News Agency of Nigeria

Nigerian government inaugurates infectious disease centre in Abuja

The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated the first Infectious Disease Centre (IDC), in the Federal Capital Territory, and handed it over to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH). Speaking at the inauguration of the 40-bed centre in Gwagwalada, Abuja, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the centre would improve Nigeria’s capacity to respond to all infectious diseases. “With laboratory testing and case management in one location, there is a much shorter time between sample collection and infection confirmation. ”This will ensures early initiation of treatment and thus mitigate mortality during infectious disease outbreaks. “I am very proud that today, we now have an international standard centre where we can manage highly pathogenic infectious disease cases, i...

APC nullifies Governor Fayemi’s ‘suspension’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has nullified the purported suspension of Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State by the party’s state chapter. Mr Yekini Nabena, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja, while reacting to the development. “The attention of the APC national secretariat has been drawn to a purported and widely reported suspension of Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, as well as an earlier reported indefinite suspension of some other party members in the state. “The actions are a nullity as the party’s national secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported suspensions,” he said. Nabena, therefore, advised all members of the party to adhere to its Constitution, adding that Fayemi remains the ...

Ogun pensioners protest, demand immediate payment of gratuities

Pensioners in Ogun State on Tuesday demanded immediate payment of gratuities of State and Local Government retirees from 2014 and 2011 to date. Newsmen learnt that the state government pensioners are owed from 2014 while local government pensioners are owed from 2011. The pensioners who protested around Abiola Way in Abeokuta, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Repeal the obnoxious pension bill now”, ”Mr Governor, please don’t deprive us our legitimate pension and gratuities”. Others are “Severance to politicians are paid at exit”, ”Pay our gratuities now” among others. Addressing journalists after the protest, Mr Waheed Oloyede, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, in the state, said that the proposal by government to release every quarter, the sum of N500 million from January ...

NPA: 20 ships discharging petrol other items at Lagos port

Agence France-Presse The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Monday said that 20 ships at the Lagos ports were discharging petroleum products and food stuff. The NPA made this known in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Lagos. It listed the contents of the ship as general cargo, containers, bulk wheat, petrol, frozen fish, butane gas, bulk sugar, maize, bulk salt and automobile gasoline. It said that other 12 ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with containers, bulk wheat, and general cargo. The authority said it was expecting 13 other ships with petroleum products, food items and other goods from Sept. 21 to 30. It said that the ships contained bulk wheat, bulk sugar, petrol, bulk gypsum, frozen fish, maize, bulk salt and general...

Cross River workers protest removal of names from payroll

Some civil servants whose names were removed from the payroll of the Cross River Government on Monday in Calabar picketed the state secretariat complex, demanding reinstatement. The protesters carried placards with various inscription such as “Ayade pay us our salaries, “No Trade Union in Cross River”, “We will protest until we are reinstated”, among others. It would be recalled that the state government in August 2019 removed the names of no fewer than 2,500 civil servants from its payroll. One of the protesting civil servants, Mr James Obeten, told newsmen that the situation had caused untold hardships in his families. “We were duly employed in 2015, and were given employment letters, it is very shocking that the government stopped our salaries since August 2019. “Without any reason, our...

Survival Fund: Nigerian government releases registration schedule as portal opens Monday

As the portal for the registration of prospective beneficiaries for the Survival Fund opens on Monday, the Federal Government has released the timetable for categories of businesses to register. A statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Project Delivery Office stated that the portal which opens at 10 PM, will have educational institutions as the first category of beneficiaries to register. “Nigerians interested in the Payroll Support scheme are to note that the site for registration will be open from 10 pm Monday, September 21, 2020. “In order to ensure a seamless registration process, the Project Delivery Office (PDO) has designed a registration schedule. “Registration for Payroll Support will start with educational institutions on Monday and will be followed with businesses in the hos...

Edo election: FCT residents commend INEC innovations, performance

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on its performance at the just concluded Sept. 19, governorship election in Edo state. Some of the residents who spoke with newsmen, in Abuja expressed their joy that the election was relatively peaceful and that INEC deserved commendation for its innovations. A businessman, Mr Christopher Chidi, said although there were logistics challenges in few places, INEC’s performance was an improvement over previous elections. Chidi said that one of the innovations that made the election success was the introduction of the election “Result Viewing Portal” recently launched by INEC. “The portal has made it difficult for politicians to alter election results at the collation war...

Ondo election: Agboola Ajayi best candidate for good governance – Segun Mimiko

Dr Olusegun Mimiko, National Leader of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), has described Agboola Ajayi, the party’s governorship candidate, who is also the incumbent deputy governor of Ondo State, as the best candidate to deliver good governance to the people of the state. Newsmen report that Ondo State governorship election comes up on Oct. 10. Mimiko, who is the immediate past governor of the state, spoke on Saturday in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government area of the state, during the party’s launch of campaign for its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election. Mimiko also urged the electorate to collect the “stolen money” that some party had promised them and still vote for ZLP that would bring back good governance. The former governor urged the electorate not to fear or be...

Sultan turbans 15 district heads in Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Saturday turbaned 15 new District Heads in Sokoto State. Newsmen report that the ceremony followed the demise of the District Heads of the respective areas. Mr Abubakar congratulated the newly turbaned Heads and urged them to ensure the best representation for their communities in the Sultanate Council. “Your turbanning is an added responsibility and opportunity to serve the society, as such I urge all of you to remain focused in ensuring sustainable development to the people. “You are all expected to continue to work closely with your community in ensuring sustainable peace and unity in the state,” he said. The Sultan further prayed for the new district heads and for peace and prosperity in the country. Newsmen report that those turbaned includ...

Edo election: Presiding officers, observer commend electoral process

Some Presiding Officers in the Sept.19, governorship election in Edo and an international Observer team, Centre for Strategic Conflict Management, have commended the peaceful electoral process in Oredo Ward 4. They gave the commendation at the on-going governorship election on Saturday in Benin. Newsmen report that the Oredo Ward 4 is the voting point of the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki. A presiding officer in the Ward 4 polling unit 25, Jonathan Ayo, commended the electorate for conducting themselves peacefully and in an orderly manner during accreditation and voting. According to him, the process so far has been smooth, with everything working well. ”The card readers are working perfectly well today; we have not had any issue of failure of card reader today. “The voters are conduct...

Edo election: NSCDC deploys 13,3111 personnel, 60 sniffer dogs

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has deployed no fewer than 13,3111 personnel alongside 60 sniffer dogs to ensure security during the Sept. 19 Edo governorship election. Mr Abdullahi Gana, Commandant General NSCDC, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen by the Corps Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Emmanuel Okeh on Wednesday in Abuja. Gana revealed that the deployed personnel were drawn from the Corps Headquarters and its commands in Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo state. He said that the deployed staff would complement personnel of its command in Edo and the zonal command in Benin. He said that the deployment was to ensure that every act of electoral malpractice, violence and other social vices that could affect the smooth conduct of the el...

Nigeria’s virus death toll hits 1,083

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) at midnight on Monday said that the death toll for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Nigeria had jumped to 1, 083. The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle. Newsmen report the NCDC confirmed that there were 132 new infections . It stated that one new fatality raised the death toll to 1,083. The agency said 132 new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, were recorded across Nigeria on Monday, Sept. 14. The public health agency stated that the new cases now bring the number of confirmed infections in the country to 56,388. It noted that 185 people had been treated and had recovered from the virus, bringing the nation’s number of recovery to 44,337. According to the agency, Lagos State had the highest number ...