FG receives over $311m Abacha loot repatriated from U.S. – AGF Malami

Abubakar Malami (AGF)

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, confirmed the receipt of 311,797,866.11 million dollars of the Abacha assets repatriated from the U.S. and the Bailiwick of Jersey. Malami made the confirmation in a statement issued by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations on Monday in Abuja.

According to Malami, the amount increased from over 308 million US dollars mentioned in the press release issued in February to 311,797,866.11 million dollars following the accrued interest from Feb. 3 to April 28 when the fund was transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria’.

Madagascar now exporting a purported herbal medicine that ‘cures’ coronavirus.

President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina

Madagascar has begun exporting a herbal tonic which authorities have claimed is a cure for the COVID-19 coronavirus to countries across the African continent.

There is currently no scientifically proven cure for the coronavirus, despite countries and corporates across the world investing heavily in research and development. The most optimistic estimates suggest that a vaccine will likely not be found until early next year, and even in that case experts say it would require extensive testing to be proven safe.

However, according to Madagascan authorities, the African island country has already found a cure – a drinkable herbal tonic, which it is now exporting abroad.

US approves remdesivir drug to treat Covid-19 patients - Trump

 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted authorisation to Gilead Sciences Inc. for emergency use of its experimental antiviral drug remdesivir to treat patients with Covid-19, President Donald Trump announced on Friday. 

US medical officials have announced evidence from a trial that remdesivir helped patients with serious cases of Covid-19 recover faster.

Trump has been a vocal supporter of remdesivir as a possible way to bring the novel coronavirus pandemic under control. Nearly 65,000 Americans have died in the global crisis.

Initially developed by Gilead Sciences Inc. to combat Ebola, the treatment has proven to be effective against the various coronaviruses that have emerged since the early 2000s.

Gilead said on Wednesday the drug had helped improve outcomes for patients with Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and provided data suggesting it worked better when given earlier in the course of infection.

The closely watched drug has moved financial markets in recent weeks, following the release of several studies that painted a mixed picture of its effectiveness.

Vice President Mike Pence said 1.5 million vials would start being distributed to hospitals on Monday.

President’s Buhari Addresses Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari

…As at this morning, Nigeria had recorded 1,273 cases across 32 States and the FCT. Unfortunately, this includes 40 deaths.

Exactly two weeks ago, there were 323 confirmed cases in 20 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

Fellow Nigerians, I am using this opportunity to express our deepest condolences to the families of all Nigerians that have lost their loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This is our collective loss and we share your grief.

Initial models predicted that Nigeria will record an estimated 2,000 confirmed cases in the first month after the index case. This means that despite the increase in the number of confirmed cases recorded in the past two weeks, the measures we have put in place thus far have yielded positive outcomes against the projections.

The proportion of cases imported from other countries has reduced to only 19% of new cases, showing that our border closures yielded positive results. These are mostly fellow Nigerians returning through our land borders.

We will continue to enforce land border arrival protocols as part of the containment strategy.

Today, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has accredited 15 laboratories across the country with an aggregate capacity to undertake 2,500 tests per day across the country.

Based on your feedback, Lagos State Government and the FCT with support from NCDC have established several sample collection centers. They are also reviewing their laboratory testing strategy to further increase the number of tests they can perform including the accreditation of selected private laboratories that meet the accreditation criteria.

Several new fully equipped treatment and isolation centres have been operationalised across the country thereby increasing bed capacity to about three thousand.

Okonjo-Iweala named WHO COVID-19 special envoy

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has named Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, a special envoy for the newly inaugurated Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) accelerator.

She is to serve alongside Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, in the same capacity.

The duo is expected to mobilise international commitment to the initiative.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, announced the appointments during the launch of the ACT Accelerator — via webinar from Geneva.

The initiative is an international collaboration aimed at accelerating the development, production, and equitable distribution of COVID-19 drugs, tests kits, and vaccines around the world.

It has been reported that this is the fourth international assignment given to Okonjo-Iweala in less than two months.

Okonjo-Iweala is an economist and development expert, who has served as managing director of the World Bank.

PENGASSAN to suspend strike action

The leadership of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) is suspending the plan to disrupt crude oil production in protest against the arrest and detention of 22 ExxonMobil workers by the government of Rivers State.

The decision to stand down the planned action followed the release on Sunday of the detained workers by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

The union had issued a directive to members to suspend all oil production and maintenance services from midnight of Sunday, April 19 in protest against the continued detention of ExxonMobil staff in Rivers State.

It also directed that by 12 noon on Monday, April 20, members should  withdraw all forms of services relating to crude oil production, refining, distribution and supplies across the country.

From every indication, PENGASSAN was standing down its earlier directives to members across the country to withdraw their services and shutdown the oil and gas sector.

The Union is saddened by the “inhuman treatment” meted to the 22 oil workers whose only “sin” was to answer the call to be on essential duty to the nation during this Covid-19 lockdown.

COVID-19: Tinubu tells FG to pay Nigerians through BVN

A national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has urged the Nigerian government to make cash payments to households through Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) as palliative. The former Lagos state governor said the move would help cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians.

Mr Tinubu gave the advice in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday. He argued that the government can make direct deposits into individual bank accounts using the BVN of prospective recipients. The APC leader said the use of BVN would also be safer and prevent violence and crime that may be the attendant consequence of physical cash transfers. Mr Tinubu said the move would help deepen financial inclusion as it would encourage those without bank accounts to open accounts. The money-less family still needs food, water, shelter and, to a lesser degree, utilities, the statement said. In a compassionate society, they should not be made to do without, it added. Mr Tinubu noted that: "Most families need relief. If relief is not forthcoming, these families risk hunger and its attendant suffering and woes."

Arguing further, Mr Tinubu said the measures would help address hunger, maintain aggregate demand in the domestic economy and help sustain private-sector markets to the extent possible.