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     Photos: President Buhari receives briefing from Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire and DG NCDC Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu in State House on 26th April 2020. Photos by Haye Okoh.One more photo below.

      Balarabe Maikaba, a professor of mass communication, at Bayero University in Kano, is dead.A family source said his burial has been fixed for 4pm on Sunday.One of the former students of the deceased said he was preparing to attend the funeral prayer at the family house of the deceased at Fagge in Kano.Maikaba is said to be the sixth professor to have died in one week in the state which has recorded harvests of death during the coronavirus pandemic.Kano has loss several prominent  indigenes in the last 48 hours.

     Katsina state has recorded nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 30. Of the nine fresh confirmed cases, Daura and Katsina Local Government Areas have four cases each with Dutsinma Local Government Area topping the list. With this development, Katsina state now has a total of 30 cases of COVID-19 patients with 29 active cases and 1 death. Governor Aminu Masari disclosed this on Sunday during a press briefing at the General Muhammadu Buhari House Katsina. He said a total of 287 samples have been collected and sent to the National Center For Disease Control (NCDC) last night. To this end, a total of seven Local Government Areas in the state are currently under lockdown. These include: Daura, Dutsinma, Katsina, Batagarawa, Jibia, Mani and Safana Local Government Areas.

      The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has stated that West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, 2020 WASSCE, has not been cancelled. In a statement by the Head of WAEC, Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Areghan, on Sunday, the body explained that a notice alleging the cancellation of 2020 WASSCE was false. He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a fake publication circulating in the social media, to the effect that the West African Examinations Council had cancelled the 2020 WASSCE for school candidates as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and was, therefore, set to refund N22,500 to candidates who had enrolled for the examination. “The publication is patently false and deceitful. It is nothing but the handiwork of mischief-makers, who are out to defraud innocent and unsuspecting candidates and their parents/guardians. “This piece of news is certainly not from the West African Examinations Council, WAEC. It falls short of the Council’s style, l...

      The world is on the edge because of the catastrophic impact of the Corona Virus Pandemic, which is not only threatening the lives of people, but the economies of nations and dramatically changing livelihoods. No doubt, these are precarious times that have put Governments across the world, including Nigeria on their toes to prevent the spread of COVID-19, ensure treatment of those infected as well as find a cure. Since the first index case was reported in Nigeria, the APC-led Rescue Administration in Plateau State under the leadership of Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong took proactive steps to ensure that the disease does not infiltrate the State, and in case of any eventuality, the State is able to respond quickly and robustly to deal with the situation. For Governor Lalong, this emergency requires all hands to be on deck, as the virus does not discriminate against its victims irrespective of gender, tribe, religion, ethnicity, economic status, or even political af...

     In a statement on Sunday, Bala Elkana, Lagos police public relations officer, said those who violated the lockdown order were arrested between April 21 and April 24, 2020. “On 21/4/2020 at about 2000hours, acting on information, operatives from Denton Police Station arrested 95 inter-state travellers at Bhojson area, Ebute Metta in seven commercial buses with registration numbers LG 91 BGT, Lagos to Benue; BDA 690 XA, Lagos to Abuja; BGA 86 EA, Lagos to Abuja; LSD 459 XA, Lagos to Benue; LRN 105 YR, Lagos to Ilorin; LSD 81 XX, Lagos to Ilorin and BWR 975 PN, Lagos to Abuja,” he said. “The buses were impounded; the drivers and passengers were charged to mobile court and sentenced accordingly. In addition, 211 violators of lockdown order were arrested in different parts of the State and also charged to court. “On 23/4/2020 at about 2230hrs, operatives from Maroko Police Station arrested 10 suspects for organising a party at Lekki Garden. The suspects...

     Dear Lagosians, even as we observe the lockdown, we are kicking off #MaskUpLagos; the COMPULSORY wearing of face masks in Lagos. Face masks help to protect us from droplets and secretions from coughing, sneezing etc as not everyone that is infected will show symptoms. Face masks, combined with frequent hand washing, being conscious about NOT touching our face as well as Social Distancing are effective in slowing the spread. The state government is currently producing about 3 million facemasks for distribution to the vulnerable. N95 and surgical masks help our medical workers stay safe while cloth masks made to specifications that will be released by the Lagos State Ministry of Health combined with other guidelines will help protect our residents from COVID19. The virus is in our communities, let's take this seriously.  # MaskUpLagos

     *Suspect was alleged to be mentally retarded for eight years* Today 25/04/2020 at about 9:45am, One Mr Timothy Ezeofor 'M' of Umuezegoro Kindred Unuchiana Village reported at Aguata Police Station that at about 8:am of same day, his Elder Brother namely Godwin Ezeofor 'm' Aged 70years of the same address was allegedly murdered by his son one Chigorom Ezeofor 'm' aged about 37 years of the same address using Axe.The Complainant added that the Suspect has been mentally ill for the past Eight years. Following the report,Police Operatives attached to Aguata Division led by the DPO CSP Ayeni Oluwadare mobilised to scene, the victim was photographed and rushed to the hospital where he was certified dead by a medical Doctor and corpse deposited at the Hospital mortuary for autopsy. Meanwhile, exhibit recovered and the suspect who "look insane" was arrested and taken to the station for discreet investigation to ascertain circumstances surroundin...

    Former Super Eagles Player, Daniel Amokachi has recounted how he slept at Prophet T.B Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations for weeks for a miracle, but got none afterwards. The footballer who revealed this in an interview with Brila FM, said he was searching for healing at that time as he suffered a protracted knee injury ahead of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. ‘The Bull’ as he is fondly called, said; “I was at the church on invitation of a friend who is a member. My friend, at that time, told me about the man of God and that I could meet my miracle if I met with the Pastor. “At first, I wasn’t giving to it, but I later agreed and flew down to Nigeria from England to see the Pastor. “I slept by the church’s altar for several weeks to receive healing. I was not healed, but I saw lots of miracles that happened to people.”.

     The Ogun State Government has already started harvesting dry season rice in its joint Ogun State and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Project. This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina when he visited the over 120,000-hectare rice farm in Sowunmi Village along the Ofada/Mokoloki axis of the State. The Commissioner, who stated that the State Government has provided all necessary support to the youth farmers by clearing the land, and giving seeds, funding and input, said that the farmers are allowed to offtake rice processors, as the State has four mills. Dr Odedina stated that the four mills in the State were in need of paddy, so the issue of paddy shortage could now be solved since the farms will supply them conveniently. "Rice is big business," the Commissioner said, as he disclosed that because of this, Government has been actively involved at all phases including land preparation...

      The Ogun State Government has released a schedule of venues and dates for the free testing of suspected patients of COVID-19 in all communities across the 20 LGAs in the State. The schedule is done according to LGAs, listing alongside the wards in each LGA, dedicated venues and dates for the exercise. The Government urges everyone who falls within the national (NCDC) case definition, especially those with symptoms, to come forward and be tested for free. This, according to the Government, will reduce the continued possibility of community transmission, as infected persons will be quickly identified and placed under close observation. Everyone is enjoined to make the best use of this welfare initiative of the State Government, and be tested for free by trained health personnel, so that the State may curtail the spread of the virus.More photos below.

      April 26, 2020 Press Statement Kano Deaths: PDP Demands Investigation, Calls for Presidential Visit… Berates Ganduje For Abandoning Governance The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the disturbing mass death in Kano state, urging a Presidential visit to the state, where no fewer than 640 citizens had reportedly died under mysterious circumstances in the last one week. The party’s call is predicated on conflicting reports emanating from Kano State on the cause of the sudden deaths particularly at this time that our nation is battling with the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The PDP notes with dismay that the Buhari Presidency had failed to take any concrete step on this frightening development, but is, as usual, waiting to be prodded to stand up to the demand of the office and proceed to Kano state to identity with the people, find solution and contain the ugly situation. The party describes as lamentable that Presid...

      Ondo State has reported three new positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of infections in the state to seven. The state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, announced this in a series of tweets on Sunday. He disclosed that one of the new cases was one a suspect arraigned in a court in Akure, the state capital on Friday last week. The Commissioner of police has been duly informed and the line tracing of police officers and others in the SARs facility where he was kept has started and their specimens are being collected. — Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) April 26, 2020 I will expatiate on all cases in my weekly press briefing tomorrow. — Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) April 26, 2020.

       In reply please quote Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/ Date: 26th April, 2020 The Director of News ……………………………. PRESS RELEASE KIDNAP/MURDER OF A CATHOLIC SEMINARIAN – POLICE ARREST 3 - IGP orders massive manhunt for fleeing suspects Police Operatives have arrested a deadly criminal gang responsible for the kidnap and murder of a Catholic Seminarian, Nnadi Michael of the Catholic Good Shepherd Major Seminary at Gonin Gora, Kakau in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State. Recall that, on January 9, 2020, the criminal gang stormed the Catholic Seminary and kidnapped four (4) seminarians, murdered one of them in cold blood and released the remaining three on 31st January, 2020, having obtained a ransom. The remains of the fourth Seminarian were found in a bush where abandoned. The suspects: Tukur Usman ‘m’ aged 37, father of 7, Shehu Bello ‘m’ aged 40, father of 5 and Mustapha Mohammed ‘m’ aged 30, father of 1, all of Igabi LGA of Kaduna State were arrested a...

  An occupant of Taiwo Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos, Taiwo Eluyemi, dispersed some neighbours who came to his apartment to watch movies on Wednesday in compliance with social distancing rule to curtail the spread of coronavirus.He never knew the action would cost him his life 24 hours later.One of the neighbours identified simply as Habeeb, who was upset by Eluyemi’s action reportedly ambushed him along the street on Thursday and hacked him to death.City Round learnt that Eluyemi was popular in the neighbourhood, a personality that attracted people to his house.It was gathered that Habeeb, who also resides on Taiwo Street, and his friends stormed Eluyemi’s house on Wednesday to watch movies but he turned them back on the grounds that his apartment was becoming crowded.Eluyemi’s countenance was said to have angered Habeeb, resulting in an altercation between them.A tenant in the area, Tope Akande, told our correspondent that some people intervened and both parties we...

    Worried by non-compliance with the lockdown order by motorists, especially interstate commercial transporters, Lagos State Government on Saturday scaled up its enforcement of the lockdown directive by impounding 20 vehicles and several motorbikes for violation. The enforcement team, comprising operatives of the State Task Force, LASTMA, officers of the Nigeria Police Force and personnel of the Ministry of Transportation, enforced the order on Ikorodu Road, Ojota, Jibowu, Ebute-Metta, Otto and Iddo corridor among other places. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Toyin Fayinka, who led the operation, said the enforcement was effected on the order of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stem the increase in the flagrant disobedience of the lockdown directive issued by the government to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the State. He said, “The enforcement team intercepted and impounded about 20 vehicles and 15 motorbikes for being on the r...