News

Virus pandemic spread to all states likely, NCDC warns April 17, 2020 States yet to have coronavirus pandemic cases should brace for it, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned. The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 also on Thursday said community transmission of the virus is now prevalent, caused mainly by people making inter-state travels. National coordinator of PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, said: “We have noticed that community spread is now being traced to people traveling across state borders. We need to try and restrict our movement in order to stop the spread of this Coronavirus infection, this is particularly pertinent with regards to the news of people being smuggled in trucks out of Lagos.” The virus has spread to 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) – 17 states are so far free of the virus since the index case in the country – the Italian who travelled from Milan – on February 27. The 14 COVID-19-free states include: Bayelsa, Cross...

15 patients discharged in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, others April 17, 2020 Fifteen Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients were discharged in five states on Thursday. Those discharged are Lagos (five); Bauchi (four); Ogun (three); Kwara (two) and one in Enugu. Menegian, whose death was announced in a Facebook post by her sister Noo, died of coronavirus at a London hospital. The other deaths were recorded in Lagos (three) and one in Kano. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who announced the discharge of five more patients from the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba, bringing to 90, the number of discharged patients in Lagos, gave the identity of the lucky patients as three females and two males. In a tweet through his verified Twitter handle, the governor said the patients had recovered fully and tested negative twice to COVID-19. He appealed to residents to stay at home, practice social distancing and observe the highest possible personal and hand hygiene. ...

COVID-19: Active cases now 277 as total number hits 442 April 17, 2020 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said the active cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria is now 277. Recall that the NCDC, on its verified Twitter account, on Thursday said it recorded 35 new cases of COVID-19. NCDC said it recorded 19 in Lagos, 9 in FCT, 5 in Kano and 2 in Oyo State. The agency stated that with the majority in stable condition, the total number of cases is now 442. It added that 152 patients had been discharged and 13 deaths recorded. A total of 20 states in the country have recorded COVID-19 infection. “As at 10:20p.m. on April 16, Lagos had a total of 251 confirmed COVID-19 cases, while FCT and Kano have 67 and 21 cases, respectively,” it said. The NCDC recommended treatment of every confirmed COVID-19 case in an isolation centre to mitigate the risk of spread in communities. Post navigation

Cote d’Ivoire returnee relives ugly experience with virus April 18, 2020 Lawal Waliyulah, one of the returnees from Cote d’Ivoire quarantined by the Osun State Government, saw his relations who came to visit him at the Ejigbo isolation centre ‘miles away’ and could not talk to them. “We only saw them miles away,” Waliyulah told The Nation after his discharge from the centre. “The security operatives at the isolation centre kept them off. We could not even talk to them because they were kept far away from us,” he said.

Lockdown is no cure – Gbadamosi reveals solution for COVID-19 April 17, 2020 Former Lagos State governorship aspirant, Babatunde Gbadamosi has said the lockdown order is not a cure for Coronavirus in Nigeria. Gbadamosi took to his Twitter page on Thursday, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to call off the lockdown. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, warned that poverty and hunger in the land due to the lockdown will end up destroying Nigeria and crippling the economy. He urged the government to order movement with masks and adherence to social distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 His tweets read: “Stop all this ‘ROBO-REBE’ and focus on the cure to restart the economy! “Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and Zinc-sulphate with lots of fluid and lots of vitamin C! “LOCKDOWN IS NO CURE! Emphasize physical prevention – more masks, more gloves, COMPULSORY PPE for ALL medical staff, clinical or not! “Allow movement but make masks mandator...

COVID-19: UK Govt. reveals arrangement to evacuate citizens from Nigeria April 17, 2020 The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has revealed that arrangements have been concluded with British Airways, to evacuate its citizens from Nigeria on April 18 and April 20, 2020. In a statement, Laing said interested nationals would pay less than £500 for the flights from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. To be eligible for the flights, you need to be a British citizen, although priority will be placed on helping the most vulnerable returnee and those with underlying medical conditions. “When you book, you will be asked for your passport details and a UK address and we will be doing eligibility checks. “I should also say that making a booking does not automatically guarantee you a seat on the first flight, but if you are eligible you will be transferred to a subsequent flight. “With regar...

You must explain inhuman treatment against Nigerians – Gbajabiamila tells China April 17, 2020 The leadership of the House of Representatives has expressed displeasure over the inhuman treatment meted out on some Nigerians by the Chinese authorities in Beijing. He said China must explain its humiliating action on Nigerians, adding that the House was waiting to hear from the Chinese ambassador at least by Tuesday next week. The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila said this on Thursday during a meeting with Zhou Pingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria. The lawmaker said the inhuman treatment on Nigerians in the Asian country must be addressed forthwith. Gbajabiamila confronted Pingjian with the protest video of the incident, where a Nigerian was seen challenging Chinese officials over the maltreatment. Also in attendance at the meeting were the Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu and Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Toby Okechukwu. The Speaker went further to s...

COVID-19: Chinese people react to T.B Joshua’s prophecy on end of Coronavirus April 17, 2020 A video has surfaced on YouTube showing citizens and residents of China reacting to the ‘controversial prophecy’ from Prophet TB Joshua that the coronavirus outbreak would end in Wuhan, China by 27th March, 2020. Some of the Chinese in the video heard the prophecy on social media where Joshua declared “rain would fall to wipe away all fears of the unknown”, specifying it would fall in Wuhan, China – the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak – and mentioning March 27th, 2020. “I had been hearing about TB Joshua since I was a kid but I never believed in him,” one of the residents explained. He said he immediately dismissed Joshua’s prophecy as a “fake prophecy” but became perplexed when heavy rain fell across the region from 23rd to 26th March 2020. Within that time frame, Wuhan declared it had no new confirmed cases of the disease, leading the resident to change his perception o...

COVID-19 funds: Peter Obi sends message to Buhari govt April 17, 2020 The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 general elections, Peter Obi has demanded accountability from the Federal Government and agencies in handling the COVID-19 funds. The former Anambra State governor said that the government must carry Nigerians along on how donations were being received and put to use. Many individuals, religious organizations and unions and agencies have made contributions to the Federal government to help in the fight against Coronavirus. Most recently, the European Union made a donation of €50 million to the Nigerian government to help the fight against the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease. “It is essential that the government and concerned agencies remain accountable in the usage of funds raised to combat #COVID19 in Nigeria. “In essence, Nigerians should be carried along on the inflow and outflow of #COVID19 funds – as ...

FIRS releases performance result of revenue collection April 17, 2020 The final performance result in revenue collection by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for the first quarter (Q1, 2020) has been released. This was contained in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Friday, signed by Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, Director, Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS. The result showed that the Service posted a new collection record of 15% increase for the quarter under review compared to the Q1, 2019. The 15% increase in Q1, 2020 is a first in the FIRS first quarter collection history since its inception in colonial times. The Service attributed the outstanding record to widespread policy reforms and institutional re-organisation initiated by the Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami, since assuming office in December, 2019. “Traditionally, Q1 collection results have been notoriously low as a result of limited economic activities within the period, which bu...

Anambra ‘closely monitoring 39 contacts’ April 17, 2020 Anambra State Commissioner for Health Dr. Vincent Okpala has assured the people of close and daily monitoring of the 39 contacts of the COVID-19 index case in the state. He said the ministry had received cooperation from the index case who, he said, was receiving attention. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Okpala said three of the 39 contacts were outside the state, promising protection of their identities in line with international standard practice. He said some of them were quarantined in the state facilities while others were in what he called self-quarantine. “As at Wednesday night, we have 39 contacts, but three are outside the state. We’ve made contact with all of them and we are following up with them on daily basis. “Some are on self-quarantine in their homes, while others are in protective centres, all are known to us and we are following up on them. We see them on daily basis to monitor their te...

Lockdown: Arewa leader urges compliance April 17, 2020 The Sarkin Hausawa of Idi Araba, Alhaji Hassan Abubakar Auyo has called on the people of Idi-Araba Community in Mushin, Lagos to abide by the directives of the Federal and Lagos state governments. Alhaji Auyo said the directives were in line with the injunctions of Allah and Prophet Muhammad. Nigerians, he said, should be obedient and law abiding. “We should ignore the call by some unpatriotic elements to disregard the good intentions of both the Federal and Lagos state governments. I issued this statement because I was accused of being a supporter and a stooge to the government. Agreed I am a supporter of the government which made me a supporter of Almighty Allah because that is the injunction of Allah that one should be subservient to the government and his leaders. I am loyal and submissive to this government as well as my leaders,” he said. The Sarkin Hausawa of Idi Araba said he learnt someone was instigati...

Kaduna turns NYSC camp to centre April 17, 2020 As part of efforts to prevent new cases of COVID-19 from other states, Kaduna State has converted the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp on the Kaduna-Abuja highway into a quarantine centre for travellers. The government, last week, announced that any traveller insisting on coming into or pass through Kaduna, would be sent to one of its quarantine facilities for 14 days. Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Balarabe confirmed the temporary conversion of the NYSC camp during an inspection visit to the facility on Thursday. Dr Balarabe who was in company of other members of the Covid-19 Task Force in Kaduna, explained that the facility would be used to quarantine travellers coming into the state during the lockdown, as part of measures to contain the further spread of coronavirus.

‘PrimeAlert’ free mobile testing app debuts April 17, 2020 A group has created an emergency response app to assist the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Police in reporting cases and symptoms of COVID-19 in the country. The free app, ‘PrimeAlert’, is expected to enable Nigerians report any suspected case or anybody with virus symptoms. Read Also: NCDC establishes COVID-19 testing laboratory for N/East in Borno Chief Executive Officer ‘PrimeAlert’, Tony Nwulu, spoke in a statement yesterday in Abuja. He said the gesture was aimed at supporting the government as part of its contribution to curb spread of coronavirus.

Lawmaker distributes palliatives April 17, 2020 Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives Ahmed Idris Wase has commenced distribution of foodstuff to the less privileged in 20 wards of Wase federal constituency of Plateau State. His Chief Press Secretary, Umar Mohammed Puma, said in a statement that the move was part of measures to cushion effects of the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Puma said the distribution, which commenced in all 20 wards, witnessed the despatching of items to wards for distribution to households. He noted that Wase said the food items were distributed without discrimination.

NO FEE CHARGED ON COVID-19 LOAN APPLICATIONS -CBN April 16, 2020 Business The Central Bank of Nigeria says the apex bank does not charge any fee on COVID-19 loan applications as claimed in false reports circulated on social media. That is according to the Director of Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Isaac Okorafor, in a fresh statement. Mr Okorafor explained that procedures for accessing the N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility stimulus package for households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the pandemic were clearly spelt out. He advised Prospective applicants to approach NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank or the CBN branch nearest to them for clarification on the procedure for accessing any of the bank’s related loans. It also noted that any observed irregularity should be reported to the Consumer Protection department of the CBN.

COVID-19: THREE OUT OF FIVE A’IBOM INDEX CASES DISCHARGED April 16, 2020 News Three out of the five patients who were tested positive to coronavirus in Akwa Ibom State have been confirmed negative and discharged from the Isolation centre. The Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom State, Dr Dominic Ukpong who announced their discharge said the three former COVID-19 patients came out negative through a confirmation test. Addressing newsmen shortly before the discharge of the patients at Ibom Specialist Hospital on Wednesday, the Health Commissioner said an additional person who had presented symptoms of COVID-19 but tested negative was also to be discharged, bringing to total number of persons to regain freedom to four. “Altogether we had nine persons in the isolation unit three of the persons we are discharging today are from the initial 5 index cases. Others were suspected cases whose test results came out negative”. He said Ukpong said apart from the five index cases, o...

Lockdown: Kwara police impound 600 motorcycles, 100 vehicles April 16, 2020 The Kwara Police Command says it has so far impounded over 600 motorcycles and 100 vehicles from residents of the state who violated the lockdown aimed at curtailing the coronavirus. Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, disclosed this in Ilorin on Thursday while speaking with the GIFTALWORLD. Okasanmi, who was speaking on the security situation in the state since the lockdown commenced, said the owners of the motorcycles and vehicles who were mostly commercial operators were apprehended in different parts of the state. According to the police spokesperson, all the impounded motorcycles and vehicles were at the command’s headquarters in llorin. He said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, would decide on the next line of action with respect to the impounded items after the lockdown. Okasanmi, who reminded residents of the state that the ban on roam...

COVID-19: Governors working to improve operational efficiency – NGF April 16, 2020 The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said efforts have been intensified to improve logistical and operational efficiency for sample collection from people infected with Coronavirus. The governors, made this known in a communiqué issued at the end of the Forum’s 5th tele-conference held on Wednesday. The communiqué was signed by NGF Chairman, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Thursday in Abuja. “Most States have established COVID-19 hotlines and will ensure that emergency services are integrated into the operations of their Task Force on COVID-19,” Fayemi said. He said that the forum received briefing from the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu and the Director -General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, on activities of the PTF. The briefing, he said ,include the current partnership with the Coalition ag...

COVID-19 Lockdown: NCDC re-emphasises goals April 16, 2020 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has re-emphasised that COVID-19 lockdown was not to end the disease but to keep people apart to stop its transmission to an extent and to build public health response efficiency. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, made the assertion while speaking on Sunrise Daily, Channels TV on Thursday morning. “The goal of the lockdown is not to get to the end of this outbreak because that is not a realistic goal. “On the goal of the lockdown, there are two things. “Firstly, to keep people a little bit apart so that we stop transmission to some extent. “And even though the lockdown has not been perfect, we have also some indicators to show that we are mixing a lot less,” he said. “There are some analysis from Google that shows us that in many of the places that we need to congregate it is down by 60, 70 per cent . “There is no doubt that there is less conta...

Ayade to give jobs to 8000 youths April 15, 2020 As part its of sustainable livelihood palliative to cushion the effect of economic difficulties occasioned by the global pandemic, COVID 19, Cross River state government is poised to employ thousands of youths on some sectors of the state’s economy. A statement released in Calabar Tuesday by Secretary to the state government, Barrister Tina Banku Agbor listed the sectors as Health, Security, Environment and Agriculture. The government said it will not allow Cross River youths suffer the unsavoury economic consequences of the pandemic. “In view of the COVID-19 lockdown and its attendant consequences on livelihoods leading to job losses, daily income difficulties, waste of youthful energy, and in order to reduce public anxiety, youth restiveness and lower social tension, the Cross River State Government is set to recruit young men and women from the ages of 18-35, with the exception of those in the health sector, on a flat ...