News
COVID-19 Third Wave: 85 die in 12 days – NCDC
Latest epidemiological report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that in the last 12 days, 85 people have lost their lives to COVID-19.
Between August 16 and August 27, 2021, the number of deaths rose from 2,223 to 2,308, while new confirmed cases increased by 7,246, that is, from 183,087 to 190,333 cases. Also within the same period under review, 2,505 persons were discharged.
With the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across states in the country, the NCDC has continued to encourage Nigerians to adhere to the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures of regular hand washing with soap and flowing water or hand sanitising, proper wearing of face masks, avoiding large gatherings, and maintaining social distance.
Also, the Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has urged Nigerians to receive any brand of the COVID-19 vaccines available in-country in order to ensure that the country achieves herd immunity by next year. Also, the Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, and the Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Walter Mulombo, continue to reiterate that the vaccines are effective against the COVID-19 variants, including the Delta variant.
Concerning what the agency is doing to protect Nigerians from the ravaging effect of the pandemic, the Director General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said: “As Nigeria continues to record an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, adequate testing is critical to identify cases quickly, prevent spread and accurately measure the burden of COVID-19. Testing allows health authorities to monitor disease trends, identify new clusters of cases and initiate contact tracing to prevent further spread of the disease.
“Although scientific evidence continues to evolve, we know that the more the virus spreads, the higher the risk of new variants emerging. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) continues to coordinate testing activities, including support to increase testing across states.
“The NCDC has led the establishment of at least one molecular laboratory in each state of the federation and has continued to ensure continuous supply of laboratory commodities and reagents; support with setting up of sample collection sites; provision of guidelines; training of laboratory scientists and so on. These are efforts towards ensuring testing is more accessible to Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, Enugu State government says it has opened additional COVID-19 vaccination centres in major markets, shopping malls and public places.
These are additional to the more than 100 conventional vaccination centres previously opened in the state.
Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday that the move was to make COVID-19 vaccination centres more accessible for residents.
Ugwu said that having more vaccination centres would help the state to achieve its target of getting every eligible resident vaccinated against the pandemic.
According to him, centres have been opened in major markets like Ogbette Market and Kenyatta Market in Enugu; at Shoprite and SPAR malls as well as other designated public places notwithstanding the 100 vaccination centres already available.
“Another thing we will do differently this time, which came as a result of challenges in the first phase, is that of increased advocacy and public sensitisation.
“We have planned to officially communicate and use various grassroots leaders, traditional, religious and opinion leaders, to press home the message of the need for the vaccination, its safety and efficacy.
“We are desirous to go to the hinterland and check all falsehoods and unfounded information militating against the people to freely get vaccinated, especially in the rural areas.
“Our teams will be visiting worship centres, community meetings and other public gatherings to sensitise our people on the need to receive their COVID-19 vaccination for the protection of all,’’ he said.
![]()
News
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.
READ ALSO:
- Former Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Embraces Islam, Recites Shahadah in Doha
- Milei Slams UN as ‘Useless’ Over Falklands Dispute
- Lagos Arrests Man Over Viral Video of Toddler Being Flogged
- Kwara Police Deny Shooting Motorcyclist at Oyun Bridge, Explain Viral Video
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
![]()
News
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.
READ ALSO:
- UK Student Visa: 63 Countries Exempt From Proof of Funds, Nigeria Excluded
- Lagos Intensifies Surveillance as Adulterated Palm Oil Raises Food Safety Concerns
- Saudi Arabia Rejects Nigeria’s Request for More 2027 Hajj Slots
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
![]()
News
MURIC Warns FG: Any Move Against Atiku Now Lacks Tact
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.
READ ALSO:
- JAMB Allows Candidates to Change Lost SIM, Email Addresses
- How Nigerians Can Get Federal High Court Affidavit Online Without Visiting Court
- Plateau Violence: Several Killed as Fresh Attacks Trigger Mass Exodus
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
![]()
-
News3 days agoNLC Backs ₦500 Petrol Demand, Workers Propose ₦500,000 Salary
-
Politics3 days agoObi vs Soludo: ₦86.67bn Handover Figure Meets ₦127.37bn Debt Claim
-
metro3 days agoSaudi Arabia Rejects Nigeria’s Request for More 2027 Hajj Slots
-
Education3 days agoUK Student Visa: 63 Countries Exempt From Proof of Funds, Nigeria Excluded
-
Health3 days agoLagos Intensifies Surveillance as Adulterated Palm Oil Raises Food Safety Concerns
-
metro2 days agoNationwide Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Give NAF Three-Day Ultimatum
-
Entertainment2 days agoPhyna, Nkechi Blessing Take Social Media Feud To Boxing Ring In Lagos
-
Politics17 hours agoOsun APC Warns Adeleke Govt Over Alleged Victimisation of Local Govt Workers
