There was a fire outbreak at the Gombe branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday.

A source told SaharaReporters that the fire started at about 10am.

This adds to the series of fire outbreaks that have hit key government offices in the country in recent times.

On April 8, fire broke out at the Treasury House, a building housing the Accountant-General of the Federation’s office, exactly a week after there was another fire outbreak at the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission, while the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Abuja also went up in flames days after.

The Jos branch of the CBN in Plateau State was on April 22 also gutted by fire.

Residents of Road D at the World Bank Housing Estate Umuahia, Abia state were thrown in fear and apprehension as one of the occupants woke up on Thursday morning to discover a fetish sacrifice in front of his gate.

The man whose name is yet to be ascertained at the time of this report, lives with his family of four children and wife and is said to have lived in the street for close to a decade now and has not been troublesome, nor members of his family.

The sacrifice which has a small coffin with two eggs and a red clothing material was placed a couple of inches away from the gate of the house while a white powered substance was sprayed all over the area the coffin was placed and onto the street.

Eyewitness account revealed that the family, as well as residents of the street who discovered the fetish sacrifice, were thrown into a panic while efforts were made to reach family members who were yet to open their gate for the day to alert them of the strange fetish things at their gate.

626 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-193
FCT-85
Oyo-41
Edo-38
Kwara-34
Abia-31
Ogun-29
Ondo-28
Rivers-26
Osun-21
Akwa Ibom-18
Delta-18
Enugu-15
Kaduna-13
Plateau-11
Borno-8
Bauchi-7
Adamawa-5
Gombe-4
Sokoto-1

Highlights
On the 2nd of July 2020, 626 new confirmed cases and 13 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
Till date, 27110 cases have been confirmed, 10801 cases have been discharged and 616 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 626 new cases are reported from 20 states- Lagos (193), FCT (85), Oyo (41), Edo (38), Kwara (34), Abia (31), Ogun (29), Ondo (28), Rivers (26), Osun (21), Akwa Ibom (18), Delta (18), Enugu (15), Kaduna (13), Plateau (11), Borno ( 8 ),Bauchi (7), Adamawa (5), Gombe (4), Sokoto (1)

July 1 https://www.nairaland.com/5963743/790-new-covid-19-cases-406

As congratulations continue to pour in on the birth of his son, Seyi Tinubu, scion of Nigerian Political Heavyweight and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT), today announced the name of his newborn son alongside his adorable wife, Layal Tinubu during a short, intimate ceremony at their London residence. According to the Tinubus, their son who was born on June 25 at a London Hospital, will be called Bolatito Ayyan Tobias Jidenna Oluwaseyifunmi James Akanbi Tinubu or BAT (Jnr.) in a subtle tribute to his famous grandfather.

This will be Seyi Tinubu’s second child and first son with his only wife, Layal Tinubu after their beautiful daughter, Noella who was born 3 years ago. Sporting a cute summery dress, Layal, an entrepreneur and founder of Tostoys, appeared visibly elated whilst Seyi was beaming all through the ceremony.

Also, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in a heartfelt message to his grandson, prayed for good health, success and God’s blessings on the infant who is the latest addition to the renowned Tinubu dynasty.

BAT Jnr. was born on the 25th of June 2020 in a hospital in London with the family announcing the news through their office immediately afterwards.

Seyi Tinubu is a young Nigerian Entrepreneur, social impact investor and CEO of an out-of-home advertising company, Loatsad Promomedia. He is also the co-founder of the Noella Foundation, Patron of STL Polo Team and a member of the Board of several organisations.

Atletico Madrid Prepare Bid For Chukwueze

LaLiga giants Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Nigeria winger Samuel Chukuweze from Villarreal this summer, reports Completesports.com.

Chukwueze, who has scored three goals and recorded four assists for Villarreal this season has been linked with a number of top European sides.

Premier League clubs Chelsea and Liverpool are among the two clubs, who are reportedly interested in the the 21-year-old.

The versatile winger broke into Villarreal’s first team last season and was voted the club’s young player of the year at the end of the campaign.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone believes Chukwueze will fit perfectly into his project at the club.

Chukwueze will look to further enhance his reputation when Villarreal take on Barcelona at the El Madrigal stadium on Sunday.

As the nation’s airspace and airports prepare to reopen to domestic flights beginning July 8, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has issued new guidelines for air travellers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a statement signed by the Authority’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, “the new Standard Operating Procedure is aimed at protecting all stakeholders and preventing further spread of the Covad-19 virus.”

FAAN stated that all passengers must arrive at the airport properly kitted with their face masks on and ensure a minimum of 1.5m physical distancing.

It added that aviation and Port Health Services personnel would screen each passenger and enforce compliance on the use of face masks and social distancing.

The statement partly read, “Those travelling with pets must get the necessary clearance from Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services.

“All passengers’ luggage would be disinfected before entry into the departure halls.

“Passengers are required to wash their hands as often as possible. Hand sanitisers would be provided for passengers before entrance at the waiting halls/lounges and pre-boarding gates.

“All footwear would be disinfected/sanitised by foot mats placed at all entrances to the terminal building, amongst others.

“Physical distancing protocols must be observed at the baggage claim area, where hand sanitiser is also provided. Disinfected trolleys would be made available for passengers.

“All Covid-19 protocols must be observed while undergoing customs check.

“Passengers would exit the halls and head straight to the car park for pick up, If you must speak to anyone around, please speak to a properly tagged Aviation Security officer.”

The Authority implored passengers to make use of floor markings at the security screening area and respect all outlined protocols put in place.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha, has advised air travellers to “strictly abide” with the new protocols.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated this during a briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

“Following the announcement of phase two and some new measures on Monday, the aviation sector has announced the 8th, 11th and 15th of July as dates for the gradual resumption of domestic flights.

“We thank Nigerians for their patience and understanding and we urge them to strictly abide with the new airport protocols.

“In the aviation industry, safety and security are paramount and there is only one global aviation standard,” he said.

The country’s airspace and airports had been shut to flight operations in March to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cross River State has finally recorded 5 positive cases of the dreaded Coronavirus, [/b]reports Grassroot Reporters.

[b]This was announced by the Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme on Wednesday, July 3 in an internal memo to staff and patients of the hospital obtained by Grassroot Reporters.

Prof. Ikpeme said the tests were carried out using the standard PCR Testing Technique at Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.

He added that out of the 5 patients tested, 2 were staff of the hospital who have recovered from the virus.

The memo reads in part: "The management of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital wishes to inform our hospital staff and patients that Covid-19 tests performed on 5 samples from our hospital returned positive. Two of these samples came from our medical staff. These staff have since made tremendous progress along the path of recovery and are doing well. The tests were performed using PCR Technique at the NCDC Accredited Laboratory located at Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki.

"We wish to reassure our staff and patients that a positive Covid-19 test is not a death sentence nor a reason for any type of fear or stigmatization. As stated above, our medical personnel have recovered. We urge all staff and patients to abide by the guidelines on hand and respiratory hygiene as advised by the State and Federal Government through various agencies, especially the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control". The memo read.

Large crowd of sympathizers gathered at Ilara-Mokin to witness burial of Ondo Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro.

Dr. Adegbenro died on Thursday at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo at the age of 65.

He was buried according to Islamic injunctions.

Officials who conducted the burial were kitted according to COVID-19 protocols.

Families, friends and sympathizers who wept around the burial site gathered to watch the ceremony.

An Abia pig farmer, Mr. Akobundu Steven Agomoh is currently counting his losses following a deadly disease that struck his farm, killing over 438 pigs.

Mr. Agomoh who is the CEO of Akonauche Farms located in Agbommiri Ndoro Oboro in Ikwuano local government area of Abia state in a chat with ABN TV on Friday said the swine flu defied all cures by his veterinary doctors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy9zcilClCs
According to Mr. Agomoh, all known medication was administered on the pigs but no result was achieved as they continued dying helplessly.

The farmer described the disease as an outbreak that broke out in Lagos, moved to Ogun, and later Umuahia, Abia State.

He said it was brought into the state by people who went to buy the younger pigs known as winners.

The disease which he said can be spread to humans witnessed a spike in Umuahia when owners of infected pigs started an aggressive sale to meat sellers.

He said it was transferred into his farm by meat sellers who had contact with infected pigs and later visited his farm in Oboro, Ikwuano.

The disease since the outbreak in June this year has caused fatal losses to farmers, he said.

In the third week of June, Agomoh's farm was struck, leading to the death of 438 pigs, estimated at 11 million Naira.

"They died in tens hourly. The first sign I noticed was the loss of appetite and cold. Anyone that dies will have a semblance of blood on the nose.

"They also had red spots. Within 40 minutes after death, the spots change to black" he said.

The apex bank, which has refused to disclose the exact foreign remittances it has received from 2016 to 2018, deliberately stocks the US dollars it receives on behalf of Nigerians to trade them off through crooked means.

One of the major reasons why the Central Bank of Nigeria has prevented financial institutions in the country from paying United States dollars to persons receiving money from friends and family members based overseas has been uncovered.

According to documents seen by SaharaReporters, the apex bank, which has refused to disclose the exact foreign remittances it has received from 2016 to 2018, deliberately stocks the US dollars it receives on behalf of Nigerians to trade them off through crooked means.

The CBN, it was gathered, was warehousing the dollar component of remittances in foreign banks, thereby making it impossible for the naira to appreciate against the dollar in the foreign exchange market.

Blowing the lid off this seeming goldmine for the CBN leadership, the Femi Falana chambers through Mrs Funmi Falana on February 10, 2020 wrote to the apex bank, demanding to know the accurate remittances for 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.

This request, according to the law firm, became necessary after it was discovered that the CBN had quoted a misleading figure in order to downplay the volume of money sent home by Nigerians in the Diaspora.

For instance, in February 2019, the Nigerian Government disclosed that the remittances received in the country in 2016, 2017 and 2018 were $19.6bn, $22bn and $25bn respectively.

However, the management of the Central Bank of Nigeria faulted the figures, going ahead to claim before the House of Representatives' Committee on Diaspora that contrary to the World Bank’s report, the official financial inflow was $2.6bn for 2018.

Therefore, to the clear the air on the matter, Falana chambers in the letter to the CBN said, “At the 2019 National Diaspora Day held at Abuja in July 2019, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, revealed that the remittances received by Nigeria stood at $19.6bn, $22bn and $25bn in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

“According to Mr Mustapha, ‘The money is currently utilised as social security funds to families (school fees, feeding allowances, hospital bills and so on). Some of it is invested in housing and estate development, hospital projects, schools and commercial enterprises but are not properly documented and analysed for impact.’

“Springing from the above statement from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, we request to be furnished with the official figures of remittances received by Nigeria from the Diaspora for 2016, 2017 and 2018.

“Please be informed that this request is anchored on the Freedom of Information Act, 2010.”

But in a response to the request on June 29, 2020, more than four months after the seven days required by law for FoI requests to be responded to, the CBN in a letter signed by its Director of Corporate Secretariat, Mrs C.E Olonta, said it could not respond because the information sought was already on its website.

Further findings by SaharaReporters revealed that even though all remittances are recorded by the CBN on a daily basis, the management has refused to disclose the real figures.

“It is pertinent to let the public know that apart from hiding the fact that revenue from remittances are far more than oil revenue, all foreign aids and Foreign Direct Investment, the CBN wants to continue to sabotage the national economy through dubious regulations and that was why it banned banks and other foreign exchange dealers from paying foreign currencies to recipients of foreign remittances.

“Thus, by warehousing the dollar component of remittances in foreign banks, the CBN has made it impossible for the naira to appreciate against the dollar in the foreign exchange market.

“In view of the decision of the Federal Government to mobilise the huge diaspora remittances to serve as a catalyst for economic development in line with the provisions of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Act, the CBN should be restrained from hoarding information on the money sent to the country by Nigerians living abroad,” a financial expert with deep knowledge of the fraud going on in the apex revealed.

The total public debt portfolio of Nigeria has risen to N28.63tn, the Debt Management Office announced on Thursday.

In its Public Debt Portfolio report released on Thursday night, the DMO explained that the country’s total debt rose from the N27.4tn recorded in December 2019 to N28.63tn in March 2020.

This indicates that within a space of three months, the country’s public debt portfolio grew by N1.23tn, representing 4.48 per cent.

Nigeria’s total external debt obligations as of the end of March this year stood at N9.99tn, the debt office also stated.

The N9.99tn is about N970bn higher than N9.02trn which was recorded as external debt obligations in December 2020.The debt office said the country’s domestic debt was N18.64tn, representing 65.11 per cent of the Nigeria’s debt stock.

Engr. Chinedu Ekwunife: Our Loss, Heaven’s Gain.

It’s still very hard to accept that you’re gone, and never to return. Death is an inevitable end that we must all reach, however, death in one’s prime and youthfulness is what we always pray against. You shouldn’t die.

The news of your demise came as a thunderbolt to many of us. Why? Because you were merely a young adult, and simply at your youthful age of vibrancy, vigor, tenacity and energy. You were merely getting started. You shouldn’t die.

I remember with nostalgia, that here’s a young man who made distinction in his secondary school leaving certificate examination, WASSC, got admitted to study Engineering at the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka from where he graduated with class, attaining again, a first class and made it to the Vice Chancellor’s Honors list. You shouldn’t die.
Chinedu Ekwunife was a home boy. He was aware of his roots, and always fell back at his home and origin with pride. Mr. Ekwunife has eyes for success, and was remarkably on that path to excel in virtually all his undertakings.

His vibrancy and energy was something else. He shouldn’t die. The Ekwunife’s are very dedicated Christians. The family is remarkably known for their unparalleled faith in God. Their mum was a deeply religious woman. They always fall back at God’s altar, and resort to faith at all times. They pray without loosing hope, and wait for the miracles that comes from their input as hardwork. He shouldn’t die.

I’m saddened. We are all heartbroken. We wouldn’t question or fight God. We can only resign to faith and take hope in the promise of the resurrection with Christ on the last day. God giveth, and when he so wills, he takes back. All glory returns to him. He shouldn’t die.

In faraway United Kingdom, the cold arms of death reached him and stole him away from us. The novel Corona Virus, Covid-19 threw a monstrous punch at him, and got him. He fell for it, fought it head-on and was on the recovery verge before he drew his last breath. It’s really heartbreaking. He shouldn’t die.

Chinedu Ekwunife was only 35years, got married two years ago after dad’s burial and has now left behind his dear wife, a daughter, his mother and siblings to mourn his demise. How would they cope without him. He shouldn’t die.
Covid-19 has dealt a terrible blow on us, and its cold hands has stolen Chinedu away from us. All that youthfulness, that zest, that energy, that education, that quality, that Anambra premiumness in him - all gone, lost to death and Corona Virus. He shouldn’t die.

We would mourn him today at Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. His final interment would happen in Great Britain. He shouldn’t die
Engr. Chinedu Akachi Ekwunife may be no more, but he lives in our soul and mind. He has left behind sweet memories. It’s our huge loss, and heaven’s gain. He shouldn’t die.
May heavens bless and repose his soul.
Tobenna Obiano.

The Movement of Unity and Progress says a former Military Governor of the old Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar, is not a member of a new political movement, the ‘National Consultative Forum’.

Umar, a social critic, is the Chairman of the Kaduna-based MUP.

The NCF had announced its formation on Wednesday and the former governor and some other prominent Nigerians were named as members.

Umar was listed alongside a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba; a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Obadiah Mailafia; rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), Obi Ezekwesili, amongst others.

But a statement issued on Friday by Chris Ephraim, a member of the MUP, on behalf of the former Kaduna governor, Umar dissociated himself from the new political group.

The MUP noted that the former governor neither attended the meeting of the group nor was consulted before he was listed among other notable Nigerians.

The statement read, “A group under the auspices of select National Leaders of conscience met between Wednesday 27th May 2020 to Friday 12th June 2020 and issued a communique with the name of Col Abubakar Dangiwa Umar as one of the attendees and a member.

“Although Colonel Umar was made aware of attempts to invite him to the meeting, such attempts were unsuccessful.

“He, therefore, did not attend the meeting nor was he made aware of his membership.

“Colonel Umar does not wish to deny the group, whose membership includes persons he holds in high esteem. He, however, wished he was consulted before the publication that included his name.”

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), said on Friday that he was not involved in the newly floated political group, National Consultative Forum.

A communiqué issued in Abuja on Wednesday had stated that the political group was formed by 30 prominent Nigerian activists, professionals and academics, with the aim of mobilising Nigerians ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Falana, whose name was mentioned as part of the 30 members, said in a statement on Friday that neither was he ever consulted on the formation of the group nor did he ever attend the meeting where the forum was launched.

However, commending the motivation behind the formation, Falana said he was in support of “all efforts aimed at creating an alternative platform with the potential of lifting the long-suffering people of Nigeria from economic and political stupor”.

He added, “I also recognise the fact that some of the promoters of the NCF are people who are motivated by the common good. Many of them have made profound sacrifices to make Nigeria a better place to live.

“In this light I commend what appears to be the genuine motive of the organisers of the National Consultative Forum.

“However, I observe that my name has been mentioned as one of the pillars behind this initiative. While I appreciate the concern of the leadership of the new group to enlist my support, I wish to say that at no time have I been consulted neither did I attend the meeting where the forum was launched.

“I appreciate the almost desperate situation progressive Nigerians find themselves in the bid to save Nigeria from what looks like an imminent shipwreck. This might have informed the haste with which many honest and dedicated hands find themselves.”

He said his “clarification should not be conceived as opposition to all honest efforts designed to rescue Nigeria from the claws of abject poverty and increasing loss of hope”

“I wish to add that there are several efforts I have been involved lately and I believe there is a growing perspective that all efforts should be harmonised for maximum impact,” he added.

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, whose name was also mentioned among the promoters of the group, had earlier on Thursday distanced himself from it.

Agbakoba and Falana were listed as a member alongside a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Obadiah Mailafia, Col. Abubakar Umar (retd.), Mrs Obigeli Ezekwesili and others.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, has announced August 3 for resumption of schools in the state.

Announcing the date at a media briefing on Friday, Sanwo-Olu said the resumption is for those in SSS 3 and Tech III.

According to the governor, the decision was taken after a meeting with stakeholders in the education sector.

“We just finished a very long meeting with various stakeholders in the education sector. That is what has kept us for the past two hours. And so, for the avoidance of doubt, students impacted by this directive would be in the transitional class of JSS 3, SSS 3 and Tech III, the technical schools three, as well,” he said.

“The commencement date for this would be from Monday, August 3, 2020. SSS 3 and Tech III will start. But for JSS 3, we’ll wait for another one or two weeks and we’ll see how we’ve taken the first set of Tech 3 and SSS 3 before they now subsequently would open.

“This permitted opening would apply only to day schooling; no boarding activity of any sort is permitted at this time.

“School authorities are expected to spend this period, between now and August 3, to prepare themselves well and get the right directives from our ministry of education and the quality assurance office under the ministry of education.”

For students in tertiary institutions, the Governor said “they’ll continue to enjoy their online academic activities”, until the state takes a decision on physical resumption.

“I know that some of them are also conversing with us on if some final year students would be allowed to have physical opening. That modality, we’re still working on it with them, but the online teaching that has started at the tertiary institutions will continue,” he added.

Schools in Lagos have been closed since March 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

- All restrictions applying to mass gatherings will remain in force (no more than 20 persons permitted, and this includes funerals as well)

- Opening times for government and private offices, markets, supermarkets, eateries and so on, will remain as approved.

- Places of worship will remain CLOSED in Lagos State, until further notice.

- All Social and Events Centers, and Social Clubs, will also remain closed, for now.

- All bars, day and night clubs, cinemas, games arcades, beaches and beach fronts, gyms and spas continue to remain CLOSED

- Eateries and restaurants are to continue to open as normal for takeout only. In-dining is still Prohibited.

- Mask usage is mandatory in public places. Offices to refuse entry of any persons not wearing masks, in line with the Presidential Task Force directive on “No mask, no entry. No mask, no service.” Enforcement agencies will from this week charge defaulters to court.