5 - 2020 - Platformsafrica

US COVID-19 death toll surges above 100,000 mark in World’s deadliest outbreak

May 28, 2020 Tim Bauer

The U.S. has surpassed the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths as a result of the coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, significantly more than any other country in the world. A tally from Johns Hopkins University showed 100,047 deaths as of Wednesday evening, reports CNBC. More than 5.6 million people have contracted the coronavirus across the globe, with the U.S. accounting for roughly 30% of total cases. The U.K. has recorded the second-highest number of coronavirus fatalities, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. As of…

Nigerian oil Firms’ debts to banks hit $3bn

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 Efe Wellington

The debts profile of Nigerian oil companies to banks has hit $3 billion, heightening the heavy burden on the financial institutions. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seplat Petroleum Plc – one of the Nigerian firms – Dr. Austin Avuru, who said this Wednesday, at the Nigerian Association of Explorationists (NAPE) second Webinar series, title “The New Normal Post Covid-19 for the Oil and Gas sector in Nigeria,” declared that the poor servicing of the debts is being worsened by the Coronavirus pandemic. The operators in the Nigerian oil and…

Kogi, Nigeria’s confluence state, records two cases of COVID-19

May 28, 2020 Fateemah OLONADE

The government of Kogi, the state that links Nigeria’s Southern and the Northern regions, has recorded two cases of coronavirus infection. Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, has earlier engaged in serious bickering with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) over the Centre’s handling of testing for the dreaded infection. His state has, over two months, not recorded any case and it, at some points, became a reference point for some conspiracy theorists who believe that daily figure being churned out on COVID-19 was a scam. Bello had also…

How AfDB carved in for US pressure, began independent probe of Adesina

May 27, 2020 Fateemah Olonade

The board of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed for an independent investigation of Akinwumi Adesina, its president. This comes after Steven Mnuchin, US treasury secretary, rejected the investigation and report of the bank’s ethics board which absolved Adesina of allegations of favouritism. Bloomberg reports that the board agreed to an in’dependent probe after “several foreign governments backed Mnuchin’s criticism of a bank-led examination into the allegations”. Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland were reported to be among the countries that wrote to the AfDB board backing Mnuchin. The…

Trouble over Beninoise businessman’s mysterious death In Nigeria’s EFCC custody

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 Efe Wellington

Authorities believed he was faking sickness that eventually killed him – source Withold burial announcement to family one week after A diplomatic row is looming between Nigeria and Republic of Benin over the mysterious death of a Beninoise businessman, Jean Codo, in the custody of the Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Beninoise businessman, who was arrested and detained over an alleged €29 million scam, informed the EFCC of his failing health before his death, a Lagos-based news medium reported quoting a source, and adding; “but the agency…

Faceoff looms as Nigeria’s Governors meet over Buhari’s financial autonomy for Legislature, Judiciary

May 27, 2020 Efe Wellington

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum will on Wednesday, meet to discuss the issue of financial autonomy for the states’ judiciary and legislature, code-named the Executive Order 10, 2020. A statement issued by Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs, NGF, on Tuesday in Abuja indicated that the consultation would be the 9th in the series of teleconference meeting held by the governors since the lockdown, occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19. President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, signed into law, an Executive Order, granting financial autonomy to the legislative and…

Shell shuts Nigeria’s Bonga FPSO for routine maintenance

May 26, 2020 Efe Wellington

Royal Dutch Shell on Tuesday announced the shutdown of Bonga floating Production Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO). Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPco), a subsidiary of Shell in Nigeria, currently operates the FPSO on its offshore field, located in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118. The shut-in, SNEPCo said in an email, was buoyed by the shutdown of Bonga crude oil export terminal for routine maintenance, with the aim to have the work done “record time.” The maintenance on the Bonga floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO),…

EXCLUSIVE: Controversy rages in Nigeria over imported Madagascar herbal cure’s whereabouts

May 26, 2020 Fateemah OLONADE

NAFDAC denies knowledge of drug’s location 10 days after Buhari promised clinical trial Fateemah OLONADE Controversy raged in Nigeria on Tuesday over the whereabout of Madagascar’s COVID organic drug imported into the country 10 days ago. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari who received the drug at his Aso Rock office May 16, promised to ensure the drug is subjected to clinical trial before use. He received samples of the herbal concoction that Madagascar claims can cure people infected with the new coronavirus, his office said, from President Umaro Sissoco Embalo…

Why US demanded independent probe of AfDB President, Adesina

May 26, 2020 Tim Bauer

America’s Treasury Secretary expresses “deep reservations” about internal inquiry clearing Nigeria’s ex-Minister Tim Bauer More facts have emerged on the actual reason the United Staes (U.S.) Department of the Treasury called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to carry out an independent probe into alleged ethics breaches by its president, Akinwumi Adesina. The US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in a letter obtained by AFP on Monday, expressed “deep reservations” about the outcome of an internal inquiry clearing Adesina, and urged the appointment of an independent outside investigator. The internal…

Dangote, GTBank, MTN rank top in Africa 100 most admired Brands’ list

May 26, 2020May 26, 2020 Taofeeqor bint Abdul-Walid

Taofeeqor bint Abdul-Walid Nairobi, KENYA Dangote, GTBank and MTN have been ranked top on the list of Africa’s 100 best brands as announced in the 10th anniversary rankings of Brand Africa 100. Africa’s Best Brands is a pre-eminent survey and ranking of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa. The rankings, according to information made available to Platforms Africa by African Media Agency, AMA, were announced in a novel global virtual event that incorporated the market openings of Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. The rankings will be published in the June by…