Oil traders weigh if COVID-19 support programs will buoy economic growth
President Buhari has approved the expansion of the NSIP – Minister
Nigeria fully committed to promoting good governance practices in Africa – Buhari
Telecom operators submit 43million NINs to NIMC for verification as deadline ends
Analysts predict higher inflation rate for Nigeria in 2021
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
Daily Parallel Market Exchange Rate – ₦470/$1
Nigeria: Pressure on FX to continue in 2021 – Report
LPG: Nigerians paid more to refill 12.5kg gas cylinders in December
Analysis: Japaul, Ardova, Champion Breweries; What is behind the deals?
Business News
Food, Agro & Allied Industries set to export agri-products to New Zealand
New Zealand to now have made in Nigeria agri-products.
Federal Government’s commitment to diversify Nigeria’s revenue stream and boosting of economic growth might be paying off as the largest and most modern Sorghum malting plants in Africa, Food, Agro, & Allied Industries Limited has expanded its exportation footprint to New Zealand with its made in Nigeria Malt extracts.
Sona Group’s Chairman, Arjan Mirchandani said Food, Agro & Allied Industries Limited is committed to ensuring that made in Nigeria products made by the company are of international standard and made available outside the shores of the country.
“Our job is to make sure that we use and make 100 percent local content. This exportation to New Zealand is the first of Food, Agro & Allied Industries as we intend to continue to produce Made in Nigeria products for exportation. Very soon we will be introducing rice flour and corn production that will be exported as well.
“We are encouraged by government agencies to produce standard and quality products.”
The Ogun State Coordinator of Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Engineer Ayuba Samuel Ushe who was represented by Michael Ajagbonna, said that the exportation footprint of Sona Group is a plus for the country at large.
According to him, the country is turning around in respect to quality in terms of global dynamism. Ushe said the exportation footprint will serve as a foreign investment for Nigeria because people will start to have confidence in what the country has and at the same time, foreign currency exchange will improve.
In view of what Sona Group has produced over time, the SON’s State Coordinator expressed that the body has confidence in the group. Ushe further stated that Sona Group’s products have always met the required standards of his organisation.
The Managing Director of Food, Agro & Allied Industries, KVS Murthy submitted that the products ready for export are 100 percent local sorghum and are proudly produced in Nigeria.
“As at 2015, we produced sorghum, glucose syrup, malt syrup, malt extract locally. Our requirement for the year as of now is 20,000 to 25,000 tonnes and we receive the Sorghum from Northern part of Nigeria such as Kano, Kaduna, Zaria etc., we store it in our warehouses, our silos and we are using the material time to time. It is completely automated, the material to the finishing product to the drum”.
The company is a subsidiary of Sona Group, a manufacturing company. Sona Group is one of Nigeria’s fastest growing Groups. The Group has interest in diversified sectors such as Food Processing & Malting, Biscuits & Confectionary, Beverages, Power Generation, Industrial Gases, Plastic Pallets, Tables & Chairs, Jerry Cans, Drums, Self-Adhesive Labels, Flexible Packaging, MonoCartons, Barrier Films and corrugated cartons to name a few. New investments, modern technology, state-of-art machines and modern management techniques are helping in driving the business.
Coronavirus
COVID-19: FG to disburse N10 billion for local vaccine production
The Minister of Health has disclosed that Nigeria is exploring options for the licensed production of COVID-19 vaccine.
Coronavirus
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
On the 18th of January 2021, 1,617 new confirmed cases and 14 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 112,004 confirmed cases.
On the 18th of January 2021, 1,617 new confirmed cases and 14 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
To date, 112,004 cases have been confirmed, 89,939 cases have been discharged and 1,449 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 1.17 million tests have been carried out as of January 17th, 2021 compared to 1.15 million tests a day earlier.
COVID-19 Case Updates- 18th January 2021,
- Total Number of Cases – 112,004
- Total Number Discharged – 89,939
- Total Deaths – 1,449
- Total Tests Carried out – 1,172,234
According to the NCDC, the 1,617 new cases were reported from 18 states- Lagos (776), Kaduna (147) Kwara (131), FCT (102), Plateau (78), Edo (59), Ogun (53), Osun (45), Rivers (37), Taraba (36), Nasarawa (34), Adamawa (33), Kano (26), Delta (20), Ebonyi (16), Bayelsa (11), Gombe(11) and Borno (2).
Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 41,400, followed by Abuja (14,700), Plateau (6,831), Kaduna (6,325), Oyo (4,695), Rivers (4,429), Edo (3,320), Ogun (2,912), Kano (2,617), Delta (2,122), Ondo (2,070), Katsina (1,723), Kwara (1,697), Enugu (1,583), Gombe (1,500), Nasarawa (1,335), Ebonyi (1,275), Osun (1,260), Abia (1,134), and Bauchi (1,107).
Borno State has recorded 867 cases, Imo (857), Sokoto (677), Akwa Ibom (667), Benue (657), Bayelsa (619), Adamawa (573), Niger (547), Anambra (515), Ekiti (473), Jigawa (425), Taraba (294), Kebbi (251), Yobe (211), Cross River (169), Zamfara (162), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Western diplomats warn of disease explosion, poor handling by government
Lock Down and Curfew
In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
The movement restriction, which was extended by another two weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.
On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.
On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced the closed down of the Eti-Osa Isolation Centre, with effect from Friday, 31st July 2020. He also mentioned that the Agidingbi Isolation Centre would also be closed and the patients relocated to a large capacity centre.
Due to the increased number of covid-19 cases in Nigeria, the Nigerian government ordered the reopening of Isolation and treatment centres in the country on Thursday, 10th December 2020.
READ ALSO: Bill Gates says Trump’s WHO funding suspension is dangerous
Around the World
US Capitol complex temporarily shut down
The US Capitol complex was shut down temporarily on Monday as a precautionary measure after a small fire broke out nearby.
The US Capitol complex was shut down temporarily for about an hour on Monday as a precautionary measure after a small fire broke out nearby, highlighting the security concerns that are being raised days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
The security concerns and the lockdown follows the January 6 attack on the US Capital by supporters of the outgoing US President, Donald Trump, after his encouragement and inciting comments, calling the Presidential election a fraud without any proof of evidence.
READ: President Trump says he won’t attend Joe Biden’s inauguration
Some of them even called for the death of the US Vice President, Mike Pence for presiding over the certification of Joe Biden’s November election victory.
While making the disclosure in a statement, the Capitol Police said that the lockdown has been lifted and the nearby fire contained.
The Acting Chief of the Capitol Police had said that the complex which comprises of the Capitol, its grounds and several buildings were shut down as a precautionary measure.
READ: US Supreme court dismisses Texas bid to overturn presidential election results
The US Secret Service in a tweet post on its official Twitter handle said, “Out of an abundance of caution the U.S. Capitol complex was temporarily shutdown. There is no threat to the public.’’
The city’s fire department in its tweet post said that firefighters put out a fire outside near the Capitol complex.
The fire department said, “There were no injuries. This accounts for smoke that many have seen.”
READ: Huawei accuses the United States of hacking
What you should know
- President-elect, Joe Biden is expected to be sworn in at the US Capitol on Wednesday amid an unprecedented cordon of security, with strict physical distancing measures in place due to threats of violent attacks in Washington and the rising cases of coronavirus infections.
- Donald Trump, who is just fresh from a historic second impeachment from the congress had said he would not attend, although his deputy, Vice President Mike Pence, had given an indication that he would attend.
