Only 29 soldiers died during last week’s ambush of troops at Goniri and Gorgi by Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), Nigeria Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu has said.

The military had earlier told reporters that initial information available indicated that 47 soldiers were killed in the attacks that occurred on March 22 and 23, noting that further verification would be given after stocks must have been taken at the bases of troops attached to Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

Making the clarifications on Friday, Col Iliyasu said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai sent a delegation led by Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh to the northeast to ascertain the state of affairs.

Others in the delegation which spent two days in the area, included Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, Director, Campaign Planning, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa and Deputy Director, Peacekeeping Operations, Colonel Samaila Uba.

Iliyasu also said a visit to 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maimalari Cantonment by the delegation revealed there were 61 injured personnel including seven officers being treated in the hospital.

He said the 61 wounded comprised those from previous encounters as well as personnel who sustained injuries in the ambush.

Iliyasu said: “On arrival at Maiduguri at about 6pm on March 24, the COAS proceeded straight to the Headquarters, Theatre Command, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, where he was briefed on the said encounter by the Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi. The Theatre Commander explained that, on March 22, having captured and cleared Gorgi of the Boko Haram insurgents, he led the troops to harbour about five kilometers ahead of the location.

“However, at about 7am on March 22, when the troops were preparing to continue with their advance to clear other Boko Haram enclaves in the area, the insurgents attacked the rear elements of the advance force in an attempt to overrun them.

“The gallant troops repelled the attack, inflicting heavy casualty on the terrorists. In the aftermath of that encounter, no less than 150 Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised by the gallant troops while a large number of them retreated with gunshot wounds. Many of their equipment were also destroyed.

“However, 29 personnel of Operation LAFIYA DOLE paid the supreme price during the encounter as a result of the multiple explosions that occurred when the engine of an army truck conveying artillery bombs, explosives and other munitions caught fire after being hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb fired by the insurgents.

He noted that some soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and were evacuated to the 7 Division Hospital Maimalari Cantonment where they are responding to treatment.

Iliyasu said the delegation proceeded to Headquarters Sector 2 in Damaturu after a thorough briefing by the Theatre Commander on Wednesday morning, March 25.

He said the COAS addressed the troops that took part in the Gorgi operations, adding that they were in high spirits following their resounding victory over the terrorists during the encounter.

On the eve of his birthday, Bola Tinubu issued a long statement detailing ideas of what President Buhari and his team can do to navigate Nigeria out of a possible recession that will arise from the pandemic as oil prices fall and government revenue shrinks.

His statement is titled: A message on the coronavirus: A time for unity, a time for thought, a time for action:

Speech below:

Today is my birthday. I thank God for giving me the life and time on earth he has provided me. He has blessed me beyond the ability of words to describe; I am more than cognizant of His great mercies toward me. I have much to be thankful for. However, this is not the moment for exuberant celebration or light talk on my part. At this moment, it is better that we confer in prudence and wisdom, one to another, so that we can better deal with that which seems eager to severely deal with us.

We have entered a sobering period. We face a challenge we cannot see but one that can find us all too easily. As individuals, this puts every one of us at a startling disadvantage. Each is rendered vulnerable by the reckless act of his neighbour. Each is made safer by the enlightened conduct of a stranger. The very nature of this assailant calls us toward greater unity and kindness.

In the normal push of our daily affairs, we tend to focus on what divides us. We are either APC, PDP or another political affiliation. One person is rich. Another is poor. There is the labourer then there is the boss. One person is of the north, another of the south, with both often acting as if the boundary between the two cannot be traversed. We are of different ethnic groups; these identities mean so much to us that we behave as if the affiliations are the very source of our humanity. In this, we tend to forget God. Even when we worship God, we divide ourselves in ways that too often bring violence to a way of life meant to bring peace and compassion.

But, the coronavirus is now here. If we carry forth in our usual ways, we may well carry ourselves into national disaster. Normal practices will not suffice. We all must do better lest we all fail and suffer the grave consequences of collective failure. We pray that this terrible cloud will pass from us. However, we must prepare for the possibility that it may linger to rain hard upon us.

For the past 11 years, a colloquium was held on my birthday. Each year, the colloquium gathered some of our best minds in both the public and private sectors. They would dissect and explore the weighty issues of the day in order to find solutions to the social, political and economic difficulties that confront our nation. However, the threat of the coronavirus obligated colloquium organizers to postpone the event; we did not want a large number of people gathered in a relatively compact physical space. This was a decision well taken.

It has been a custom at the colloquium that I offer a few comments pertaining to the issue at hand.

In the spirit of the colloquium, I offer these remarks today. In that coronavirus put a brake on the colloquium, I thought it proper to return the favour. I therefore tender these humble comments in hope they contribute to halting the spread and ill consequences of this dreadful sickness.

The foremost imperative is that we recognize that corona is here. We must cast aside the myths that we have comforted ourselves with these past weeks. We told ourselves this was not a black man’s disease. We took false comfort in this self-deception. Well, black people have contracted the ailment; black people have also died from it. We hoped that our hot climate would bake and destroy the virus. That wish now appears too optimistic. We even said our history in dealing with malaria and other tropical diseases granted us some type of immunity. Well, I doubt that immunity exists as there is no scientific evidence supporting this claim. If such an immunity exists, it is at most incomplete and so unreliable as to be of no avail to large segments of our population.

The rich cannot bargain with the disease or pay it off. It neither reads bank account statements nor is it intimidated by them. The poor, likewise, are subject to it for it has no mercy nor cares about one’s prior or present hardships. Neither does it seem to study geography. Northerner and Southerner are equally its prey. It will attack those who pray at the altar in church as well as those who face the Qiblah when praying in the mosque. To corona, we are all the same. Thus, to fight corona, we must treat each other the same, as brothers and sisters in one national family under one Heaven. For we are of one blood; this crisis is a stark warning that we must begin to act in consonance with that common humanity.

It is true that we and other African countries are among the nations thus far least affected. However, we must not think this means geography and climate have erected a protective shield on our behalf. At best, these things constitute a partial barrier that may have slowed but will not prevent the growing threat.

China and other Asian nations took drastic, wholesale action to thwart the viral spread. North America and Europe initially took small steps against the virus. Those did not work. Now they are fast implementing lockdowns of whole cities and closures of key segments of their economies.

We must be prepared to do the same, though it is alien to our communal culture and way of life. Let us be frank. The public health care systems of developed nations have been overwhelmed by this virus. They are running out of equipment and healthy doctors. Our public health care system is much smaller and less equipped than those in Europe and North America. We cannot afford to put undue pressure on our system because it cannot bear the great weight of a pandemic. Thus, it is incumbent on us to thoroughly implement and obey social safety and distancing techniques so that we halt the spread of the disease and keep hospitalization to the barest possible minimum.

Second, limit your social contacts. Unless for necessary matters, one should not venture out. To purchase food is essential. To redo one’s hair or go to a bar for a drink are not.

Places like banks offer needed services such as cash withdrawals. But they should limit the number of customers in the bank at any given time. Supermarkets and grocers should do the same.

We should continue to postpone sporting events, weddings, and other large gatherings. Funerals, if they must take place, should be attended only by small numbers of family members.

While we put aside the large events for now, we must do better looking after our fellow man. Please check on a neighbour. Make sure the elderly near you are well and have food and water.

Use this moment to teach your children about compassion and the traditional values of care and concern that often get diluted in our rush toward modernity and growth.

Not only is the coronavirus a health and medical problem, it will bring heavy economic costs. China and the West face severe economic contractions. Cities are shuttered. Multiple industries have closed. Millions have suddenly been rendered jobless. Supply chains have busted. Economic activity is a fraction of what it was just a month ago. Deep recessions are forecasted. Some experts fear depression now tracks the world down. Governments worldwide are responding by embarking on unprecedented stimulus packages to keep their economies afloat.

The Chinese are pumping untold trillions into their financial markets and productive economy. The most austere large nation, Germany, casts aside its constitutional prohibition on deficit spending to enact a historic, unprecedented fiscal stimulus package. The free-market Tory government of Boris Johnson has abjured his conservative upbringing if but for this harsh moment. His government is launching a fiscal stimulus unseen in the UK for decades. Likewise, the Bank of England vows to pump as much money into the financial market as is needed to unfreeze it and get it working again.

The conservative Trump government also abandons its laissez faire ideology in the face of this exigency. Trump wants to give 2 trillion in fiscal stimulus and this will likely be just the first tranche. The Federal Reserve has announced an aggressive monetary policy to bolster the financial sector. This is atop the 2 trillion the Fed already promised.

In the end, do not be surprised if the US government injects over 5 trillion new dollars into the economy in the months to come. This would represent 25 percent of last year’s GDP for that nation. Moreover, the US economy is also enacting various forms of debt moratoria such as forbearance on rental payments for struggling families and small businesses to tax relief of various types for companies large and small.

This is truly an eye opening endeavour based on lessons learned from the 1929 Great Depression when government failed to appropriately act and the 2009 Financial Crisis when governments acted in time.

The lesson learned is that a government has the sovereign power and requisite duty to intervene in the economy in order to stave calamity. To aid in this task, a government has the unlimited ability and again public duty to issue as much of its own currency as needed to quell shortage and buffer the populace from hardship.

We, fortunately, are not at the stage where we need to implement such strong economic measures; however, we should be preparing a response for that urgent moment may fall swiftly upon us. In doing so, we must be guided by the same lessons other nations have followed. When it comes to expenditures that can only be made in dollars, we must be extra careful. Dollars now come at a steep premium. However, when it comes to expenditures that can be made in naira, government cannot afford to be bashful or reticent when the need arises.

Already, the price of oil has fallen to less than 30 dollars a barrel. This will bring a dollar shortfall. This does not, however, necessitate a corresponding shortfall in public sector naira expenditures. The US controls dollar issuance. We control naira issuance as is our sovereign right. Just as America has used its sovereign right to issue its currency to stave economic disaster, so too may Nigeria issue naira for the same purpose.

While individuals, companies and even state governments can go bankrupt during hard times, the federal government cannot become naira insolvent because it has the ability to issue our national currency. He who holds the printing press is never insolvent. The most serious concern and limitation on federal naira spending is not insolvency but inflation. Consequently, should circumstances require increased spending, we should not hesitate to do so; but we must keep the watchful eye to ensure inflation does not climb too high. However to save both lives and livelihoods during a moment of historic emergency, a touch of extra inflation from enhanced government spending is a small price to pay. In fact, it is a price that must be paid. The alternative may be a harmful deflation which historically has proven more difficult to tame and cure than a small inflationary increase.

In all of this, the international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank must be cooperative and forward-leaning. These institutions must discard their mainstream orthodoxy of fiscal austerity which will straitjacket and injure nations like ours. They must encourage nations to engage in economic stimulus. Moreover, they must suspend debt repayments for poor and developing nations and begin to fashion a plan of partial debt forgiveness for indebted nations.

Below are a few preliminary thoughts on the economic action we might take should the coronavirus mortally threaten our economy.

1. MAINTAIN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES: The natural instinct will be to reduce spending. Such reductions may be prudent for individuals and households. For government to move in this direction only feeds economic carnage by amplifying economic hardship. Prudent fiscal policy is generally “countercyclical.” As the private sector shrinks, government does more.

At minimum, the federal government must stick to its naira budgetary expenditures. In fact, government should increase naira expenditures by at least 10 – 15 percent during an emergency.

Allocations to state and local governments should be included in this addition. If not, we risk subnational recessions in important sections of the country.

2. GOVERNMENT PROJECTS: If the virus is largely kept from becoming a widespread public health menace, government should accelerate spending and actual work on key infrastructural projects particularly regarding transportation. This will lower costs while bolstering the economy by generating employment and business activity.

If the virus does become a large-scale public health challenge, more funds should be allocated to the health sector.

3. TAX REDUCTIONS: Government should announce a tax credit or partial tax reduction for companies or firms. VAT should be suspended for the next 2-4 months. This will help lower import costs and protect against shortages.

4. FOOD SECURITY: We need to protect the people from food shortages and high prices. As such, we must quickly improve farm-to-market delivery of agricultural produce. Also, government should initiate a crash program to decrease spoilage of agricultural produce by construction of storage facilities in local marketplaces in and around major cities and towns throughout the country.

We must establish a strategic grain reserve. Government should help ensure supply by establishing minimum premium price for certain food products.

5. LOWER INTEREST RATES: CBN should lower interest rates to spur borrowing and private sector activity.

6. QUANTATIVE EASING: CBN and other financial regulators should be alert to signs of fragility in the financial markets and banking sector.

The Central Bank should be prepared to enact extraordinary measures should the financial sector exhibit stress. The CBN should be prepared to give banks liberal access to its loan discount window to ensure adequate liquidity within the banking sector. The Cash Reserve Requirement for banks should be revised downward.

Also to ensure liquidity, the CBN should be willing to expand its balance sheet and improve liquidity by purchasing government bonds and other instruments held by banks and other institutions.

The Nigerian stock market is falling. CBN and others should be planning how they might intervene to prevent a potential run on the stock market. Potential measures include expanding Quantitative Easing to enable the Central Bank to purchase strategically important instruments trading in the stock market and instituting a moratorium on margin calls.

7. EXCHANGE RATE: The Corona crisis will shrink the inflow of dollars. Hopefully, this is temporary, no more than a few months. CBN can allow some downward pressure on the naira without energetically intervening to defend the exchange rate. Only if and when the rate seems that it might dip precipitously should the CBN intervene.

The Bank may want to revisit its decision prohibiting non-institutional Nigerian dollar holders from participation in Open Market Operations. Greater leniency will bring more dollars into the CBN.

8. DEBT SUSPENSION: If economic trouble does come, government must be willing to freeze payment of certain consumer-related private debts. Evictions, foreclosure and light and water cut-offs might have to be suspended. Suspension or partial reduction of payment of school fees for our most indigent families must be considered (that is when schools reopen) while government offers temporary support to the schools themselves.

9. INCREASE STIPENDS TO THE POOR: We must be ready to increase stipends to the poor. We do this by widening the net, substantially increasing the number of recipients of anti-poverty stipends.

In conclusion, I proffer these measures not as some comprehensive solution. I hope these ideas spark needed dialogue about the ways we may need to employ to protect our nation from assault by the coronavirus. I do not know if such a confrontation shall come. What I do know is that wise preparation will carry us close to victory. Unity, compassion and brave implementation of good policy will take us the rest of the way home.

We shall not go down. We shall rise.

The Network of People living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), says Kogi’s Gov. Yahaya Bello’s comment on HIV/AIDS is a complete violation of the anti-stigmatization and discrimination law of 2014.

Abdulkadir Ibrahim, the National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, who spoke on behalf of members, said HIV/AIDS was not more deadly than Coronavirus (COVID-19), as presented by Bello.

Ibrahim was reacting to the governor’s comments while debunking the rumour that he was COVID-19 positive, in a short video clip that went viral.

The NEPWHAN helmsman noted that Bello had said anyone wishing that he contracted the disease would be infected with HIV/AIDS.

He urged the governor to immediately apologise to persons living with HIV or legal action would be instituted against him.

“How can a governor make such a stigmatising comment, as if HIV is a death sentence, or as if it is more deadly than COVID-19.

“One can embrace an HIV positive person, as well as shake their hands, but one cannot do the same to a COVID-19 patient, proving the deadly nature of the disease,” Ibrahim said.

According to him, research has proven that HIV patients could live normal lives without transmitting HIV to others, a system called; Undetectable equals Untransmissible (U=U).

He, therefore, called for collective condemnation of such discriminatory remarks.

Ibrahim urged the National AIDS Control Authority (NACA), to step-up enlightenment on the challenges and nature of people living with HIV/AIDS, in order to correct negative impressions that could be created by such comments.

President Buhari today received #COVID19 briefing from Minister of Health
@DrEOEhanire and DG @NCDCgov @Chikwe_I at the State House | Saturday, March 28, 2020 #SocialDistancing #Coronavirus

President @MBuhari receives #COVID19 briefing from Minister of Health @DrEOEhanire and DG @NCDCgov, @Chikwe_I at the State House | Saturday, March 28, 2020 #SocialDistancing #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/a6kIGdQI23

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 28, 2020

Watch Video:
https://youtu.be/jbA9dlRPAOI

President @MBuhari receives briefing from Minister of @Fmohnigeria, @DrEOEhanire and DG @NCDCgov, @Chikwe_I at the State House, Abuja.#AsoVillaToday pic.twitter.com/GyMLjkTOvW

— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) March 28, 2020

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu tweeted this morning he was on his way to the scene of a strange massive blast that rocked Akure, Ondo State capital overnight.

The blast, which occurred on Akure-Owo Road, was suspected to be from a meteorite

Like meteorites, the blast left a crater.

I've been briefed by security agencies in the state concerning the loud blast that was heard in Akure. I will be at the scene to assess on the advise of heads of our security agencies.

I ask that all citizens remain calm as we ascertain details of the incidence.

— Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) March 28, 2020

Photographs published online from the scene, at a village near Akure Airport revealed the crater.

Many residents rushed to the scene early today.

Governor Akeredolu tweeted:

“I’ve been briefed by security agencies in the state concerning the loud blast that was heard in Akure. I will be at the scene to assess on the advice of heads of our security agencies.

“I ask that all citizens remain calm as we ascertain details of the incidence”.

I have been briefed by the security chiefs that in the early hours of Saturday March 28th, a vehicle in a convoy transporting explosives to a storage facility in a neighbouring state developed a fault while in transit along the Akure Owo Road about 2km from the Akure Airport. pic.twitter.com/3EnmmQBd1E

— Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) March 28, 2020

Nigerian Tribune said the explosion caused some injuries and blew off the roof of a church nearby.

The newspaper said the explosion happened at Eleyowo village, less than a kilometre to Akure Airport. It said the impact destroyed a church and a school in the area.

Chioma, wife of Nigerian singer, Davido, has tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus.

Davido disclosed this on Friday on his Instagram page.

He wrote: “Hey everyone ! I came back recently from America after cancelling tour. My fiancé Chioma also came back from London recently with our baby.

“We had no symptoms and still both feel perfectly fine but because of our recent travel history we decided to take ourselves and our all close associates we’ve come in recent contact with for the COVID-19 test on the 25th of March.

View this post on Instagram

Hey everyone ! I came back recently from America after cancelling tour. My fiancé Chioma also came back from London recently with our baby. We had no symptoms and still both feel perfectly fine but because of our recent travel history we decided to take ourselves and our all close associates we’ve come in recent contact with for the COVID-19 test on the 25th of March. Unfortunately, my fiancé’s results came back positive while all 31 others tested have come back negative including our baby. We are however doing perfectly fine and she is even still yet to show any symptoms whatsoever. She is now being quarantined and I have also gone into full self isolation for the minimum 14 days. I want to use this opportunity to thank you all for your endless love and prayers in advance and to urge everyone to please stay at home as we control the spread of this virus! Together we can beat this! Love, D ❤️

A post shared by Davido Adeleke (@davidoofficial) on Mar 27, 2020 at 12:47pm PDT

“Unfortunately, my fiancé’s results came back positive while all 31 others tested have come back negative including our baby. We are however doing perfectly fine and she is even still yet to show any symptoms whatsoever. She is now being quarantined and I have also gone into full self isolation for the minimum 14 days.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank you all for your endless love and prayers in advance and to urge everyone to please stay at home as we control the spread of this virus! Together we can beat this!
Love, D ❤️”

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.

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. pic.twitter.com/ptbxknBV7b

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 27, 2020

As at 8:00 pm 27th March, there are

70 confirmed cases
3 discharged
1 death

For a breakdown of cases by states in real time, please see https://t.co/zQrpNeOfet

Currently;
Lagos- 44
FCT- 14
Ogun- 3
Ekiti- 1
Oyo- 3
Edo- 1
Bauchi- 2
Osun-1
Rivers-1

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 27, 2020

In its bid to prevent spread of Coronavirus, (COVID19), the Kogi State Government on Friday announced that there will be no movement of any kind in the state, ordering people to stay at home from Saturday.

The government who spoke through the Deputy Governor of the state, Edward Onoja at a press conference at the Police headquarter, said the order will be in force by Saturday, 28 of March 2020.

Onoja, who is the Chairman of Kogi State Squadron Committee against the spread of COVID 19, said only people providing essential services, like pharmaceutical shops, food sellers, would be allow to come out, while commercial transporters, such as Okada, Tricycle operators and taxis will not be allow to operate till further notice.

The committee chairman equally said there would be no public gathering of any nature and also urged the people to keep social distances.

He, however, said six entry point to Lokoja, the state capital will be manned by security personnel to screen travellers from other Locations.

These areas, according to the Deputy governor includes; Nataco junction, Ganaja Junction, Zango, crusher junctions, among others.

He advised residents to remain faithful to the government decision and always report any suspected persons with high temperature fever, by calling these emergency numbers 07088292249, 08150953486, 0809522703 and 08043402122

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday announced the donation of N50m to fight Coronavirus across Southeast Nigeria.

Kanu made the announcement in a broadcast via Radio Biafra.

He said that part of the donation will be used to ensure some hospitals in the Southeast are equipped to fight COVID-19.

Kanu, however, noted the money donated was from the coffers of IPOB.

Kanu said: “We never knew that the virus is coming, we have commitments all over the world, we are committing initial N50 million to make sure we educate and prepare our people for what is to come. We budget N300m for the fight against Coronavirus.

“We will establish one hospital in every state of Biafra including Edo State. We are going to open a food store for the people. If you are to confine the people at home, you must make sure they don’t die of hunger. We are even going to feed those who are not IPOB members. This is what advanced countries are doing for their people.

“I am worried about Africa and humanity but my primary concern is for the people of Biafra.”

Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled economic stimulus package for about 200,000 indigent and the most vulnerable in the society to cushion the effect of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

This is coming 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.

The stimulus, which comes in food packs, to be distributed to every local governments in the State is aimed at cushioning the effects 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 in Oko Oba, 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 will reach the most vulnerable communities and households across Lagos, saying that the indigents who rely on daily wages will be given priority.

He said: ‘‘We are here for an on-the-spot assessment of our readiness, to see how we can fast track some of our stimulus packages for our citizens. We are all aware that this is a trying time for our citizens and since the partial drop in economic activities, our government deemed it necessary to reach out to the vulnerable ones in the society.

“These people are those that fall below the pyramid, the aged and the physically challenged who need to move from one part of the city to another for them to have a living. We felt that as a government, the least we can do is to identify them and give them these stimulus packages immediately.’’

The Governor stated that the packages will touch at least 200,000 thousand households in the first phase, saying the food packs were produced for a size of six people per household and would last for at least fourteen days.

‘’We have packaged dry food stimulus for about two hundred thousand families in the first instance for a household of husband, wife and about four children. We would be giving bags of rice, bags of beans, garri, bread, dry pepper and we are trying to see if we can add water and some elements of vitamin C. Each ration, we believe is going to be able to last them at least minimum 14 days just so our advocacy around stay at home, stay with your loved ones will be respected.

‘’This is a catalytic initiative of our administration with the hope that well meaning corporate organisations and private individuals can step up to complement the efforts of the government’’, Sanwo-Olu said.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal earlier said the government would be working with the existing database of the state using the Lagos State Social register and 4,000 community development associations’ register in 377 wards.

He said the economic stimulus was parts of Governor Sanwo-Olu administration’s initiatives tailored towards ensuring that food security is sustained in Lagos.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday evening said the total shutdown of the state over outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus is imminent.

He said once the state recorded a certain number of positive coronavirus cases, Lagos would be totally shutdown in a bid to save lives.

The governor, at a live broadcast at the State House, Marina, to give update of the disease, said so far, Lagos had recorded 44 confirmed cases so far, while three people had been discharged.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the state government was moving in the direction of total shutdown once a particular figure was arrived at, but he did not disclose the figure.

“We are moving in the direction of curfew soon, there are numbers we need to see before that will happen but we have not seen that yet,” he said

The governor urged Lagosians to stay indoor if they were not on essential services, saying that government did not want to shutdown the state’s economy totally, but warned that once that certain figure was reached, government would have no option than to shutdown the state.

Sanwo-Olu lamented that there had been increase in confirmed cases which had reached 44, with six additional cases recorded in a vessel in Lagos on Thursday.

He said with three people already discharged, the government was looking at discharging five or six more patients who had now tested negative.

Sanwo-Olu said once they recorded a confirmatory negative test, they would be discharged.

The governor added that government would start free distribution of food to about 200,000 households, such as rice, garri, bread, beans, among others to last each household for a period of two weeks.

He also said government had opened about 50 temporary markets in public schools in the neighbourhood where people could purchase foodstuff at cheaper rate, saying that the markets would be opened every two days.

The governor appealed to Lagosians to refrain from gathering in large number, saying he expected maximum compliance from them .

Also, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state government had begun fumigation of public places, such as parks, bus stops, among others, saying that the exercise would last until Sunday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating at his Downing Street residence.

This was confirmed earlier today by a tweet from Reuters.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating at his Downing Street residence https://t.co/Elz7DJhFkk pic.twitter.com/yup4YlmHsg

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 27, 2020

Johnson, 55, experienced mild symptoms on Thursday, a day after he answered at the prime minister’s weekly question-and-answer session in parliament’s House of Commons chamber, and received the positive test result at around midnight.

“I’ve taken a test. That has come out positive,” Johnson said on Friday in a video statement broadcast on Twitter. “I’ve developed mild symptoms of the coronavirus. That’s to say - a temperature and a persistent cough.

“So I am working from home. I’m self-isolating,” Johnson said. “Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus.”

British health minister Matt Hancock said later on Friday morning that he has also tested positive and is self-isolating at home with mild symptoms.

Johnson is the first leader of a major power to announce a positive test result for coronavirus. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went into isolation earlier this month after his wife tested positive for the virus.

U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both been tested, so far with negative results.

Johnson chaired a government meeting on the coronavirus on Friday morning via teleconference.

Nigeria has confirmed 14 new cases of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, with the total figures soaring to 65.

Twelve of the new cases are in Lagos, according to figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. on Thursday.

The NCDC, on its twitter handle said “14 new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 2 in FCT, 12 in Lagos

“Of the 14, 6 were detected on a vessel, 3 are returning travellers into Nigeria & 1 is close contact of a confirmed case

“As at 7:35 pm 26th March, there are 65 confirmed cases; 3 discharged and 1 death.”

14 new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 2 in FCT, 12 in Lagos

Of the 14, 6 were detected on a vessel, 3 are returning travellers into Nigeria & 1 is close contact of a confirmed case

As at 7:35 pm 26th March, there are

65 confirmed cases
3 discharged
1 death pic.twitter.com/123vN6oNEB

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 26, 2020

We noticed an error in our update at 8:35pm

Correction below

14 new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 1 in FCT, 1 in Bauchi and 12 in Lagos

Of the 14, 6 were detected on a vessel, 3 are returning travellers into Nigeria & 2 are close contacts of confirmed cases

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 26, 2020

The presidency on Thursday released a photo to respond to Nigerians who are agitating for the appearance of their leader.

As of the time of writing this report, there are over 14,000 tweets demanding the presence of President Buhari.

According to many of the tweets, Nigerians are demanding their president to address them on the issue of coronavirus on a daily basis like President Trump and other world leaders.

Many stated that written statements by aides are no longer acceptable at this point.

However, with the pressure mounting and Nigerians not giving up on their request, the presidency released a photo at 10:00 pm.

“The concocted audio message about President@MBuhari’s whereabouts should be totally disregarded.

The concocted audio message about President @MBuhari’s whereabouts should be totally disregarded. It is Fake News in its entirety. The President tonight at the State House, at work. pic.twitter.com/LTCup8Llz2

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 26, 2020

“It is Fake News in its entirety. The President tonight at the State House, at work,” Presidency Nigeria captioned the photo.

Personal Assistant on New Media to President Buhari also released the same photo.

“The President tonight at the State House, at work,” he captioned it.

President @MBuhari; still at work! pic.twitter.com/ZWepHQci4q

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) March 26, 2020

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on March 23, 2020 arraigned one George Ologunoyan before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a six-count charge bordering on forgery and uttering.

The defendant allegedly forged some documents to sell a property to one Adekunle Adams with intent to defraud the buyer.

One of the charges reads: "That you, George Ologunoyan, sometimes in 2011 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud uttered to one Mr. Adekunle Adams tiltled 'Acknowledgment Receipt' by purporting same to have been for to be for the property situate, lying and being at No. 1 Muyiwa Olojo Street, Iju Ishaga Village, Iju, Agege District, Ikeja Division, Lagos."

The defendant pleaded "not guilty" to the charges.

Upon the plea, prosecuting counsel, Abbas Mohammad, asked the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in the Correctional facility pending the determination of the case.

However, counsel to the defendant informed the court that an application for bail was filed and served on the prosecution, and so urged the court to grant his client bail on very liberal terms.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office on Monday, March 23, 2020 arraigned one Alhaji Modu Ali Kotoko on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, obtaining by false pretence and cheating before Justice Mohammed Tukur of the Kaduna State High Court.

Kotoko's journey to the dock began when the Kaduna office of the Commission received a petition from one Abdullahi Mohammed Wuroji, Magaging Director, Waram Nigeria Limited, a Limited Liability Company in Kaduna.

The complainant alleged that in 2018, the defendant met him and introduced himself as an aide to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (a former Nigerian Vice President) and lured him to give him 13 brand new cars, shoes and clothes worth N65,680,000 (Sixty-five Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) and N34,800,000 (Thirty-four Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) under pretence that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar requested for the cars and money to prosecute his 2019 Presidential election.

The complainant further alleged that upon believing the defendant, he decided to release the 13 brand new cars and goods all worth N100,480,000. However, the defendant bolted away and failed to pay.

It was later revealed that Atiku never requested for any cars or goods from Kotoko.

Count one reads: "That you, Alhaji Modu Kotoko, Managing Director of Absanajq Nigeria Limited, sometime in 2018, in Kaduna within the judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained property to wit: 13 brand of cars, shoes and clothes worth the total sum of N65,680,000.00 (Sixty-five million, six hundred and eighty thousand naira) only from Abdullahi Mohammed Wuroji under false pretence that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON requested same to finance his 2019 Presidential General Election, a pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act."

He pleaded "not guilty" to the charge.

Counsel for the EFCC, Y.J. Matiyak, thereafter, asked the court to fix a date for commencement of trial, and prayed that the defendant be remanded in the custody of Nigeria Correctional Service.

Counsel for the defendant, Sule Shuaibu, however pleaded with the court to grant his client bail to enable him prepare for his trial. But Matiyak opposed the bail application basing his argument on the magnitude of the offence.

Justice Tukur has adjourned until Wednesday, March 25, 2020 for ruling of bail application.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, on Thursday, said many Nigerians are busy making “meaningless criticisms” instead of complying with the stipulated directives to curtail the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Lai Mohammed defended the strategy deployed by the federal government since the outbreak of Coronavirus.

He stated that the strategy is working but Nigerians are not cooperating with the stipulated directive to fight the deadly virus.

He alleged that some citizens who flew into the country gave fake telephone numbers and addresses which makes it difficult for them to be traced when the need arises.

“Let me say, without mincing words, that we are not getting the kind of cooperation that this moment deserves from Nigerians. Many are busy engaging in meaningless criticisms instead of complying with the stipulated directives to keep people safe.

“Some Nigerians who flew into the country from overseas filled wrong addresses and phone numbers in their forms, making it difficult to trace them when the need arises.

“Some Nigerians defied orders to stay away from large gatherings while some religious leaders willfully flouted the directives to ensure social distancing.

“The government is doing its best but we need the citizens to do their best too. We have now gone past the stage of persuasion. It’s time for strong enforcement.

“I want to say straight away that our strategy at containing this pandemic is working, but we still have a long way to go,” he said.

“We know our priorities and we know our challenges. We have taken very bold measures in stopping international flights into the country, and we hail the state governments that have take equally bold measures in their states, which include the closure of markets and the prohibition of large congregations,” Lai Mohammed said.

The fumigation of the State House, including the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, commenced Thursday morning.

The Nation reliably gathered that the exercise started about 9:30am and would be spread throughout the entire stretch of the offices within the State House quarters.

According to a Presidency source, fumigators, who were reportedly dressed in white overalls, masked and kitted heavily, were moved in from a place outside Abuja.

The source said at about 11:30am, the fumigation process had reached the main building, where the office of the President is located.

“These people are not from the Villa. They came from outside from the town (Abuja city). They are dressed in complete white overalls, masked and wear other protective gears”, the source said.

He noted “the dressing is similar to how the National Centre for Disease Control people wear their protective gears”.

Another official of the State House, who also spoke anonymously, however noted that he believed the decision to cut down on the number of officials gaining access into the premises might have been for such a reason, for space.

The Federal Government said it is still on the trail of 4,370 people of interest over COVID-19 pandemic.

It expressed regrets that most of the returnees from abroad submitted wrong addresses.

It also said President Muhammadu Buhari is not coughing after testing negative to Coronavirus.

It said the President is fit and fully in charge of the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, made the disclosures at a briefing on COVID-19 update.

He said: “We have 4,370 people of interest whom we are tracing. We urge those who have had contact with suspected cases to
immediately report to the authorities. We urge Nigerians to support the authorities in this regard.

“We are on the verge of reaching the level of community spread. We must stop this immediately or we will record exponential cases in the days ahead. There is no better way to say this.”

The Minister said the government was worried that some of the returnees submitted wrong addresses.

“Let me say, without mincing words, that we are not getting the kind of cooperation that this moment deserves from Nigerians. Many are busy engaging in meaningless criticisms instead of complying with the stipulated directives to keep people safe.

” Some Nigerians who flew into the country from overseas filled wrong addresses and phone
numbers in their forms, making it difficult to trace them when the need arises.

“Some Nigerians defied orders to stay away from large gatherings while some religious leaders willfully flouted the directives to ensure social distancing.

“The government is doing its best but we need the citizens to do their best too. We have now gone past the stage of persuasion. It’s time for strong enforcement.”
On the actual state of health of President Buhari, the minister was emphatic that “Mr. President is well and fully in charge of the country.

” Some have alleged that the President is coughing, it is fake news.”

The Federal Government has announced plans to ban inter-state travel and possibly close down motor parks as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus.

Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said this at a press briefing in Abuja, on Thursday.

As the number of infected cases of Covid-19 continues to increase, Mohammed said “It is now time for enforcement”.

Nigeria has confirmed 51 cases of the Coronavirus. There has been eight recoveries and one death.