Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe was inaugurated on Sunday at a ceremony that was minimised to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Some 200 guests – all wearing face masks and practicing social distancing – attended the ceremony. With borders closed, it was only attended by diplomats already in the country. The televised ceremony was shortened to just over 80 minutes, without the usual pomp and ceremony. Gnassingbe, 53, won by a landslide in February,...
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Sunday recorded 170 new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19), in the country, bringing the total number of infections in Nigeria to 2558. The NCDC also said that two new patients have been confirmed dead from the virus in the country, bringing the total number of deaths to 87. The agency on its confirmed twitter handle on Sunday night said that the 170 new cases were recorded from 12 states....
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians to pray for a speedy recovery of the founder of Daar Communications PLC, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, members of his family, and all others who tested positive for COVID-19. Abubakar in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, in Abuja on Saturday, expressed sympathy and solidarity with the family of the media mogul and members of his family who tested positive for COVID-19. He described...
Actress Funke Akindele and other celebrities on Sunday took to their various Instagram pages to celebrate actress, movie director and producer, Genevieve Nnaji who turned 41. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Genevieve Nnaji won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role in 2005, making her the first actress to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a member of the Order of the Federal Republic...
Members of the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have vowed not to accept the proposed cutting of salaries of its members and other healthcare workers by the Kogi Government. A statement by the Chairman of the NMA in the state, Dr Kabiru Zubair, in Lokoja on Sunday, said the attention of the NMA had been drawn to the proposed wage cut by the government. ”The NMA is not unaware of the...
The Osun Joint Task Force charged with fighting assorted crimes, has apprehended 27 persons suspected to be illegal miners in the state. Mr. Abdullahi Binuyo, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, who disclosed this on Sunday in Osogbo, said that the suspects comprised of 17 Chinese nationals and 10 locals. Binuyo said that the suspects were arrested following a coordinated sting operation in Ilesa and Ife areas of the state. The official...
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it has established community transmission of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Abuja, Lagos and Kano states. The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, made the disclosure on Channels Television Station in Abuja, on Sunday. He spoke on the backdrop of gradual lockdown ease in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, billed to start on Monday. Abuja, Lagos and Ogun have been locked down by President Muhammadu Buhari for five...
Italy’s daily COVID-19 death toll fell to the lowest level in nearly two months on Sunday, the eve of the first easing of a strict novel coronavirus lockdown. The death tally rose by 174 to 28,884, the Civil Protection Agency said in its daily bulletin. The last time daily fatalities were below that figure was on March 10, with 168 deaths. March 10 was also the start date of the lockdown. The total number of...
Evacuation of Nigerians stranded in the U.S. due to the novel coronavirus pandemic is to begin on May 10, according to the Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York. The consulate-general disclosed this in a notice signed by the Consul-General, Mr. Benaoyagha Okoyen, on behalf of the Nigerian Missions in the U.S., on Sunday. According to the notice, no fewer than 700 Nigerians have registered with the missions in the U.S. for evacuation, which will be...
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on governments at all levels to take decisive steps in ensuring the protection of media workers to strengthen and maintain press freedom. Mr. Victor Udu, the Chairman of NUJ, Cross River Council, made the call in a statement to mark the World Press Freedom Day 2020 in on Sunday in Calabar. The appeal is also coming in the face of the uncertainty created by Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,...
