Naija News
India Records 352,000 New COVID-19 Cases, 2,812 Deaths
India on Monday saw a new global record of 352,991 daily new COVID-19 infections as a second wave of the pandemic overwhelmed the health systems.
This prompted countries like the US, Britain, France and Germany to offer support.
The South Asian country had registered 2,812 COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, the deadliest since the pandemic began, data from India’s Federal Health Ministry showed.
India has been logging global daily records of over 300,000 cases for the last five days in the world’s worst-ever COVID-19 outbreak.
Altogether, 195,123 people have died while 17.3 million people have been infected with the virus in India.
Hospitals, helpless patients, their families and friends in major cities have been sending distress messages for medical oxygen, hospital beds and medicines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the COVID-19 “storm has shaken the country’’ and India’s top priority was to fight the pandemic.
US President Joe Biden has said his country was “determined to help India in its time of need.’’
The US confirmed that it will make available sources of raw materials required to increase production of the Covishield vaccine.
Britain said it would send life-saving medical equipment including hundreds of oxygen concentrates and ventilators to support India’s fight against the virus.
The European Union, Germany and Israel have also offered help.
India, the worst-affected country worldwide after the US, is in the grip of a second deadly wave that began mid-February.
Experts attribute the rapid spread of cases to the presence of more infectious variants of the virus, people’s failure to observe safety measures as well as a lack of preparedness by the government
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Labour Force
Kogi Governor Approves Implementation of N30,000 Minimum Wage for workers
Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, has approved the implementation of N30,000 as minimum wage for the workers in the state.
The secretary to the state government, Folashade Ayoade disclosed this on Tuesday after an extensive meeting with the organized labour in Lokoja
She blamed the delay in the implementation on the inability for the committee to meet regularly due to the covid-19 pandemic which has been overcome.
The SSG equally commended the organised labour for their understanding and patience, which she said has resulted into the signing of the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Read Also: FCTA Set to Implement Minimum Wage for FCT Workers
Finance
CBN to End Forex Sales to Commercial Banks in 2022
Author: Eunice Johnson, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has put Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on notice that it will stop selling forex to them by the end of 2022. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele made this known in Abuja on Thursday at the end of the Bankers’ Committee Meeting where he also introduced the RT200 Programme.
Emefiele said the time had come for the banks to go out there and source for forex by funding entrepreneurs with ideas. The CBN, Emefiele said, will support the banks by granting rebates and other support until the banks find their feet in sourcing their forex by themselves.
He also disclosed that the apex bank’s policies and measures have led to a significant improvement in diaspora inflow from an average of US$6 million per week in December 2020 to an average of over US$100 million per week by January 2022. He added that the CBN would be reviewing these intervention programmes going forward to ensure that they continue to achieve the desired results.
He said international bodies, including some embassies and donor agencies, have been complicit in illegal forex transactions that have hindered the flow of foreign exchange into the country.
Read Also: CBN Encourages Nigerians to Accept E-Naira
Customs Corner
Customs CG Deploys 37 Comptrollers as Comptroller Attah Heads Kebbi Command
Author: Gift Wada, Abuja
The Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) has approved the deployment of 37 Comptrollers to various Units, Departments and Commands across the country.
This was disclosed in a release signed on Tuesday by the Customs Deputy National, DC Timi Bomodi for the Comptroller General of Customs.
Among those deployed are the present National PRO of Customs Comptroller Joseph Attah who will assume the office of Area Controller of Kebbi Command, Comptroller AAS Oloyede who shall be moving from ICT/MOD to Tin Can Island Port Command, while Comptroller SI Bomoi to FCT Command. Other postings are Comptroller BA Jaiyeoba to Oyo/Osun Command, Comptroller A Dappa-Williams to Eastern Marine Command, Compt. MA Umar Kano/Jigawa, Compt. KC Egwuh ICT/MOD, Compt. LM Mark Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi, Compt. T Tachio CTC Kano, Compt. AA Umar Western Marine, Compt. M Dansakwa North Eastern Marine, Compt. AC Ayalogu T & T and Compt. KD Ilesanmi will assume duty as Comptroller Board among others.
Ali in postings released on 7th of February, charged the newly posted Comptrollers to justify the confidence reposed in them by NCS Management by bringing to bear their years of experience and training in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling activities on their new assignment.
Given the enormous expectations of government regarding revenue generation in the current year, the Comptroller General reiterated the need for all Area Controllers and Unit heads to take full charge of the affairs of their Commands by ensuring absolute compliance with extant fiscal policies while leveraging on the efficient management of data to optimize trade facilitation and revenue collection.
Furthermore, the CGC directed all officers to be extremely vigilant in protecting the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians by ensuring the full fortification of our borders against the incursion of smugglers and other cross border criminals.
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