COVID-19 Update: Nigeria Records 340 New Cases, Toll Now 51,304

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Friday night confirmed 340 new cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria. Data by NCDC revealed that the latest cases were confirmed in 19 states across the country. Kaduna has the highest number with 63, followed by the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, with 51 and Plateau State with 33. States that made up Friday’s figure include Plateau-38, Lagos-33, Delta-25, Gombe-21, Adamawa-21, Edo-20, Katsina-17, Akwa Ibom-11, Ekiti-10, Rivers-9, Ondo-5, Ebonyi-4, Cross River-3, Ogun-3, Sokoto-2, Imo-2 and Nasarawa-2.

Bitcoin Price Crashes, Loses Value Per Minutes

The price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrency has plummeted dramatically, losing 20 per cent of its value in less than an hour, wiping out almost $30 billion from the crypto markets.

The Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) has on Sunday disclosed that state governments would receive $2.5 million performance-based grants as an incentive for implementing tax relief programmes for businesses and individual taxpayers in a bid to ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was made known in a statement issued by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head of Media and Public Affairs of the NGF Secretariat in Abuja following a virtual meeting between the forum and the World Bank, adding that the grant will be given to states that met required conditions for the tax relief.

IPPIS: Strike Looms In Universities, As Only 'Enrollees' Will Be Paid

On Thursday, 30th January 2020, Federal Government disclosed that only University lecturers captured on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) will be paid for January 2020 salary. The Government added that payment of the tertiary institutions’ lecturers will begin today, Friday, 31st January 2020.

The Federal Government in efforts to control the negative impact of trans-boundary pests on crops has approved an N13 billion intervention fund to also boost agricultural activities. The pest control project in 12 northern states of the federation is aimed at enhancing the national food security amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele and the Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday, flagged-off an N10.25 billion Tomato company, in Kaduna.  Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Mr Emefiele said the massive Foreign Direct Investment by Tomato Jos, an American company was made possible by the economic diversification agenda of the present administration.

Embattled AFDB President: Nigeria Have Your Back, Buhari Assures Adesina

President Muhammadu Buhari has yesterday assured the embattled president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in his quest for his re-election to occupy the office, saying “Nigeria is solidly behind you”. Buhari gave the assurance when he hosted Mr Adesina at the statehouse Abuja who was on a courtesy visit. Mr President reiterated his stance to Adesina that Nigeria in collaboration with other African leaders would rally round him to ensure he actualises to ambition especially that his past record is anything to go by.

Despite public outcry over the reported approval of N37bn for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex, the Director of Information, National Assembly, Rawlings Agada says the sum approved for the renovation of the complex may not be enough for the work.

Illegal Mining: 17 Chinese Men Arrested In Osun State

The Osun State Government had on Sunday announced the arrest of 27 illegal miners in the state out of which 17 of them were Chinese nationals while 10 were there local collaborators.

Uproar As Lagos Residents Accuse Government Officials Of Hoarding Lake Rice

Some prospective buyers of the Lagos State subsidised rice on Friday expressed difficulty in getting the product for consumption this yuletide.