Top Headlines News Today Friday 3 of July 2020

Nigeria Records 626 New Cases Of COVID-19, Total Cases Now 27,110





The Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), has recorded 626 new cases of coronavirus infections across the nation. The new cases now bring the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 27,110.

This was made known by NCDC via its verified Twitter page on Wednesday night.


2. SDP Supports Okowa






The Social Democratic Party, Delta state chapter has called on the people of the state to pray for quick recovery of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Edith, who tested positive for COVID-19.

The SDP also prayed for the quick recovery of the Secretary to the State Government, Chiedu Ebie, and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, who also tested positive for coronavirus.

State Chairman of the SDP, Oke Idawene, expressed confidence that they would all defeat the coronavirus pandemic and come out triumphantly.

3. Abia School Reopening






Abia State Government says the reopening of exam classes will be after considering the basic needs for that purpose.

The Abia state Commissioner for Education, Mr. Kenechukwu Nwanga, who stated this on Thursday, disclosed that the state would reopen examination classes after consultation from the education stakeholders in the state.

"We will reopen, but there are things we need to provide. We will be talking with both the principal and private school proprietors. At the end of the discussion with them, we will now agree on a date", he said.

4. Masari, Residents, Seek Divine Intervention Against Banditry






The Kastina state government, Aminu Masari, and some residents of the state on Thursday began a three-day special prayer for divine intervention against banditry and other security challenges as well as COVID-19.

The prayer section commenced at about 10 am and was observed for thee hours at Bani Coomassie Jumu'at Mosque in Kastina, the state capital.

Over 300 adherents made of Ulamas (Islamic Scholars) attended the Thursday prayer session.

Masari, while addressing the Ulamas, who were reciting the Holy Qur'an, described the exercise as a step towards making God accept prayers for peace to prevail in the state and in Nigeria.






5. Niger Transfers 780 Almajirai To States Of Origin






In line with the decision of the Nothern State Governor's Forum, the Niger state government on Thursday repatriated 780 out of 794 Almajirai from its quarantine center in Minna to their states of origin.

This also disclosed that the remaining 14 children at the center include 12 foreigners from Benin and Niger Republics, while the other two could not really give the exact states or countries they came from.

The State Commissioner for Education, Hannatu Salihu, who made this known after a post-Exco briefing in Minna, said it would cost the state the sum of N86 million to transport them back to their states.

According to Salihu, a total of 794 Almajirai were brought from their instructors from the 25 local government areas of the state and quarantined at the Quarantine Center in Minna, the state capital.

Don’t reopen schools yet, Muslim group urges FG








The Criterion, an association of Muslim women in business and the professions, has expressed reservations about the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools.


The group said, although it recognised the toll the prolonged locking of schools is taking on the learners, teachers and even the economy of the country, it would be unwise for the government to reopen schools now, considering the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

2. APC caretaker committee in closed-door meeting with Tinubu








Members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Caretaker Committee led by Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni on Thursday visited Lagos State, and are currently holding a closed-door meeting with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the National Leader of APC.

The meeting, newsmen gathered, is taking place at Tinubu’s Bourdillon home in Ikoyi, aimed at bringing peace to the crisis-ridden party.

3. Buhari appoints more ambassadors to correct imbalance






President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the renewal of the appointments of 12 non-career ambassadors, in a move to address complaints about the recent appointments of 41 non-career ambassadors.

A statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) in Abuja on Thursday, gave the ambassadors whose appointments were renewed as Mrs Uzoma E. Emenike (Abia), Yusuf M. Tuggar (Bauchi), Muhammad B. Madugu (Bauchi), Ambassador Baba Ahmad Jidda (Borno) and Uyigue O. Oghogho (Edo).

4. FG donates 114,315 bags of fertilizers to Kogi State farmers, flood victims






Federal Government on Thursday, disclosed its resolve to donate 114,315 (50kg) bags of fertilizers to farmers in Kogi State.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq handed over fertilizers to the Kogi State Government, for onward distribution to farmers affected by the flood, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Mrs Rhoda Iliya.

5. Accommodation seekers, landlords now to pay stamp duties on house rent agreements, C of O






Nigerians who are seeking accommodation, and those who have built their houses are now to pay stamp duties on house rents agreements and certificates of occupancy.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), announced this on Thursday, in a statement in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

Nigerians are currently paying stamp duties on their bank accounts and other goods, with many already complaining about the huge money deducted from their bank accounts every month.




1.Ganduje, Oshiomhole, Oyegun, Others Named As Members Of APC Campaign Team For Edo Guber

Adams Oshiomhole and John Oyegun, former national chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been named as members of the party’s national campaign council for the Edo governorship election.

In a statement on Thursday, Yekini Nabena, APC deputy spokesman, said Mai Mala Buni, chairman of the caretaker committee, named Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano governor, as chairman of the campaign which has 49 members.

2.Dubai Police Extradite Hushpuppi To The US

The police in Dubai has extradited Raymond Igbalode Abbas, an Instagram celebrity better known as Hushpuppi, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the United States.

The security outfit took to its social media page to break the news on Thursday.

3.Ondo Health Commissioner, Adegbenro, Is Dead

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, is dead.

It was gathered that the commissioner had been sick for some days before he passed away on Thursday of suspected coronavirus complications.

4.No International Flights For Now – FG

The Federal Government on Wednesday says there is no plan to restart international flight operations at the moment.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known via his official Twitter handle.

5.Reps Probe NPA Over Whistleblower’s $1bn Secret Account Claim

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the alleged secret account being kept by the Nigerian Ports Authority with a balance of over $1bn.

The move followed the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Mr Kolawole Lawal at the plenary on Thursday.

6.Buhari Swears In Members Of FCC, RMAFC, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday swore in the new Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Dankaka.

Thirty-six members of the commission were also commissioned.

7.Court Dismisses Suit Against Oshiomhole

A lawsuit filed against the immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole and three others have been dismissed by a Federal High Court (FCT) sitting in Jabi, Abuja.

The lawsuit which was filed by Comrade Mustapha Salihu and five others, was the one that led to an order being granted by same court to effect the suspension of Oshiomhole from further acting as chairman of the APC.

8.Court Adjourns Ize-Iyamu’s N700m Fraud Suit

A Federal High Court in Benin has adjourned a 700million Naira fraud case against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19, 2020, governorship poll in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Mr. Ize-Iyamu and four others were expected to appear in court today on an alleged 8 count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of 700m naira.

9.Politicians Playing Games With COVID-19 – Gov Bello

Kogi Governor of Kogi Yahaya Bello has accused politicians of playing games with Nigerians through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bello spoke on Thursday while playing host to the members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Sir Amadu Bello Memorial Foundation, who paid him a courtesy call in the Government House Lokoja.

10.We Lost 8,370 Members To Boko Haram Attacks - Church

The largest indigenous Christian denomination in the Northeast, Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, known in Hausa as Ekklesiyya Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), has declared it lost over 8,370 members to Boko Haram attacks around Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The EYN, an Adamawa-based denomination with headquarters in Kwarhi, Hong local government area, has 1.5 million members in branches mostly across the Northeast.

President of the EYN, Rev Joel Billi, told reporters on Thursday the EYN is the worst- hit Christian denomination.

11.Ondo First Lady, Late Commissioner’s Wife ‘Test Positive For COVID-19’

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of Ondo state governor, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a source at the Ondo government house.

The source said the state’s first lady has gone on self-isolation.

The development comes two days after the governor announced that he had contracted the disease.

The source added that Oluwatoyin Adegbenro, wife of the late commissioner for health, has also tested positive for COVID-19.

12.Ganduje Lifts Lockdown, Bans Street Hawking

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, has lifted the lockdown imposed on the state as part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The governor made the announcement at a press briefing of the state task force on COVID-19 on Thursday.

13.Buhari Suspends NSITF MD, 11 Others

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Adebayo Somefun, indefinitely.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Charles Akpan, on Thursday in Abuja.

14.COVID-19: Weddings, Burials To Resume Soon – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said the conduct of wedding and burial ceremonies may resume soon.

NCDC Director-General, Chikwe Ihekweazu, gave the hint while speaking at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Thursday.

15.Why We Cannot Expose Boko Haram Sponsors – Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army has said it is not their duty to expose those sponsoring Boko Haram in the country.