Month: October 2020

Nigeria gas-powered vehicles’ numbers hit 6,000 – NIPCO 

ADEOLA YUSUF

The number of vehicles successfully converted from petrol to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Nigeria has hit 6,000. The Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO), which dolled out this figure in a statement sent to Platforms Africa at the weekend, stated that the 6000 gas-powered vehicles number was achieved by the company since its inauguration by the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Rilwan Lukman in 2009 in Benin, Edo State. NIPCO also expressed its commitment to ensure that more vehicles run on gas in Nigeria to improve efficiency…

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Shell gifts Rivers Special School first Lab in 35 years

ADEOLA YUSUF

  For the first time since its establishment 35 years ago, the Special School for Handicapped Children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has now got its science laboratory, build and equipped by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and its joint venture partners. “The school had been without a science laboratory for the 35 years of its existence. I attended this school as a visually impaired child and to teach a visually impaired, touch is important to create a mental image for them,” the school principal, Dr.…

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339 Firms Jostle for Nigeria’s 2020/2022 Crude Sale contracts

ADEOLA YUSUF

  Over 339 crude oil trading companies are in race for the sale and purchase of Nigerian crude oil grades contracts spanning 2020 to 2022. Some of them, according to a bid papers sighted by Platforms Africa, which were submitted electronically on the NIPEX portal, include Vitol SA and MRS. Last month, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), invited “interested and credible companies” to participate in the open tender. It described credible companies as those who are either bona fide end users who own a refinery and/or retail outlet or…

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Naira Slips, Trades N460 to $1 at Parallel Market

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The Nigeria’s currency, Naira, slipped at the parallel market as it exchanged at N460 to one dollar as of the close of work on Monday, October 19, 2020. This came as country’s external reserves which stood at $35.75 billion as of October 02 lost $78.34 million to close at $35.67 billion as of October 16. The naira had exchanged to the dollar on Friday for 458/$. This is as the country’s external reserves continued to maintain its downward trend. Figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed that…

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EndSARS: Nigeria lost N700bn In 12 Days – LCCI President

ADEOLA YUSUF

Nigerian economy has lost over N700 billion to the #EndSARS protests over the last 12 days, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said. President, LCCI, Mrs Toki Mabogunje, said this while reviewing the economic implications of the protest in a statement. She noted that LCCI appreciates the value of citizens’ engagement and the demand for accountability which the protest  represents, but lamented the negative impact on the economy. Mabogunje stated: “These are in consonance with democratic norms.  They also form vital ingredients for good governance. “LCCI is,…

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Implement, gazette new Police reform Act, LACRI charges Nigerian Government 

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The Legal Assistance and Citizens Rights Initiative has tasked the Federal Government to immediately gazette and implement in its entirety the new Police Reform Act. A statement by the Executive Secretary of LACRI, Arinze Odiari,  also called on the police authorities to immediately withdraw all Nigeria Police Force personnel from bodyguard duties to VIPs and politicians except where mandated by law while making it illegal for such practices to continue. On the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), LACRI said Nigerians are skeptical because similar pronouncements, proscribing…

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#EndSARS: Lagos Shuts Schools, Directs Pupils to Stay at Home

ADEOLA YUSUF

  The Lagos State Government has directed all pupils/students in public and private schools to stay at home following the tension generated by the anti- SARS protests. Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, who issued the directive today, said the safety of the pupils/students, parents and all staff working in schools is paramount at this critical period. She however advised parents to keep an eye on their wards and not allow them to be used as willing tools in the hands of those who might want to hijack the protests…

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Lagos workers return home as #EndSARS protesters ground roads + PHOTOS

ADEOLA YUSUF

Thousands of civil servants and workers in private entities in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, were on Monday forced back home. This came as #EndSARS protesters blocked major roads leading to the popular Alausa Secretariat complex belonging to the Lagos state government. Here are the see-it-yourself pictures compiled by Platforms Africa from News Direct photo journalists.    

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‘Painkillers During Pregnancy Put Unborn Baby at Kidney failure Risk’

ADEOLA YUSUF

  Taking of widely used painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), by pregnant women can cause serious kidney problems in the unborn baby. The NSAIDs or any drug that has its contents for aches and pains at 20 weeks or later in a pregnancy could raise the risk of complications, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned. Specifically, the agency alerted that taking widely used painkillers can cause rare but serious kidney problems in the unborn baby, which could lead to low levels of amniotic fluid, increasing…

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South Africa Health Minister, Wife contract COVID-19

ADEOLA YUSUF

1,662 new coronavirus cases push South Africa’s figures to 703,793 with 18,471 deaths   South Africa’s health minister, Zweli Mkhize, and his wife, Dr. May Mkhize, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus as cases in the country surged pass 703,793. “I wish to inform the public that this afternoon my wife Dr. May Mkhize and I have tested positive for COVID-19,” Zweli Mkhize tweeted late Sunday. The top health official said he tested for COVID-19 on Saturday after he started showing mild symptoms. “I am now in quarantine at…

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