ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: Wednesday

21 Jul ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: Wednesday

🌍President Buhari, yesterday in Daura, charged the nation’s security agencies to step up their efforts to adequately secure the country. He also expressed concern that currently only 2.5 percent of arable lands in Nigeria was currently being cultivated.

🌍Developing Story: The legal representative of Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) ,Chief Yomi Alliyu has said that his client would be taken to a court in Cotonou, the capital of the Republic of Benin today for extradition hearing.

🌍Oil Monitor: Oil prices fell on Wednesday after an industry report showed an unexpected build-up in U.S. oil inventories last week, heightening worries about a resurgence in COVID-19 infections. Brent crude futures fell 36 cents, or 0.5%, to $68.98 a barrel at 0627 GMT, giving up some of Tuesday’s 1.1% gain.

🌍COVID-19 Update: On July 20, 206 new cases, 23 recoveries and zero deaths were recorded in Nigeria, taking the caseload to 169884 confirmed cases; with 164733 recoveries and 2128 deaths.

* The Delta variant accounts for over 80% of new cases in the United States, and reports say India, the origin of the variant, underreported its deaths.

* Half of Australia is under lockdown and other restrictions because of surging cases.

🌍Power generation in Nigeria dropped below the 4,000 megawatts mark on Tuesday to gas supply challenges.

🌍The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers has conferred a Honorary Fellowship on the Managing Director, BoI, Kayode Pitan for his outstanding achievements with significant contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy; and BoI’s pivotal role in the growth and development of MSMEs in Nigeria.

🌍A British gold mining firm, Aurelia Mining Company Ltd, is to invest $100 million in gold production in Nigeria.

🌍The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) says it has resolved to commence picketing of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offices nationwide next Monday, July 26, over the management’s decision to seal the union’s unit secretariat.

🌍The UK has asked Nigeria to explain where and how Nnamdi Kanu, a separatist leader who holds British citizenship, was arrested after Kanu’s lawyer alleged he had been detained and mistreated in Kenya before being sent back to Nigeria.

🌍The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has registered 59 suspected cases of Monkeypox with 15 confirmed.

🌍Not fewer than 100 victims who were kidnapped in Manawa village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state have regained their freedom after spending 42 days in captivity.

🌍Ariel Henry has been sworn in as Haiti’s new prime minister, nearly two weeks after the assassination of the country’s President Jovenel Moïse.