ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS:Tuesday

19 Jan ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS:Tuesday

🌍Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as optimism that government stimulus will eventually lift global economic growth and oil demand trumped concerns that renewed COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns globally are cooling fuel consumption. Brent crude futures for March rose 72 cents to $55.47 a barrel by 1152 GMT after slipping 35 cents in the previous session.

🌍COVID-19 Update: The federal government yesterday warned of a possible lockdown if Nigerians continue to disregard non-pharmaceutical interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The Chairman of PTF, Boss Mustapha issued the warning at yesterday’s briefing of the task force. The level of compliance has indeed been low across the country. Even on the resumption of schools yesterday, there was scant compliance with basic protocols in some states, putting pupils and students at great risk.

Other highlights of the briefing at a time new infections and deaths are soaring are:

*FG was against the resumption of schools on January 18 but the states insisted on it since most schools are under their jurisdiction of states The PTF would monitor the COVID-19 situation on a daily basis, and the school resumption could be reviewed again

* Nigeria in a difficult situation in which a balance must continue to be struck between lives and livelihood.

* One in every five persons tested last week was positive; Nigeria has moved up to the third position in the highest cumulative case load while it remains second for new cases and fifth highest in cumulative deaths on the WHO African region.

* FG is ramping up testing for COVID-19 nationwide with a directive to all the 774 local government areas of the federation to test between 400 and 500 samples within the next three weeks.

*FG to procure vaccines for at least 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population and it has released N10 billion to support domestic vaccine production.

* NCDC has published new guidance for state governments, public and private institutions, on the use of approved Antigen (Ag) based Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) for the pandemic.

# Yesterday Nigeria reported 1617 new cases and 14 deaths ; and so far 112004 cases have been confirmed, with 89939 recoveries and 1449 deaths.

* WHO says 39m COVID vaccine doses administered in 49 higher-income nations — just 25 given in one lowest-income country

* CAN issues fresh guidelines for church operations

🌍President Buhari has restated the commitment of his administration to the enthronement of democracy and good governance on the African continent.

🌍Secretary-General of OPEC Sanusi Barkindo says the worst is over for the oil industry.

🌍Transmission Company of Nigeria plans to build a second national control Centre.

🌍NLNG attributes Rising Price of Cooking Gas to Supply Deficit (6)DMO offers N150bn FG bond for January.

🌍CBN to review the products and solutions being introduced by licensed institutions.

🌍FG to resume school feeding scheme in February with 5m additional pupils.

🌍Marwa takes over at NDLEA, vows to combat drug abuse.

🌍Buhari Approves Nomination of Abubakar Fikpo as NDE Acting DG.

🌍The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has a new boss in the person of Hilary Kelechi Madu who has taken over as the acting Commandant General (CG) of the corps.

🌍Akeredolu gives herdsmen 7- days to vacate ondo forest reserves.