The Lagos State, through its Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said it does not know the whereabouts of Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. This is contrary to reports that Kyari is at the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) isolation centre in Lagos. Prof. Abayomi said he does not

The National Coordinator, Nigeria Sex Workers Association, Amaka Enemo, says sex workers in the country have been forced to suspend activities, especially in Lagos and Abuja due to the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Enemo told The PUNCH on Tuesday that although sex workers offer “essential services” they will remain indoors because their services

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has tested negative for the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus), following a test for the disease that was carried out yesterday on the president by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), THISDAY can report. The NCDC has informed the president on the outcome his negative result this morning in Abuja. According to

As coronavirus spreads to six states in Nigeria, with fear that the infection could get worse, highly-placed health workers have said that the nation does not have up to 500 ventilators across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Findings by our correspondents show that hospitals may experience difficulties in handling seriously ill COVID-19

Fear heightened on Monday over the fate of about 35 senators who have not complied with the measures to determine their Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) status. The senators last week returned from a trip to the United Kingdom (UK), where they attended a Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) seminar in London. It was learnt that they

The federal government of Nigeria has said it will deploy the military and police to enforce social distancing as part of efforts to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus disease. Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday. The minister deplored some religious leaders’ decision to flout directives

Sixty years after the suspension of registration of cattle, sheep and goats coming from neighboring countries, the Federal Government is to re-introduce the policy to curb spread of livestock diseases across the country, the government disclosed this at the weekend. It also unveiled plans to review government policies on the movement of cattle, sheep and

The Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has inaugurated a $95 million agro-pastoral development project, a flagship programme anchored on food security and social development. The objective of the project, which is expected to be implemented within a five-year period, is to contribute to poverty alleviation and strengthening food security in the state. The project

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has counselled Nigerians to avoid social visits to police stations and other police offices as confirmed cases of coronavirus rise to 30 in Nigeria. He also urged the citizens to minimise official visits to police stations, except where absolutely necessary. Adamu in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, by

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday called on the Armed Forces to intensify actions to bring the insurgency to put to a speedy conclusion,” Buhari made the call at State House, Abuja, at the inauguration of the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee chaired by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq. “I

The Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved the sum of three hundred and twenty million naira (N320m) to prevent and/or tackle the scourge of Coronavirus – COVID-19 in the state in case of any outbreak. Briefing newsmen after a meeting with the EXCO to update it on the level of preparedness in case of

The Presidential Advisory Council on Tuesday warned about dire economic consequences for Nigeria if the raging coronavirus infection was not contained as quickly as possible. The council, which is chaired by Prof Doyin Salami, met with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the State House, Abuja. It said one of the immediate consequences,

The Senate has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians on the coronavirus in the country. It also urged the federal government to shut down all international airports except Lagos and Abuja airports for easier monitoring of the disease. The lawmakers asked the president to suspend the issuance of visa on arrival at the

Katsina State Ministry of Health, says it has recorded a first suspected case of coronavirus ( COVID 19 ) in the state. Briefing newsmen, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Kabir Mustapha, said the patient who is presently on self-isolation returned from Malaysia and developed symptoms that warrant further investigations. Already, the blood samples have

The Federal Government has confirmed five new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria. The Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire confirmed the cases during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital. He explained that three of the victims came from the United States of America including a mother and child while two others

The Federal Government has issued a travel ban on 13 countries over the spread of the Coronavirus. The Government of Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travelers from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, the United States of America, Norway, the United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland. These are all countries

The Republics of Togo, Niger and Benin owe Nigeria a total of N29.97bn for the electricity supplied to them from January to September last year, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Nigeria, through its electricity transmission company, supplies power to these countries, which are classified as international customers in the Nigerian power sector. Niger’s

The Federal Government says it has no plans to impose travel restrictions on visitors from countries where coronavirus continues to spread rapidly. However, Nigeria has decided to screen visitors entering the country from China (where the disease originated last year), Japan, Iran, Italy , Germany, France, South Korea and Spain. The killer disease was brought

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Monday, disclosed that the Federal Government has suspended its $22.7 billion external borrowing plans due to current realities in the global economic landscape. Speaking in Abuja, at the 2020 International Conference on the Nigerian Commodities Market, organized by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ahmed stated that the

A former governor of Ekiti state, Segun Oni has said that he is not going back on his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying his followers and supporters are not well treated in the scheme of things in the party. According to Segun, he was not accorded his rightful position and respect

The scheduled hearing in the appeal by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has been put off by the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The court had, last week sent notices of hearing to parties in the appeal. But, when parties got to court today, a panel of three Justices led

The Police Command in Kogi says it has launched a manhunt for some youths that allegedly killed two Fulani herdsmen in Egume, Dekina Local Government Area of the state. The command’s spokesman, DSP William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja on Sunday that the herdsmen were grazing their cows in the bush when the youths attacked

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, which is the Federal Government organ in charge of the paramilitary services, has barred persons who stammer or have “gross malformation of teeth” from applying for the superintendent, inspectorate and assistant cadre positions in the ongoing Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise. Also barred from applying are

Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has charged the government to take urgent steps to improve the living standard of Nigerians, insisting that “hunger virus” is killing Nigerians more than the dreaded COVID-19 (Coronavirus) The Sultan who spoke at the first quarterly meeting of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), in Abuja, on Thursday, said that even though,

The Senate, on Thursday, passed for second reading, a constitution amendment bill which prescribes Higher National Diploma or its equivalent as the educational qualification required for anyone seeking to contest the office of the Nigerian President or state governors. The bill sponsored by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Plateau State, Senator Isfifanus

The expected open market price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, has dropped to N114.53 per litre, N30.47 lower than the approved pump price of the product. The PUNCH reported on March 2, 2020 that the sharp drop in crude oil prices on the back of the spread of coronavirus had wiped off

Smarting from the successful removal of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by the Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has set machinery in motion for the removal of the 16 “Pelupelu” (Paramount) traditional rulers in the State. Source told WazobiaReporters that a query was issued to the

The bill, titled “a bill for an Act to prohibit/ban the importation of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental (air) pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector,” was one of the six bills read for the first time on Wednesday. The bill prescribes, at least, ten years imprisonment for any

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that the outbreak of Coronavirus was affecting Nigeria’s main source of revenue. He was speaking on the impact of coronavirus on the nation’s revenue for the first time while receiving workers in the health sector under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly Healthcare Professionals Associations. On Monday,

Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, on Wednesday alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the removal of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano. Kwankwaso made the allegation while describing the removal of Sanusi as a sad incident to both Kano State and Nigeria in general. Speaking with BBC Hausa, the former governor who appointed

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday, rejected the call by human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), for stolen funds, especially the ones linked to the late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha, to be returned to the Federal Account. Malami, through his spokesperson, Dr

President Muhammadu Buhari says law enforcement agencies have recovered over N3.7billion as well as various assets worth billions of Naira from contractors and former directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The President disclosed this at the inauguration of NDDC Advisory Committee, comprising 9 Governors of the Niger Delta Region and the Ministers of

Security Operatives on Monday arrested dethroned Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II and whisked him out of the ancient city amidst tight security. It was gathered that the security operatives are heading to Nassarawa state where Sanusi will spend the rest of his life in asylum. Before he was taken away, Sanusi was said to

The Nigerian government on Monday confirmed the second case of novel coronavirus in the country. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said at a press conference in Benin City, Edo State, that the new patient had contact with the Italian man who was first infected. “It is my duty, therefore, to announce a new

The Peoples Democratic Party has confirmed plans to sack some of its national secretariat workers. A memo to this effect has been circulated to all members of staff of the party. A copy of the document obtained by our correspondent, in Abuja, on Thursday, said the exercise was approved during the party’s 89th National Executive

A National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has blamed his recent travails on some chieftains of the party outside his state. Oshiomhole spoke to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday evening at the Presidential Villa, just hours after a Federal High Court in Kano

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Thursday that with the proposed reform of the electoral Act, the 2019 election may be the last “mainly manual” election in Nigeria. Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakub said this is achievable with the support of the National Assembly, tasking the lawmakers to expedite action on the

The senate has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to borrow $22.7 billion. The upper legislative chamber okayed the request on Thursday amid objections from some senators. While the matter was being debated, Enyinnaya Abaribe, minority leader, warned against considering all the recommendations on the loan at once. He suggested that it should be done “item

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday declared he would hold on to his position despite the court order that upheld his suspension from the party. A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi District, had yesterday upheld the suspension of Oshiomhole, pending the determination of a substantive

The national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was on Wednesday thrown into a frenzy mood when the news of an FCT High Court stopping Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, from parading himself as the party’s national chairman, spilled into the secretariat, resulting in many of the staff celebrate endlessly. Pockets of the members of staff

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved a request from Governor Douye Diri to collect N2.9 billion loan “to buy operational vehicles for the governor, deputy governor, and other top government functionaries.” The Assembly granted the loan for Diri during a plenary on Tuesday following a motion moved by the Leader of the House,

Scores of youth stormed the Kano Hisbah office on Wednesday over an alleged blasphemy song against the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The protesters holding placards alleged that the government and the security agents in the state are reluctant to act over the matter. The convener of the protest, Idris Ibrahim (known as Baba Idris), said they

The US Department of State has announced a $7 million reward to anyone that can provide credible information that will lead to the arrest of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau. The Deparment made this known in a tweet posted some hours ago. The tweet reads The United States Department of State offers a #reward of