Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has told Nigerians not to panic over the rise in Coronavirus cases in the nation, as government is on top of the situation.

Nigeria has recorded 12 cases of Coronavirus, with thousands of contacts being traced.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement said the Muhammadu Buhari administration had taken some steps to mitigate the effects on the Nigerian people.

“To prevent the spread of cases imported into Nigeria, the President has already ordered the restrictions of travel from 13 countries, each with more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Government has also suspended visas issued to nationals of these countries. The restriction will take effect from March 21 and will remain until further notice. While Nigeria delights in welcoming the world, the safety and protection of our citizens and land must take priority.

“The various agencies of government including Media owned by the government have embarked on vigorous campaigns promoting hygiene measures. There are, currently, very stringent regimes of checks at the points of air and sea entry into the country. The effort Nigeria is making as is well known, has already received the commendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO),” he said.

According to Shehu, “the Presidency wishes to assure Nigerians that government is on top of the situation. There is no cause for panic. So far measures put in place are working efficiently. What this country is doing has been recommended as a template.

“The President trusts the relevant Ministers in his cabinet and the officials of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), who are providing him with constant updates and professional counsel. These officials have a track record of competence.”

He said the President instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to reduce the pump price of fuel, as the Covid-19 pandemic had led to a crash in the global price of crude oil, and that the President decided that every Nigerian should benefit from this.

“Subsequently, the NNPC announced a 20 naira deduction, and the pump price of fuel has now been reduced from 145 naira per litre to 125 naira per litre.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday announced a credit relief of N1.1Trillion Naira to businesses affected by the pandemic. The Bank has also established a facility for household, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and announced a reduction of interest rates for loans from 9% to 5%.

“We do not want to create panic. But we will continue to update the Nigerian public with relevant information. We plead with every Nigerian to cooperate with the government in the fight against Covid-19 and obey all instructions from the NCDC. We have a high level Presidential Coordination Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). This body should be allowed to carry out its duties,” he added.

Shehu said the presidency pleaded with Nigerians not to see this most peculiar of times as one to be politicised or seen as an opportunity to regurgitate grudges against the government or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“North, South, East, and West – all Nigerians must unite to fight this plague, irrespective of religious or ideological affiliation. In this regard, populist advocates such as the one accusing the President of “complacency” simply because he has not made a television address by ranking members of our respected parliament are cheap and sensational. These are not the times for populism and cheap politics. President Buhari thanks all those at the forefront of the fight against the deadly disease,” he said.

General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi has suspended all Sunday services at the church’s headquarters in Ghagada where over 30,000 worshipers normally throng every Sunday due to the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Kumuyi also cancelled the church’s Tuesday Leadership meeting and the Saturday Workers meeting at the headquarter’s church.

He also effect changes in local districts and locations in compliance with the Lagos State’s order suspending religious gathering of over 50 people.

A memo from the church to all groups and districts, signed by its Secretary, S.M. Afuwape said, “Please note that all programmes at Gbagada church have been suspended.

“No gathering of worshipers should be more than 50; where they are more, they should be sent to Location/church in the house,” he said.

The statement said hand washing materials, such as running water and liquid soap should be provided at the entrances of the churches, while members should be encouraged to thoroughly wash their hands before entering the
Church.

“Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be made available for the same purpose in all our churches. Each Church should arrange and ensure regular cleaning and disinfecting places such as toilets, all floors, surfaces such as door
handles, chairs, church benches and pulpits with disinfectants.

“Worshippers should cover their nose and mouth with bent elbow or tissues when coughing, or sneezing and dispose the tissues immediately. Adequate baskets/dust bin to dispose tissues used by those who coughed or sneezed, should be provided.

“Members should avoid shaking of hands or any other form of physical contact where possible. Members should avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

“Churches should check body temperature with the use of infrared thermometer. The temperature should be below 380 C. those with temperature of 380 C and above should be referred to Medical Personnel for immediate attention,” the memo said.

One of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari is now on self-isolation after arriving from the United Kingdom due to raging Coronavirus pandemic.

Aisha Buhari, wife of the president disclosed this on Thursday on her twitter handle.

She said her daughter returned from the UK being among the burden countries of Coronavirus and placed herself on self-isolation even though she did not develop any symptoms of the disease.

“Good afternoon Nigerians, earlier today my daughter returned from the UK being among the high Burden listed countries of COVID-19.

“Based on the advice of the Hon. Minister Of Health , Presidential Task force on COVID – 19 and that of NCDC, she is on Self Isolation, not because she displayed any symptoms of the Covid-19,” she said.

The Federal Government had urged those coming into the country from the endemic nations to self-isolate for 14 days to see if they would develop symptoms of the deadly disease in order to halt its spread.

Good afternoon Nigerians,
Earlier today my daughter returned from the UK being among the high Burden listed countries of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/cku3bzcIJS

— Aisha M. Buhari (@aishambuhari) March 19, 2020

Good afternoon Nigerians,
Earlier today my daughter returned from the UK being among the high Burden listed countries of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/cku3bzcIJS

— Aisha M. Buhari (@aishambuhari) March 19, 2020

However, Aisha Buhari urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures and ensure the safety of their families and that of general public.

“We will overcome the Covid-19 pandemic if we all take the necessary precautions at the same time ! God bless you all. Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria

“Let’s keep following the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, which encourages maintaining social distancing, high hygiene culture through regular washing of hands with soaps and sanitizers,” she said.

Air Peace said it is downsizing flight operations in response to the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Specifically, the carrier said it is suspending flight operations on the Lagos / Sharjah / Dubai route as well as the Lagos / Dakar and Lagos / Monrovia routes.

But it will be cutting flights to Accra, Banjul and Freetown.

Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace, Mrs. Toyin Olajide disclosed these in an interview in Lagos on Thursday.
She said the airline took the decisive decision after an emergency meeting with its management to review operations in the face of the disease, which the World Health Organisation (W.H.O) has already declared as a global pandemic.

The management, she said, also announced several measures aimed at addressing the adverse effects occasioned by the disease.

Olajide said the airline also took the decision to cut down its flights following a tremendous decline in passenger traffic and the needs to cut costs.

She said: “Air Peace, as a result of the adverse effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on passenger traffic, has today taken the hard decision to downsize our flight operations in order to cut the mounting costs occasioned by the pandemic.”

She noted that as a result of the development, the airline will be suspending its operations to Dakar-Senegal and Monrovia-Liberia and cutting down its Freetown-Sierra leone operations and Banjul-Gambia operations to one flight a week.

She disclosed that the airline would also be reducing its operations into Accra from Lagos to just two flights daily and suspend its Abuja-Accra operations.

“On the domestic scene, we are reducing our frequencies while at the same time, restructuring our operations by deploying our hoppers to more airports.

“Our international operations into Dubai through Sharjah International airport shall be suspended from next week as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shut its airports to nationals from other countries including but not limited to Nigeria,” she added.

The 24th convocation ceremony of the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo has been postponed indefinitely.

The decision was in response to the rampaging coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19).

It was taken at an emergency management meeting on Thursday.

A top member of the university management told online medium PREMIUM TIMES, the school took the decision at about 1 pm on Thursday.

The source was quoted as saying: “Yes, that is the final decision. The management meeting is still on but a conclusion has been reached on the convocation which is indefinite postponement.

“The truth is that if we had decided to continue with our programmes, who would have loved to take the risk to attend among both the graduands and the dignitaries?

“Thank God we have not recorded any case with a link to the university as at now, so the best thing to avoid it is to observe all the cautionary measures.”

Source: PREMIUM TIMES

The Katsina State Commissioner for Information, Engr. Yakubu Danja said that the state has no case of Coronavirus.

Danja disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Katsina on Thursday.

Officials of the State Ministry of Health had told the media on Wednesday that there was a suspected case of the virus in the state.

“I am pleased to inform you that the result of the suspected case is out and the person is negative”

“I would like to use this opportunity to call on the good people of Katsina State to keep calm and remain informed about the update on information on COVID-19,

“Avoid spreading unverified information especially through social media.

The commissioner advised the people to maintain a high level of personal and environmental hygiene such as frequent hand washing.

He advised the people to avoid social gathering except where necessary and to report to the nearest Health Facility any case of the virus.

Danja said that the state government would to do everything possible to safeguard the health of the entire citizens through the provision of effective healthcare delivery.

The Lagos State Government on Thursday disclosed that four new persons have tested positive to the deadly Coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 11.

This means that the over 12 people have been infected with the deadly disease in the country.

Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this on Thursday, saying that the government was currently following up over 1,300 contact cases.

Abayomi disclosed that 19 people were tested for Coronavirus on Wednesday in Lagos and that four out of them had tested positive to the virus and had been isolated for treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

He said the first of the four new cases who tested positive to the disease was a woman who had contact with the woman who came from UK some days ago who was tested positive.

According to him, the second new case was a female who returned from France on 14th of March on a Turkish airline TK 1830.

The third case, he said, was a Nigerian male in his 50s who had not travelled anywhere, but was tested positive to the disease.

Abayomi stated that the fourth new case was a Nigerian male who arrived the country on 13th of March from Frankfurt to Lagos on Lufthansa airline, flight number LH568.

The commissioner, however, said more tests were still being carried out, saying that it was clear that “we have combination of imported cases and local transmission. The Executive of Lagos State is meeting on the next stage on social distancing.

“The best way to slow the rate is to halt movement of the virus from person to person,” he said.

He appealed to people on the two flights to self-isolate themselves and to reach the government.

“Currently, we are following over 1,300 people right now to find information about the state of their health and the number is increasing,” he said.

The Senate on Thursday announced the suspension of all public hearings with effect from March 24, over the COVID-19 pandemic.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who made the announcement shortly after a closed-door session that lasted for over one hour, also said the Senate suspended admission of visitors into the Gallery.

The Senate also passed five bills for first reading during plenary.

The bills are Federal College of Education Shagari Establishment Bill 2020 sponsored by Sen. Ibrahim Danbaba (PDP Sokoto- South ), Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority Act Amendment Bill 2020 by Sen. Akpan Bassey (PDP -Akwa Ibom North-East).

Others are Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine of Nigeria Establishment Bill by Sen.Ibrahim Oloriebe (APC Kwara- Central) among others.

It also received the report of the Committee on Power on addressing Nigerian’s Power Problems.

The report, which was laid by the Chairman of the Committee, Dr Gabriel Suswam (PDP-Benue North-East) would be considered by the Senate March 24.

The Italian national who brought the deadly Coronavirus to Nigeria has now tested negative to the disease.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this on Thursday at a news conference to give update on the pandemic.

He said the index case, who had been receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, Yaba, had tested negative to the disease.

Abayomi said it was good news for Lagos and Nigeria for the index case to test negative.

He said he would not be allowed to go yet until a confirmatory test had been carried out within 48 hours, saying that if he tested negative the second time, he would be discharged.

The Italian was tested negative for Coronavirus on Thursday 27, February, 2020.

The patient entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit to LaFarge.

According to Abayomi, “He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.”

The Italian had gone to LaFarge, where he had contacts with staff of the company. Forty people were later quarantined at LaFarge, out of which one tested positive for Coronavirus.

The second case who was infected by the Italian tested negative few days after he was quarantined.

However, Abayomi said all new cases were responding to treatment at the IDH in Yaba, Lagos.

Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have arrested a 14-year old boy for allegedly engaging two boys aged between 5 and 7 years in anal sex in order to satisfy his sexual desire.

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

The boy is now facing the charge for statutory rape by penetration through the anus which attracts several years of imprisonment if he is found guilty before the Court for the alleged offence.

The Police alleged that the suspect lured the victims, inserted an oily cream to lubricate their anus for easy penetration and thereafter forced his dick into their anus before he was caught in the act.

The alleged dastardly act was reported to the Police in the area; he was arrested and later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos, for interrogation.

After thorough interrogation, the suspect was found culpable and subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.

The Court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Supol Benson

Emerhi, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, ordered the suspect to be remanded in juvenile centre without an option of bail and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to the DPP for advice.

The matter was adjoined till 6th April, 2020.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the defendant may be transferred to the High Court if the DPP finds him culpable and recommends that he should be charged for the alleged offence.

Source: PM Express