Author: The Gazelle News

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed a repositioning of the economy, starting with a review of 2020 budget to reflect realities in oil sector, and prioritizing health sector infrastructure to respond to the threats posed by COVID-19. President Buhari gave the directive after the 2nd Regular Meeting of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), which also recommended securitization of government debt, design and institutionalization of a revenue stabilization program and the imperative of cutting the cost of governance at all levels. At the meeting, held in the State House, the President agreed with the Advisory Council on the need to prepare…

Former Governor Peter Odili has approached the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt for a restraining order as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) begins investigating him for alleged diversion of over N100 billion belonging to Rivers State. In the suit numbered FH/PHC/C3/26/2020 and dated February 20, 2020, the applicant is seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting, arraigning and prosecuting him in any court pursuant to any investigation that borders on any alleged financial impropriety during his tenure as governor of the state between 1999 and 2007. But the EFCC yesterday gave an update…

Nigeria’s first satellite television broadcast, Africa Independent Television, AIT barred from covering federal government’s unveiling of 2020-2025 broadband plan by President Muhammadu Buhari. AIT reporter and cameraman kicked out of the venue following what security operatives say are “orders from above”. The unveiling ceremony is organised by Nigerian communications commission, NCC and federal ministry of communications and digital economy. Source: AIT.LIVE

By Abdulwarees Solanke What does it mean to win in life? To the average man, it is to attain honour, distinction, victory. It is achievement, fulfillment, acknowledgment, actualisation. . It is to conquer or defeat, overcome or arrive. It is to excel or exceed where others flounder. It is to qualify where others fail. It is to surpass where many lag, lack of recede. Winning qualifies the winner for celebration, entitling him to special privileges and awards. Winning puts the winner on the dais to be garlanded, decorated and rewarded. Unfortunately while most people seek to win in the world…

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has announced the launch of Beta Health, a low-cost health financing product that offers instant access to health insurance for every Nigerian. The first of its kind in Nigeria, Beta Health provides coverage for basic and essential health services such as; general consultations, treatment for malaria, Ante Natal care, amongst others, for a subscription of N500 a month. As at 2018, more than 90 percent of the Nigerian population are not enrolled in any health insurance scheme, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. This is because health insurance is either too expensive or not very…

The National Executive Council, the Trustees and the National Council of Missioners, with heavy hearts and a deep sense of responsibility, hereby announce the suspension of all Mosque activities particularly weekly Asalatu, Jum’ah prayers and any gathering of up to 50 people. The suspension of activities shall take effect immediately until further notice. This decision was informed by the menacing spread of the novel corona virus (COVID-19) and Fatwa by World Islamic bodies taking cognisance of the Islamic principles of ‘preservation of life’, ‘prevention of harm’, and ‘proactive response to impending danger’. The society shall abide by government recommendations and…

The Head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday, 18 March, 2020 that while Africa so far had seen few cases of COVID-19, the continent should “prepare for the worst”. “Africa should wake up,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists in a virtual news conference. Tedros said that to date, 233 cases of the new coronavirus had been registered in sub-Saharan Africa and four people had died, making it the least-affected region in a global pandemic that has infected more than 200,000 people and killed more than 8,000. But he warned that the official numbers likely did not reflect the full…

A cheating UK hubby is “in a blind panic” over his extra-marital affair — now that he contracted the coronavirus on a secret trip to Italy with his mistress, according to a new report. The unnamed patient, in his late 30s — described as “well-heeled and with a high-flying job” — told his wife he was away on a business trip within the UK, The Sun reported. When the man returned home, he began showing symptoms of the deadly bug, and tests confirmed that he was in fact infected, according to the report. “This patient is the talk of public…

In the midst of the continuous wide spread of Coronavirus, with code name, Convid 19, the Lead Visioner of Team Jandor, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran has directed the immediate suspension of meetings and public gathering of Team Jandor across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos state for one month. In a press statement signed by Special Assistant to the Lead Visioner on Media and Publicity Eniola Opeyemi and made available to journalists in Lagos, Adediran said “the directive to all ambassadors, volunteers and team leaders of Team Jandor is an important step to…

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, 18 March, 2020 joined leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West geopolitical zone to receive bigwigs from rival political parties to the party, declaring that a fresh wave of unity, which will move across Nigeria, has begun in the South-West. The governor, who was speaking at the South-West unification rally, held at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan, stated that the return of a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his supporters and other chieftains of different political parties to the PDP was a signal of a party…

Following the first suspected case of Coronavirus in Katsina State, North-West Governors on Wednesday, 18 March, 2020  announced the closure of all schools in the zone. The governors, after a closed-door meeting held in Kaduna, said the closure was for 30 days, noting that it had become necessary in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the zone. The Chairman of the Forum and Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, read the communique shortly after the closed-door meeting. Masari said the closure would take effect from Monday, 23 March, 2020. According to him, the governors would meet with…

The Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, 18 March, 2020 banned all religious gathering with over 50 people within the state. The decision was arrived at after a meeting of the Lagos State Government with religious bodies in the state, The PUNCH reports. The religious bodies include the Christian Association of Nigeria and Muslim leaders. Details later…

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday, 18 March, 2020 announced a N1.1tn intervention fund to support critical sectors of the economy. The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele said this in a statement made available to journalists. The governor in the statement said the out of the N1.1tn, about N1tn would be used to support the local manufacturing sector as well as boost import substitution. He added that the balance of N100bn would be used to support the health authorities to ensure laboratories, researchers and innovators work with global scientists to patent and produce vaccines and test kits in Nigeria.…

The Governor of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola has congratulated an elderstateman, Dr Oluwole Alabi on the occasion of his 76th birthday anniversary. In a statement on Wednesday, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, the governor extoled the virtues of the former lawmaker, describing him as an accomplished medical doctor and a successful politician. Oyetola noted that Dr. Alabi is a worthy son of the State of Osun whose contributions to the creation of the State would always be a reference point. He added that his devotion and commitment to the development of the state and…

The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Security Challenges has called for the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force as a way of improving efficiency aimed at addressing the problem of insecurity bedeviling the country. Consequently, the upper chamber recommended to the executive arm of government that the Police Command structure be decentralized with operational and budgetary powers vested in the zonal commands. These formed part of recommendations contained in the report of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Security Challenges. The Chamber also recommended that all Joint operations should be carried out strictly in accordance with extant operational procedures provided in the…

The federal government has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to reduce the ex-coastal and ex-depot prices of PMS to reflect current market realities. In a statement signed by  Timipre Sylva, the minister of state for petroleum resources, the federal government said Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) should modulate pricing in accordance with prevailing market dynamics. TheCable had earlier reported that the federal executive council deliberated on reducing the pump price of petrol at its meeting in Aso Rock. “The drop in crude oil prices has lowered the expected open market price of imported petrol price below the official pump…

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria has cancelled its annual camping programme usually organised in April over coronavirus fears. This was contained in a press statement by the Amir (President) of the MSSN in Lagos State, Dr Saheed Ashafa. Ashafa explained that the cancellation was in-line with the Federal Government’s directive cautioning against large gatherings. While regretting the inconveniences that may be created through the cancellation, Ashafa urged parents to productively engage their wards during the break. He said, “The leadership of MSSN in Lagos State has been observing with keen interest the development across the globe as regards the…

The Gombe Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday,March 18, 2020, arraigned the ex- Accountant General of the Bauchi State government, Yusuf Ibrahim Gokaru and the State Director of Finance, Ibrahim Muhammed Lele. They were arraigned before Justice A.H Suleiman of the Bauchi State High Court on 42 count-charges, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy, money laundering and concealment of the source and origin of the money. The arrest and arraignment of the defendants was sequel to a petition from Bauchi State Government, dated August 26, 2019. Gokaru and Lele were alleged to have…

President Muhammadu Buhari may have approved the reduction of pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol from N145 to N130. A reliable presidential source, who disclosed this to The Nation at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, said the approval may have followed a presentation by the Minister of State on Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, to the ongoing Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Villa. According to the source, who would not want to be named, Sylva had made a request to the FEC for the reduction of pump price of the product, citing…

A youth group, Yoruba Appraisal Forum on Tuesday, 17 March, 2020, carried its opposition to the formation of the Western Nigerian Security Network codenamed operation Amotekun to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital with a call for the scrapping of the outfit. The group had earlier staged a peaceful protest in Lagos last week and its decision to storm Ekiti according to its Coordinator, Mr. Shina Animashaun was borne out of the need to sensitise the people of the region on the inherent dangers of allowing the governors to continue with the programme. Animashaun spoke to journalists at Ajilosun area of…