ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS :Monday

21 Dec ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS :Monday

🌍 Considering that many people will come home for the festive season, Nigerians await FG’s position as flights from UK face ban of European countries over a new fast-spreading Coronavirus strain identified in that country.

* On Sunday Nigeria reported 501 new cases from a total daily test of 5,258 samples across the country; and 3 deaths. There are now 78,434 confirmed cases; 68,303 recoveries and 1,221 deaths.

* State governments to renew enforcement of protocols as the country faces increasing cases.

🌍 Oil Monitor: Oil prices dropped about 3% on Monday as a fast-spreading new coronavirus strain that has shut down much of the United Kingdom fuelled worries over a slower recovery in fuel demand amid tighter restrictions in Europe. Brent crude slid $1.54, or 3.0%, to $50.72 a barrel by 0510 GMT after rising 1.5% and touching its highest since March last Friday.

🌍 NNPC has projected that without the discovery of fresh hydrocarbons in the country, the current 37 billion barrels in reserves will dry up in 30 years, given a projection of 2.3 million barrels per day by 2023.

🌍 The EU has commended President Buhari on the release and safe return of the 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.

🌍 FG has approved $2.016 billion for the construction of the Seaport that will create 300,000 jobs in Akwa Ibom.

🌍 SEC has warned the investing public against doing business with Famzhi Interbiz Limited; describes it as an illegal fund management firm.

🌍 CBN has revoked the operating licences of 42 microfinance banks in the country.

🌍 A Presidency source has revealed that the adverse effects of the border closure on the organised private sector and ordinary Nigerians made President Buhari reconsider the continuous closure.

🌍 The north-west zone of Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Kaduna, has granted the prayers of three tax payers – BoI, Unity Bank and Leadway Pension – challenging tax assessment imposed on them by various revenue services and boards within the zone.

🌍 NIPSS boss, Galadima, dies in Abuja after a brief illness: Buhari mourns; also mourns Professor Dotun Philips, a distinguished development economist and former Director-General, Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research.