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The Federal Government has proposed the reduction of oil benchmark, upon which the 2020 budget was predicated , from $ 57 to $ 30 per barrel .

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed , announced this after a meeting between the executive arm of government and the leadership of the National Assembly in Abuja .

The meeting was meant to review the 2020 budget and Medium Term Expenditure Framework, particularly against the background of the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the global economy .

The meeting, which lasted almost four hours , according to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan , was summoned to “ discuss the proposed review of the 2020 budget and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. ”

More news👉 https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/03/24/just-in-coronavirus-test-kits-arrive-nigeria-as-cases-toll-44/

The Finance Minister proposed a review of the 2020 budget using a $ 30 per barrel price benchmark as against $ 57 initially passed in December by the National Assembly.

She said it was part of the measures to prepare for the worst – case scenario , as well as insulate the Nigerian economy against any form of unexpected crisis .

She also told the leadership of the National Assembly that budgeted revenues for the Nigeria Customs Service have been reduced from N1 . 5 trn to N943 bn “ due to anticipated reduction in trade volumes ” .

She also said , “ The privatisation proceeds will be cut by 50 per cent , based on the adverse economic outlook on sales of the Independent Power Projects and other assets . ”

Similarly, Ahmed disclosed that the Federal Government has undertaken cuts to Revenue – related expenditures for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for several projects included in the 2020 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly in December 2019 .

She said , “ The Federal Government is working on Fiscal Stimulus Measures to provide fiscal relief for taxpayers and key economic sectors .

“ We will incentivise employers to retain and recruit staff during the economic downturn .

“ We will stimulate investment in critical infrastructure; review non -essential tax waivers to optimise revenues , and compliment monetary and trade interventions to respond to the crisis . ”

Saudi Arabia has sealed off the capital Riyadh and two of Islam ’ s holiest cities and extended curfew hours as it reported its second death from the new coronavirus.

The kingdom barred entry and exit from Riyadh as well as Mecca and Medina and prohibited movement between all provinces , the official Saudi Press Agency reported, as the health ministry said the total number of infections spiked to 900 .

Saudi Arabia , which has reported the highest number of infections in the Gulf, on Monday began implementing an 11 – hour nationwide curfew — starting at 7 pm — to limit the spread of the deadly COVID- 19 illness .

The curfew hours were brought forward to 3 pm in the three cities, SPA said citing measures approved by King Salman that will take effect from Thursday (tomorrow) .

Authorities plan to implement the curfew for 21 days and have warned that transgressors will be fined 10 , 000 Saudi riyals ( $ 2 , 663 ) and could face jail for repeated breaches .

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Meanwhile, The health ministry said a resident of Mecca was the second person to die from the disease in the kingdom.

The Arab world ’ s biggest economy has also closed down cinemas , malls and restaurants , halted flights and suspended the year – round umrah pilgrimage as it steps up efforts to contain the virus .

The Rivers State Government has announced the closure of air , sea and land borders into the state with effect from Thursday , March 26 , 2020 .

Governor Nyesom Wike , who made this announcement in a state broadcast , said the move was to further check the spread of coronavirus to the state .

Wike said that based on recent developments , all air , sea and land routes into the state would be closed to traffic , beginning 6 am , Thursday , March 26 , 2020 .

However , local flights were allowed to operate at the airports.

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But Wike threatened that passengers would not be allowed into the state after landing at the Port Harcourt airport .

He said , “ The State Security Council has taken the following painful decisions : With effect from 6 pm on Thursday , March 26 , 2020 , the Port Harcourt International Airport , Omagwa , will not be open to air traffic .

“ While we may not have the right to stop flights from entering Port Harcourt, we cannot allow anybody coming from the airport to enter our state . We are confident that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other federal agencies will cooperate with us . All land and sea borders will be closed .

“ Vehicular movements in an out of the state have been banned . In essence , no vehicle will leave Rivers State for any other state and no vehicle will be allowed to enter the state . New measures will be put in place until further notice .

“ Let me reiterate that security agencies have been empowered to strictly enforce this directive . There will be no room for sacred cows because the virus is no respecter of persons . ”

Nigeria electricity workers under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have threatened to shut down the power sector if the Ministry of Power and other employers in the sector fail to take adequate precautionary measures to protect staff.

In a letter to the Minister of Power, Sule Mamman, the General Secretary of NUEE, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said the minister would be held responsible for the transmission of COVID-19 to any staff in Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) especially its headquarters for his failure to comply with the federal government’s directive on people that travelled to countries with high cases of infection to self-isolate.

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The letter read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the return of the Minister of Power Sule Mamah from his trip to Germany and Egypt while on the entourage of the Chief of Staff to the President. The Minister despite the President’s directive to self-isolate; reported at the office in the midst of agitation and complaints from the staff at TCN headquarters, Abuja. If not for the intervention of the Union, there would have been pandemonium at the office, on Monday, March 23, 2020.

“In view of recent developments, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) wishes to state unequivocally that the Minister of Power – Sule Mamman will be held responsible for the transmission of COVID-19 to any staff in TCN especially its headquarters for his failure to comply with the federal government’s directive on people that travelled to countries with high cases of infection to self isolate.

“Besides, NUEE wishes to warn employers in the Power Sector especially those whose staff constantly have an interface with customers/public, that should they fail to, within twenty-four (24) hours take adequate precautionary measures to protect staff, we will be forced to pull out our members and will not be held responsible for any consequence arising there from. Employers of labour in the power sector are hereby urged to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of staff in the power sector.”

Nigeria ’ s share of the coronavirus kits donated by Jack Ma Foundation and Ali Baba Foundation to African Union Member States arrived in the country .

The donations were brought into the cargo area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos by an Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane .

Although closed to international flights , the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority allows emergency flights such as this at the MMIA .

The Government of Ethiopia on Monday received a consignment of medical equipment from the foundations .

The shipment included over 1 . 5 million laboratory diagnostic test kits and over 100 tons of infection prevention and control commodities .

This relief initiative was launched by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia , Dr Abiy Ahmed ; the Jack Ma Foundation; and Alibaba Foundation as part of actions towards implementation of the Africa joint continental strategy for COVID- 19 led by the African Union through its Africa Centre for Disease Control .

Each AU member state is expected to get equipment consisting of 20 , 000 laboratory diagnostic test kits , 100 , 000 medical masks, and 1000 protective suits and face shields to the fight against COVID – 19 .

More news👉 https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/03/24/breaking-sanwo-olu-orders-closure-of-lagos-markets/

Nigeria coronavirus cases rise to 44

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has announced two new cases of coronavirus , bringing the total number of persons infected in the country to 44 .

The NCDC made this known via its
Twitter handle .

NCDC tweeted, “ Two new cases of # COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria : one in the Federal Capital Territory and one in Bauchi .

“ The cases have travel history to Germany and the United Kingdom .

“ As of 06 : 25 pm on the 24 th of March , there are 44 confirmed cases of # COVID19 in Nigeria . Two have been discharged with one death. ”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu , has ordered the closure of all markets not selling essential commodities such as medical supplies , water , foodstuff amongst others.

According to reports that the closure , which is effective Thursday , March 26 , is not unconnected to efforts to curtail the community transmission of coronavirus .

As of the time of filing this report , of the 42 confirmed cases of COVID- 19 recorded in Nigeria , 29 were reported in Lagos .

More news 👉https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/03/24/just-in-coronavirus-stay-at-home-buhari-tells-fg-workers/

In a live press conference  , Sanwo- Olu said , “ All open markets and stores except for sellers of food and medicines, medical equipment and other essential life – saving products are directed to close from Thursday 26 th , 2020 for the next 7 days . ”

“ It is not a total lockdown , we still want people on essential services to go about their normal activities.

“ We are trying to de – centralise markets in Lagos . This is why we want to use some of our closed schools as markets, so people can buy food and medicine without going a long distance .

“ It is only when you are alive that you can talk about economics and finance. ”

The Federal Government has said retired doctors and nurses could be recalled in states to help in the fight against COVID-19.

According to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, he said, 36 persons had so far been infected in the country, with 26 of them having travel history while six had contacts with infected persons.

More news👉 https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/03/24/just-in-coronavirus-stay-at-home-buhari-tells-fg-workers/

He added that four of the infected persons had no travel history or known contact with a confirmed case.

The minister said one death had so far been recorded.

He said, “We have advised that some states should issue a call for retired doctors and nurses to be able to be reabsorbed and come back to service for this particular period if the need arises. They can be recalled back to active duty. They are in the reserved pool.

A circular signed to the effect by the Head of the Civil Service if the Federation , Folashade Yemi – Esan , said all non – essential public servants on the grade levels must stay at home compulsorily from March 24 , 2020 .

The circular was copied to the Chief of Staff to the President , Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice- President , Secretary to the Government of the Federation , all ministers /ministers of state, all permanent secretaries , Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor General for the Federation and other principal officers in government .

It stated , “As you are no doubt aware, the Federal Government has taken a number of measures to manage the identified cases of COVID – 19 and curtail its spread .

“ Government is concerned about the welfare and safety of all public servants just as it is about other Nigerians . All public servants are , therefore , strongly advised to follow the measures being put in place by government to curtail the spread of the pandemic .

More news👉: https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/03/23/breaking-fg-closes-land-borders-advised-abuja-and-lagos-residents-to-stay-at-home/

“ As a further step to check the spread of COVID – 19 , all non – essential public servants at grade levels 12 and below are to stay and work from home with effect from Tuesday , 24 th March , 2020 until further notice . Each Permanent Secretary /Chief Executive Officer of MDAs shall determine the essential staff within grade levels 12 and below who will continue to perform their duties in the office . It is important to stress that this is not a holiday , as any officer can be recalled ; therefore , no officer should travel out of station .

“ All other categories of officers who will be at work, are strongly advised to limit the number of visitors they receive to the barest minimum . This is to reduce physical contact as much as possible . ”

The circular called on officers who recently visited countries with incidence of COVID- 19 or , have had contact with persons who recently returned from these countries , to self -isolate at home for two weeks and inform their Permanent Secretaries /Chief Executive Officers of the development.

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of all land borders with immediate effect .

It also advised all Abuja and Lagos residents to stay at home.

More news👉 https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/03/23/covid-19-aisha-buhari-seeks-total-lockdown/

The Presidential Task Force for the Control of Covid – 19 announced these at a press briefing on Monday as part of additional measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus .

Wife of the President , Mrs Aisha Buhari , has called for a total lockdown of activities across the country as coronavirus toll hits 36 with one death recorded .

Mrs Buhari specifically cited the case of state governors shutting down schools but allowing their parents to continue going to work.

She noted that much as the move by the governors was commendable , it could be counterproductive if the parents continued to report for work.

More news👉 https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/03/23/breaking-coronavirus-nigeria-records-first-death-as-five-new-cases-confirm-in-abuja-lagos-edo/

Taking to her twitter handle , @ aishambuhari , she tweeted, “ It is commendable that state governors have closed down schools ; however , this could be counterproductive if parents are still going to work.

“ We should not isolate students and expose their parents .

“ Let us remember that they will meet at home .

“ # TotalLockDown

“ # StayAtHome . ”