Day: 24 January 2020

Coronavirus lands in Europe

Jide Ige

Two cases of the coronavirus have been “confirmed” in France, the first in Europe, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said on Friday. The first case involved a patient in a hospital in the southwestern city of Bordeaux while the other was in Paris, the minister told reporters. The SARS-like virus has claimed 26 lives since it emerged on December 31 in a market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. As of Friday, more than 800 people have been infected across China, with 177 in serious condition. Authorities were also examining…

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NERC to DISCOs: Don’t force customers to buy transformers, cables

Jasmin Ekua, Banking & Finance

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, on Friday, condemned the ongoing practice of some electricity distribution companies forcing customers to invest in the replacement of distribution infrastructure such as transformers and cables as a condition for the restoration of electricity supply. It said the commission had earlier issued a ‘Regulation for Investment in Electricity Networks’ whereby customers desirous of intervening in the restoration of power supply may invest in the provision of materials and installation. It explained that the regulation provided that such an arrangement must always be on the basis…

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FirstBank Scoops double at Global Business Outlook Awards

Jasmin Ekua, Banking & Finance

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has been named 2019 “Best Mobile Banking App” and “Fastest Growing Retail Bank” winner by Global Business Outlook. The Global Business Outlook Award recognises and rewards excellence in business in companies across the world, both in the public and private sectors. The award rewards innovation, creativity and the drive to create value. FirstBank earned the Fastest Growing Retail Bankrecognition because of its leading role in promoting financial inclusion in the country, a drive which has resulted in its 44,000 Agent Banking network designed to complement the provision of bespoke…

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Why Oko Oloyun was killed -Police

Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

Oyo State Police Command, on Friday, gave an update on the killing of a trado-medical practitioner, Alhaji Fatai Yusuf, popularly known as ‘Oko Oloyun’. A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, hinted at a nexus between a fire incident in his Lagos office, ostensibly to cover up suspected fraud, and the attack. The statement read, “The report of Yusuf’s death was received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Igbo-ora that the two-car convoy of the deceased was allegedly ambushed shortly after passing through…

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Updates on FIIRO DG’s fake certificate scandal

Jide Ige

The Governing Board of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi has submitted a report on the crisis rocking the agency over the controversial doctoral degree of the acting Director-General, Chima Igwe. The PUNCH correspondent learnt from sources that the board members, who were agitated by the crisis in the institute, held a meeting with the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, in Abuja on Tuesday. They reportedly demanded urgent action from Onu, who promised to look into the report and get back to them. This is just as…

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