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Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers

1. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, on Wednesday announced that Nigeria recorded 348 new COVID-19 cases.

The NCDC, in a tweet on Wednesday, said Lagos recorded 163 cases, while FCT followed with 76.

2. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the United Nations (UN) to request the Nigerian government and the National Assembly (NASS) to immediately reverse the budget cuts to education and healthcare.

The body also wants the UN to stop the authorities from spending billions of Naira to renovate buildings within the federal legislature.

3. The Kwara State Government has given conditions to reopen worship centres from Friday, June 5.

Mr Kayode Alabi, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, while briefing newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday, said worship centers will reopen if they satisfy certain criteria already agreed with various religious bodies in the State.

4. Three policemen have died in a motor accident in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Police Spokesman in the state, SP Abdu Jinjiri, said the incident involved a Golf 3 Volkswagen, along Ringim to Sankara road, on their way back from a colleague’s wedding Fatiha.

5. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Wednesday, denied writing a letter extending the tenure of the National Assembly Clerk, Sani Ataba Omolori and other Staff of the National Assembly.

The Speaker said there were appropriate channels and processes with which such things were done.

6. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission insisting that the party has chosen the direct primary mode for the selection of its candidate for the Edo State governorship poll.

In a letter dated May 19, 2020, addressed to INEC Chairman, Oshiomhole said the party had put in place measures to ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

7. Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, was Wednesday released from the Nigerian Correctional Service’ custody in Kuje, Abuja.

This followed yesterday’s order of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ordering the immediate release of the former Governor of Abia.

8. The Federal government has approved the refund of over N78billion to the Rivers State government for the money spent on the construction of federal roads in the state.

The N78,953,067,518.29 is said to be for the construction of three Federal roads including the Port Harcourt-Owerri road and three flyover bridges including the Obiri-Ikwerre interchange all in Rivers state.

9. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said it will embark on a mass protest to seek justice for Uwaila Omozuwa and Bello Barakat, who were both reported to have been raped and killed by their rapists.

NANS South West Coordinator, Kowe Odunayo Amos, said the association found it disturbing that the girl child is no longer safe in the society.

10. The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, has described the incessant attacks on the people of Adara as ethnic cleansing and not communal clashes.

The SOKAPU National Public Relations Officer, Luka Binniyat, in a statement after the fresh killings in Agwalla Magayaki and Tudun Agwalla in Idon Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State said, “war is being waged against our people and the Nigerian Government pretends that nothing is going on. We are facing a huge humanitarian crisis.”

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#Newsworthy…

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Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigeria Newspapers

1. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed 241 COVID-19 cases in the country.

The agency, in a post on its official Twitter page, said Lagos State recorded 142, while Oyo State followed with 15 cases.

2. The federal government has said only five airports would be reopened from June 21, while the others remained closed for further assessment.

In a circular to airlines signed by Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said domestic airports that will be opened include: Omagwa International Airport Port Harcourt, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano.

3. Lagos State has recorded 17 COVID-19 related deaths in two-days.

The State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, who made the disclosure, also stated that the State has 4191 active COVID-19 cases, while 875 patients have been discharged.

4. The Nigerian Army has announced that a fierce battle between troops and Boko Haram terrorists led to the death of top sect commanders.

The unsuccessful attack led to troops’ consequent onslaught that killed the terror leaders loyal to the Abubakar Shekau’s faction of Boko Haram.

5. Baba Tela, Bauchi State Deputy Governor, has tested positive for coronavirus.

Tela’s result was confirmed in a statement issued by Mukhtar Gidado, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, adding that Tela, who is also the Chairman, State Task Force on COVID-19, contracted the virus while discharging his duties.

6. Nigerian government, through the Presidential Task Force, PTF, on COVID-19 has warned congregants against activities such as kissing, hugging, shaking or touching at worship centres.

The PTF National Coordinator, Sani Aliyu, said that churches/mosques facilities must be structured in a way that physical distancing can be observed.

7. Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has debunked claims in certain quarters that he is planning to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Obaseki, who refuted the claim while speaking at a meeting with the ‘Obaseki Mandate Group’ in Abuja on Tuesday, maintained that he will achieve his second tenure on the platform of the APC.

8. A Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday discharged former Kogi West Senator, Dino Daniel Melaye of criminal charges leveled against him by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

The FCT High Court cleared Melaye of giving false information to police, as claimed by the AGF.

9. President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina , of Nigeria’s support in his bid to get re-elected as the bank’s president.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday, quoted the President as speaking at State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, while hosting Adesina on a courtesy visit, where he also told the AfDB’s president that “Nigeria will stand solidly behind him”.

10. The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the ongoing investigations into the death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omosuwa from the Edo State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, on Tuesday evening, the IGP’s directive is sequel to the preliminary report from the team of investigators and forensic experts earlier deployed to assist the Edo State Police Command in the investigations into the unfortunate incident.

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#Newsworthy…

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These 10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers will interest you this morning.

1. 416 new COVID-19 cases as Nigeria’s total rises to 10578; death toll climbs to 299

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Monday night confirmed 416 fresh COVID-19 cases in 19 states of the federation and Abuja, the nation’s capital.

2. #JusticeForUwa: UNIBEN delegation visits family of dead student

The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), on Monday, visited the family of the slain 100-level student of the institution, Vera Omozuwa, to commiserate with them over the death of their daughter.

3. We’re worried that COVID-19 has diverted attention, resources from other diseases —WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday night the COVID-19 had diverted public attention and resources from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, cancer, and hypertension.

4. Nigerian govt reduces petrol pump price to N121.5

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on Monday declared a new pump price band of N121.50 to N123.50 per litre for Premium Motors Spirit also known as petrol.

5. COVID-19: Nigerian govt directs hotels to resume operations

The Federal Government on Monday directed hotels in the country to reopen hotels.

6. Nigerian govt reveals plan for resumption of international, local flights

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said on Monday the date for the resumption of international flights in the country would be announced in due course.

7. Court bars Edo govt from trying Oshiomhole for corruption

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday issued an interim order restraining the Edo State government from acting on the report of the state’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry which indicted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, for corruption.

8. NSE: FBN Holdings, GTB, Japaul drive volume as market gains N24 billion

The equity market added N24.193 billion on Monday with heavy trading in the shares of FBN Holdings, GTB and Japaul accounting mostly for the volume of trade.

9. EDO POLL: INEC sets up portal for forms’ submission

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Monday the commission had set up a dedicated portal through which political parties taking part in the Edo State governorship slated for September 19 would submit their candidates’ nomination forms.

10. Inter-state travel still banned, religious gatherings now allowed; Nigerian govt unveils new COVID-19 guidelines

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said on Monday the Federal Government had extended the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown across the country by two additional weeks.

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#Newsworthy…