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Lagos alerts to COVID-19 third wave as Delta variant spreads

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As the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads in Nigeria, the Lagos State Government has alerted residents to the presence of the third wave of the pandemic.

It said the alert became necessary following the  “steep” rise in the number of positive cases of the virus.

Oyo State Government has also urged members of the public to be more cautious as the state has recorded the deadlier Delta variant.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Sunday that the state had as of July 7, recorded 60,202 confirmed COVID-19  cases with 357 registered deaths.

He said, “From the beginning of July, we started to experience a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1 per cent at the end of June to its current rate of 6.6 per cent as at July 8.”

Sanwo-Olu, who  noted that only one per cent of the state’s population of more than 20 million had been vaccinated, said  managing the latest wave was the responsibility of “all of us”.

He specifically reminded churches, mosques  and  groups to adhere strictly to the existing COVID -19 protocols, including not having more than 50 persons in an enclosed place.

The governor also warned that in-bound travellers that fail to comply with isolation protocols risked prosecution.

The statement by Sanwo-Olu  partly read, “Whilst both the Federal and state governments have a huge role to play in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the responsibility of managing the third wave ultimately belongs to all of us.

“From the beginning of July, we started to experience a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1 per cent at the end of June to its current rate of 6.6 per cent as of July 8.

“The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern. Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation centres increased from an average of one to six per cent. This is the new and disturbing reality that now confronts us. As you all know, Lagos has been the epicentre of the pandemic since the start, and the way we manage it here has a significant impact and reverberating effect on the national outlook and outcomes. So, Nigeria is counting on us in Lagos to be resolute in our stand against the virus.

“We will continue to test aggressively. We will also focus on sequencing the samples we are collecting to ensure we are detecting and keeping track of the different variants in circulation. It is only by testing and sequencing comprehensively that we can collect the data required for informed decision-making.

“Greater vigilance is required at this time in our Churches and Mosques, and other places of religious worship. Even as we are pleased that religious houses are now open for worship, we must not allow ourselves to be carried away by the illusion that all is now back to normal. This is especially critical as Sallah approaches in a little over a week from now. The festivities will no doubt bring people together in large numbers and create conditions that can sadly cause the spread of the coronavirus. We must not allow this to happen.

“For this reason, we are mandating full compliance with all protective protocols. Compulsory use of masks in all public places, social distancing, temperature checks, provisions for hand-washing and sanitisers, and a maximum of 50 per cent occupancy in enclosed spaces.

“As of today, the percentage of residents who have received two doses of the vaccine stands at a mere 1 per cent. We recognise this is not adequate, and given the imminent third wave, and our priority to reduce COVID-19 related deaths, we are exploring all avenues possible to ramp up access to vaccination to reach our herd immunity target of at least 60 percent vaccination coverage of the population of Lagos State.

“We are confident that we will be getting a second batch of vaccines very soon, to kick-start the second phase of vaccinations.

“Lagos State will continue to work with all our partners, across government and the private sector, to ensure that we permanently triumph over this virus. We will not rest until this is achieved.

“Without the cooperation of the public at large, we stand the risks of losing both lives and livelihood, on a devastating scale. Therefore, I would like to once again reiterate that this is not the time to get tired or complacent. Instead, we must be re-energised to battle this invisible and seemingly relentless enemy.

“We must not be demoralised by this; we must instead resolve that we will not leave any stone unturned in our bid to effectively mitigate the third wave of this pandemic in Lagos State.”

The governor said out of the  60,202 confirmed cases , 55,135 recovered while  770 are currently being managed.

About 4,382 patients, according to him, were admitted into COVID-19 care centres.

He added that there are  30 accredited testing centers – 26 private and four public health laboratories.

In Oyo State, the Incident Manager and Coordinator of the COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre, Dr Olabode Ladipo, confirmed the  discovery of the Delta variant of the virus.

He said the public needed to take extra caution and consistently apply all protocols released by the task force.

His advice was contained in a statement by  the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa.

The statement read in part, “The Task Force wishes to notify the general public of the isolation of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in the state.

“This strain has been associated with high transmission, increase the severity of infection and outcomes.

“As such, this is to warn that the virus is still very much within the society.”

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Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

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Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

Jetour Nigeria has turned its Abuja Experience into a colourful fusion of hi-tech automobiles, luxury and art, attracting automobile enthusiasts, prospective buyers and art lovers to an exhibition designed to showcase a new dimension of motoring and lifestyle.

The three-day event, which opened on Tuesday at the Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, Abuja, has brought together an impressive collection of Jetour SUVs and new-generation vehicles, alongside art displays that added colour and creativity to the automobile showcase.

Rather than a conventional vehicle exhibition, the Abuja Experience offered visitors an opportunity to interact with Jetour’s technology-driven vehicles, examine their luxury features and immerse themselves in an artistic presentation that appealed to both young and older enthusiasts.

Among the vehicles on display are the Jetour X50, X70 Plus, X70 PHEV, X90 Plus, T2, T2 PHEV, Dashing, Rely R8, G700, as well as the newly introduced T1 and F700.

The event, which ends today, Thursday, September 24, is the latest stage in Jetour Nigeria’s strategy of taking its products closer to customers while strengthening its presence in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states.

On the first day, discussions centred on Jetour’s product philosophy, technology, safety and the changing preferences of Nigerian motorists.

Speaking during the first panel session, Managing Director of New Era AutoVehicle Services, Kemi Koyejo, said Jetour’s growing product portfolio was designed to cater for the diverse needs of Nigerian motorists.

Koyejo described Jetour vehicles as a combination of luxury, safety and technology, stressing that there was “no one-size-fits-all product” because motorists have different needs and lifestyles.

She explained the philosophy behind the Jetour name—“Jet plus Tour”—saying the brand was intentional about making mobility more enjoyable.

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According to her, Jetour was “forward-looking”, with a product strategy covering petrol-powered vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrid technologies under its corporate tagline, “Drive Your Future.”

Executive Director, Elizade Nigeria Limited, Dr Ademola Philip-Adewunmi, identified after-sales support and spare-parts availability as critical to sustaining Jetour’s growth in Nigeria.

He disclosed that Jetour had sold about 1,000 units in Nigeria within three years, adding that motorists were increasingly researching and comparing vehicles before making purchasing decisions.

He said buyers now demanded a combination of aesthetics, technology, connectivity, performance and value for money.

Adewunmi also disclosed that Jetour vehicles come with a five-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty, while customers have access to trade-in opportunities.

On safety, Corps Commander Cherries Muta of the Federal Road Safety Corps said technologies deployed in Jetour vehicles, including sensors and driver-warning systems, could contribute to safer driving.

Art meets automobile

The second day introduced another dimension to the experience, as artworks were displayed alongside Jetour’s vehicles, creating a meeting point between automotive design, technology, luxury and contemporary art.

The art exhibition attracted an audience comprising young and older lovers of quality automobiles and art, with the producers explaining the concepts and intentions behind the works.

The presentation added a creative and cultural dimension to the automobile showcase, with visitors moving between the vehicles and artworks while engaging with the artists and exploring the ideas behind their creations.

The event also featured cultural performances and a second panel session focusing on mobility entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities across Nigeria.

Jetour Vice President, Yuan Anguo, thanked Nigerian customers for their confidence in the brand, assuring them that the company remained committed to developing its business in Nigeria and across Africa.

The Abuja Experience, according to the organisers, is part of Jetour Nigeria’s broader effort to deepen customer engagement, expand its market presence and present mobility not simply as transportation, but as an experience combining technology, comfort, lifestyle and creativity.

 

Jetour Nigeria displays hi-tech, luxury, art at Abuja Experience

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NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

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NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed demands by public-sector workers for the Federal Government to reduce the price of petrol to ₦500 per litre, while the workers have proposed a minimum monthly salary of ₦500,000 for Grade Level 01, Step 1 officers under a new public-service salary structure.

The demands were contained in a letter by the Trade Union Side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amid renewed concerns over rising fuel prices and the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

The workers gave the Federal Government until September 30, 2026, to respond to their demands, which cover petrol prices, wage awards, salary reviews and negotiations for a new wage structure.

The JNPSNC called for an intervention capable of bringing the petrol pump price down to ₦500 per litre, arguing that the rising cost of fuel has significantly increased transportation expenses and contributed to higher prices of food and other essential goods and services.

The demand comes amid another increase in petrol prices in Nigeria, with pump prices rising in several parts of the country following higher crude oil prices in the international market.

The labour movement has argued that the impact of rising fuel costs extends beyond motorists, as increased transportation and energy expenses raise the cost of moving agricultural produce, manufacturing goods and other commodities.

The NLC has therefore called for measures to cushion workers and households from the effects of the latest price increases.

On wages, the JNPSNC proposed a new salary structure under which a Grade Level 01, Step 1 public servant would earn ₦500,000 monthly.

The figure is important because it is a proposal by the workers, not an approved national minimum wage.

The proposed ₦500,000 salary is also specifically linked to the public-service salary structure being sought by the JNPSNC ahead of January 2027. It should not be presented as though the Federal Government has agreed to increase Nigeria’s statutory national minimum wage to ₦500,000.

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Nigeria’s current statutory national minimum wage remains ₦70,000 per month, following the 2024 wage agreement and legislation.

The workers are seeking negotiations for a new wage structure while also asking for an immediate Wage Award for employees at the Federal, State and Local Government levels as a short-term response to current economic pressures.

The proposed wage award is separate from the longer-term salary review and any future agreement on the national minimum wage.

The JNPSNC wants the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to begin discussions with labour representatives and other stakeholders on the proposed wage award and salary adjustments.

The workers said rising inflation, transportation costs, food prices, housing expenses, healthcare costs and education fees had reduced the purchasing power of existing salaries.

They also called for salaries and allowances across the public service to be reviewed upward and for future salary adjustments to take inflation into account.

According to the workers, linking periodic salary reviews to inflation would help prevent employees’ earnings from losing substantial purchasing power between major wage negotiations.

The labour side also demanded subsidised transportation and affordable housing for public servants as part of measures to ease the pressure on workers.

On the petroleum sector, the workers backed calls for greater availability of crude oil in naira to local refineries, arguing that increased domestic refining and local crude supply could reduce exposure to international oil-market shocks.

The NLC has previously advocated measures to strengthen local refining and improve domestic energy security as part of efforts to reduce pressure on consumers.

The workers also rejected the idea of relying mainly on food palliatives to address the hardship, arguing that temporary relief does not adequately compensate for the loss of purchasing power caused by higher transportation and living costs.

They instead called for measures that would address the underlying drivers of the rising cost of living.

The latest demands come as the downstream petroleum market faces renewed price pressure despite increased domestic refining capacity.

Higher international crude prices have raised input costs for refiners, contributing to increases in the wholesale and retail prices of petrol.

The development has renewed debate over how much protection Nigeria’s expanding domestic refining capacity can provide against global oil-price movements.

For organised labour, however, the immediate concern is the effect of higher fuel prices on workers and households.

The JNPSNC expects the Federal Government to respond to its demands by September 30, while also looking ahead to negotiations for a new salary and wage framework from January 2027.

The council has indicated that it expects the President’s forthcoming Independence Day address to address some of the concerns raised by workers.

The proposed ₦500,000 salary therefore remains a labour demand awaiting negotiation and possible government consideration. It is not the current national minimum wage and does not mean that all Nigerian workers are automatically entitled to ₦500,000 monthly.

Similarly, the proposed ₦500 petrol price is a demand for government intervention and does not represent the current regulated or prevailing pump price across Nigeria.

The labour demands reflect growing pressure from organised workers for government action as households and businesses contend with higher fuel prices, transportation costs and living expenses.

NLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary

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MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact

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MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact
MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned the Federal Government against any move to arrest, interrogate or otherwise take action against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over a fresh petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, saying such a step at this time could send the wrong signal to Nigerians.

The warning came as the controversy over a renewed call for the EFCC to investigate allegations dating back to Atiku’s tenure as Vice-President intensified, with opposition figures and the petitioner trading sharply different arguments over the matter.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, MURIC Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the government should exercise caution, particularly with the 2027 general elections approaching.

According to MURIC, the renewed allegations have assumed greater sensitivity because Atiku is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress and a leading opposition figure.

“We warn that such an attempt at this point in time will send the wrong signal to Nigerians,” the group said, adding that with the 2027 elections “at the doorsteps,” the Federal Government should carefully consider the consequences of any action against the former Vice-President.

MURIC described any such move as lacking tact and “short” of emotional intelligence, while urging the government to avoid conduct that could create the impression that state institutions were being used against political opponents.

The organisation also warned against what it described as a damaging “body language” capable of portraying Nigeria as a “banana republic.”

MURIC said that although the country had already lost some ethical ground, its democratic values and norms remained important safeguards that should not be compromised.

“Our corporate image in the global community is sinking fast,” the group added.

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The statement followed renewed controversy over a petition by former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, asking the EFCC to revisit allegations concerning Atiku’s activities while he was Vice-President.

Reports indicate that the petition relates to allegations investigated by the EFCC between 2005 and 2006. Agbonayinma reportedly gave the anti-graft agency a 14-day ultimatum to act and threatened legal action if the commission failed to respond.

Former Senator Dino Melaye has strongly opposed the renewed petition, describing it as an attempt to “resurrect the dead.” Melaye argued that the matter had previously been dealt with and questioned the basis for bringing it back almost two decades later.

The dispute, however, has escalated beyond the original petition, with Agbonayinma hitting back at Melaye and challenging him to produce documentary evidence for his claim that the allegations had been investigated and dismissed.

In a statement reported on September 20, Agbonayinma insisted that he was asking the EFCC to perform its statutory responsibility and argued that the substance of the allegations should be addressed rather than his personality or political affiliation.

“You cannot defend Atiku Abubakar from an EFCC petition by attacking me,” Agbonayinma was quoted as saying, while urging the anti-graft agency to determine whether the allegations warranted further investigation.

The renewed controversy has also brought attention to the distinction between a petition seeking investigation and a finding of criminal guilt. The existence of a petition does not, by itself, establish that the person named in it committed an offence.

There is also a historical legal dimension to the allegations. Reports on the previous proceedings state that a Lagos State High Court set aside an EFCC administrative indictment against Atiku in December 2006, while no criminal conviction against him resulted from the allegations.

Atiku has continued to deny wrongdoing and has challenged anyone with credible evidence against him to present it through the appropriate legal channels.

Meanwhile, there was no confirmed announcement from the EFCC, as of the latest reports reviewed, that it had arrested Atiku or formally invited him over the fresh petition. A separate and more recent EFCC investigation reported on September 20 concerns individuals connected to allegations surrounding the Mambilla Power Project, which is distinct from the 2005–2006 allegations at the centre of the present political dispute.

The MURIC intervention has therefore added a fresh dimension to an increasingly heated political controversy, with the organisation urging the Federal Government to exercise restraint and protect public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the dispute over the renewed EFCC petition is expected to remain a significant political issue, particularly if the anti-graft agency decides to take further steps.

For MURIC, however, the timing of any action is crucial. The organisation wants the Federal Government to ensure that whatever steps are taken by law-enforcement agencies are grounded in due process and do not create the perception of political persecution.

The group’s central warning is that Nigeria must guard its democratic reputation and avoid actions that could further erode public confidence in its institutions at a particularly sensitive period in the nation’s political calendar.

MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact

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