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       Health commissioner Lagos State warned on Friday that coronavirus cases in the state may surge to 39,000 in the coming weeks if proactive measures were not put in place to avoid the situation. Lagos currently has 44 confirmed cases, which include 41 active cases and 3 discharged patients. Health Commissioner, Prof. Akin Abayomi, at a news conference disclosed that about 3,000 primary contacts of tho se infected with the disease were being traced on daily basis. He warned that infected cases may increase if the contacts were not observing self-isolation or social distancing. According to him, the mathematical projection was that the state could have up to 39,000 cases. He said this has not happened because of the state’s strategy of tracing primary contacts of victims and constant follow up. At worse, the state does not expect to have more than 13,000 cases, he said. Lagos is making significant progress compared to what is happening across the globe, he added. “We have to

     Five new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria: 3 in FCT & 2 in Oyo State As at 08:00 pm 27th March there are 70 cases of confirmed  #COVID19  reported Nigeria. 3 have been discharged with 1 death.

     Press Release: COVID-19: NNPC, Oil Industry Donate N11billion to Combat Coronavirus in Nigeria … As Corporation Supports Uni. of Abuja Teaching Hospital With Medical Equipment The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), International Oil Companies (IOCs) as well as Independent Oil Companies in the Upstream and Downstream Sectors, have donated N11billion to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as part of its support to combat the Coronavirus pandemic in the Country. Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, made this disclosure during a press briefing at the NNPC Towers in Abuja Friday, a release by the Corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, has stated. Mallam Kyari said in recognition of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID -19) pandemic on the Nigerian population and the economy, the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry embarked on an Industry-wide collaborative initiative to support the effort to comba

      As Nigeria continues to fight the spread of Coronavirus, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved that all National Youth Service Corps, NYSC camps nationwide be used as isolation centres. Buhari also approved that four stadiums in the country be used as isolation centres in order to fight against COVID-19 in the country. The four stadiums located at Surulere, Ibadan, Abuja and Kaduna will henceforth be used as isolation centres. Minister for Youth and Sport, Sunday Dare disclosed this in a post on his official Twitter page. The post read: “Mr. President has approved for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to open and make available the stadiums in Surulere Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Kaduna as well as our NYSC camps nationwide for use as isolation centers as they are needed. “ We are in touch with relevant authorities.” Nigeria has recorded 65 cases of COVID-19 as the government takes all measures to curb the further spread of the deadly virus.

      Few days after the Lagos State Government issued a stay-at-home directive to residents, in order to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled economic stimulus package for the indigent and the most vulnerable in the society. The stimulus, which comes in food packs, to be distributed to every local government in the State is aimed at cushioning the effect of the fourteen days stay-at-home directive. Speaking after an on-the-spot assessment of one of the State-owned food banks, located inside the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Agege, Sanwo-Olu said the economic stimulus will reduce the burden of the temporary economic downturn on the citizens caused by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Governor said the food packs, which were put together by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will reach the most vulnerable communities and households across Lagos, saying that the indigents who rely on daily wages w

     March 27, 2020 Press Statement Kogi Guber: PDP Condemns Violent Attack by APC At Tribunal   The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the violent attack on its leaders, members, lawyers and witnesses by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the premises of the Kogi state governorship election petition tribunal in Abuja. The PDP described the attack which was openly coordinated by a known APC leader as barbaric and part of the desperate plot by the APC to eliminate some of our leaders, trigger confusion, disrupt and manipulate the judicial process, instill fear in the tribunal judges in a bid to subvert the course of justice, knowing that there is no way its manipulations at the November 16, 2019 Kogi state governorship election can stand before the law. It was indeed a terrific sight when scores of APC hoodlums led by APC Kogi state Chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Bello, attacked PDP leaders and witnesses with machetes and clubs, for which some of our members and witne

        March 27, 2020 Press Statement PDP Congratulates Gov. Matawalle, Zamfara People Over S/Court Judgment The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Zamfara State Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle as well as the people of Zamfara state over the upholding of his mandate by the Supreme Court on Friday. The party said the judgment of the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the will of Allah that he will lead the people of Zamfara. The PDP therefore urged Governor Matawalle to continue in his already manifest efforts in stabilizing and repositioning the state for higher productivity, peaceful coexistence and massive human and infrastructural development in line with the manifesto of the PDP and the visions of our founding fathers. The party charged the governor to note that the people of Zamfara state repose immense confidence in him and the PDP and as such he must not spare any effort in delivering on his mandate in keeping with the guiding principles of the PDP. Si

      By Terver Akase The Benue State Executive Council yesterday held an expanded meeting which also had in attendance, members of the State Action Committee on Coronavirus. The meeting was presided over by Chairman of the Council, Governor Samuel Ortom. After hours of deliberations, Council issued a communique which was presented to the media by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Ijohor, SAN with the following resolutions: It directed that civil servants from levels 1-12 should commence stay-at-home for two weeks, at the first instance. Council also resolved that in the best interest of the state, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC, should shift the scheduled local government election by two weeks. The State Executive Council equally advised Benue people to limit gathering in Churches, Mosques, markets and other public places. Council approved additional N50 million naira to the state committee on Coronavirus to enable it intensif

      It has come to the attention of the House of Representatives that a newspaper report on Friday, March 27, 2020, had insinuated that the Green Chamber is distributing official vehicles for the 360 members of the House at this critical moment that the country is battling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. This story is rather unfortunate at this time that Nigeria and Nigerians are striving hard to address the pandemic that has forced the Federal Government, and even the various states' governments, to take drastic measures. Not only has the National assembly been closed since Tuesday the 24th of March in the wake of the pandemic, but most lawmakers are also in their constituencies. As a House, we are not unmindful of the mood of the nation at this critical time and are committed to ensuring the country stands united in this trying times. It is out of that commitment that the House on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, introduced and passed the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill, 2

      The Uyo Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 26, 2020 arraigned the trio of Edwin Edet Etim, Joseph Essien Samuel and Moses Asuquo Effiong before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. . . They were arraigned on two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N6,000,000 (Six Million Naira). . . The defendants ran into troubled waters on January 3, 2020 when the zone received a petition dated December 20, 2019 from one Dr. Emmanuel Etuk, who alleged that he paid the said sum to Etim for a plot of land located at Shelter Afrique, Uyo, only for him to suddenly disappear and all efforts made to reach him proved abortive. . . Acting on the petition, investigations revealed how the trio conspired amongst themselves to swindle the victim of the sum. . One of the counts reads: "That you Edwin Edet Etim (Alias Anietie Udofia Ekanem), Joeph Essien Samuel

       As part of ongoing measures by Anambra state government to stop the spread of Coronavirus, ALL markets in Anambra state will be closed ‪from Monday, 30th March, 2020‬ for 14 days. Only businesses selling food items and medicines are authorised to stay open during the closure. Such businesses should however observe social distance protocols and other coronavirus health a dvisory already in place in Anambra state. During the 14-day period also, traders should stay at home and not move about. This directive will be reviewed at the end of the 14-day period and further directives will be communicated. The executive and members of Anambra State Market Traders Association (ASMATA), executive and members of various market associations, market men and women are hereby directed to strictly comply with this directive. Members of Anambra state Covid-19 Task Force, the police and other security agencies should strictly enforce this directive. This is in the best interest of all

      Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court in Lagos on March 26, 2020, ordered the interim forfeiture of N293million, six parcels of land and 30,000 MTN shares recovered from Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe (Retd), a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta. . . Atewe is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Kime Enzogu and Josephine Otuaga on a 22-count charge of Conspiracy, Stealing and Money Laundering. . . The order of interim forfeiture follows an ex-parte application by the EFCC alleging that the assets were part of proceeds of N8.5billion for the military Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta, which he is accused of diverting from the military between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.

     Our   # COVID19   advocacy team has been empowered with more vehicles to aid information dissemination to all parts of our state. Ignorance is not an excuse and if we are following news from around the world, the virus is no respecter of persons. We must all  # TakeResponsibility . - Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. More photos below.

      As remains of the Principal of Bethlehem High School, Abule-Ado, Lagos, Rev. Sis. Henrietta Alokha, is laid to rest, President Muhammadu Buhari joins staff members and students in mourning the huge loss to the school, and the country. The President believes Sis. Alokha’s choice to lay down her life for the students she loved deserves commendation, while taking into consideration her contributions to the educational d evelopment of the country through piety, diligence and charity. President Buhari salutes her courage and heroism, assuring that posterity will remember her sacrificial spirit, rescuing children kept under her care, and putting her own life on the line. The President prays that the almighty God will accept her soul, comfort her family, and all those she lived and died for. President Buhari, again, condoles with all those who lost their loved ones and property in the pipeline explosion, praying that God will strengthen them in the trying period. Femi Adesin

       President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the public-spiritedness of wealthy Nigerians and organizations for standing up to be counted in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. The President commends members of the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19, made of people like Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Herbert Wigwe, Segun  Agbaje and Jim Ovia of UBA, Access, GT, and Zenith Banks, respectively, for contributing N1 billion each, and being in the vanguard of encouraging others in the private sector to do same. UBA has equally donated the sum of N5 billion to Nigeria and Africa, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged N50 million, while First Bank is partnering with government, the United Nations, and innovative technological firms to provide e-learning solutions to at least one million children under its ‘Keep Them Engaged, Keep Them Safe’ initiative. The President extols every other helping hand that has been len

      Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum was on Friday at Maimalari military barracks in Maiduguri where he announced cash support of N23.5m as support to families of 47 soldiers killed by boko haram last Sunday in Yobe state. Each family is to receive N500,000 not as compensation for losing priceless lives but as social protection at tough economic times caused by COVID-19 inspired lockdowns across the country. Zulum, received by the G.O.C, 7 Division of the Nigerian army, Brigadier General A.K Ibrahim, was there to convey condolences and solidarity with the military’s ‘operation lafiya dole’ which is involved in the fight against the insurgents. “The Government and people of Borno state share the grief of the Nigerian military, particularly those of bereaved families of the soldiers who died last week at a time the country is faced with pandemic. We pray for the repose of the souls of these gallant soldiers and we salute and appreciate their supreme sacrifices. Nothi

      March 27, 2020 By Halimah Yahaya The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed an application, asking it to review its judgement which nullified the victory of the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the 2019 general elections held in Zamfara State. With one out of seven justices dissenting, the court, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed, held that the application by t he APC is an abuse of court process. Reading the majority judgement, Justice John Okoro said the apex court lacked the jurisdiction to review its own judgement. “The finality of the Supreme Court is sealed,” he held. “The application is a gross abuse of court process, it is frivolous. “The application is hereby dismissed.” Justice Okoro further awarded the cost of N2 million against the appellant to be paid to the first – 140th respondents. The fresh application before the apex court was brought by a faction of the APC led by a former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari. The APC co

     British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he has tested positive for covid-19. Johnson tweeted: “Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.” He also shared a video message in which he once again urged people to “stay at home” in order to stop the spread of the virus.. EARLIER REPORT ON WEDNESDAY,25TH MARCH 2020. ''The Queen held her weekly Audience with the Prime Minister today by telephone. Her Majesty - pictured this evening at Windsor Castle - has held a weekly Audience with her Prime Minister throughout her reign''. Thank God for social distancing,the Queen relocated to Windsor castle to prevent contracting the corona-virus.One more photo below.