Tag: Covid-19 - Page 16 - African News Today

Students Urge Government to Provide Palliatives to Private Schools as Schools Are Set to Reopen in Lagos

30Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Students Urge Government to Provide Palliatives to Private Schools as Schools Are Set to Reopen in Lagos

Muslim students in Lagos State have appealed to government to provide palliatives for private schools to avert job losses occasioned by adverse effect of COVID-19 on private schools. The call comes after Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Saturday directed tertiary institutions to open from September 14 while primary and secondary schools might be reopened on September 21. This was disclosed by Miftahudeen Thanni, President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter (MSSNLagos), in a communique on Sunday, Punch reports. He urged government to provide palliatives for private schools in Lagos state. Thanni said, “We also appeal to government across all levels to assist private schools with palliatives. This will help to cushion the effect of COVI...

A third of Africa’s Children Missed Virtual Learning, says UNICEF

27Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, African Development, Covid-19, Education, News

A third of Africa’s Children Missed Virtual Learning, says UNICEF

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said the COVID-19 induced school closure has created a global education emergency occasioned by the inability of a third of children to access virtual leaning. UNICEF said about 1.5 billion children could not access learning at the peak of lockdowns intended to ameliorate the spread of coronavirus. Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director said, “For at least 463 million children whose schools closed due to COVID-19, there was no such a thing as remote learning. “The sheer number of children whose education was completely disrupted for months on end is a global education emergency,” she said in a statement. “The repercussions could be felt in economies and societies for decades to come.” According to the report released on Wednesday, ...

FG Discloses Plans for Resumption of Tertiary Institutions

25Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, Nigeria, Safety

FG Discloses Plans for Resumption of Tertiary Institutions

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has said private universities are more prepared for resumption than government owned tertiary institutions. He disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. Nwajiuba said government is yet to decide on a date for commencement of schools across the federation even though government talks are ongoing with relevant stakeholders in the education sector. The minister stated that he had met with stakeholders in tertiary education alongside the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu as part of consultations for schools’ resumption. He said, “about 78 privately-owned universities are insisting that they were ready for resumption” while the response from government-owned universi...

Lagos Health Commissioner, Abayomi Tests Positive for COVID-19

24Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

Lagos Health Commissioner, Abayomi Tests Positive for COVID-19

Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health in Lagos State has been diagnosed of COVID-19. This was confirmed by commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso in a tweet on Twitter on Monday. Omotoso said, “Subsequent to close contact with persons feeling unwell and testing positive for the COVID-19 infection, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has tested positive for the virus. Professor Abayomi became aware of his status following the required testing protocol of contact tracing procedures. “However, he is doing well with no symptoms. “Adhering to the protocol of the home-based strategy in Lagos State, the Honorable Commissioner will be isolating in his home for the next 14 days but will continue to discharge his duties both as the Deputy Inc...

Rwanda Discloses Plans for School Resumption

16Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, Rwanda

Rwanda Discloses Plans for School Resumption

The government of Rwanda has said schools will remain shut till comprehensive risk assessment is conducted which will determine period and method of resumption. The decision on school reopening is one among other resolutions reached by the cabinet after a meeting on Friday, August 14 in Kigali. The office of the Prime Minister in a statement said, “Remote learning continues to be encouraged and should be strengthened.” Rwanda announced closure of its schools after recording its index case in the middle of March, with government saying schools might remain shut until September at the earliest, CGTN published. The country has confirmed 2,293 cases of COVID-19, with 1,604 recovered patients while 8 have died

FEC Approves N8.49bn For Purchase of COVID-19 Testing Kits

12Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Finance, News, Nigeria, Science

FEC Approves N8.49bn For Purchase of COVID-19 Testing Kits

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has today ratified the sum of N8.49bn for the procurement of 12 items for the testing of deadly COVID-19 by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). President Muhammadu Buhari gave the approval during a virtual council meeting on Wednesday. The minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire presented the memo on behalf of the centre at the Council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja after which it was considered and approved.

Air Peace Reconsiders, Recalls Sacked Pilots as FG intervenes

12Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Covid-19, Economy, Employment, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Transportation

Air Peace Reconsiders, Recalls Sacked Pilots as FG intervenes

The management of Air Peace Airlines has reconsidered its earlier decision to sack about 70 pilots following the intervention of the Federal. The recall of some of the sacked pilots was agreed upon after a meeting convened by Sentaor Hadi SIrika, minister of aviation, between the airline’s management and the leadership of the National Association of Airline Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE). James Odaudu, spokesperson of the ministry in a statement said, “In the verbal agreement reached after a dialogue that was held in a very friendly environment, chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema acceded to the minister’s appeal for the recall of the maximum number of pilots that the airline can accommodate without going under. “Onyema expressed his sadness and disappointment over what he cal...

I Ask for Some Patience With the Acquisition of Military Equipment – Buhari

11Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Transportation

I Ask for Some Patience With the Acquisition of Military Equipment – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked Nigerians to be patient with his administration as he strives to equip the military against security threat. Buhari made the call in a tweet on his official twitter handle in the late hours of Monday 10 August, 2020. This call comes after Buhari had a meeting with Governors from the six North-East states, all service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police. The Governors, who on Saturday, elected Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, as Chairman of the region’s Governors Forum pledged to partner with the government to fight Boko Haram and requested for more hardware for the military to tackle insurgency in the region. Buhari said, “We are working very hard to ensure the security situation in every part of Nigeria improves very soon. As pa...

FG Lifts Restriction on Sports, See List

8Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Safety, Sports

FG Lifts Restriction on Sports, See List

The Federal government of Nigeria has granted permission for the resumption of non-contact sports in Nigeria. This was made known by Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, during its daily press briefing in Abuja. Aliyu said low risk sporting activities could resume as government continues to ease the coronavirus induced lockdown measures. These sports include athletics, lawn tennis, table tennis, golf, cricket, cycling, among others. However, contact sports like football, boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, rugby, swimming and basketball remain banned until further notice. He said, “For recreational parks/communal sports, restrictions are removed on outdoor communal non-contact sports and the use of recreational parks for supervised physi...

FCT Mobile Court Fines Naira Marley Over Jabi Lake Mall Concert

7Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Judiciary, Music, News, Nigeria

FCT Mobile Court Fines Naira Marley Over Jabi Lake Mall Concert

Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola, who goes by stage name Naira Marley has been fined N200,000 by an Abuja mobile court over his June 13 concert at Jabi Lake Mall in violation of COVID-19 lockdown measures. The fine was pronounced under heavy security at the Eagles square, Abuja. He pleaded guilty to four count charges of breach interstate movement put in place by the Presidential Task Force (PTF), no- wearing of face mask, social gathering and violation of curfew imposed by the FCT Administration. The fine comes after the singer and his manager, Seyi Awonuga had earlier been fined N100,000 each by the State Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court. Recall that African News Today had called for the trial of the singer for the sake of rule of law.