Nigeria
Official: Why 471 persons died in Yobe in three weeks
Dr. Mohammed Lawan, Yobe Commissioner for Health, on Tuesday gave reasons for the 471 deaths recorded across different communities in the State in the past three weeks amidst fears that the deadly COVID-19 virus may has been claiming lives in the State without notice. Lawan, who is the Vice Chairman of the state’s COVID-19 Committee, however, said the deaths which occurred between the last days of April till date was not due to the global pandemic, according to preliminary report of the investigative response team constituted by the government. According to him, 90 per cent of the deaths had no multiple case definition symptoms of Coronavirus disease, while further noting that most of those that died were elderly people. According to him, “57 per cent of the total deaths had an underlying ...
Godwin Emefiele: Central bank ready to support home grown vaccine
Bloomberg Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN,), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has announced that the apex bank is ready to support researchers, science-based institutions and biotechnology firms with N100 billion grant in the quest for a homegrown vaccine to fight COVID-19 in Nigeria. Emefiele, who spoke at the commissioning of ThisDay Dome Testing, Treating, Tracing and Isolation Centre in Abuja, said the pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on the global economy, impacting all nations big and small. According to him, so far, the Coalition Against COVID-19, (CACOVID) has raised over N27billion to fund this initiative. He said the donation received so far are being used to build well-equipped isolation centres across the 36 states of the federation. ”’The ThisDay Dome Testing, Treating, Tra...
House of Reps order release of Benue coronavirus index case
The House of Representatives has resolved to come to the rescue of Benue State’s coronavirus index case, Susan Idoko, who has accused the government of refusing to release her from isolation despite “not” being infected with the disease. The action of the House followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by a member, Blessing Onuh, at plenary on Tuesday. It was entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Look into the Release of Mrs Susan Idoko Okpe, Nee Lawani, Who was Quarantined by the Government Following Misinformation and Diagnosis.’ Adopting the motion, the House resolved to “mandate the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, through the Federal Ministry of Health, to critically evaluate her as a matter of urgency and if proved otherwise, should be allowed to go home.” The parliament also tasked t...
Nigeria’s coronavirus deaths jump to 158
Nigeria has recorded 158 Coronavirus deaths, with Lagos and Kano topping the chat. According to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Tuesday, Lagos and Kano both have 33 coronavirus deaths each. Borno recorded 16 deaths while Sokoto rakes in 13 deaths from the deadly pandemic. Katsina ramps up 11 deaths, while FCT has seven and Ogun and Zamfara have five deaths each. Others are: Edo and Osun, four deaths; Bauchi, Kaduna, Kebbi, Rivers and Delta recorded three deaths respectively; Jigawa, Oyo, Akwa Ibom recorded three cases each, while Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe, Ondo and Ekiti have recorded one case each. Get more stories like this on Twitter
Kwara records 10 fresh cases of coronavirus
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 10 more people have tested positive to Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kwara. This brings the total of confirmed cases of Coronavirus to 44, with nine patients discharged and one death recorded in the state. The State before now has 34 cases of the disease. The Special Assistant on New Media to the state governor, Mr Fafoluyi Olayinka, confirmed this on Tuesday in his verified official social media account. Olayinka said that the number of active cases as at 8 p.m is 34, while nine have so far been discharged and one death recorded. Get more stories like this on Twitter
House of Reps wants local airlines to evacuate stranded Nigerians abroad
The House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Aviation to ensure that local airlines enjoy the right of first refusal, where Nigerians need to be evacuated. This was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Mohammed Bello (APC-Kano) and eight other lawmakers, at the plenary on Tuesday. While moving the motion, Bello said that the two ministries and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID–19 had engaged foreign airlines to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Dubai, London and America, due to the COVID-19 currently ravaging the world. He listed the airlines to include Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways and Emirates. According to the lawmaker, the economic objective of Nigeria, under the 1999 Constitution, ...
Nigeria records 146 new coronavirus cases, total now 4,787
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 146 new cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,787. The centre disclosed this on Tuesday night via its verified Twitter handle. It tweeted: “146 new cases of #COVID19; 57-Lagos 27-Kano 10-Kwara 9-Edo 8-Bauchi 7-Yobe 4-Kebbi 4-Oyo 3-Katsina 3-Niger 2-Plateau 2-Borno 2-Sokoto 2-Benue 1-Gombe 1-Enugu 1-Ebonyi 1-Ogun 1-FCT 1-Rivers.” 146 new cases of #COVID19; 57-Lagos27-Kano10-Kwara9-Edo8-Bauchi7-Yobe4-Kebbi4-Oyo3-Katsina3-Niger2-Plateau2-Borno2-Sokoto2-Benue1-Gombe1-Enugu1-Ebonyi1-Ogun1-FCT1-Rivers 4787 cases of #COVID19 in NigeriaDischarged: 959Deaths: 158 pic.twitter.com/vlqzSxqacq — NCDC (@NCDCgov) May 12, 2020 Get more stories like this on Twitter
Rivers PDP expels wanted youth leader
File Photo Ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of new Rivers State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party has expelled its Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) Youth Leader, Princewill Osaroejiji, who is wanted for alleged role in demolished Prodest Hotel’s saga. The development comes as elder statesman and PDP stalwart, Prince Emma Anyanwu chided leader of the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike, over “hate” comments against Governor Nyesom Wike. A statement by Felix Obuah, outgoing Chairman of Rivers PDP, noted that Osaroejiji of Eleme Alode Ward 2 of the party was being expelled for “insubordination, flagrant rascality, disobedience to directives of the State Government on COVID-19 and acts of criminality.” Obuah furt...
Seven travellers arrested in Kwara for ‘violating lockdown order’
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara has arrested seven persons for allegedly violating the lockdown order put in place in the state to check the spread of coronavirus. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Ayeni Olasunkanmi, made this known in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday. “In a swift response to a distress call from the public on Sobi FM radio yesterday, our personnel were immediately deployed to the scene at the expressway, Shao junction, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara. “A trailer fully loaded with passengers was held by the community with the view of preventing the spread of coronavirus,” Olasunkanmi said. He said that before the arrival of NSCDC personnel in the community, the trailer driver had escaped with the vehicle while seven out of the pas...
Borno to fix state hotels, four industries to boost revenue
Borno Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday began measures towards the resuscitation of the Maiduguri International hotel, the state hotel, and four industries that will enhance the state’s internally generated revenue. Zulum started by assessing the two hotels, Borno Fertilizer Company Ltd, NIETAL Shoes and Ternary Factory, Borno Steel and Wire Industry and Borno Supply Company, all in the state capital. At the state hotel, Zulum directed the complete rehabilitation and face lift of the hotel, while repairs for others are to also begin after technical evaluation. At Maiduguri International Hotels, which currently houses the headquarters of super camp one, operation lafiya dole, Governor Zulum assessed the section of the hotel burnt by a fire outbreak in 2011. The Governor, at the stat...
Nigeria governors meet Wednesday on quick way out of coronavirus effects
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum says it will meet on Wednesday to review the situation of COVID-19 pandemic in various states, and as well find paths for a quick way out of the effects of the pandemic. The forum made this known in a statement by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, NGF Head, Media and Public Affairs, in Abuja on Tuesday. Bello-Barkindo said issues to be discussed at the 8th teleconference meeting, according to the invitation sent from the NGF Director-General, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru, include update from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. He also listed a new initiative codenamed CACOVID-Volunteer Health Workers Support Scheme to States, including a consideration for a CACOVID–Healthcare Training Proposal, among others. Bello-Barkindo said: “The state governors will also take a...
Group task Anambra to provide for, protect orphaned children in care homes
A non-governmental organization, Greater Awka Allies International, GAAI has urged Anambra State government to ensure the protection of children in orphanages as the COVID-19 outbreak persists. The group said children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the novel Coronavirus, and that children living in orphanages are more vulnerable because they live in a place where they lack parental care. Leader of the group, Hon Chinemerem Oguegbe who stated this during a visit of his group to Model Community Children Orphanage Home charged the government to provide exceptional care for them. Oguegbe said the visit of his group to the orphanage was inspired by the need to show love to the children at a time when other children are kept out of school and securely at home with their parents becau...
