• Cholera Outbreak: 103 reported dead in 3,623 cases
• Nigerians travelling to UAE are to pay ₦688k for document verification
• NLC threaten a 30-days strike over National Assembly’s talks of deregulating minimum wage
• GTCO invites customers to apply for bank shares at ₦44.50 per share
• Simi shocks Nigerians by saying she does not recognise any artist nor listen to music

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Cholera Outbreak: 103 reported dead in 3,623 cases

The cholera outbreak in Nigeria is still ongoing as it has continued to claim lives in the country, raising the death toll to 103 in 3,623 reported cases across the country.

The disease has been reported in 34 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that with over 187 local governments fatally affected by the disease, states like Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Katsina, Ebonyi, and Zamfara have been heavily hit by the disease.

There have also been three recorded cases of Yellow fever outbreak in Ekiti and Bayelsa States, resulting in the death of a patient.

Nigerians interested in travelling to UAE are to pay ₦688k for document verification

The lifting of the visa ban between the UAE and Nigeria did not come without terms and conditions as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has demanded that every Nigerian interested in coming into the country will be required to pay a non-refundable ₦688,000 for document verification and ₦48,000 for V.A.T.

This requirement is mandatory for all Nigerians over 13 years old before they can continue their visa processing. Nigerians must acquire a Document Verification Number (DVN), which will be checked.

Five lists must be ticked to obtain a UAE visa as a Nigerian passport holder. They are proof of bank account, which reveals that the travellers have a minimum of $10,000, the Document Verification Number (DVN), evidence of booked round trip flights, proof of a paid and confirmed hotel booking, and visa fee payment.

NLC threaten a 30-day strike over the National Assembly’s talks of deregulating minimum wage

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on a thirty-day strike, which would destabilise the country if the National Assembly were to go ahead with its decision to deregulate the minimum wage.

The threat was announced by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, who, like the entire nation, waits for the Federal Government and National Assembly to reveal the new minimum wage to take effect in the country.

Ajaero spoke up against the reports of the Joint Committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary meeting as they have planned to remove section 34 from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that the state governors can decide what to pay workers and so that there will be no need for a minimum wage.

GTCO invites customers to apply for bank shares at ₦44.50 per share

Guarantee Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has asked that investors and interested customers take part in its shares by applying for shares at the rate of ₦44.50 per share.

The announcement states that there will be nine billion common shares made available for investors till August 12, when the application will then close.

The shares are divided between retail and institutional investors for allocation as 4.5 billion shares will go to institutional investors while the others will be allocated to retail investors.

Simi shocks Nigerians by saying she does not recognise any artist nor listen to music

Nigerian singer and songwriter Simi Bolatito Kosoko made a shocking revelation in the latest episode of Zero Conditions Podcast, where she stated that she was out of touch with the musical world locally and internationally.

She explained that she did not listen to music as much as people thought she would, leaving her with no clue about artists and songs.

She further went on to say that the only reason she listens to her husband’s music is because she is married to him; otherwise, she would not even know him and her songs are treated no differently.