COVID-19: UK exempts Nigeria from 30 nations on travel ban list – Newstrends
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COVID-19: UK exempts Nigeria from 30 nations on travel ban list

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The United Kingdom has exempted Nigeria from a list of 30 countries that have been banned from entering its country over rising COVID-19 cases.

With over 3.7 million cases and more than 100,000 deaths, the UK is one of the top five countries with the highest number of confirmed infections.

Nigeria has recorded over 124,000 cases with more than 1,500 deaths.

The Cable quoted the UK as saying in a statement on the government’s website that nationals from 30 countries, some of which are in South America and Southern Africa, would be banned from entering the country.

The list excludes British and Irish nationals or others who possess resident visas.

This development comes amid discoveries of new virus strains such as B.1.1.7 found in UK, B.1.351 discovered in South Africa and P.1 variant identified in Brazil.

“People who have been in or transited through the countries listed below in the last 10 days will not be granted access to the UK,” the statement reads.

 “This does not include British and Irish Nationals, or third country nationals with residence rights in the UK, who will be able to enter the UK but are required to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival along with their household.”

The affected countries are Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, and Eswatini.

Others are French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Addressing members of parliament on Wednesday, Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, said citizens must have valid reasons to travel outside the country before permission is granted at the airports and ports.

He said such measure is meant to curtail the spread of the virus from other countries to the UK.

“I want to make clear that under the stay home regulations, it is illegal to leave home to travel abroad for leisure purposes,” he said.

“We will enforce this at ports and airports by asking people why they are leaving and instructing them to return home if they do not have a valid reason to travel.”

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Just in: Tinubu lands in Abuja after Netherlands, Saudi trips

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Tinubu returns to Nigeria

Just in: Tinubu lands in Abuja after Netherlands, Saudi trips

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after his trips to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

According to the NTA, Tinubu returned on Wednesday.

On April 22, Tinubu left Abuja, the country’s capital, for the Kingdom of The Netherlands on an official visit.

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, said the president was visiting The Netherlands at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

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After the engagements in The Netherlands, Tinubu proceeded to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to attend a special World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting between April 28 and 29.

Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser on information and strategy to the president, on Tuesday announced that the President and his aides will return on Wednesday in a post on his X handle.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” Onanuga wrote.

Just in: Tinubu lands in Abuja after Netherlands, Saudi trips

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National clean cooking policy gets FEC approval

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Federal Executive Council

National clean cooking policy gets FEC approval

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the National Clean Cooking Policy to ensure access to clean cooking energy solutions for all Nigerian households and institutions by 2030.

During the policy’s launch, Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting policy domestication by implementing key recommendations, as stated by the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cooking (NACC).

“We will conduct extensive awareness campaigns to highlight the benefits of cleaner cooking solutions. Additionally, we’ll offer technical and business training to enhance the capabilities of local producers and distributors. Fiscal and monetary incentives will also be provided to encourage local manufacturing of clean cooking fuels and technologies,” he elaborated.

Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, emphasized the ministry’s plan to organize regional and state launches to raise awareness about the policy.

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“Effective implementation of the policy relies on states and local governments aligning with its goals,” he emphasized, pledging adequate budgetary allocations from the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, highlighted the significance of implementing the clean cooking policy in achieving national climate change objectives.

“Development partners have allocated substantial financial resources to support the national clean cooking goal,” he noted.

Ewah Eleri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cooking, praised FEC’s approval of the national policy and called for collaboration among government levels, the private sector, civil society organizations, and international development agencies to combat cooking energy poverty and mitigate climate change impacts.

Eleri thanked all partners, particularly the Clean Cooking Alliance and the Heinrich Boell Foundation, for their contributions to policy development.

National clean cooking policy gets FEC approval

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CBN cybersecurity levy will worsen Nigerians’ situation – PRP

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CBN cybersecurity levy will worsen Nigerians’ situation – PRP

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has condemned the cybersecurity levy imposed on electronic transfers by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), describing it as ill-timed and insensitive, especially considering the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians due to the Federal Government’s unpopular policies.

The PRP, in a statement signed by its acting national publicity secretary, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, and made available to WITHIN NIGERIA, called on the CBN to withdraw the policy and implement measures to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

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The statement questions the timing of the levy and criticizes the government for collecting money from Nigerians to fund the Office of the National Security Adviser without ensuring transparency or accountability in the utilization of the funds.

The PRP condemns the CBN’s directive and warns that it will further worsen the financial difficulties faced by Nigerian citizens, particularly impacting vulnerable groups such as hardworking individuals, families, and small business owners.

The PRP calls on the CBN and the Nigerian Government to rescind the policy and focus on implementing measures that address the citizens’ concerns, including economic growth, job creation, and equitable distribution of resources. The party emphasizes its solidarity with the citizens and its commitment to fighting for a fairer and more prosperous future for all.

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