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 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...
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...
The National Human Rights Commission has called for an end to slavery which it says still thrives in modern forms in Nigeria despite the official abolition of the scourge many decades ago. NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, was quoted as saying this in the commission’s statement marking this year’s International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade which is observed on August 23 annually. The statement signed by the commission’s Assistant Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages Department, Fatimah Mohammed was titled, ‘International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slave Trade: NHRC Seeks End to All Forms of Modern Slavery’. It read in part, “As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2020 International Day of Remembrance of...
Mr Ajibola Abayomi, President, Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), has urged the Federal Government to evolve stricter measures in the fight against human trafficking. Abayomi who made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, also urged the government to continue the ongoing evacuation mission beyond the Aug. 25 deadline. According to him, such extension will enable the evacuation of more Nigerians, especially women who are currently stranded in foreign countries. He said that the group had already written the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other relevant agencies, alerting them of the need to continue the rescue exercise. Abayomi said that the letter also contained detailed information about stranded Nigerian migrants to ensure easy identification and evacuation. “T...
The Rivers State Police Command has directed Commanders of all Tactical Units to commence arms mop-up exercise across the state. Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Joseph Mukan in a statement, said the decision to carry out the arms mop-up was in line with the directive by the Inspector General of Police rid the country of illegal possession of firearms. Mukan also directed the Commanders and Divisional Police Officers, DPOs to enlighten local security outfits in their areas of operations. The Rivers Police boss added that, “Area Commanders are to coordinate, Supervise and report the outcome of such Meetings to the CP with immediate effect and informed all persons and/or groups unlawfully bearing prohibited firearms to with immediate effect, submit same to the nearest Police Station, ...
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...