Tag: Covid-19 - Page 20 - African News Today

Ajimobi Laid to Rest in Ibadan Amid Tight Security

28Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Life, News, Nigeria

Ajimobi Laid to Rest in Ibadan Amid Tight Security

Former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi was buried in the capital city of Ibadan on Sunday. Ajimobi who was Acting National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was laid to rest in accordance with Islamic burial rites amid strict security measures at 10:05am at his 6th Avenue, Yemoja Street, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan residence. There were reports that his family’s choice of burial site at Agodi GRA was declined by the state government due to ongoing litigation on the residence. Ajimobi died after brief illness at a Lagos hospital due to complications related to organ failure, aged 70. His burial took place in accordance with stipulations of coronavirus containment measures. In attendance were less than 20 people comprising of his wife, Chief Florence Ajimobi and oth...

Peter Okoye Infected Daughter, Wife and Two Domestic Staff with COVID-19

27Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Nigeria

Peter Okoye Infected Daughter, Wife and Two Domestic Staff with COVID-19

Nigerian musician, Peter Okoye, reportedly infected his wife, Lola Omotayo; daughter, Aliona and two domestic staff with the deadly coronavirus. The singer revealed this in a video posted on his social media handle. Mr. Okoye however, revealed that all of them had recovered and tested negative to the disease. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QkCHL-mB6M He urged people to imbibe safety measures and ensure proper hygiene in order not to contact the virus. He said he felt the need to disclose his ordeal to convince those who are having doubts over the spread of the disease. Nigeria has recorded 23,298 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 554 deaths while 8,253 patients have recovered.

Turkey Gifts Rwanda Face Masks to Help Combat COVID-19

26Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Rwanda

Turkey Gifts Rwanda Face Masks to Help Combat COVID-19

Rwanda’s fight against coronavirus has been boasted by donation of face masks received from Turkey. The ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Rwanda, acknowledged receipt of the donation in a statement describing it as “a sign of friendship and solidarity between the two countries in the fight against COVID-19.” The Turkish embassy in Rwanda said Ankara offered 50,000 face masks while a private firm donated 40,000 to Kigali in show of support to the East African nation. Rwanda took delivery of the masks on Thursday. They were delivered by a flight repatriating Rwandan citizens stranded in Turkey, Turkish citizens stranded in Rwanda due to grounding of international flights would equally be airlifted to back to their country. Ambassador Guilaume Kavaruga...

Coronavirus: Governor Okowa Goes into Isolation as Daughter Tests Positive

26Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

Coronavirus: Governor Okowa Goes into Isolation as Daughter Tests Positive

There is coronavirus scare in the Delta state government house as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Nigeria has gone into isolation with his family following a positive COVID-19 test result for his daughter. Okowa announced on twitter that one of his daughters had tested positive for coronavirus. He said that his family has gone into isolation in compliance with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guideline. “Earlier today, Edith and I received the news that one of our daughters has tested positive for #COVID19. Hence, in-line with the laid out procedures, we are both going into isolation for the next 14-days. “We will continue to keep you all updated,” he wrote.

School Reopening in Nigeria: Federal Government Submits School Proposal to National Assembly

24Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, Legislature, News, Nigeria

School Reopening in Nigeria: Federal Government Submits School Proposal to National Assembly

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education has forwarded a detailed proposal to the National Assembly on its plan for resumption of schools across Nigeria. This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba when he met with the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education. Nwajiuba appeared before the upper legislative chamber to enlightened them on modalities put into place by the education ministry for the reopening of schools which had been closed since the coronavirus induced national lockdown. He declined giving details of the proposal, citing misconception by members of the public. He said the proposal might be taken as guidelines for school reopening. He said, “Children are asymptomatic carriers. Nobody can prove whether they...

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...

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 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.