Afe Babalola Tells FG To Reopen Private Universities

-Adewale Adetoyese “Reopen private varsities, public school not ready.” Afe Babalola Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, has urged the Federal Government to reopen private universities, noting that many public institutions are not ready to resume. Our correspondent S’Teller gathered that Babalola, who said COVID-19 has “exposed the unpreparedness of public universities in the areas of poor infrastructures, underfunding, inefficiency and corruption which ASUU had documented and published”, said although he was not a fan of ASUU in view of its penchant for strike actions, the lecturers’…

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COVID-19: Nigeria Govt Claim N30,540,563,571.09 Of N36.3 Billon Public Funds & Donations Has Been Spent

The Government of Nigeria has disclosed that it “spent N30,540,563,571.09, representing 84% of the N36.3 billon public funds and donations received to respond to COVID-19 between 1st April, 2020 and 31st July, 2020, leaving the balance of N5.9 billion.” The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, stated this in response to the Freedom of Information request dated August 10, 2020, and sent to him by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Connected Development (CODE). In reply to Mr Idris dated September 4, 2020, and signed by SERAP deputy director…

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COVID-19: Nigeria To Withhold Passports Of Returnees

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has issued a REVISED QUARANTINE PROTOCOL for persons arriving Nigeria from Abroad (including returnees/stranded Nigerians). The revised protocol contained in a circular to all diplomatic, consular and international organisations accredited to Nigeria on the COVID-19 protocols to be observed by passengers arriving Nigeria includes depositing their passports with the Nigeria Immigration Service for two weeks, pending the verification of their COVID-19 status. According to the revised quarantine protocol which comes into immediate effect, the arrivals are expected to self-isolate for 14 days and…

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Breaking: International Flights Resume In Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that international flights will resume on August 29. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this announcement for resumption of flights at the bi-weekly Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Monday. He said the airports will open in batches beginning with Lagos and Abuja. President Muhammad Buhari had in March ordered the suspension of international flights to curb the influx of imported cases of the virus in the country. While local flights were also suspended, they have resumed for about a month…

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Nigerian Government Considering Discharge Of COVID-19 Patients Earlier Than Required Time

The Nigeria government is considering the option of discharging COVID-19 patients earlier than their required treatment and isolation period, despite their positive status.   This was revealed by the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, at the daily Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Thursday.   Mr Ihekweazu said new evidence shows that it is safe to discharge recovering COVID-19 patients even when the results are still positive. In his words; “New evidence is emerging that even when the test is still positive after that…

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Boss Mustapha Brief Journalists After Presidential Task Force Meeting With Buhari

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and leader of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, on Sunday, led members to a meeting with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.   After the meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mr Mustapha, who is the PTF chairman, addressed journalists on what was discussed at the meeting.   The excerpt follows: SGF: This is part of a routine exercise. I think this is about the third time that we have had cause to…

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No Mask And Be Prosecuted

-YOMMY AYILARA. Federal Government announced that anyone Found Without A Face Mask Will Be Prosecuted. The Federal Government has announced that anyone found moving about without a facemask will be prosecuted. This developments was announced in a statement by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Friday, the 1st of May, 2020 as part of the approaches it published for the execution of the phased and gradual easing of the lockdown. The document which was 5 paged was signed by the PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of…

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