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      STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest attacks by bandits in Katsina State in three local government areas that left 47 persons dead. Reacting to the incident on Sunday, the President said that he is deeply saddened by the latest development, and called on Nigerians not to despair because this administration is ever determined to defeat and crush these criminal elements taking advantage of the lockdown to attack their victims. President Buhari said he will not tolerate this large scale killing of innocent people by the bandits, adding that "in line with my commitment to security of the people, these attacks will be met with decisive force." The President directed the security agencies not to rest on their oars or lower their guard which will create a vacuum for the bandits to strike. While extending his sympathies to the families of the victims, he called on the people to show more vigilance by reporting the acti...

     There is nothing extraordinary about those of us who attend Abba Kyari’s funeral being advised to distance ourselves from the Villa. This is in line with the standard rules put in place by the National Center for Disease Control, NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health. You do these things to stop the spread of Coronavirus. For the most part, the Villa has operated digitally in the last few weeks so there is really nothing new to this.-Garba Shehu.

     The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew effective from tomorrow, April 20, 2020, prohibiting the movement of people throughout the state from 7pm to 6am, as part of measures to halt the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state. Obaseki, who disclosed this in a broadcast, noted that the order will be reviewed after 10 days, when increased screening and testing of citizens in the state must have been achieved. The curfew, according to the governor, is part of additional measures to ensure that people stay at home and prevent further spread of the infectious disease. “We realise we need to do more social distancing at this time. Therefore, we are taking additional measures to ensure that people stay at home. Consequently, with effect from tomorrow 20th April an order prohibiting movement of people in Edo State from 7pm to 6am. This order will be reviewed after 10 days when we have increased our screening and testing o...

     Congratulation to Davido and Chioma Adeleke.Davido just announced on his social media that his wife Chioma tested negative twice to Corona virus.He wrote on social media ''Glory be to God,Chioma has now tested negative twice for Covid19...Thank you all for prayers..We love you''.one more photo below.

     One of the Giza pyramids is illuminated with words "WORLD HERITAGE DAY" during the World Heritage Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Giza, Egypt, on April 18, 2020. Egypt reported on Saturday 188 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase, bringing the number of confirmed positive cases in the country to 3,032.More photos below.

     Japan's health ministry and local governments said Saturday that the number of COVID-19 infections nationwide had risen to 10,098 cases as of Saturday afternoon, as the country enters the first weekend since a state of emergency was expanded nationwide in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.More photos below.      Photo taken on April 18, 2020 shows an empty street in Kyoto, Japan.    A deer is seen at an empty scenic spot in Nara, Japan, April 18, 2020.    A notice announcing temporary close is seen outside a shop in Kyoto, Japan, April 18, 2020.

     Chinese Ambassador to Austria Li Xiaosi (R, front) distributes health kits to overseas Chinese students at the Chinese Embassy in Vienna, Austria, April 17, 2020. The Chinese Embassy in Austria distributed health kits consisting of face masks and disinfection wipes to representatives of overseas Chinese students here on Friday.More photos below.

      In order to increase COVID-19 testing capacity in Lagos, the State Government has set up sampling stations in the 20 local government areas of the State for citizens, who fit the case definition of COVID-19, to visit and drop samples for testing. Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi stated this today at a Press Briefing to give situation report on COVID-19 in Lagos, noting that the strategy is geared towards bringing COVID-19 testing opportunity closer to the people as well as taking work strain off health workers who visit several local governments for case search and sample collection. Abayomi stressed that the new arrangement provides an opportunity for people with symptoms of COVID-19 at the local government to present themselves early for testing. He said, "we have decentralised the locations where you can have yourself submitted for sampling. So what we've done is to move sampling stations to the local government. And if you feel that you have an...

     Geoffrey Onyeama April 19, 2020 - Tribute to Kyari: The Best Man I first met Abba Kyari in 1977 at Warwick University in England. I had gone there to do law as a second first degree. He had come to do a degree in sociology. I had a pending application to do Law at Cambridge and when the result of that application came and it was positive, I left Warwick during the second semester. But my five months at Warwick was enough to build a strong friendship with Abba that lasted till his passing. Almost 43 years! There was a small group of Nigerians at Warwick then, which included former President Yakubu Gowon (who was doing a PhD in Political Science) ; Senator Osereihmi Osunbor (former Senator and Governor); Sitonye Roy Wakama (former Deputy Inspector General of Police) and the lawyer, Desmond Guobadia. There were a few other Nigerians. Abba was quite skinny in those days! We became friends very quickly and a life-long bond was formed. Abba was very simple and h...

    Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) ,Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu has commended the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for his firm and personal leadership to check the spread of coronavirus in Rivers State. Speaking during a meeting between Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and officials of Nigeria Center for Diseases Control (NCDC) at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said that Rivers State is important in the fight to stop the spread of the virus. He said: "This is a working visit. I want to thank you for your firm, strong, committed and personally led response to COVID-19 in Rivers State. "Rivers is one of the most important gate-ways into the country. One of the most important economies in the country . So, Rivers is important , not only to you but to the entire country. "We thank you very much for your leadership and we need your leadership to continue in order for us to continue do...

       The Rivers State Government on Sunday released the 22 Staff of Exxon Mobil who were arrested for violating the State Executive Order restricting movement in the state. Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State, Professor Zaccheus Adangor said that the mobil staff were released without charges. The Attorney-General said the State Government will no longer press charges against them. He said that they were released following interventions by well-meaning Nigerians. The Attorney-General of Rivers State noted that he monitored the release of the 22 Exxon Mobil at the State Isolation Centre at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. He noted that the Rivers State Government remains committed to implementing the Executive Order issued to check the spread of coronavirus. It will be recalled that security agencies arrested 22 staff of Exxon Mobil who entered the State from Akwa Ibom in violation of the State Executive Order. The...

      Saturday April 18, 2020 Gentlemen of the Press, 1. I welcome you all to this very important press briefing to update you on Ekiti State present status on COVID-19 and how far we have gone as a State to contain the spread of the pandemic in our dear State. 2. The State recorded its first confirmed index case of Coronavirus or COVID 19 on March 15, 2020 and he was treated and discharged on 31st March, 2020. 3. Barely 24hrs after the first index case was discharged, the State recorded its second case. He was also discharged on Tuesday, April 9, 2020 after treatment. 4. Sadly, Ekiti State has confirmed a third COVID-19 positive case. This new case is a pregnant 29-year-old female Community Health Worker in Ikorodu Lagos State who sneaked into Ekiti State overnight on Friday April, 10 2020 suspectedly to take advantage of our free maternal health care in spite of the lockdown. She presented at a State Comprehensive Primary Healthcare facility in active labour on Monda...

      The Lagos State Government, over the weekend, responded to the pleas of residents of Ajewole Street, Ajegunle, in Ikorodu Local Government Area of the State by distributing no fewer than 100 bags of its Emergency Food Response stimulus package to the households to complement the number provided on the same street days earlier. The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, who led the State delegation to distribute the packages, explained that the Governor heard the plea of the residents of Ajewole Street asking for more of the food stimulus packages on the news, as the ones given earlier did not get to all the households. According to him, “Based on your plea, Mr. Governor has ordered that 100 more packages be brought to the street and be shared to households who had not got anything during the first exercise”. "This is something that started as soon as the Federal Government announced this lockdown. The Governor said that the poor pe...

     As at 11:15pm, 18th April, 2020, there are twelve (12) total confirmed cases in Ogun State. Active cases: Six (6) Total discharged: Six (6) Stay home. Starve the virus. Stop the spread.

      The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni condemns this unwarranted, unnecessary and unjustifiable assault on this innocent citizen (as shown in the attached viral video), at the Odo Ori Market, Iwo Osun State by men of the Force attached to Iwo Division, Osun Command. Following the IGP’s condemnation and directives that the Commissioner of Police immediately arrest and bring the officers to book, CP Johnson Kokumo mni, the Commissioner of Police in charge of O sun State Command where the incident occurred, has arrested the officers involved in the unfortunate incident. They are Inspector Ikuesan Taiwo with AP NO 251724 and PC Abass Ibrahim with Force No. 509634. The duo are currently being detained and their orderly room trial had since commenced. The IGP reiterates that the Police under his watch will not condone any act of misconduct and recklessness on the part of its personnel. He enjoins the citizens to continue to cooperate with the leade...

     A spokesman for Bill Cosby said Saturday the imprisoned comedian and actor wouldn't survive if he contracts coronavirus behind bars. Andrew V. Wyatt said in a statement that Cosby, 82, recently had partially blocked arteries, is blind from glaucoma, takes medication for high blood pressure and recently had two major surgeries to prevent cardiovascular failure. Cosby was convicted in 2008 of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand in 2004.He is serving his three-to 10-years sentence in a Pennsylvania state prison. That facility, State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Collegeville, on Friday aftternoon reported 22 inmates and 13 staff members have contracted the virus; one inmate has died. The spokesman's statement came amid reports that state prison officials were not likely to release Cosby to prevent spread of the virus. On April 10, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the Department of Corrections to transfer certain inmatesto communi...

     Following enquiries on the passing away of the Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mallam Abba Kyari on Friday 17th April 2020, the Lagos State Government states that: Mallam Abba Kyari died from complications of Coronavirus infection at First Cardiology Consultants in Lagos. This hospital is a Lagos State designated high care, biosecu rity-compliant, COVID-19 facility, accredited by the Health Facility Management and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) of the Lagos State Ministry of Health. As a basis for accreditation, First Cardiology Consultants established a separate specialist wing with staff dedicated to the treatment of complicated cases of COVID-19, under the supervision of the Lagos State COVID-19 emergency response team.

    Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has reiterated its determination to provide all necessary tools and protective equipment to safeguard its workers in their onerous responsibility of evacuating waste across the metropolis during the COVID-19 lockdown. A statement issued today by the Office of the Managing Director (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that some of the measures already taken to pr otect workers in the waste management sector include the purchase and distribution of 10,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to LAWMA workers, PSP operatives and Street sweepers. According to him, “The LAWMA management has purchased and distributed Safety Goggles, Nose Masks, Hand Gloves, Safety Boots, Hazmat Suits and Hand Sanitisers for all its Street Sweepers, Waste collectors and Private Sector Participation (PSP) operatives in the State”. “We have also stopped all scavenging activities on all dumpsites, commenced fumigation of all dumpsites and depot...

      A Nigerian Catholic Priest who faced continous racist remarks, break-ins and had his tires slashed in a small German town he carried out his religious obligations in, has been forced to give up his parish after receiving death threats... The Diocese of Speyer in southwest Germany in its announcement on Friday April 17 said the priest, Father Patrick Asomugha will leave his post in the parish of Queidersbach next week. The statement added that the “concerns for the protection  and health of Father Asomugha made this step unavoidable. It would be irresponsible to continue exposing pastor Asomugha to the threat." Asomugha who took over as the head of a parish in Queidersbach, a small municipality in western Germany near the city of Kaiserslautern in 2017, has faced hostility in the parish since last year and his rectory was broken into twice. Last fall, his car tires were slashed and in March a death threat was left on his garage door. Two days later someb...

      Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has relieved the appointment of the commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Mu’azu Magaji with immediate effect. A statement signed by the commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba said the commissioner was removed following his unguarded utterances against the person of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari. He said as a public servant, the commissioner ought to have respect the profanity of the office by refraining from any act capable of rendering the office to disrepute. The action of a public servant, personal or otherwise reflects back on the government and therefore, the Ganduje administration would not tolerate people in official capacities engaging in personal vendetta or otherwise. According to the statement, late Abba Kyari had led a life worthy of emulation by serving his country to the best of his ability.