24 points or 2.02 per cent to close at 20,669.38 compared with 21,094.62 achieved on Friday.
The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Seplat, Dangote Cement, BUA Cement, BOC Gases Nigeria and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO).
This week, analysts at United Capital Plc expected sentiment for stocks to remain broadly tepid, with renewed interests anticipated on select blue-chip stocks, as discerning investors continue to take advantage of the current market valuation.
Cutix, Learn Africa and NAHCO led the losers’ chart in percentage terms dropping by 10 per cent each, to close at N1.26, 90k and N2.34, per share, respectively.
Seplat followed with a decline of 9.99 per cent to close at N490.10, while BUA Cement lost 9.92 per cent to close at N31.80 per share.
BOC Gases depreciated by 9.88 per cent to close at N3.65 and Academy Press declined by 8.82 per cent to close at 31k, per share.
On the other hand, Access Bank topped the gainers’ table in percentage terms, improving by9.92 per cent, to close at N6.65 per share.
AIICO Insurance followed with a gain of 9.59 per cent to close at 80k, while Lafarge Africa appreciated by 9.50 per cent to close at N9.80 per share.
Wema Bank grew by 8.51 per cent to close at 51k, while Fidelity Bank rose by 8.28 per cent to close at N1.83 per share.
The total volume of traded increased by 42.98 per cent as investors bought and sold 336.43 million shares valued at N4.13 billion exchanged in 4,184 deals.
This was in contrast with 235.29 million shares worth N2.98 billion traded in 3,988 deals on Friday.
Transactions in the shares of FBN Holdings topped the activity chart with 98.62 million shares valued at N393.42 million.
Guaranty Trust Bank followed with 55.66 million shares worth N1.003 billion, while Zenith Bank traded 32.53 million shares valued at N392.77 million.
FCMB Group sold 27.15 million shares worth N40.63 million, while Fidelity Bank sold 23.61 million shares valued at N41.75 million. (NAN)
April 6, 2020
Italy’s Serie A recommends wage cuts for players, coaches
Italy’s Serie A football league has recommended that clubs impose wage cuts of between two and four months’ pay on playing and coaching staff to reduce losses during the coronavirus outbreak.
After an emergency general assembly by video conference, the league said in a statement on Monday that the stoppage caused by the contagion had left Italian football in a “very difficult” situation.
The league added that this had led to an urgent need for a reduction of costs.
It proposed cutting annual wages by one third if Serie A was unable to resume and by one sixth if it was able to restart.
However, it added that each club would have to negotiate the cuts with its players.
Nineteen of Serie A’s 20 clubs voted for the recommendation while Italian champions Juventus abstained, having already reached a separate agreement with their players, a Serie A source said.
Serie A has been suspended since March 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed 15,887 lives in Italy, almost a quarter of the global death total.
It is not certain when or even if the season will restart.
But Italian football federation president Gabriele Gravina said on Sunday that the season, originally due to finish in May, could run until September or October if necessary.
Serie A said the move was “necessary to safeguard the future of the entire Italian football system.
“The intervention… foresees a reduction of one third of the total gross annual salary in the event that it is not possible to resume sporting activity, and a reduction of one sixth… if the remaining matches of the 2019/2020 season can be played in the coming months,” it said.
It added that “the clubs are ready to do their part by incurring huge losses to ensure the future of Italian football” and that “the main expense for the clubs is represented by the payroll.”
European football’s governing body UEFA has urged all national leagues to try and complete the season.
It had warned that clubs from competitions which are abandoned may be barred from the Champions League and Europa League next season.
“The assembly confirmed the desire to play again and finish the season, but without running risks and only when health conditions and government decisions allow,” added the Serie A statement.
Juventus announced on March 28 that coach Maurizio Sarri and his players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, had agreed to a wage cut.
It was a cut which would save the Turin club 90 million euros (79.3 million pounds).(Reuters/NAN)
April 6, 2020
Cramped conditions could rule out VAR after COVID-19, Italian referees official says
Serie A matches may have to do without the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) when action resumes following the coronavirus outbreak, the head of Italy’s referees’ association (AIA) said on Monday.
Marcello Nicci, who is chairman of AIA, said this would be because the cramped conditions where video officials work could be a health problem.
“In some cases for the video assistants today, we use narrow spaces, such as vans, where the referees work in a space of two square metres, without a safe distance between them and other workers,” he told RAI television.
“I hope this doesn’t happen but the risk is there, I hope they give us sanitised spaces.”
Nicci added that referees had been forgotten amid the debate over if and when Serie A, which has been suspended since March 9, could re-start.
“I haven’t heard any serious proposals regarding the protection of the referees,” he said.
“The referees are ready, they are respecting the rules, they are working in video conferences with the technical bodies, and they are keeping fit indoors.
“But, before moving on to phase two, we will have to worry about them too.”
He said further that referees were as much at risk as anyone else.
“They travel alone on trains and planes, going through airports and stations… If we start again, I will want to know what guarantees are offered.”(Reuters/NAN)
April 6, 2020
U.S. coronavirus death toll passes 10,000 mark
The death toll from the new coronavirus in the United States passed the 10,000 marker on Monday, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.
The country has the highest confirmed positives in the world, with more than 347,003 cases of the virus and 10,335 deaths related to Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by it.
Public health officials and the White House are warning the upcoming weeks will likely see peak coronavirus outbreaks and hospitalisations in the U.S., with the death rate also set to sharply climb.
There are growing signs of impending shortages of medical gear and staff.
The U.S. had just 1,000 confirmed cases and about 30 deaths on March 10, with the outbreak spreading rapidly and across the country.
New York is the current epicentre, while Louisiana, Michigan, Illinois and California are also hotspots, with more due to emerge. (dpa/NAN)
April 6, 2020
SON warns Nigerians against fairly used, stuff-in tyres
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned Nigerians to avoid purchasing fairly used, expired and stuffed-in tyres to safeguard their lives and property.
Mr Bola Fashina, Special Assistant to SON Director-General gave the warning on Monday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Fashina said that in an attempt to circumvent procedures or short-change the nation, some unscrupulous importers stuff up to Five or Six new tyres into One while importing them into the country.
According to him, in the course of doing that they are endangering lives of Nigerians because the tyres are forced into one another, and the process of removing them destroys or makes the tyres substandard.
He noted that importers indulged in such to maximise gains but put people’s lives at risk “because once they were removed and put in the market, consumers could hardly detect until they were put on the road.
“The whole idea is to bring in five containers of tyres inside one container in order to pay duty for only one container instead of paying for six.
“Those are the kinds of new tyres that you see on vehicles that explode. They are new, but you see them peeling off on motion, those are the kind of challenges we face.
“The fact that they are new does not mean that they are good tyres because they have been stuffed and unstuffed,’’ he said.
Fashina further said that tyres particularly, are one of those life threatening products that SON had an arrangement with the Nigeria Customs Service to be notified once being imported into the country.
“Our attention is being called to it and once they are stuffed, there is no two ways about it, we seize them out-rightly and not only that we prosecute those responsible for that,’’ he added.
On fairly used tyres, Fashina said that they were termed contraband and not imported or allowed to enter into the country.
“We do not check used tyres at the point of entry because there is no standard to judge them and since they are contraband they are not supposed to come into the country.
“A lot of times when you see used tyres in the country, they have either been brought in through smuggling or as wrong declaration to get into the country.
“But beyond that, used tyres are also generated within Nigeria,’’ he added.
Fashina, however, advised owners of vehicles not to drop their tyres to any vulcanisers, whenever they were due for disposal.
“You should try and cut them otherwise they will recycle those tyres, clean them up and resell them as new tyres and they are dangerous to all, especially road users.
“Tyres are classified as life endangering products and we have arrangement with the customs to assist us to ensure that they are checked by us,’’ he said.
He added that because tyres were not being produced in Nigeria, it had a registration procedure to ensure traceability.
He said that the procedure is aimed at actually registering importers of tyres in Nigeria to trace every brand that was imported to put a check and ensure required standard.
According to Fashina, in Nigeria the life span of tyre is actually five years from the date of its manufacture, but the expiry date does not totally talk about its life span, rather the usage and storage are considered.
Fashina warned that a new tyre should not be stored with chemical items like patrol or diesel in the same place because there will be a reaction which could affect the tyre’s quality.
“It is not only the fact that the tyre is new, it has to be properly stored where it is being sold to retain its quality.
“Expired tyre kills, Nigerians should look well before purchasing them. A new tyre whether used or unused expires after four years,’’ he warned.
Furthermore, he warned consumers to check the tyre’s Date of Manufacture (DOT) before buying and add four years to the last two digits which represented the date of manufacturing to get the expiring date. (NAN)
April 6, 2020
Zamfara unveils empowerment scheme for 1, 000 SMEs
Zamfara State Government says it has initiated empowerment programme to support 1, 000 Small Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and petty traders under its Social Intervention Programme (Z-SIP).
Mubarak Muradun, Secretary of the Z-SIP programme, made the disclosure while reviewing progress of the programme on Monday in Gusau.
Maradun said that arrangement has been concluded to commence disbursement of N10 million to 1, 000 traders and SMEs. adding that Gov. Bello Matawalle had already approved the project expected to commence soon.
“Each of the 1, 000 beneficiaries will received N10, 000 monthly under the programme.
“The gesture aims at supporting small scale traders in the state to enhance their businesses.
“This is inline with efforts of the present administration in the state to reduce poverty and unemployment among people of the the state,” he.
He urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the monies to achieve the desired goals. (NAN)
April 6, 2020
Dangote Cement woos investors with N100bn bond issue
Dangote Cement Plc, says it plans to raise up to N100 billion in fresh funds from the bond market, under its N300 billion Debt Issuance Programme.
The plan seeking to raise up to N100 billion was detailed in an investor presentation document prepared by the company themed: “Building Prosperity in Africa,” made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos.
According to the document, the funds from the debut offering in the bond markets are to be utilised to refinance existing short-term debt previously applied toward cement expansion projects, working capital and general corporate purposes.
Also, the bond (medium term debt paper), Dangote Cement is issuing for the first time, signifies confidence in business growth and in the Nigerian economy long term growth.
“Dangote Cement Plc is a good offer for discerning institutional investors and high networth individuals as it is Nigeria’s largest company by market capitalisation on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
“Certain factors across Africa signal positive long term trends for Dangote Cement.
“There is an increasing demand for cement as urbanisation continues across the continent, demanding more infrastructure, housing and commercial building.
“As democracy becomes entrenched in Africa, it brings increasing political stability, enabling rapid economic growth, growth in infrastructure such as roads, housing, schools, among others, built from cement.
“With steady population growth, younger and more mobile population drive the need for building, while the emerging middle-class, fuels increasing consumerisation
and access to credit,” it stated. (NAN)
April 6, 2020
Soccer: German clubs resume training amid tight virus restrictions
Bundesliga clubs were allowed to return to team training on Monday, with some opting to train players in small groups amid strict measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Soccer, in the country, has been suspended for almost a month and the German Football League (DFL) has said the ban will remain in place for the top divisions at least until April 30.
Clubs, however, were cleared to resume training this week, with champions Bayern Munich deciding to train players in small groups to minimise the risk of infection.
“Obviously, all health guidelines are being adhered to,’’ the club said in a statement.
“The training is closed to the public.
“FC Bayern are asking fans to continue following guidelines and please do not come to the team’s training centre.’’
Germany has seen the number of infected people rise above 100,000 this weekend and nearly 1,600 have died after testing positive for the virus that has forced the country into lockdown.
Despite the training resumption the DFL made it clear last week it was not known if or when the season would resume.
The stop in play has also had major financial effects on clubs.
Two weeks ago, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen came together to create a 20 million euros (17.59 million pounds) solidarity fund to help clubs in the top two tiers.
Dortmund have also provided part of their Signal Iduna Park stadium for the treatment of suspected virus cases. (Reuters/NAN)
April 6, 2020
China players join clubs after completing quarantine
China’s men’s soccer team have completed their quarantine after returning from Dubai last month and will go back to their respective clubs, the team said on Monday.
The team ended their two-week medical quarantine after all players tested negative for COVID-19, the Xinhua news agency reported.
The 25-man squad has been in self-isolation in a hotel in Sanya since their March 23 return from their training camp in Dubai.
“Our Team had COVID-19 tests right upon arrival in Sanya, and the results were all negative.
“We had Coronavirus tests again on Sunday before the end of the 14-day quarantine, which showed the same results, Team China said in a social media post.
“All the players will return to their clubs,” it added.
China postponed all domestic games in January and banned the entry of foreigners in the country last month in a blow to hopes that a start to the new Chinese Super League (CSL) season was on the horizon.
Several CSL teams, without their foreign recruits, have begun pre-season training behind closed doors, Xinhua reported.
CSL’s new season was originally scheduled to kick off on Feb. 22. (Reuters/NAN)
April 6, 2020