COVID-19
Ondo gives 30 percent discount on inputs to farmers to ensure food security
The Ondo State Government on Sunday said it had provided discounted agricultural inputs as palliatives to farmers as part of measures to ensure food security in the state. Mr Akin Olotu, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Agribusiness, said this to newsmen in Akure. He said that the government also had put in place various interventions to cushion the effects of COVID-19 among farmers in the state . Olotu said the palliative (discount) was structured such that 30 per cent discount was given to interested farmers on inputs they purchased. He, however, said that maize farmers were given inputs for free on the directives of the governor. Olotu said that if farmers were not assisted speedily from the havoc wreaked on Agriculture and Agribusinesses by the coronavirus ...
Lagos records 404 new virus cases in 24 hours
Lagos State has recorded spike in COVID-19 cases with 404 in the last 24 hours, increasing the state’s infection figures to 17,764. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) made the disclosure on Sunday in its COVID-19 Situation Report for Aug. 22. According to NCDC, Lagos has 404 new cases out of the 601 confirmed cases reported in the last 24 hours from 21 states. The health agency also disclosed that 684 patients who were treated and had fully recovered, were discharged, making the number of COVID-19 patients discharged in the state at 15,209. It, however, announced one COVID-19 related death in the state, increasing the state’s COVID-19 mortality to 202. Newsmen report that Lagos remains the epicentre of COVID-19 cases with 17,764 of the total 51,905 cases in the country. Also, da...
Shell employees launch N82 million free feeding programme at isolation centres
Getty Images Employees of Shell companies in Nigeria have launched free feeding programme in COVID-19 isolation centres in seven states under the Shell Employee Care Programme, the General Manager External Relations of Shell Nigeria, Igo Weli, said in a statement on Thursday. “The programme has kicked off in Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Lagos, Ogun and Rivers and it is a further demonstration of care to the people following the numerous intervention programmes by Shell companies in Nigeria particularly in support of government at all levels in the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic,” Weli said. The feeding programme, according to Weli, was being funded from personal donations by staff and contractors of the Anglo-Dutch integrated energy giant, the total amount of whic...
Ozzy Osbourne on Trump’s Pandemic Response: “This Guy’s Acting Like a Fool”
Ozzy Osbourne’s signature solo song is “Crazy Train”, and that’s pretty much the ride he thinks Donald Trump has the United States on right now. “This guy’s acting like a fool,” the metal legend exclaimed in a new interview when speaking of the president’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The singer, who rarely talks politics, offered some strong opinions while speaking with Rolling Stone, even questioning why Trump ran for president in the first place. “If I was running for president, I would try and find out a little bit about politics,” remarked Ozzy. “Because the f**king guy you’ve got in there now doesn’t know that much about it, I don’t think.” He added, “It’s not like anyone could be a f**king heart surgeon and just go in with a scalpel. You have to know what you’re f**king doing....
Nigeria confirms 476 new virus cases
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), has confirmed 476 new cases of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the country. The NCDC confirmed this through its official Twitter handle on Thursday. The agency said that seven deaths were recorded in the country. NCDC said that till date, 50,964 cases have been confirmed, 37,569, discharged and 992 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. According to it, the 476 new cases are reported from 18 states. It said that Lagos has the highest figures of 235 cases, followed by FCT with 44 cases. Others were Kaduna (41), Borno (33), Plateau (28), Abia (13), Edo (13), Rivers (12), Imo (11), Oyo (10), Kano (9), Kwara (7), Enugu (5), Katsina (5), Gombe (4), Ogun (4), Nasarawa (1), and Zamfara (1). The NCDC stated that...
UK offers free visa replacement for Nigerians
Y-Axis The British High Commission in Nigeria has said it will replace, for free, the 30-day visa of individuals that were supposed to travel to the UK before the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 global pandemic. It said the free visa replacement, which will be open till December 2020, covers those who will be travelling to the UK for work, study or to join their families. This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the commission titled, ‘Update on VAC Services From The BHC Nigeria’ posted on its verified Twitter handle, @UKinNigeria. The statement read in part, “as a result of the disruptions to travel caused by COVID-19, we are experiencing high demand for replacement vignettes for 30-day visas to travel to the UK for work, study or to join family. “If an individual’s 30-da...
Nigerian government approves N13.3 billion take off for community policing
The Federal Government has approved the sum of N13.3 billion for the take-off of Community Policing initiative across the country. This is as the World Bank has cleared 35 states for the US$1.5billion stimulus package for Nigeria’s states to cushion the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Economic Council (NEC) at its virtual meeting on Thursday, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, with two other governors, meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police to coordinate the proper utilization of the funding of the initiative Attendance at the NEC virtual meeting with state governors, included the Min...
UK Police Continue Crackdown on Illicit Raves After Breaking Up 200 in One Weekend
Despite concerted efforts by the Metropolitan Police, London has faced an influx of illicit raves over the past few months as COVID-19 restrictions have continued to shut down the nightlife sector. According to a report by Mixmag, over the course of one weekend, 200 illicit parties were broken up, adding to the 1,000 unlicensed events that have taken place in London since June. “The truth is that these events are incredibly unsafe, attract high levels of anti-social behaviour and can end in violence,” said Commander Ade Adelekan, a senior Metropolitan Police officer. “Sadly, some events have ended with officers being targeted with mindless violence.” Adelekan’s words come just days after two teenagers were recently sta...
Club Quarantäne is the Premier Online Clubbing Experience—and You’re Probably Not Getting In
With the huge blow to nightlife around the globe caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, promoters are getting creative as club-goers and music fans seek ways to fill the void left by the absence of regular music events. Enter Club Quarantäne, a fully immersive digital clubbing experience that can be enjoyed in the comfort and socially distanced safety of your own home. In just three virtual events, Club Quarantäne has already seen over 700,000 online attendees, who visited from around the globe via their web browsers of choice, enjoying DJ sets from the likes of Ben UFO, Ash Lauryn, Dax J, and more. Clulb Quarantäne boasts a 360-degree virtual dance floor and “club landscape,” complete with music, visuals, and interactive features. Users wait in a...
KPM Promotions Gears Up to Host Utah’s First EDM Drive-In Show, “Roll’N Rave”
While nothing will ever quite match the energy of a packed outdoor EDM show, drive-in concert organizers across the country are certainly trying their best to find a suitable replacement. Continuing the initiative in Utah is KPM Promotions, who are set to host the weekend-long “Roll’N Rave Drive-In” on September 11th and 12th. Scheduled performances include Subtronics, Boogie T B2B Dirt Monkey, and SoDown on the 11th, with Wooli, Kai Wachi, and more appearing on the 12th as well as a highly anticipated joint set from Riot Ten and Sullivan King. Health and safety are absolutely paramount to the event’s organizers in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “We want our attendees to enjoy something that we all know and love...
PTF: Nigerians poor attitude towards virus testing is worrisome
The Presidential Taskforce, PTF, on COVID-19, on Thursday, decried the poor attitude of Nigerians towards COVID-19 testing and safety protocols, saying, despite the increased capacity, sample collection remains very low. Expressing displeasure during the weekly COVID-19 briefing in Abuja, the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce, Boss Mustapha, further lamented that the numbers of local governments, LGAs, that are hot spots have increased from 16 to 20 and regrettably happened to be a hard-to-reach area. “Initially, we have 10 local government areas that are hot spots which eventually increased to 16 but now we have 20 LGAs that are hot spots. Regrettably, this recent local government is more remote. “Presently, Nigeria now has the capacity to test 15,000 people daily but sadly, what we ...
Group lauds governments, Nigerians on fight against coronavirus
The Woman and Half Initiative (WAH), a group of successful professional women, has hailed the efforts of governments and Nigerians to contain the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Mrs Chile Udemgba, the WAH Promoter, made the commendation in a statement to newsmen in Lagos. She expressed joy that Nigeria was among the countries which recorded the lowest COVID-19 cases. “As the society gradually evolves from a crippling lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, we celebrate the effusive Nigerian spirit which has seen us all wrestle this pandemic down with our country recording some of the lowest incidences in the world,” she said. Udemgba noted that the lockdown caused many economies and businesses to collapse, thereby hindering progress. According to her, the group would celebrate...