COVID-19: Akwa Ibom leads as NCDC confirms 517 new cases

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2022

Akwa Ibom is driving Nigeria’s latest COVID-19 surge as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirms 517 additional infections between Aug. 6 and Aug.11, 2022.

The NCDC made this known via its official website on Thursday.

It said that out of the 517 additional infections recorded, Akwa Ibom reported 293 cases, while Lagos state recorded 101. This is the highest case count in the month of August.

It overturned the previous record of 496 infections reported between July 28 and Aug. 1; and 412 infections reported between Aug. 2 and Aug. 5.

The NCDC said that the 517 cases, which were recorded in 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory, have raised the total number of infections to 262,402.

According to it, the FCT has 13 cases of the virus, Ekiti has 11, Delta and Kano reports nine each, Bayelsa has seven and Kaduna records six cases.

Others include Oyo- five, Abia- three, Kwara- two, Nasarawa -two and Plateau- two while five states – Cross River, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Sokoto reported zero cases.

The agency, however, said that 525 persons had been discharged in the last five days after recovering from the virus, thus bringing the total number of discharged persons to 256,006.

It said that the death toll from the COVID-19 disease in the country stayed at 3,147 with no additional deaths reported on Thursday.

The NCDC stated that the report included a backlog of 258 cases in Akwa Ibom from July 3.

It added that the states of Cross River, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Sokoto recorded zeros case.

It urged Nigerians to take practical steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Let us all take responsibility to prevent the spread of the disease and limit the risk of infection among all ages.

“Get vaccinated, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, coughb or sneeze into your elbow and report when sick,” it said.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says no fewer than 28,120,290 of total eligible persons targeted for COVID-19 vaccination in the country are fully vaccinated.

The NPHCDA said that about 11,848,002 of the total eligible persons targeted for COVID-19 vaccination, were partially vaccinated.

Meanwhile, In the last five days, Yobe state moved up the ladder from 20th position to 18th and currently at 14 per cent coverage of full vaccination.

The NPHCDA said that Enugu state was the best performing state in the South-East Zone based on fully vaccinated performance, having reached 17 per cent coverage.

CBN disowns notice on cryptocurrency transactions

Published

59 mins ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

The Central Bank of Nigeria says a notice circulating on social media about the risk of cryptocurrency is fake news.

The Apex disclosed this via its official X account, urging the public to disregard the purported notice for all Deposits Money Bank, Non-Bank Financial Institutions, and other Financial Institutions.

The notice reminded “Institutions that dealing in cryptocurrencies and facilitating payments for cryptocurrency exchanges is prohibited”.

However, CBN said the content doesn’t originate from it.

“This information does not originate from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“For authentic updates, please visit the official website,” CBN wrote.

Recall that the CBN governor, during the Bank’s 293rd Monetary Policy Committee meeting, said over $26 billion funnelled through Binance.

On Tuesday, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said the anti-graft agency froze about 300 accounts to ensure the safety of the foreign exchange market.

The Nigerian government had continued clamping down on Binance and other cryptocurrency platforms amid efforts to defend the Naira in the foreign exchange market.

News

Biden says U.S. will begin sending weapons to Ukraine

Published

1 hour ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

U.S. President Joe Biden wants to start delivering of weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.

The president said this shortly after the U.S. Senate approved billions of dollars in new aid for the country under attack from Russia.

“I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” Biden said.

By passing the legislative package, which also includes billions of dollars in aid for Israel and Taiwan, the U.S. Congress has demonstrated the power of American leadership in the world, Biden added.

“We stand resolutely for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression.”

There is an urgent need for support for Ukraine, which is being subjected to relentless bombardment from Russia, Biden said.

The bill also contains aid for Israel, which has recently faced unprecedented attacks from Iran.

“This critical legislation will make our nation and world more secure as we support our friends who are defending themselves against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin,” Biden said.

News

NSCDC deploys personnel to JAMB CBT centres in Anambra

Published

1 hour ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said it has deployed personnel to ensure a hitch-free 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Anambra.

The state Commandant, Olatunde Maku, stated this after monitoring the conduct of the exams across CBT centres in Awka, on Wednesday.

Some of the centres visited are, Integral Development Konsult on Enugu/Onitsha Expressway, White House in Awka, JAMB Centre located inside JAMB office in Amawbia and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Others are St. John of God ICT Hub, Awka and Kachukwu Ventures Staff Development Centre, behind Government House in Awka.

The examination centres take candidates in three batches: 7 a.m., 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Maku said that the synergy between NSCDC and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had yielded positive results in reducing exam malpractice.

He said that the monitoring of the centres would continue till the end of the examination period, to ensure a seamless conduct of the exercise and promote transparency.

“We are firm in our determination to protect critical national assets and infrastructure including JAMB centres.

“Which was why the NSCDC deployed personnel to JAMB CBT centres in the state to ensure security and so far they have been professional in carrying out their mandate,” he said.

Maku advised candidates writing the 2024 UTME to be law abiding and avoid being in possession of prohibited or incriminating items during the examination.

He warned unauthorised persons against loitering around designated exam centre, adding that anyone found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted.

Also speaking, Mrs Jema Iheme, JAMB Coordinator, Anambra state, commended NSCDC for their support and for ensuring security of candidates and staff at the exam centres.

Iheme said that the swift response of NSCDC to emergencies and enforcement of exam rules and regulations was contributing to a smooth and secured exam process so far.

NAN also reports that about 1.9 million candidates are expected to write the JAMB UTME, which commenced on April 19 and would end on April 29.