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Author: Alpha Maidawa

FG to disburse N1.6bn to 84,000 beneficiaries in Kano
The Federal Government has concluded plans to disburse N1.6 billion to 84,000 beneficiaries in 15 Local Government Areas of Kano State through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
A statement issued on Monday by Mr Hassan Musa Fagge, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kano State Deputy Governor, quotes the National Coordinator of the programme, Dr Temitope Sinkaiye, as announcing this.
The CCT coordinator stated this when she paid a visit to the Kano state deputy governor, Dr Nasiru Gawuna.
Sinkaiye said that each beneficiary would receive N20,000 during the exercise to commence on Monday, all in an effort of cushioning the lives of the poor, most especially during this period of national lockdown.
The coordinator stated that since inception of the programme, two years ago, they had not faced any challenge of funding.
According to her, this is due to the Federal Government obtaining a loan from the World Bank.
She said that the programme entailed teaching the beneficiaries how to empower themselves through group savings and how to establish small scale businesses.
Sinkaiye further said that its officials also sensitise the beneficiaries about the dreaded disease COVID-19 pandemic.
“We observe social distancing so that by the time we go back, they will guide other members of their community how to protect themselves and stay healthy,’’ she said.
Responding, Gawuna commended the federal government for the laudable initiative which he said would alleviate poverty especially coming at the time the country is combating COVID-19 pandemic.
The deputy governor also extolled the efforts of the National Cash Transfer Office for training the beneficiaries on how to tackle poverty.(NAN)
April 6, 2020
South Australian researchers target COVID-19 vaccine
South Australian researchers have begun trialling a potential vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team, headed by Nikolai Petrovsky, a professor at Flinders University and research director at South Australian Company, Vaxine Pty Ltd, are testing a vaccine candidate that has progressed to animal trials in the United States.
“The vaccine has progressed into animal testing in the U.S. and, once we confirm it is safe and effective, it will then be advanced into human trials,’’ says Petrovsky in a recent media release.
He said expectations shouldn’t be elevated until all testing is completed.
His team has tapped Oracle Cloud technology for collaboration, access to an expanded research community and cloud infrastructure that helped enable the rapid design of the novel COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
He said the latest cloud-based technology provided by Oracle enabled the team to “dramatically speed up our ability to analyse the COVID-19 virus and use this information to design the vaccine candidate’’.
“We used computer models of the spike protein and its human receptor, ACE2, to identify how the virus was infecting human cells, and then, we were able to design a vaccine to block this process,’’ Petrovsky said.
Results from the trial are expected within six to eight weeks, with human trials to follow within weeks if it is found to be safe and effective in animals.
If successful, Petrovksy is planning to have it ready for limited public use as early as August.
“If it does prove safe and effective, it could be allowed for emergency use in frontline workers such as doctors and nurses, or it could be approved for a much larger clinical trial in humans,’’ Petrovsky told News Corp Australia recently.
“We are not promising a vaccine in four months, but that is our timeline and that is the target we are shooting for.’’ (Xinhua/NAN)
April 6, 2020
FG pledges commitment to provide adequate healthcare to Covid-19 patients, Nigerians
The Federal Government on Monday reassured Nigerians of its continued commitment to ensure that all those who tested positive for COVID-19 will be given adequate medical attention.
Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, the spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave the assurance in a statement in Abuja.
According to him, the assurance is to reinforce the commendation by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on strategies put in place to contain the outbreak in Nigeria.
“The commendation by the UN on Government of Nigeria’s prompt initiation and implementation of safety precautions, would encourage her to do more.
“This is through the setting up of new medical facilities such as isolation and testing centres to curtail the spread of the virus in Nigeria.
“Government also calls on Nigerians to observe necessary health guidelines, issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to stay safe.” (NAN)
April 6, 2020
COVID-19: Navy intensifies patrol to check influx of migrants
The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, Mbo Local Government has intensified patrols along the borders of Akwa Ibom and neighbouring countries to check the influx of migrants.
Commanding Officer of FOB, Capt. Peter Yilme, made this known in a statement in Uyo.
The state government had called on the Navy to intensify patrol along the Atlantic shorelines to contain the COVID-19 challenge in the area.
Yilme said that the daily patrols of Navy gunboats from the jetty to checkmate all forms of illegallities around its area of operations had yielded results.
“The patrols will continue to check and prevent all forms of illegalities and also stop illegal immigrants from the Cameroon and neighbouring countries from gaining entry into the state until the COVID-19 threat is over.
“It is pertinent to state that so far, FOB Ibaka patrol effort is yielding necessary results as travel restrictions within the water ways has reduced influx of migrants into Akwa Ibom, particularly within FOB Ibaka area of operations, ” he said.
According to him, the call is one of the measures to check the influx of foreigners and reduce the chances of Coronavirus infection in the state.
The FOB boss noted that with intensified patrol efforts of the Navy, rice smuggling into the state had been stopped, adding that the efforts would be concentrated and sustained.
He commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok Ette Ibas and the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran for supporting and providing logistics required to ensure patrols and other assigned tasks of the base were sustained.
“In compliance with directives from Naval Headquarters received through headquarters, Eastern Naval Command and to maintain restrictions on movement on the water ways, our gunboats cast off from own jetty daily for patrol.
”This will help to checkmate all forms of illegallities around our area of operations, as well as to show presence,” Yelme said.
(NAN)
April 6, 2020
COVID-19: Kaduna Govt flags off distribution of relief materials in Kafanchan
The Kaduna State Government on Monday flagged off the distribution of relief materials in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area to cushion effects of the coronavirus lockdown.
Coordinator of the distribution committee for Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas, Dr Bege Katuka, said the relief materials were targeted at people more adversely affected by the restriction of movement.
“This is targeted at the urban settlements where the effect of the lockdown is more badly felt than other places.
“Not everybody will get these palliatives but we want a situation where those who eventually get are people who are really in need and cannot afford them at this time,” he said.
Katuka said that the distribution of the relief materials was not a political exercise but a humanitarian service aimed at supporting the weaker ones in society.
“The exercise is not in any way to be selective on the basis of who you know or which political platform you belong.
“It is solely aimed at sincerely supporting weaker ones among us who pray for just a meal to survive the next hour and we will be committed to ensuring that, to a greater extent, this is done,” he said
According to him, membership of the distribution committee for the two councils was drawn from traditional institutions, religious bodies, youths and women groups to ensure just and fair distribution of the items.
On measures to guard against possible diversion of the relief materials, the coordinator explained that committees had been selected at cluster levels to ensure the items get to those in need.
He stated that Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas are among the eight councils in the state selected in the pilot phase of the distribution.
One of the beneficiaries, Ruth Danladi, who spoke to NAN said the gesture was timely, especially during this “perilous time.’’
“We want to thank the state government for thinking it wise to support us with these palliative materials at this critical time.
“This will no doubt help reduce the effect of the lockdown, and it is my prayer that God will grant the government the enablement to do more for the downtrodden,” she said
The items distributed include cartoons of Indomie, bags of rice and beans, groundnut oil, garri and spaghetti, among others. (NAN)
April 6, 2020
Covid-19:Abia commences production of masks, protective medical kits – Hart
Abia Government said it has started production of certified quality standard protective medical kits and masks to carter for the needs of Nigerians and bridge the scarcity of imported ones.
Mr Sam Hart, the Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Saturday.
He said that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu initiated the project to ensure Abia people were not exploited during this period but were protected from the ravaging COVID-19 infections.
“The governor does not want Abia people to be exploited and that was part of the reason he gave this challenge to Aba tailors to start producing these kits.
“Apart from meeting national demand, he is also interested in meeting local demand so that the people of Abia can have these masks and kits available.
“That is why he provided support for the tailors, held a meeting with them, and released initial funds for them to start production even before orders started coming.
“That is the foresight that moved us to where we are today that everybody is now coming to pick them up; we have more than enough and they are available everywhere”, Hart said.
The DG said that buyers could get the products at pharmacies, chemist shops, supermarkets and other places.
He said that his agency was handling the distribution of the products on wholesale basis by buying up available products from the producers to ensure they get money to continue production.
Hart said that the state sourced the raw materials used locally and abroad, stressing that the state has the capacity to meet any quantity demanded across Nigeria.
“On the specifications required, we have also gotten medical practitioners to look at what we do.
“They have looked at it, told us what to do which we also implemented and they have certified it.
“Orders are coming from Kaduna, Lagos and Enugu and other states and for our production capacity, it depends on the orders we get.
“As we get more orders, we upscale production through involvement of more hands,” he said.(NAN)
April 4, 2020
CIBN holds virtual AGM, elects Olugbemi 21st President
The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has elected Prof. Bayo Olugbemi as the 21st President of the institute, alongside other officers whose tenure would run from 2020 to 2022.
The announcement of Olugbemi’s emergence, along with other elected officers, was one of the highlights of the institute’s virtual Annual General Meeting on Saturday, where it reviewed the 2019 financial and operational reports.
The meeting which was coordinated and chaired by the Dr Uche Olowu, who Olugbemi will succeed as president, had members participating from across the world.
Speaking on the 2019 operations, Olowu informed members that the institute had made noteworthy improvement as a reference point in the country and across the globe.
He said that all the CIBN subsidiaries from the Centre for Financial Studies to the Press were maintaining winning ways and would continue to experience improved performance.
In the area of capacity building, he said the Institute had reviewed the syllabus of flagship Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) qualification in conjunction with a top consulting firm (PwC).
According to him, this is in a bid to keep the ACIB qualification relevant and ensure that the contents meet with global standard.
He said that the electronic library which consisted electronic books, journals and other resources provided round-the-clock information and had been acquired by the CIBN Library for easy access to its users.
Olowu said that a former president of the Institute, Dr Olusegun Aina, had been re-elected as a Chairman of the Global Education Standard Board.
He also said the Institute had expanded its examination centres to Liberia, bringing the number of foreign examination outposts to five, with one in Katsina state, Nigeria.
In the area of collaboration, Olowu said that the Bankers’ Committee had approved Ethics Certification for staff of banks.
He said that 87,000 bank staff had registered on the e-learning platform, and a sizeable number had completed the certification programme.
Members commended Olowu for his two-year leadership (2018-2020).
At the event, the National Treasurer of the institute, Prof. Deji Olanrewaju, gave the financial highlights of the Institute in 2019.
He listed some of the following key developments; 7.1% increase in Net Operating Surplus of the Institute from N539million (2018) to N577million (2019).
Similarly, there was 5.8% increase in total income from 1.47 billion (2018) to N1.55 billion (2019) and 6.9% increase in IGR from N1.16 billion (2018) to N1.24 billion (2019).
Also, Mr Mark Ariemuduigho of Baker Tilly International Nigeria, external auditors of the institute, gave reports for 2019 financials and stated that the financial position of the CIBN was in agreement with the book of accounts.
The Chairman of the CIBN Audit Committee, Mr Babatunde Oduwaye, affirmed that the accounting and reporting policies of the institute were in accordance with legal requirements and ethical practices.(NAN)
April 4, 2020
Lockdown: Access Bank launches app to ensure seamless transactions
Access Bank Plc has launched a new mobile banking application tagged “AccessMore” to ensure easy access to funds and seamless transactions by customers, amid COVID-19 lockdown.
Mr Herbert Wigwe, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, said this in a statement in Lagos on Saturday.
Wigwe described AccessMore as an innovative mobile application that offers a ‘more than banking’ experience.
He said the app, built on cutting-edge technology, offers tailored and personalised services, ease of use and excellent customer experience.
“In a period like this, when we need to be more present and relevant in the lives of our customers than ever, we have risen to the challenge to ensure our customers have access to their funds.”
With the app, he said customers can carry out transactions while keeping safe at home.
“To deliver on our promise to continually give our customers ‘more’, we have worked with first class tech experts to build the AccessMore mobile app to suit our customers’ lifestyle and meet their financial needs.
“As we mark our first anniversary post-merger with erstwhile Diamond Bank, this new addition to our array of solutions is also in line with our promise to adopt the best of both institutions.
“The AccessMore mobile app does not only deliver the best combination of both mobile apps, it accommodates the unique needs of existing users, delivering the best mobile banking experience on a world class platform,’’ Wigwe said.
The statement also quotes Mr Victor Etuokwu, the bank’s Executive Director, Retail Banking, as saying that customers could download the new AccessMore mobile app from their Android play-store or IOS app store.
“This month marks the one-year anniversary of our expanded institution and we are using this opportunity to reward our loyal customers, who believed in us and stood by us throughout the integration period.
“From April to December 2020, we will be rewarding customers who complete 10 transactions, using either our USSD service *901# or any of our mobile apps (old Access Mobile, old Diamond mobile or the new AccessMore app) per month.
“So, the more a customer transacts in multiples of 10, the higher his/her chances of winning a new car in the quarterly draw,’’ Etuokwu was quoted as saying.
Access Bank, with about 40 million customers and more than 600 branches nationwide, offers a range of products and services tailored to suit needs and lifestyles of its customers across multiple segments. (NAN)
April 4, 2020
WHO inaugurates online training for COVID-19 responders
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, has inaugurated online training for Coronavirus (COVID-19) responders amid increasing lockdowns in Africa.
The UN’s health agency made this known on its regional official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Saturday.
“WHO launches online training for COVID-19 responders.
“This is to better train health workers, increase public health education and make communities safer.’’
On the COVID-19 update, the UN health agency said the number of cases continued to rise on the African continent with 7,246 reported cumulative cases.
“There have been 269 associated deaths and 662 recoveries reported.’’
The agency said South Africa currently had the highest in the region with 1, 505 cases and seven deaths, followed by Algeria with 986 cases and 83 deaths and Cameroon has 306 confirmed cases with seven deaths.
“Nigeria has 210 confirmed cases, 20 have been discharged with two deaths,’’ it stated.
The agency, however, advised health care workers to practice good hygiene in health facilities to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. (NAN)
April 4, 2020
Egypt’s billionaire family donates 6 mln USD to back anti-COVID-19 efforts
Egypt’s Sawiris family announced in a statement on Saturday donating 100 million Egyptian pounds (about $6.3 million) to back the country’s efforts in combating the spread of COVID-19.
Sawiris Foundation for Social Development will allocate 40 million pounds to support the daily labours and most distressed families, and 60 million pounds to support the government’s precautionary efforts against the novel coronavirus, said the statement.
It added that the foundation cooperates with the Egyptian Ministries of Health and Social Solidarity as well as some social organisations “to contribute to meeting the health and economic needs of the Egyptian people at such unprecedented times’’.
Egyptian business tycoon, Naguib Sawiris, has been criticised over the past couple of days for his remarks where he expressed impatience and dissatisfaction with the partial lockdown the country is going through’
He urges that everyday life should come back to normal.
Until Friday night, Egypt has confirmed 985 cases infected with the novel coronavirus, including 66 deaths and 216 recoveries.
Over the past few weeks, the country has temporarily suspended schools, universities and all classes, halted flights, cancelled sports activities, closed entertainment places, stopped mass prayers in mosques and churches and shut down museums and archaeological sites over coronavirus worries.
The country started on March 25, a two-week partial curfew nationwide from early evening to early morning, as an essential part of the anti-COVID-19 precautionary measures. (Xinhua/NAN)
April 4, 2020