You can add some category description here.
Kano State governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has announced the ease of total lockdown in the state.
Ganduje, who made the declaration at a press briefing on Thursday, also directed civil servants from Level 12 and above to return to work beginning from Monday, 5th July.
Ganduje equally declared that commercial tricycles would henceforth be restricted to carry only two passenger.
Details soon.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Thursday, implored the Federal Government to reconsider its decision on the proposed reopening of schools nationwide.
The union expressed this concern amidst the increasing cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the country.
Dr Dipo Akomolafe, the ASUU Chairman, of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, made this appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Our correspondents reports that Mr Boss Mustapha, the Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, had on June 29, announced the reopening of schools in a yet-to-be-decided date for all pupils and students in the graduating classes.
He said this was to enable such students to prepare for their examinations.
According to Akomolafe, most of the schools cannot meet up with the guidelines put in place for the reopening.
He added that most of the pupils and students would want to embrace themselves, shake hands and ignore the use of face masks and social distancing.
The don added that reopening of schools at this time would also increase teachers responsibilities, as they would be left to handle their teaching jobs, as well as also monitor the students, to ensure adherence to precautionary measures.
He further noted that reopening the schools at this crucial time with the daily increase of the disease, was like making more children and teachers vulnerable.
“The Federal Government gave guidelines for reopening of schools recently, but how many of these schools can oblige to these guidelines?
“Children may find it difficult to use the face masks, they cannot do without embracing themselves, shake hands with themselves and play together, all of which is against social distancing.
“Teachers will also be charged with additional responsibilities of teaching, as well as monitoring the children to comply with the precautionary measures against the virus.
“We are, therefore, calling on the Federal Government to reconsider its decisions on the matter, so that more alarming figures of casualties will not be recorded,” Akomolafe said.
The don, however, urged parents to enlighten their children more on the pandemic and ensure that schools complied with government’s guidelines before releasing their children for schools, should government insist on the reopening.
The Nigerian government has called on its citizens to take responsibility in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
In his remarks on Thursday at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha warned the people that the nation has yet to win the fight against the outbreak.
“One significant observation the PTF wishes to make is that the new rise in cases is to be expected as nations start to ease restrictions.
“We shall, however, proceed with caution and we shall not hesitate to change course when the need arises,” said Mustapha who is the PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
He added, “What this means is that Nigerians should never mistake the relaxation by government as a signal that the COVID-19 battle had been concluded.”
The PTF chairman revealed that the government has joined the world in emphasising that the best way to manage the pandemic was the comprehensive approach.
He stressed the need for the people to play their parts by observing physical distancing, keeping personal hygiene, wearing face masks, avoiding large gatherings, and staying at home when not necessary to go out.
According to the SGF, the PTF and collaborating agencies will continue to work on finding, isolating, testing, tracing contacts, communicating, and treating for COIVD-19.
He gave an assurance that the health workers would be equipped and trained while communities would be empowered to protect themselves.
Mustapha thanked Nigerians for their patience and understanding and urge them to strictly abide with the COVID-19 protocols, especially regarding the gradual resumption of domestic flights.
He said, “Following the announcement of the extension of phase two and some new measures on Monday, the Aviation sector has announced 8th, 11th and 15th of July as dates for the gradual resumption of domestic flights.
“In the aviation industry, safety and security are paramount and there is only one global aviation standard.”
A Federal High Court in Benin has adjourned a 700million Naira fraud case against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19, 2020, governorship poll in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Mr. Ize-Iyamu and four others were expected to appear in court today on an alleged 8 count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of 700m naira.
However, the case could not hold due to the absence of the Judge.
The court will now sit on the 7Th of July, 2020.
Popular Chinese-owned African fintech startup, OPay, has announced it is suspending some of its Nigerian operations including ORide, OCar, and OExpress, excluding its payment operation, Opay.
In a statement on Thursday, the company said it is pausing some of its operations “due to the harsh business conditions which have affected many Nigerian companies, including ours, during this COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown and the government ban.”
According to a statement issued by the company, Opay attributed the demise of the business units to “the harsh business conditions which have affected many Nigerian Companies”, the COVID-a9 Pandemic, the Lockdown, and the Lagos State Government ban on motorcycles.
The decision follows a memo sent by OPay’s investors to the Nigerian team yesterday directing all other verticals but payments to shut down operations and all the Chinese expatriate workers to return to China as soon as possible.
The Nigerian team is said to have already set up a team tasked with the recovery of all the ORide motorcycles on the road.
Leading ICT company, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited says it has trained over 10,000 Nigerian students in cloud computing and big data.
The company also disclosed that it invested heavily in improving the digital skills and talents of Nigerians and trained more than 20,000 ICT engineers managing main telecommunications network operations.
Also, Huawei announced that , 2,000 Nigerian youths and 1,000 federal civil servants had been trained by the company in various Information and Communication Technology skills.
The company said it was on this basis that it was given the Telecoms Company of the Year 2019 Award by Leadership newspaper in Abuja last week.
Commenting on the award, Mr. Kelvin Yangyang, the deputy managing director and head of public relations, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, stated that: “Huawei is happy to be recognized for its contributions to the growth of the Nigerian ICT industry.
“In over two decades ago since Huawei began business operations in Nigeria, we have collaborated with the government, operators and other partners to ensure every Nigerian enjoys quality access to telephony and internet coverage across the nation – In rural and urban areas.
“Huawei is committed to do more. We will continuously support and contribute to digital inclusion in Nigeria by making technology accessible for all”.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday swore in the new Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Dankaka from Kwara, and 36 other members of the commission.
The president also swore in six Federal Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), including Gboyega Oladele, from Osun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari also administered oath of office on four new Permanent Secretaries and two members of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
The 36 members of the FCC included Henry Ogbulogo (Abia), Salihu Bello (Adamawa), Dorah Daniel (Akwa-Ibom), Ibeabuchi Uche, (Anambra), Mohammed Tijjani, (Bauchi), Tonye Okio (Bayelsa) and Silas Macikpah (Benue).
Others were Abba Ali Monguno (Borno), Nsor Atamgba (Cross River), Alims Agoda (Delta), Tobias Chukuemeka (Ebonyi), Imuetinyan Festus (Edo), Sesan Fatoba (Ekiti), Ginika Tor (Enugu). Hamza Mohammed (Gombe), Diogu Uche, (Imo) and Lawan Ya’u Roni (Jigawa).
Also sworn-in were Hadiza Muazu (Kaduna), Mohammed Na’iya (Kano), Lawal Garba (Katsina), Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi), Idris Bello (Kogi), Are Bolaji (Lagos), Nasir Isa Kwarra (Nasarawa), and Suleiman Barau (Niger).
Others sworn in were Abiodun Akinlade (Ogun), Olufemi Omosanya (Ondo), Adeoye Olalekan (Osun) Adeniyi Olowofela (Oyo), Stephen Jings (Plateau), Wokocha Augustine (Rivers),
The rest were Abdullahi Tafida (Sokoto), Alhaji Armaya’u Abubakar (Taraba), Jibril Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara) and Adamu Sidi-Ali (Federal Capital Territory).
Suspected Nigerian fraudsters, Ramon Igbalode Abbas a.k.a Hushpuppi and Olalekan Jacon Ponle a.k.a Mr Woodberry have been extradited to the United States.
Both were arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates over high-level fraud, money-laundering and cyber-crimes.
In a tweet on the instagram handle of the Dubaipolicehq confirming this, the Director of the FBI extended his appreciations to Dubai Police for their cooperation in extraditing the wanted criminals.
“The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher Wray has praised the exceptional efforts exerted by the United Arab Emirate, represented bu the Dubai Police General HQ, in combating transnational organised cybercrime including the rrecent arrest of Raymod Igbalode Abbas, known as “Hushpuppi” and Olalekan Jacon Ponle aka “Woodberry” who were taken down in opetation “Fox Hunt 2”.
“Mr Wray also extended his appreciations to Dubai Police for their cooperation in extraditing the wanted criminals, who committed money-laundering and multiple-cybercrimes, to the United States”.
Ondo state commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro has died.
It cannot be verified as at press time if he died of COVID- 19 infection.
Adegbenro was said to have died after a brief illness.
His death comes a day after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu announced that he has tested positive for COVID- 19.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the UK’s citizenship offer to Hong Kong residents and warned of “consequences,” a day after the UK government said it would open up a path to citizenship for three million Hong Kong people because of the newly imposed national security law.
The British side has breached its own pledges as well as international law and basic norms, and China firmly opposes this and reserve the right to take corresponding measures, the ministry’s spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing, in response to questions regarding the latest move by the UK side.
“All Chinese compatriots living in Hong Kong, including those with British National (Overseas) passport, are Chinese nationals,” he said.
Hong Kong is China’s internal affairs, and any foreign countries have no right to interfere in China’s domestic affairs, he continued.
Zhao stressed, “One Country, Two Systems” is China’s principle, and the national security law for Hong Kong is to ensure the steady and sustained implementation of this important policy.
When asked what the “corresponding measures” contain and when China would take such actions, Zhao declined to give more details, saying the measures will be taken at proper time.
On Wednesday, Chinese ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming met with Simon McDonald, permanent under-secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office over the issue in London.
After the meeting, Liu issued a statement stressing China’s position, saying the UK government’s accusation on the national security law for Hong Kong is “irresponsible and unwarranted.”
It’s “a gross interference” in China’s internal affairs, Liu said, adding that China is gravely concerned and strongly opposes such action.
He also said that the core content of the Sino-British Joint Declaration is to make sure that Hong Kong returns to China.
“Not a single word or paragraph in the Joint Declaration gives the UK any responsibility over Hong Kong after its handover. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of ‘supervision’ over Hong Kong after the handover. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Its affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and brook no external interference,” Liu underlined.