Tag: COVID-19 Pandemic

Nigerian banks CEOs take home N1.7bn pay, cut jobs amid pandemic

Aminu Imam

Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of eleven commercial banks out of the 13 listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited as well as those of two unlisted banks earned N1.7 billion between them in executive pay for 2020. According to reports, the average total compensation for the heads of the banks came to N144 million, one percent less than the N1.74 billion earnings for 2019. Nigerian banks generally did well amid Covid-19 in 2020, recording profits above the 2019 level in a year that witnessed lockdowns and an economic decline. The increase…

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Covid-19: FG places Oyo, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Rivers, 2 other States on red alert

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has put six States and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), on red alert as the third wave of Covid-19 rages. Recall that on Monday, the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19, (PSC), listed Oyo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Kano and Plateau. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the PSC, said more African countries were reporting more fresh cases of the pandemic. The PSC Chairman confirmed that Nigeria recorded about 500 cases daily in the last seven days, saying…

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Covid-19: Lockdown imminent, as Nigeria records 8 deaths, 590 new infections

Aminu Imam

The nation, on Friday, reported eight deaths from the much dreaded third wave of the Covid-19 disease and confirmed 590 new cases, raising the country’s infection toll to 173,411. This is contained in an update posted late Friday night on the official Facebook page of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the country agency in charge of testing and management of infectious diseases including coronavirus. The gradual increase in the number of fresh cases and deaths from the disease, experts say, is an indication that the government may be…

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Second wave: Nigeria records all-time highest daily Covid-19 cases

Aminu Imam

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) on Wednesday, announced that 930 new confirmed covid-19 cases were recorded in Nigeria, taking the total tally to 75,062 confirmed cases and 1,200 deaths, year to date. This represents the highest ever number of daily cases recorded since the outbreak. The last time Nigeria recorded a daily number of Covid-19 cases in this region was on the 11th of December 2020, when 796 cases were recorded, followed by 790 cases recorded on 1st. The spike in new cases suggested a looming second wave…

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COVID-19 infections may spike up in next 2 weeks, FG warns

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has stated that COVID-19 infections may spike up across the country in the next two weeks. This was disclosed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The SGF said the country is at a risk of importing more cases of the disease following the reopening of its airspace and also as a result of the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country. Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the presidential task force on c, also cited the Edo and Ondo governorship elections as…

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COVID-19: China temporarily bars Nigerians from entering its territory

Aminu Imam
Chinese President Xi Jingpin

The Peoples Republic of China has temporarily suspended travellers from Nigeria holding either its visa or resident permit from travelling to the country. In a statement issued from its Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria, the Asian country stated that only Chinese citizens who are returning from the country would be allowed back home. It added that foreign nationals visiting China for emergency needs may apply for visas at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. It stated that: “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has decided to temporarily suspend entry into China…

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Why we sacked our pilots – Air Peace

Ishaku Yohanna

Air Peace provided reasons on Monday for laying off pilots and supporting staff. It said the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic on its operations were responsible for the sack of some pilots and supporting staff in the organisation. The airline sacked over 70 pilots across its fleet and reduced staff salaries by about 40 percent. However, the company said in a statement on Monday in Lagos that the management took the “very painful, but rightful decision” by disengaging the pilots. It said the decision followed the situatjon the airline found…

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Tokyo 2020: Olympics boss reluctant to hold Games behind closed doors

Ishaku Yohanna

Banning fans from the Tokyo Olympics is “clearly something we don’t want”, International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said, adding that “multiple scenarios” were under consideration for the rescheduled Games. Bach said safety was the top concern for organisers of the Tokyo Olympics, which were due to start next week but have been postponed for a year over the COVID-19 pandemic. But he clearly signalled his reluctance to hold the Games at empty stadiums, now a common sight in sport as other competitions make a tentative return from virus-enforced shutdowns.…

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