Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson Changes in socio-economic and political behaviour are likely to have lasting effects when nations’ economies start to pick up after this rampaging coronavirus crisis. This is because the global crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic has pushed countries further into a digital world. But, not everyone is ready to embrace a more digitised existence. A new analysis from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) maps the changing digital landscape since the last major global calamity, the 2008/09 financial crisis. It looks at how a digitally enabled world is working for some, but not all…

“Please forgive me, I am sorry. Gerald please forgive me. Andre please forgive me. You guys are my life.” This was the pathetic note a young nursing mother reportedly dropped for her two children before she committed suicide due to some marital problems. Mrs. Esther Frank, from Anambra state, living in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital was alleged to have consumed Sniper, a poisonous substance. To her husband, she dropped a suicide note, “Please, take care of my children please. I can’t take the pressure and lies you are telling again. I can’t take it, please it’s too much. You made…

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Friday, confirmed 17 new COVID-19 cases. Making this known via its Twitter handle, NCDC tweeted, “17 new cases of #COVID-19 have been reported as follows: eight in Lagos, three in Katsina, two in FCT, one in Niger, one in Kaduna, one in Anambra and one in Ondo. “As of 09:30 p.m on the 10th of April, there are 305 confirmed cases, 58 discharged, seven deaths.” Giving a state-by-state breakdown of the cases, NCDC said, “Currently, Lagos has 163 cases, FCT- 56, Osun – 20, Edo – 12, Oyo – 11, Bauchi – six, Akwa…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says coronavirus infection is growing “exponentially’’ in Africa and continues to spread. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the continent has risen to more than 10 000 and caused more than 500 deaths. The killer virus was however slow to reach the continent compared to other parts of the world. It reached Africa through travellers returning from hotspots in Asia, Europe and the United States. Africa’s first COVID-19 case was recorded in Egypt on February 14. Since then a total of 52 countries have reported cases. Initially, it was mainly confined to capital cities.…

By Akanimo Sampson Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says federal legislators will be monitoring the activities of the Chinese medical personnel in Nigeria. The Chinese medical team came into the country on Wednesday for the delivery of materials and equipment to the Federal Government in the fight against the coronavirus. But Gbajabiamila did not say how they will be monitoring them nor disclose any security technology to assist them in detecting any unwholesome play of the Chinese. He simply harped on the need to monitor the movement of the Chinese medical personnel, claiming that it is important…

By: Our Special Duty Writer Akwa Ibom State, with ambitious desires for quick industrialisation and attainment of cosmopolitan status, is doing many things to achieve the goal but plagued by politicisation of projects. The recent announcement by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, that the state has commenced construction of a 300-bed space isolation centre at the Methodist Hospital, Ituk Mbang in Uruan local government area to complement existing isolation centres in Ikot Ekpene and Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo is the raison d’etre for this article. The State, like nearly every part of the world today, is…

Nigeria has recorded 14 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 288, with 51 patients discharged and seven deaths recorded. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC announced the new development on Thursday night via its Twitter handle. “Fourteen new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria: 13 in Lagos and 1 in Delta State As at 09:30 pm 9th April there are 288 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Fifty-one have been discharged with seven deaths” “As at 09:30 p.m 9th April there are 288 confirmed cases of #COVID19…

By Akanimo Sampson As the coronavirus pandemic rages around the world, women and girls are more vulnerable to abuse than ever, says a UN agency. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says in Kosovo, the Ministry of Justice has seen a 17 per cent increase in reported cases of gender-based violence. Urban areas appear to be hit much harder, with one city recording a 100 per cent increase in violence. These figures compare the March 2020 caseload with the number of cases reported in March of 2019. March saw a surge in anxiety over the pandemic, including the confirmation of dozens of…

The 11 Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), have affirmed that they will support the move to supply free electricity to all consumers within their network in the next two month. The DISCOs stated that this will be a palliative measure to bring succour to Nigerians in the face of the COVID-19 induced period. Recall that the House of Representatives had disclosed its consideration of a fresh Stimulus Bill that will allow Nigerians to enjoy the electricity supply for two months without any charge. While confirming the development, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, Executive…

The Bayelsa state government has relaxed the enforcement of a lockdown in the state for the Easter celebrations. The decision to relax the lockdown followed an appeal by the state organs of various Christian bodies. Douye Diri, governor of the state, announced the decision at a meeting with members of the COVID-19 task force, security agencies and leadership of the Christian and Muslim communities at the Government House in Yenagoa, on Wednesday. A statement by Daniel Alabrah, Diri’s acting chief press secretary, said the measure was specific to church services during the Easter celebrations. He said churches with large congregations…