Category: Covid-19 - Page 22 - African News Today

Nigerian Football Federations Clarifies Status of NPFL Season

23Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Nigeria, Sports

Nigerian Football Federations Clarifies Status of NPFL Season

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has debunked reports making the rounds that the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) has been cancelled. The federation clarified that discussion is ongoing on modalities and pattern of foreclosing the 2019/2020 football season, NPFL inclusive. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi asked stakeholders to exercise patience pending the conclusion of consultations. Media reports had speculated that Nigerian Professional Football League club owners had elected to terminate the football season, after which representatives at next year’s continental club competitions would be chosen through Points Per Game (PPG) principle. Recall that 17 out of the 20 teams in Nigerian Professional Football League had voted for an end to the season due ...

South African to Kickoff Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Vaccine on Wednesday

23Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, South Africa

South African to Kickoff Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Vaccine on Wednesday

Clinical trials of a United Kingdom (UK) manufactured COVID-19 vaccine is set to take place in South Africa on Wednesday as the country tackles the spread of the dreaded disease. SABC News reports that the University of Oxford manufactured vaccine would be tried among about 2,000 people aged 18-35 in South Africa. Half of the participants would be given the drug while the rest will be given a placebo. It will commence with a set of HIV negative individuals who will be given two doses of the vaccine over four weeks duration. Personnel from the Medical Research Council and Wits University would on Wednesday, administer the drug on a set 50 people. South African has been taking planned actions to curtail the spread of COVID-19. It pioneered local capacity for laboratory testing in...

Minibus Taxis in South Africa Embark on Strike Over Insufficient COVID-19 Relief Funds

22Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, News, South Africa, Transportation

Minibus Taxis in South Africa Embark on Strike Over Insufficient COVID-19 Relief Funds

Multitude of people were left stranded in South Africa due to strike action by minibus taxi drivers over what they termed inadequate corona virus relief funds. On Monday morning, taxi drivers in Johannesburg and capital city of Pretoria in the province of Gauteng barricaded roads and declined transporting workers. Local media report that police used rubber bullets to disperse protesting drivers in Pretoria. The nationwide lockdown which was imposed in March to curb the prevalence of COVID-19 have adversely affected the transport sector in South Africa thereby reducing the income of drivers. As the country continue to ease restrictions, many citizens who depend on minibus as means of transportation to work will need the buses once the economy returns to full operation. Restrictions...

CBN’s Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19 – Fraud or Incompetence?

22Jun

By adminNo Comments

Corruption, Covid-19, Economy, Features, Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN’s Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19 – Fraud or Incompetence?

When the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) announced that it was going to be making about N50 billion available as loans to businesses in what it called the "Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19", a lot of business owners saw it as a lifeline with which to revive their failed or failing businesses. It's no longer news that most businesses were hard hit by the lock down instituted by different governments as a result of the global pandemic. When the program was rolled out, it was introduced by Nirsal Micro Finance Bank, the bank that handles most of CBN's public loan programs, as "a stimulus package to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the Covid-19 pandemic." Month's after this program supposedly kicked off, we are wondering how many Niger...

South Africa Closing in on 100,000 COVID-19 Cases

21Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, South Africa

South Africa Closing in on 100,000 COVID-19 Cases

South Africa is fast closing in on 100,000 confirmed cases of novel corona virus after the nation’s Minister of Health announced a spike to 92,681 on Saturday. The Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, reported 4,966 addition to existing cases just in the last 24 hours, marking the highest number of cases recorded in a single day since the index case in March. According to Mkhize, 46 casualties were recorded as the virus continues to take its toll, amounting to 1,877 deaths- 11 from Eastern Cape, three from KwaZulu-Natal and a further 32 from Western Cape. Western Cape Province appears to be the most hit by the virus with 50,173 patients and 1,392 victims recorded, while Gauteng follows with 18,978 cases and 114 deaths, the Eastern Cape with 14,721 cases and 268 deaths, and KwaZulu-Natal ...

Zimbabwe Drags Health Minister to Court over COVID-19 Medical Supplies Corruption Allegation

20Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Covid-19, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Drags Health Minister to Court over COVID-19 Medical Supplies Corruption Allegation

The health minster of Zimbabwe has been charged to court on grounds of criminal abuse of power as a government officer, alleged to have awarded a COVID-19 medical supplies contract running into millions of dollars to an obscure company at bloated prices. The company had sold $28 face masks to government at bulging prices. Anti-craft agency on Friday arrested the health minister- Obadiah Moyo after a public outcry and the contract was annulled. President Mnangagwa’s son issued a statement debunking any involvement with the said firm after pictures of the Zimbabwean representative of the firm enjoying company of the president, his wife and sons at ceremonies surfaced in the media. Delish Nguwaya, the representative is charged with criminal dealings alongside some bigwigs of the nati...

Nigerian Striker Victor Osimhen Excused from Lille’s Pre-season

19Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Nigeria, Sports

Nigerian Striker Victor Osimhen Excused from Lille’s Pre-season

Prolific Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen who plies his trade in France has been granted compassionate leave from the club’s pre-season. This was disclosed by Christopher Galtier, Lille head coach who expressed the club’s support for the player as he mourns the demise of his father. His leave will grant him time to grief with his family. Osimhen had flown to Nigeria in preparation for the funeral of his late father next week after being granted compassionate leave. Lille have begun preparation for the new season after last season was abruptly ended due to fears of COVID-19 spread. The clarification became necessary after Osimhen was missing from the club’s training sessions. Head coach Galtier said, “The only thing missing is Victor Osimhen, who had the misfortu...

Nigerian Farmers to Get $1.1 Billion Loan Intervention from CBN

19Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Agriculture, Covid-19, Economy, Finance, Nigeria

Nigerian Farmers to Get $1.1 Billion Loan Intervention from CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it plans to empower farmers with N432 billion ($1.1 billion) intervention loan to upscale food production during the planting season. The apex bank said through its Twitter handle on Thursday that about one million farmers will be given loan to cultivate more than one million hectares of land to ensure adequate food supply as the economic effects of covid-19 unravels. The West African nation has been pushing for more investment in the agricultural sector as a drift from reliance on crude, which accounts for estimated 90% of the countries revenues. The CBN projects increased production of cash crops such as cotton, rice, tomato, cassava, cocoa and maize for self-reliance cum revenue generation through export.

Egypt Records More than 50,000 Confirmed Cases of Corona Virus Infection

19Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Egypt, News

Egypt Records More than 50,000 Confirmed Cases of Corona Virus Infection

Health authorities in Egypt announced 1,218 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday 18 June, 2020. This brings the total number of corona virus cases in Egypt to over 50,000, two weeks before her planned easing of lockdown measure. Egypt imposed lockdown in March to mitigate the transmission of the virus, resulting in school closure, restaurants and bulk of international airlifting. The Arab nation’s booming tourism industry was negatively impacted by the disease. Government credits tourism for 5% of its economic revenue though analysts are of the view it might be as high as 15% of jobs, indirect investment related to the industry inclusive. Egypt plans to restart scheduled international flights from July 1 which will enable opening its borders to tourists for the forthcoming summer sea...

Covid-19: Lockdown in Khartoum, Sudan Extended Until June 29

18Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Sudan

Covid-19: Lockdown in Khartoum, Sudan Extended Until June 29

The security and Defence Council of the Republic of Sudan has prolonged the existing lock down in the state of Khartoum to June 29 in a conscious effort to stem the tide of corona virus spread. The nation’s capital- Khartoum, boasts of the largest population in the African country. The council announced the continuation of 3 p.m to 7 a.m curfew as part of recommendations of the Supreme Committee for Health Emergencies. Effective from Sunday, Sudan will commence bringing back of stranded expatriates through flights and border crossings to ensure safety. The council added that returnees without medical certificates to prove being corona virus free would be quarantined until being cleared by undergoing test. Sudan had last week, extended the closure of airports to international...