A file photo of US President, Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister, Borris Johnson
For the first time since 2008, the United Kingdom’s economy has plunged into a recession due to a 2020 second quarter shrink.
The country’s economy decline of a record 20.4% in Q2, followed a 2.% drop in Q1.
FILE – In this Tuesday, March 24, 2020 file photo, a woman wearing a face mask to protect against coronavirus, waits at a bus stop on a deserted Oxford Street in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File) The Associated Press
Echotitbits gathered Wednesday morning that the development signaled the deepest slump UK economy has since 1954.
Elsewhere, United States President, Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a contract awarded to US biotech company, Moderna for the production of 100 million doses of “an eventual” coronavirus vaccine. The deal, which is the sixth since May, is worth $1.5 billion.
At a White House news conference, President Trump said: “I’m pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Moderna to manufacture and deliver 100 million doses of their coronavirus vaccine candidate.
“The federal government will own these vaccine doses, we’re buying them”, he said.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Commissioning of Oshodi-Abule Ẹgba BRT corridor, new buses and e-ticket. Tuesday, August 11, 2020.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tuesday commissioned the Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor and unveiled 550 high and medium capacity buses which would be immediately deployed for public use.
At the commissioning ceremony, the governor also formally inaugurated upgraded e-ticketing system in fulfilment of his pledge.
The new BRT corridor is a median running route with 14 drop-off terminals along the Oshodi-Abule Egba route, which terminates at Katangua Bus Station. Each terminal has well ventilated foyer where passengers could sit and wait for buses.
The route was designed with 11 pedestrian bridges, traffic safety measures and street lighting.
Sanwo-Olu rode in a BRT bus to formally flag off the 13.68 kilometre-long corridor for public use.
The Oshodi-Abule Egba corridor is a major link for residents who commute in and out of Alimosho, Egbeda, Ijaiye, Iyana Ipaja and Oshodi. The route is also a gateway to neighbouring Ogun State and Republic of Benin.
Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu described the commissioning ceremony as “a major milestone” in the implementation of his administration’s reform agenda in public transport system, pointing out that the handover of the BRT infrastructure was another promise fulfilled by his administration.
He said the transportation asset would create a new travel experience for residents of Alimosho and Oshodi, noting that the project was specifically designed to improve journey time for commuters, thereby scaling up productivity and life expectancy in the state.
According to him, “A little over a year ago, we pledged to significantly improve traffic flow and transportation system which is the very first of our six-point development agenda encapsulated as Project T.H.E.M.E.S. We made the pledge knowing that the people are the main reason we have been entrusted with the management of our commonwealth.
“Today, we are here to formally flag-off a very important public transport infrastructure – the Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT corridor – which officially launches the commencement of transport operation along the BRT corridor.
“We are unveiling 550 high and medium capacity buses which will be immediately deployed for public use. This event also formally inaugurates our upgraded e-ticketing system in fulfilment of our pledge.
“This project is very significant because of its immense benefits to Lagosians in the different communities it straddles and to visitors to our state. This new BRT corridor will bring great relief to over 60,000 commuters who will use this facility daily.
“Travel time, which is estimated at an average of two hours during peak periods, will be significantly reduced to an average of 30 minutes. This will improve the health of our people, engender a safer environment, and increase the value of socio-economic activities in the state.”
The governor added that his administration’s reform efforts were geared towards birthing a new commuting order in the state through seamless travel and creating smart mobility model that’ll result into a congestion-free state.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bringing problem-solving interventions across all modes of transportation sector in Lagos.
To integrate all transport modes on a single smart payment ecosystem, Sanwo-Olu launched an upgraded e-ticketing platform that would automate fare payment and create smart mobility through a cashless pre-paid Cowry card.
The e-ticketing mechanism has modern functionalities which simplify the process of bus booking and ticket purchase. It introduces simple solutions that guarantee seamless cash and wireless payment for passengers at designated booths.
The Cowry card would enable passengers proceed to the loading bay and scan the card for fare deduction.
“With the e-ticketing system, we envisage the use of a single card on buses and ferries and later upscale to the railways system when passenger operations commence in 2022.
“The system promotes a cashless ecosystem, aids personal budgeting and planning and commuters can easily top up,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor disclosed that the state government would be distributing the first 100,000 Cowry cards to residents free of charge.
Sanwo-Olu added that his administration was on the verge of complementing Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT corridor with rail project to aid mass mobility.
The BRT project was handled and supervised by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) – an agency of the state’s Ministry of Transportation.
The governor hailed LAMATA for supervising the project construction and bringing it to reality, while also thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the state government in its drive to deliver efficient transport system.
“Our administration is very passionate about easing the movement of the citizenry around this beautiful state which is why we would not stop at ensuring that we give you a transport system that works for you.
“I would like to congratulate Lagosians on the successful completion of this project in spite of the challenges thrown up by its implementation. I would also like to commend Lagosians for the pains they had to endure while the construction of this important transport project lasted,” he said.
In his remarks, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladehinde, described the project as “great progress” in the public transport system, noting that the BRT route was important to the state’s strategic transportation master plan.
LAMATA Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo, on her part, said the commencement of the BRT operations along the corridor would reduce travel time for commuters by 35 per cent, while also enhancing socio-economic development.
She said: “The frequency of the BRT operation along this route will enhance public transport accessibility by up to 25 per cent, while the provision of dedicated lane will enhance reliability on the public transportation by 30 per cent.
“The project has been designed to integrate the proposed Red Line Rail Mass Transit project as part of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s transportation blueprint.”
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard and Nigeria's Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire. August 11, 2020.
United States President Donald Trump has finally fulfilled his promise to send ventilators to Nigeria.
Receiving 200 ventilators on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, described the medical items as critical to saving the lives of persons who have been severely affected by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, at an event in Abuja where he received ventilators donated to Nigeria by the US. Tuesday, 2020.
The Minister said: “This donation consists of 200 ventilators, which, as we all know by now, are a critical component of the response strategy to save the lives of persons who have been severely impacted by this viral infection.
“They will certainly be of great benefit to the people of Nigeria and I wish to convey the appreciation of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and of the government of Nigeria, to President Donald Trump and the United States Government for the generous consideration and friendly gesture.
“The Federal Ministry of Health, and its public health Agency, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), have focused on providing guidance to tackle the challenges.
“Our health workers have been trained and equipped and are doing the needful to attend to COVID-19 patients and give emergency care, while not losing sight of routine and essential health services.
“The speed and ease with which COVID-19 has spread across the globe clearly shows that it is a threat to mankind. Without the full collaboration of all nations, the threat of COVID-19 to any one part of the world is a threat to all.”
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, at an event in Abuja, where she delivered ventilators donated to Nigeria by the US. Tuesday 11, 2020.
In her remarks at the event, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, who made the donation on behalf of the US Government, said: “The 200 ventilators being transferred today are compact and portable, and can be easily mobilised to reach those patients with the most severe symptoms of COVID-19.”
She noted that the support includes training on the use and maintenance of this equipment and ensuring that the ventilators could address other respiratory illnesses in the years beyond the virus.
The Ambassador described the ventilators as “life-saving equipment,” noting that it’s a fulfillment of the commitment made by Trump and Buhari earlier this year to assist in tackling the rampaging COVID-19 in Nigeria.
US Democratic candidate in the November Presidential election, Joe Biden has named Kamala Harris as his running mate, making the California senator the first Black and South Asian American woman to run on a major political party’s presidential ticket.
The former Vice President who served alongside President Barak Obama was reported to have disclosed his pick in a mail on Tuesday
“I’ve decided that Kamala Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021”, he wrote.
Biden’s choice, Kamala Harris, had rivaled the presidential hopeful during the contest for the Democratic party’s nomination.
Harris, a Senator representing California, rose to national prominence within the Democratic party, especially when she interrogated Trump nominees, including former Attorney General, Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, during Senate hearings.
Described as a politically shrewd Senator, Harris had centered her own presidential bid on her readiness to take on Donald Trump and show Americans she would fight for them.
This development means She makes history as the first Black woman to serve as a major political party’s VP pick.
In a tweet, Harris said: “I’m honored to join him as our party’s nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.”
.@JoeBiden can unify the American people because he's spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he'll build an America that lives up to our ideals.
I'm honored to join him as our party's nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.
President Buhari presides over a Virtual Meeting with Security Committee of the Governor's Forum in State House on 11th Aug 2020. Image Credit- Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity
President Muhammadu Buhari today, Tuesday meets the security committee of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum virtually.
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), a socio-economic flagship programme of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA), otherwise called AUDA-NEPAD, has launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Academy, in partnership with Ecobank Group.
Spearheaded under AUDA-NEPAD ‘100,000 MSMEs by 2021’ (100K MSMEs) programme for Africa’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Academy provides easy access to practical training and resources on financing opportunities in various countries, materials on how to build digital presence for businesses and how to adapt business operations in the era of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The trial judge, Justice Iyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, in corruption case against ex-Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke has adjourned proceedings due to late filling of amended charges and failure to serve the defendants with the proof of evidence and statement of the witness.
The failure of the prosecutor according to the trial Judge, to serve amended charges against Adoke, who was arraigned alongside an Abuja based businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, was thereby stalled.
During the last sitting, the former Minister and Abubakar pleaded not guilty to a 14-count charge filed against them bordering on money laundering.
In June, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed an additional seven charges against the former AGF over money laundering allegations involving about N400 million.
The trial, which was expected to begin last week but stalled due to the amended charges, bordered on an initial charge of seven counts, with six of them relating to ex-Minister Adoke.
Earlier in the proceedings today, the prosecutor, Bala Sanga, disclosed to the court of an amended charge he filed on July 29 which was served on all the defendants.
In the former seven counts, the EFCC alleged that the defendants committed the money laundering offences involving over N400 million in Abuja, in September 2013.
In the counts relating to Mr Adoke, he was accused of among others, receiving the dollar equivalent of N300 million from Abubakar, paying the dollar equivalent of N367,318,800 to one Usman Mohammed Bello, and allegedly using the sum of N300 million, which was alleged to be part of the proceeds of unlawful activities, all in violations of various provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.
Other accusations against Adoke include: “structured cash payments, in 22 tranches”, which amounted to N80 million, another of such structured payments in 13 tranches amounting to N50 million into his Unity Bank account.
The EFCC alleged that the funds were not only part of the proceeds of unlawful acts but they also exceeded “thresholds outside a financial institution,” adding that the payments were done with the intention of concealing the origins of the funds contrary to Section 15(2(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same law.
On February 10, Adoke was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja in the sum of N50m with one surety in like sum.
The trial would resume on adjourned date of August 13, 2020.
A photo of President Buhari when he received in audience Governors of North Eastern States of Nigeria in State House on 10th Aug 2020
President Muhammadu Buhari Monday signed the instrument of accession of the agreement for the establishment of the African Trade Insurance Agency.
The Agreement and the Agency are registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations in accordance with Charter of the United Nations and is in cognizant of the fact that lack of adequate political, non-commercial and commercial risk insurance is a significant impediment to the availability of finance for investments in Africa and the expansion of African foreign trade and intra-Africa trade.
The Agency when executed would acknowledge previous multilateral efforts made by African states towards regional economic integration through co-operation in trade liberalisation and development so as to attain sustainable growth, promote economic activity and create an enabling environment for foreign trade, as well as cross-border and domestic investments.
Recalling the economic objectives and aims of the African Union, there are several African Treaties on regional economic integration, including the Treaty Establishing the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Treaty Establishing the Southern African Development Community and the Treaty Establishing the Economic Community of West African States.
A memorandum from the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, stated that the request for the President’s signature on the agreement was sequel to the directive of the Federal Executive Council, that the instrument be prepared and forwarded for execution, said a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The ratification was adopted at Grand Bay in the Republic of Mauritius on May 18, 2000. The object and purpose of the Agency is to provide, facilitate, encourage and otherwise develop the provision of, or the support for, insurance, including coinsurance and reinsurance, guarantees, and other financial instruments and services, for purposes of trade, investment and other productive activities in African States in supplement to those that may be offered by the public or private sector, or in cooperation with the public or private sector.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Monday reached truce over petroleum tanker drivers’ decision to withdraw their services from Lagos metropolis.
NUPENG had on August 7 directed the withdrawal of services of petroleum tanker drivers from Lagos State with effect from August 10, following the failure of various authorities in the state to address three major issues that have severely caused pains and harrowing experiences on the hapless petroleum tanker drivers in the state for several months now.
The three major issues were: alleged extortion of money from petroleum tanker drivers by various security agents; menace of containerised trucks at Apapa, Kirikiri and Beach Land axis of Lagos State and collusion of government officials hindering petroleum tankers from loading activities at depots and tank farms; and harassment and extortion by touts popularly known as ‘area boys’ and ‘area god-fathers.’
The union explained that the entire rank and file of its members were deeply pained, frustrated and agonised by the barrage of these challenges being consistently faced by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State and were left with no other option but to direct the withdrawal of their services in the state until Lagos State Government and other relevant stakeholders address these critical challenges.
But, in a communique jointly by Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, and NUPENG Deputy National President, Solomon Kilanko, said both parties agreed, at a meeting held earlier on Monday at Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja, that the government would meet with heads of all security agencies to prevent further disturbance of vehicles conveying petroleum products.
The two sides agreed that the issue of ‘area boys’ would be addressed by the state. “A dedicated phone number will be established within one week to enable petroleum product transporters gain prompt access to security agencies,” the communique added.
While assuring that the allegation of extra-ordinary levies charged by a particular local government would be investigated promptly, the communique said “Lagos State government will continue to relate with all road users in the planning and execution of road works in the state.”
NUPENG also made a commitment that all tankers would not exceed the loading capacity of trucks as provided in the regulations and in compliance with the directives of the Department of Petroleum Resources.
Disclosing that Lagos State Government would review the timing restriction on movement of petroleum tankers within the next one week, Odusote said recommendations would be put forward to the government on ways to ease access of petroleum tankers to tank farms.
“Lagos State Government will immediately set up a standing committee to relate with the Union on an ongoing basis to address any issues as they arise,” the statement noted.
A file photo of Ògùn State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adéọlá Odedina (left), discussing with some officials during a visit to one of the farms in the State.
The Ogun State, Government has flagged off the harvesting of 2020 Wet Season Rice planted by the Government with support from youth farmers group, at an event held at Sowunmi Village, Mokoloki, Obafemi Owode Local Government, on Monday, 10th August, 2020.
According to a statement issued by the state Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday, the Rice which was planted in March 2020 at the onset of COVID-19 lockdown, was the focal point of the flag off of the Wet Season Rice Harvest in Ogun State under the Ogun State/Federal Government of Nigeria/International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).
The Ministry stated that Ogun Youth Rice Production Enterprise, which is presently ongoing in all rice growing locations spread across 10 LGAs in the State had earlier harvested dry season rice in April 2020, and are still planting new fields while harvesting; “signifying all year rice production in Ogun State”.
“The earlier decision by His Excellency to approve and support farming activities during COVID-19 extensive lockdown with Health and Safety Advisories and Guidelines, is beginning to yield visible fruits.
The flag off event was attended by Ogun Agric Team led by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adéọlá Odedina; Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Dotun Sorunke; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Angel Adelaka-Kuye and all Directors in Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture.
Others who attended the ceremony were member of the Ògùn State House of Assembly, representing Obafemi Owode Constituency, Hon. Soneye Kayode; traditional rulers and village heads.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
