Police operatives from the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a man, Femi Adebowale, for allegedly beating his wife, Kuburat Adebowale, 37, to death over suspicion that she was sleeping with their neighbour.

According to P.M.EXPRESS, the incident happened at No. 15 Campbell Street, Agbado in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, where they reside.
This was disclosed by the Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, for the Commissioner of Police, who said that the suspect was in Police custody undergoing interrogation.
He stated that the arrest of the suspect was as a result of a complaint from the younger brother of the deceased, Shakiru Alao, who reported at Agbado Division that his elder sister had been beaten to death by her husband over allegation of adultery.
“Upon his complaint, the DPO Agbado, CSP Sunday Omonijo, led his men to the scene where the suspect was promptly arrested and detained at the Station for murder.”
The alleged offence attracts life imprisonment or death sentence if he is tried and found guilty before the Court.
DSP Oyeyemi stated that the suspect, in his statement, alleged that the deceased had been involved in acts of infidelity for quite some time to the extent that she was dating their next door neighbour.
The suspect explained that on the fateful day, the deceased asked him for money to spend on her younger brother’s naming ceremony and he gave her the sum of N10,000 but the deceased insisted that the money was not enough. Adebowale added that it was her adulterous practice that made him refuse to give her more money which was the genesis of the fight that resulted to her death.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has ordered the case to be transferred to Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and possible prosecution of the suspect.
The body of the deceased has also been deposited at Ifo General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
The CP warned that the Command would not tolerate any form of domestic violence. He also advised couples to desist from resulting to violence whenever they have disagreement in their homes.

A 39-year old man, Waisu Adedokun, has been arrested in Lagos for allegedly molesting his 16-year old daughter sexually.

According to P.M.EXPRESS, the incident happened at Majiyagbe Street, Ipaja area of Lagos, where they reside.

It was gathered that the victim gets traumatised in the house whenever her mother was not around as she begins to entertain thoughts of having to struggle with her father, who desires to have sex with her.
She was said to have kept the traumatic experience away from her mother because she did not know how to say her own father always wants to sleep with her due to shame.
However, when she was unable to bear it any longer, she revealed to her School Counselor what she had been passing through and her fear of returning to their house after school each day.
The matter was then reported to the Police at Ipaja Division led by CSP Tokumbo Aboniwonda, who ordered the arrest of the father, Adedokun, and subsequently transferred the matter to the Gender Section of the Police Command for further investigation.
After investigation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence but he pleaded not guilty before the Court.
The prosecutor, Supol Benson Emerhi, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O Sule-Amzat, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions and the matter was adjourned till 21st May, 2020.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the victim has absconded from home with her mother to an unknown place and she did not appear in Court when her father was arraigned.

The Tijaniyya Movement in Nigeria has suspended its planned world annual Maulud scheduled to hold in Abuja and Sokoto state as a precaution against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

The National Secretary of the group Sheikh Alkassim Yauri confirmed this development on Thursday in Abuja.

Yauri said, the annual event always attracted visitors from within and outside the country.

He said the suspension became necessary to prevent people from the covid19 pandemic.

“The decision to put off this annual Maulud was taken by our leaders from Senegal and Morocco in collaboration with our leaders in Nigeria.

“Because we have members who are going to participate in this event across West and Northern part of Africa.

“But, due to the spread of coronavirus, our group decided to suspend the event indefinitely,” he said.

The National Secretary of the group said the decision was aimed at allowing authorities to take control of the situation.

The Federal Ministry of Health confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to eight.

An American has died of Coronavirus in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria, the Ekti State Government disclosed on Wednesday.

Ekiti Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, said the driver, who contracted Coronavirus in the state was suspected to have been infected by the 27-year-old American Caucasian who died in the state.

The commissioner, in a statement said the Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID-19, headed by Governor Kayode Fayemi, could confirm that “we have recorded an incidence of a Nigerian male, 38 years old, of Ekiti origin, who has tested positive to Covid-19.

“The confirmed case is suspected to have been infected while driving an American Caucasian, male, 27 years old, who was visiting Nigeria from Richmond, Virginia, USA in the company of his caregiver, a Nigerian female Age 31, of Ekiti Origin.

“The American male and his Nigerian female caregiver, arrived Nigeria on 3rd March 2020 through the Muritala Mohammed International Airport Lagos. Preliminary investigations revealed that the pair were driven by our confirmed case to Ibadan, where they stayed for two weeks, and arrived Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on 13th March, 2020,” she explained.

According to the commissioner, “a day after their arrival, the American male fell ill and he was taken to a private hospital where he was referred to a tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, he died from complications of his illness.

“The hospital authorities alerted the State Taskforce and samples were taken from the American male as well as his two companions. The test for the male driver came back positive; the test for the female caregiver came back negative while the test for the American male was inconclusive.”

Yaya-Kolade said in line with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols, the Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID-19 had already quarantined the confirmed case on admission in the State Isolation Centre, while the caregiver who tested negative, was presently under observation in self isolation.

“We have commenced the process of contact tracing, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) following the team’s itinerary since they landed in Nigeria on the 3rd of March 2020. We have also contacted the Oyo State Government since it was recorded that they stayed in Ibadan for two weeks before arriving Ekiti State.

“The confirmed case is very stable and not showing any symptoms while NCDC will repeat the test for the caregiver who is also in self isolation. The Ekiti State Task Force on COVID-19 is following the NCDC Case Management Protocols with diligence. We want to urge Ekiti residents to stay calm and ensure they observe the prevention steps that are being publicized on all credible media.

“It is important to state that this likely index case was on a short visit and had not been in Ekiti State for up to 72 hours before his death. The Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID-19 advises residents to continue to take self-preventive measures by washing their hands with soap and water, covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing, observing social distancing and to alert the authorities of any suspected case by calling the 112 Emergency Number or 09062970434, 09062970435, 09062970436.

“The Government of Ekiti State will continue to update the public on new developments as necessary in our commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of all Ekiti residents,” she stated.

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo has fired back at Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, describing Wike as garrulous and a Mr, Know All.

The two neighbouring governors began throwing mud at each other over the sponsor of the aborted plot to remove Adams Oshiomhole as chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

Uzodinma first pointed fingers at Wike.

“Many of us, leaders of the party, are aware that those clamouring for the chairman’s removal are working with the PDP to destabilise the party,” Uzodinma told reporters on Saturday.

But in an interview at the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Wike said the comments credited to Senator Hope Uzodinma were baseless, untrue and unfortunate.

“It is unfortunate that people of questionable character are in Government. Hope Uzodinma cannot talk about the attempted removal of APC National Chairman and mention the PDP. What is our business in the attempted removal of Oshiomhole? “

“If Senator Uzodinma dares to make such false comments again about the PDP, we will tell the world about him.That he fraudulently took the mandate of PDP does not mean that PDP is weak. Hope Uzodinma lacks the capacity to discuss the PDP,” Wike said.

On Wednesday night, Uzodinma fired back, through his press secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, calling Wike ‘garrulous and Mr. Know All”.

Uzodinma said he has no regret in linking Oshiomhole’s predicament to Wike.

Uzodinma also advised the Rivers State Governor to be mindful of his unguarded utterances, claiming the way he talks depicts who he really is.

“Governor Wike arrogates to himself the strength he does not have going by the way he talks.

“There is no better way to pin Governor Wike down to the recent crisis rocking the APC and its national chairman than the careless way he spoke against Governor Uzodinma who obviously was echoeing what many already know about Wike and his type of politics,” Uzodinma stated.

Uzodinma also accused Wike of destroying PDP with his utterances.

“Is it not unfortunate that Governor Wike pretends to have a court injunction on how to speak carelessly, the reason many erstwhile members of the PDP, including the founding members, abandoned the party which is about to collapse on Wike’s head.

“Rather than engage in some kind of introspection on what went wrong with his party, Governor Wike thinks that trivialising serious issues of national and international importance will bring accolades his way.

“If Governor Wike did not have a hand in the Oshiomhole saga, why insult innocent Governor Uzodinma whose only crime was that he brought Wike’s mischievious tendencies to the fore for everyone to see.

“Governor Wike pretends to love the judiciary more than anyone else, but the truth is that every opportunity he gets to stand the judiciary on its head he does so with relish.

“Mr. Governor, your interest in the attempted removal of the national Chairman of the APC is legion and you know it. Unlike most of you, Governor Uzodinma does not talk much and when he does it is not frivolous. Stop pretending because that has been the lot of characters like you that did the PDP in and ready to bury it finally.

“Governor Uzodinma has an idea why you are badly hurt. You have the right to be hurt anyway. However, because you are ‘Mr. Know All’ you still cannot imagine how Governor Uzodinma has reduced yourself acclaimed political “wisdom” to ignorance.

In contrast to what Wike said about Uzodinma on the Supreme Court judgement, the Imo governor said he believes strongly in the judiciary.

“Governor Uzodinma believes in the rule of law like the APC, and has not hidden his respect for the judiciary as a critical organ for national development and survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

“If Governor Uzodinma were to be you, he would not have followed through all the processes he painstakingly adopted to emerge the governor of Imo State on 14 January 2020, and reaffirmed governor on March 3, 2020 after you worked so hard to truncate the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“But unfortunately, you have continued to denigrate the Supreme Court that adjudicated over Governor Uzodinma’s case by carelessly and arrogantly describing the ruling of the apex court as synonymous with fraud. I do hope you know the implications?

“By saying that Governor Uzodinma’s APC is not a political party, and that it is an assemblage of strange bed fellows, you have not said anything new from what you have been saying since 2015 the PDP lost power, but one would have thought that the narrative would have changed in 2019, yet, your party lost. Is it not time you changed strategy on what you have been saying for nearly five years now.

“Make no mistake about it, there is nothing in your kitty you are threatening to tell the world about Governor Uzodinma for stating the obvious about your party that can be worse than what they know about you and your party,” Uzodinma claimed.

The Ogun State Government on Wednesday banned all high-density gatherings that would bring together 50 or more people in the same place.

A statement issued by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ogun State, said further to measures so far taken to ramp up its efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Ogun State Government has found it expedient to announce an immediate ban of all high-density gatherings that would bring together 50 or more persons in the same place, such as social clubs, halls, cinemas, night clubs, restaurants, cafes, and sport arenas.

“This measure will be in effect for the next 30 days in the first instance,” the statement said.

The government said this restriction had to be enforced without prejudice to people’s fundamental rights to association and movement, because safety of “our people and their welfare are priorities that cannot be toyed with. The Government will continue to engage all the stakeholders, including our religious leaders to sensitise the populace on the need to maintain social distancing and collective effort to combat this pandemic.

“The Government will continue the surveillance initiatives and intensify sensitisation on COVID-19. This is more so given the peculiarity of its location as the Nation’s Gateway State and its industrial capital. Our epidemiologists and other health workers are working round the clock with Federal agencies and international development agencies to stop the spread of corona virus,” it stated.

The statement said Governor Dapo Abiodun reassured the populace that nothing would be left to chance in ensuring that the state was prepared at all times to respond appropriately.

Tonye Cole, Former Executive Director of Sahara Group, has self-isolated after being on the same flight with Nigeria’s third index case.

The 30-year-old female patient was confirmed to have returned on March 13 after a 10-day stay in London.

She arrived on BA 75 flight with Cole, who confirmed the development on in a tweet on Wednesday.

Cole noted that he has heeded Lagos State Government’s instruction to self-isolate.

“#workfromhome I was on the BA75 flight of the 13th from London on which a lady tested positive for #COVID19Lagos. We’ve been asked by LSMOH to #selfisolate. I’m grateful to

@NCDCgov for measures taken at airports to document all passengers coming into NIGERIA so we’re all safer,” he tweeted.

Some private schools in Lagos have taken the bull by the horns by announcing closure from Thursday without any instruction from the Ministry of Education.

This is coming as the Federal Government announced five new cases of coronavirus, bringing the national total to eight.

Schools still have two weeks to end the current term and this is a period many of them conduct the second term examination.

However, Head of Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Kayode Abayomi, noted that the government had not announced school closure.

But some of the high-profile schools are suspending examinations to close immediately.

The schools include Greensprings School, which has branches in Anthony, Ikoyi and Awoyaya; and Lagos Preparatory and Secondary School, Ikoyi.

While Greensprings is closing March 18, LPSS shut down on Wednesday.

Both schools have opted for e-learning for pupils while they are at home.

Greensprings School’s Head of Admissions, Mrs. Oluranti Bankole said: “Learning will now be done online using the virtual learning platform and video conferencing. She added that the school had adopted the WHO crisis management grid for COVID-19.

In a notice to parents, LPSS said the closure was a result of the spread of the Coronavirus and the school’s international makeup.

“Due to the global spread of the Coronavirus and the international makeup of the LPSS family, we have decided to close the school to children today, 18 March 2020. Whilst formal lessons have ended for the term, we are unable to predict how these events may affect Trinity (third) term and so, primary and secondary students will come home today with their notebooks.”

Other schools like Berkely and Juilliard Schools and Chessington Montessori School, Agege, announced closures for Wednesday and Friday.

Chessington informed parents that bills and report cards “will be sent electronically”, while Berkley and Juilliard Schools promised to offer “skeletal services” to stranded parents.

Northwest governors met on Wednesday and took a decision to shutdown all schools in the region for 30 days to halt the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

The governors were joined by those from Kwara and Niger States. They met to review the security situation in their areas and to agree joint responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

Present at the meeting were Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger). Deputy Governor Nasiru Gawuna represented Kano State. The Governor of Kwara State joined the meeting by telephone.

The meeting, chaired by the Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, Aminu Bello Masari, was also attended by the SSGs of the states, their Special Advisers and commissioners responsible for security matters.

The governors received briefings from heads of security agencies, at the meeting which had in attendance Major-General A. Agundu (Commander, Operation Safe Haven), Major-Gen. F.I. Yahaya, GOC 1 Division, AVM, M.I. Mukhtar (AOC Air Training Command), Rear Admiral T. Pani (Commandant, Nigerian Navy School of Armaments) and other senior military officers. Commissioners of Police and State Directors of the DSS from the concerned states also attended the meeting.

After briefings and discussions, the governors of the nine states agreed on extraordinary measures to tackle the menace of banditry.

A communique issued after the meeting disclosed that the state governors resolved to jointly fund security operations aimed at conclusively addressing the challenge from the criminal elements.

The governors also agreed joint measures to protect citizens from the likely impact of Covid-19, which included school closures

According to the communique “measures shall be taken by each of the states, in consultation with the national examination bodies, to close schools for a period of 30 days, starting from Monday, 23rd March 2020. Sensitisation campaigns to discourage large gatherings until further notice.

“Public health awareness campaigns: States will continue to wage aggressive campaigns to encourage citizens to uphold personal hygiene, including hand washing and environmental sanitation.”

Petrol price has been slashed from N145 to N125 per litre, the Nigerian government has announced.

Minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva, who made the announcement on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, said the NNPC will be ordered to adjust the pump price of the fuel immediately.

The decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, against the backdrop of the crash in crude price, now trading below $30 a barrel.

Sylva said compliance to the new price regime by petroleum marketers will be enforced by the NNPC and the PPPRA.

He said the price slash will affect all other products.He also said that henceforth prices will be “modulated” in line with rise or fall in oil prices.

The NNPC Group managing director, Mele Kyari, promptly issued a statement, saying the new price regime will begin 19 March.

“In compliance with the directives of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources on PMS pricing, the Corporation has reviewed its Ex-coastal, Ex-depot and NNPC Retail pump prices accordingly.

“Effective 19th March 2020, NNPC Ex-Coastal price for PMS has been reviewed downwards from N117.6/litre to N99.44/litre while Ex-Depot price is reduced from N133.28/litre to N113.28/litre.

“These reductions will therefore translate to N125/litre retail pump price.

“Despite the obvious cost implication of this immediate adjustment to the Corporation, NNPC is delighted to effect this massive reduction of N20/litre for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“Accordingly, all NNPC Retail stations nationwide have been directed to change the retail pump price to N125/litre.”

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday banned all religious gathering of over 50 people within the state in a bid to curtail the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

The decision was arrived at after a meeting of the Lagos State Government with religious bodies in the state.

The religious bodies include the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and Muslim leaders.

Reading a communique after the meeting held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Government Secretariat, in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi said the meeting agreed that all large religious gathering of over 50 people should be suspended with immediately.

He said the suspension would last for four weeks, with necessary review carried out if need be.

Elegushi added that a committee had been set up to monitor the enforcement of the suspension to ensure that both Muslims and Christians in the state abide by the decision.

The 15-member committee comprises representatives of Muslims and Christians in the State.

Elegushi also said the meeting agreed that the state government should embark on massive sensitisation of people at the grassroots on the need to embrace proper hygiene.

He added that the meeting agreed that all health workers in the state should up their games in the battle against Coronavirus.

Elegushi stated that it was agreed that the Federal Government should shutdown borders, especially land borders to checkmate the influx of foreigners into Lagos in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

The commissioner said the state government would immediately embarked on massive sensitisation of residents to be more aware of the danger posed by Coronavirus.

Elegushi appealed to Lagosians to desist from handshaking and to always wash their hands with soap and water or made use of sanitisers.

Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla said the action of the state government was commendable, urging all Muslim leaders to abide by the decision and to also make personal hygiene a priority.

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola said the nation was at a critical point, stressing that since the outbreak of Coronavirus, Christians had been praying.

“We are at a critical moment in Nigeria, since we heard this, we have been praying. We have listened carefully to one another, particularly the government. The responsibility of every government is to protect the lives of the people.

“We must be proactive and take preventive measures. It is no longer the issue of religion but survival. We are going to accelerate the education of our people. We must listen to the instruction of the government and take the instruction seriously. We agree with the action of the government,” he said.

Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos, has cancelled all musical activities this weekend over coronavirus fears.

This was made known in an Instagram statement by Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti and Femi Anikulapo-Kuti.

View this post on Instagram

The Management of the New Africa Shrine has decided to cancel all musical activities this weekend as precautionary measures against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the globe. We will continue to monitor the situation of things before we revert to our regular programming. STAY SAFE EVERYONE #saynotocoronavirus Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti and Femi Anikulapo-Kuti.

A post shared by Afrika Shrine (@afrikashrine) on Mar 18, 2020 at 5:24am PDT

The statement reads: “The Management of the New Africa Shrine has decided to cancel all musical activities this weekend as precautionary measures against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the globe.

“We will continue to monitor the situation of things before we revert to our regular programming. STAY SAFE EVERYONE #saynotocoronavirus”.

The Federal Government has released the sum of N20billion, to fast track the completion of the East-West Road Project.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, disclosed this at a meeting held in his office with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Federal Ministry of Finance and the Contractors handling Section I-IV of the East-West Road Project, which has lingered since 2006 till date.

Akpabio ordered contractors handling the East-West Road to return to site immediately for the speedy completion of the project in line with the Presidential directives that Section IV of the road be completed on time to enable the people of the region experience the dividend of democracy has promised during his electioneering campaign.

The Minister urged contractors to cooperate with the Ministry and return back to site, explaining that the Ministry will soon come out with a dated plan of releasing N20billion to the contractors after signing the tripartite agreement in line with Presidential directives, which transferred the project to the Presidential Infrastructural Development Fund (PIDF) under the NSIA.

The Minister said, “The project which was first awarded in 2006 was scheduled for completion by the end of 2010, but this could not be achieved due to inadequate funding. The physical progress of the East-West Road when the project was transferred to the newly created Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in 2008 was just 8% of work done by Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

“However, additional funding received between 2012 and 2015 from the African Development Bank (AFDB) and Subsidy Reinvestment and Development Programme (SURE-P) enabled the completion of two Sections which are now ready for commissioning. The outstanding Sections and recently awarded upgrade contracts were rescheduled for completion by 2020.

‘’The overall project achievement stands at an average of 76% of the total 676km (338×2) carriageway for Section I-IV, a total of 611.05km of earthworks, 584.60km of asphaltic binder course, and 523.75km of wearing course, 1143 no. of culverts and a total of 41nos. bridges (total length of 5,483m) with the second 850m Imo River Bridge, Okoso, Mbiama, Patani-Eket and Kaima Bridges have been substantially completed as at March, 2019.” Akpabio added.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, commended the Minister for his renewed energy and commitment to the completion of the East-West Road to accomplish the objective set by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Orji noted that NSIA involvement in the project is to manage the PIDF, set-up by the President in 2018, to manage key projects of this administration which includes the East-West Road, Abuja-Kano Highway, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Third Niger Bridge and the Mabilla Power Project.

He explained that for the project to be viable, they would be tolled projects to be covered by tripartite agreement.

The Lagos state Ministry of Health has confirmed four new cases of coronavirus cases, one short of the five announced by Health Minister Osagie Ehanire.

In a tweet Wednesday afternoon, the Lagos Ministry described the four as: a mother and child who arrived Lagos on 13th March, 2020 from California on Virgin Atlantic flight number VS411, an American citizen who came into Lagos through Benin Republic border on 13th March, 2020, Another Nigerian who returned to Lagos from London on 13th March, 2020 via Virgin Atlantic Flight number VS411.

Breaking! #COVID19Lagos
➡️Lagos confirms 4 new cases of #COVID19 bringing the total confirmed cases in Lagos to 7
➡️We have a mother and child (Nigerian🇳🇬)who arrived Lagos on 13th March, 2020 from California on virgin Atlantic flight number VS411@jidesanwoolu@drobafemihamzat pic.twitter.com/9NLKRnBBMY

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 18, 2020

➡️An American🇺🇸 citizen who came into Lagos through Benin republic border on 13th March, 2020
➡️Another Nigerian 🇳🇬 who returned to Lagos from London on 13th March, 2020 via Virgin Atlantic Flight number VS411@EpiAFRIC @EpidAlert @aproko_doctor @toluogunlesi @Mr_JAGs

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 18, 2020

➡️An American🇺🇸 citizen who came into Lagos through Benin republic border on 13th March, 2020
➡️Another Nigerian 🇳🇬 who returned to Lagos from London on 13th March, 2020 via Virgin Atlantic Flight number VS411@EpiAFRIC @EpidAlert @aproko_doctor @toluogunlesi @Mr_JAGs

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 18, 2020

According to the figures by Lagos, there are now 7 coronavirus cases in the country.

But the Federal authorities said there are eight.

Perhaps the Federal authorities added the suspect case of an Indian, who was also admitted into the coronavirus facility.

But Lagos said the Indian national tested negative.

“He is doing perfectly well in our isolation unit. His case will be reviewed in the morning”, LSMOH said.

Katsina State on Wednesday announced its first suspected case of COVID 19 since the outbreak of the Global pandemic in December 2019.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Kabir Musptapha, told newsmen during a briefing the patient, who is presently on self isolation, returned from Malaysia and developed symptoms that warrant further investigations.

He further disclosed that the patient’s samples have been taken and results were being expected by on Thursday after which contact tracing will commence.

He said: ‘’The ministry is taking all precautionary measures and closely working with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on the matter.”

According to him, the patient’s history of travel was a high index and the symptoms reported at the clinic prompted actions, noting that since his arrival into the state, he was taken into personal protection by using face mark and self isolation.

He advised the host community of Dutsinma town to be cautious of movements and gatherings, saying that people should feel free to seek medical attention as all precautionary measures are in place to provide medical support.

Scores of bandits operating in Walawa, Yadi and Kuduru hills in Kaduna State were flushed out from their hideouts by Nigerian Air Force fighter jets.

Many of the bandits were killed and their logistics supplies were destroyed in the joint air and ground operation.

The Director Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement disclosed that the “the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in a special operation conducted in coordination with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, has smoked out armed bandits from their camps at Walawa, Yadi and Kuduru Hills areas of Kaduna State, neutralizing several of them and destroying some of their logistics supplies in the process”.

He added that, “this was achieved in a joint air and ground operation executed yesterday, 17 March 2020, after credible intelligence reports and days of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions revealed that the bandits, after driving away the original inhabitants of the area, had continued to operate from the locations with impunity.

“Accordingly, the NAF detailed its attack aircraft to conduct series of air raids at the bandits’ camps resulting in the destruction of some of the logistics facilities and structures housing the armed bandits as well as the neutralization of several of them.

“The air strikes also paved way for ground forces to conduct mop-up operations, supported by NAF combat helicopters. In all, no fewer than 5 commanders of Ansaru and a dozen armed bandits were neutralized in the operation”.

“The NAF, working in consonance with other security agencies, will sustain its operations to flush the armed bandits out of the Northwest Zone of the country”.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in announcing the release of the results of the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) also advised the candidates on how to check them.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede directed the candidates to send ‘RESULT’ to 55019, on their mobile phones, used to register for the exam.

Candidates should send RESULT, via SMS, to 55019 using the same number that was used for registration (you must have a credit balance of at least N50 on your line).

The result, would be replied as an SMS shortly after.

Another way to check for your results is:

• Go to JAMB result checking portal at http://www.jamb.org.ng/eFacility/CheckUTMEResults.

• Enter your JAMB Registration Number/Email Address in the required column.

• Click on ‘Check My Results’ and the portal will load your result if it’s ready.

Note that UTME results are released in batches. Expected responses can be the following:-

• If a candidate uses a phone number that was not used to register, a message will be sent to him thus: ‘This phone number was not used for registration.”

• A candidate with a result will receive the message: “Dear Mr/Miss X, your result is as follows… (and the details will be provided).

• If a result is withheld, a “Result Withheld” message will be sent to the candidate.

• If a candidate belongs to the category being given the benefit of the doubt, the message to the person will be: “Result withheld pending the upload of clarifications/document required from you.”

• If a candidate was absent, s/he would get “CANDIDATE ABSENT” as feedback

• A candidate that was ABSENT WITH REGISTRATION NUMBER also CANCELLED will be so informed.

• “Invalid Entrance into the Exam Hall” will be sent to a candidate who gained unauthorized access to the examination hall.

Image Credits: My School Gists

The Senate on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to immediately brief Nigerians on efforts by the government to address the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in the country.

The call on the President was contained in resolutions reached sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senator Danjuma Goje (APC – Gombe Central).

Oluremi Tinubu (APC – Lagos Central), in her contribution to the motion said the outbreak of the disease is a wake up call for Nigerians to take personal hygiene seriously, adding that Nigerians should not go about in fear.

Ajayi Boroffice (APC – Ondo North), said because Nigeria’s borders are porous, foreign nationals now use the land borders as entry and exit route to and from Nigeria.

He, therefore, urged the Ministry of Health to immediately place a ban on citizens of countries already affected by the Coronavirus disease.

Jibrin Barau (APC – Kano North) advised authorities of churches and hotels to introduce the use of testers in identifying infected persons so as to control the spread of the dreaded disease.

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC – Niger North) said, “the issue at stake is one that calls for caution and proactive measures.”

“There are people who are having the virus and the symptoms are not there.

“For us to deal with this matter, individual contribution is key. Those who have travel to the epicenter of the disease are supposed to isolate themselves. Are they keeping to this?

“If you look at our health facilities, it is not in the best of state. Countries with good health facilities are on lockdown,” the lawmaker added.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP – Taraba South) said, “we (Nigeria) are the largest black nation in the world, and our borders are very porous.”

“The dangers that this virus will bring upon us because of our policy will be very dangerous.

“Once you’re not a Nigerian, we should stop them at the border and ask them to return to where they are coming from,” Bwacha added.

Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP – Rivers East) said, “even those that have the technology to solve the problem, the virus is still spreading without respecting any person.

“Let the ministry of health come with real standard on how to behave now.

“Our airports and seaports are still open, and you don’t have the equipments to fight it.

“Let no one from this chamber travel out of here. Let us quarantine those coming from outside. Let us be more careful because we don’t have the resources to fight it,” the law maker appealed.

Sam Egwu (PDP – Ebonyi North), urged Senators who travel out of the country to quarantine themselves before coming to the chamber to attend plenary proceedings.

Senator Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC – Kwara Central) advocated for more resources to enable Nigeria establish test Centres across states.

He stressed that the availability of funds will ensure effective tracking, testing and quarantining of anyone who comes in contact with persons identified to be infected with the disease.

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in his concluding remarks called for improved measures to be taken so as prevent uncontrollable outbreak of the disease in Nigeria.

He cautioned that, “even if our environment is hostile to Coronavirus, we need to be extremely careful. We won’t know when it adjusts to the environment and become very potent.”

The Senate in its prayers, accordingly, urged the Federal Government and Nigerians to keep abreast of all measures and developments related to Coronavirus globally.

Similarly, the Upper Chamber while urging the National Assembly to give the federal government full support to fight Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, called for a Special Intervention Fund to combat the deadly disease.

Nigeria has recorded five new coronavirus cases, jacking up the national total to eight.

Minister of Health, Prof. Osagie Ehanire on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, said he regretted to announce the five new cases of Coronavirus in the country.

He said the government has intensified contact tracing for these cases to control the risk of spread and that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, was already supporting the response efforts.

”I regret to announce the confirmation of 5 new #COVID19 cases in #Nigeria bringing the total no. of confirmed cases to eight.

“We have intensified contact tracing for these cases to control the risk of spread and
@NCDCGov is already supporting the response efforts,” he said.

I regret to announce the confirmation of 5 new #COVID19 cases in #Nigeria bringing the total no. of confirmed cases to 8

We have intensified contact tracing for these cases to control the risk of spread and @NCDCGov is already supporting the response efforts pic.twitter.com/pJNaU2KLln

— Dr. E. Osagie Ehanire MD, FWACS (@DrEOEhanire) March 18, 2020

Five new cases of coronavirus just confirmed in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Health were imported from the USA and United Kingdom, increasing the cases in Nigeria from three registered in Lagos to eight nationally.

Three of the confirmed cases, two of them Nigerians, a mother and her six-week old baby arrived from the US. Another two cases, all Nigerians arrived from the UK.

Government did not indicate where the cases were found.

“A detailed travel history of each case is being compiled & contact tracing has begun

“Our National Emergency Operations Centre is supporting response in the states

“The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health is conducting risk assessment to initiate other relevant measures”, said a tweet by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.

“We urge Nigerians to remain calm as public health response activities are intensified across the country”, NCDC said.

The first index case of the virus is an Italian from Milan.

Hence, the Federal Government announced entry restriction for travellers from the US, Italy and the UK.

Other countries affected are China, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, Netherlands and Switzerland.

These are all countries with over 1,000 cases domestically.

“The Federal Government is temporarily suspending all visas issued to nationals from these countries. Nigerians arriving from these countries will be subjected to supervised isolation for 14 days.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is also advising all Nigerians to avoid travel to these countries.

“These restrictions will come into effect from Friday 20 March 2020 for 4 weeks subject to review”, said Boss Mustapha, secretary to the Government of the Federation, who also chairs the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.

Sen. Gabriel Suswam (Benue East) has suggested that some leaders and politicians should be allowed to spend a day or two in prison to be better leaders and politicians.

Suswam made this suggestion on Tuesday at the plenary while contributing to a motion moved by Sen. Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) on The need to upgrade, decongest and disinfect Correctional Centres nationwide.

“I want to strongly support this motion based on my personal experience of what I saw, and when I left, I recommended that for people to be proper leaders in this country, at least each and every one of us must spend one or two days in prison, we would be better human beings.

“Mr President, they took me there in the night, and the following day, which was morning the entire prison knew that I was there.

“Mr President it might interest you to know that most of the people who spend years in prison are for a misdemeanour that you can even dismiss.

“A young man spent 7years in jail for just a problem of N10, 000, various individuals were there on very minor offences that the police could afford to correct them and send them home.

“I made it a point of duty when I left that place, for the next month, I took close to twenty of those young people out of that place.

“It didn’t take anything, it was just to pay that money and take them back to court.

“I selected about three lawyers, sent them to Kuje prison to go and attend to them, and about 20 of them were taken out.

“So, I think that I want to support the motion, because most of the people who are there do not need to be there, and they unduly congest the place.

Suswam decried the poor state of hygiene in the correctional Centres, pointing out that they are breeding grounds for various forms of unthinkable diseases and crimes.

According to him, when it comes to the issue of disinfecting the place, Mr President, God forbid that this COVID-19 infects any of these correctional centres in the country, Mr President it would be a calamity.

“The environment in any of the prisons here, Mr President you would be shocked if you go there; we need to as a matter of urgency ask the authorities responsible to address the issue raised in this motion with the urgency it deserves.

“So, we can be seen as a country ready to correct people rather than sending people to go and die or become more hardened, “he said

The former governor pointed out that in some parts of the world wealthy individuals and companies build correctional centres and work in collaboration with the government.

He said “in developed climes, individuals or companies build prisons and maintain them to the highest standards and government takes care of what is needed to be taken care of.

“So, let us encourage individuals who are wealthy or companies that want to engage in that business to begin to build prisons, and maintain them and give them standards, so, we will not have the situation of congestion.“

Sen. Suswam, a former governor of Benue, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N3.1 billion fraud and spent 2 days in Kuje prison.