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Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested two bar owners for contravening the lockdown directives of the Federal and Lagos state governments.                                      Police At A Bar The duo was arrested along Isheri/Berger road while on patrol. The routine patrol was led by the squad’s Commander, Olatunji Disu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). The officers were surprised to see a bar open and operating fully despite the lockdown order . DCP Disu immediately ordered the arrest of the owner who claimed he was only preparing nkwobi. Some of the customers ran away, leaving their bottles. Those who insisted on finishing their bottles of beer were also arrested. The Nation learnt that they later released with strong warning but the bar owners were taken away. A statement by RRS on its Facebook account said: “Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS...

Six days after he went on self-isolation following the confirmation of his COVID-19 status, Abba Kyari, former chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, issued a statement on his health.                     Late Abba Kyari There had been rumours about his health condition, with some even saying the president’s right hand had been flown abroad in an emergency. Some also said he had died but in a statement he personally signed, the deceased said he was looking forward to resuming at his desk. He had said he was feeling well but would move to Lagos where he had made his own arrangement. Below is the full statement which he personally signed: I am writing to let you know that on medical advice, I will transfer to Lagos later today for additional tests and observation. This is a precautionary measure: I feel well, but last week, I tested positive for coronavirus, the pandemic that is sweeping the world. I have followed al...

MALLAM Abba Kyari,the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari ,died yesterday, 26  days after testing positive to the coronavirus.                                       Late Mallam Abba Kyari Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr.Femi Adesina, broke the news on his Twitter handle at 12.44am. He followed this up with a statement, saying: “The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari. “The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020. “May God accept his soul. “Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.” Mallam Kyari  had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 23,2020 following an official trip to Germany nine days earlier. There were, however, no immediate details about where he died. Accord...

Nearly 2,000 people infected with the new coronavirus have died in the United States in the last 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Tuesday (0030 GMT Wednesday). The record daily figure of 1,939 brings the total number of deaths in the US to 12,722, which is approaching tolls in the worst-hit countries so far — Italy with 17,127 dead and Spain with 13,798. President Donald Trump has defended his response to the crisis, and on Tuesday he blamed the World Health Organization for reacting slowly. He questioned why the WHO had given “such a faulty recommendation,” apparently referring to the UN body’s advice against curtailing international travel to stop the virus which first spread from China. They called it wrong. They really missed the call. They could have called it months earlier,” he said. Trump has been widely criticized for initially downplaying the virus, which he likened to an ordinary flu and said was under control in the Uni...

The Federal government has sent a new budget proposal to the National Assembly for consideration in view of global economic realities as a result of the outbreak and spread of COVID- 19.                                           President Buhari The new proposal sighted by The Nation and which is currently being considered by the leadership of the legislature reduced the 2020 estimate from N10.594 trillion to N10.276 trillion It also reduces the oil benchmark from 57 dollars per barrel to 30 dollars per barrel, while the oil production volume was reduced from 2.17 million barrel to 1.70 million barrel and the exchange rate increased from N305 to a dollar to N360 to a dollar.   Details shortly…

27 people are presently under quarantine at the Social Rehabilitation Center which has been converted to an isolation centre by the Niger state government.                                       Abubarka Sanni, Gov. Niger State The 50-bed capacity isolation centre is located at Sanu village in Bosso local government area of the state. These people, according to the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Muhammed Maikunsidi are being quarantined under the suspicion that some have had contact with confirmed coronavirus cases while others displayed symptoms of the coronavirus. The Commissioner, who received Journalists at the premises of the isolation centre, explained that the majority of the quarantined persons were reported to the state ministry of health by their families. This, he said, reflected on how people are conscious of the massive sensitization programs made by the state ministr...

There was a fire outbreak at the office of the Accountant General Of The Federation (AGF) this morning in Abuja.  The fire that engulfed the fourth floor of Treasury House has been put out. Minister of State Budget and National Planning arrived the scene a short while ago in the company of the Accountant General of the Federation to assess the level of damage. Men of The Federal Fire Service, Air Force, Navy, FCT Fire Service were on hand to put out the fire. They have just left the building to allow the minister and AGF tour the damaged parts of the building. The fourth floor accommodates the TSA, Funds, FAAC, and Revenue departments Details shortly…