Civil Defence Boss Angry With His Officer Over Killing Of Driver In Aba, Orders Investigations

April 15, 2020

The Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has condemned the killing of a commercial bus driver in Aba, Abia State allegedly by one of his operatives.

Abdullahi Gana has, therefore ordered a thorough investigation into the killing, saying that already the suspect had been arrested and handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.

In a statement today, April 15, the Commandant General gave assurance that if after investigation the officer involved was found culpable, he would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Abdullahi Gana expressed regret over what he called unfortunate incident, condemning it in its entirety.

He sympathized with the family of the slain driver. He assured Nigerians that the Corps would continue to live above board.

“We want to say that the action of this erring officer does not represent what the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stands for.”

The Commander General had directed the officer in charge of zone E, and the Commandant of Abia State Command to carry out a full-scale investigation into the incident and ensure that the suspect is prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

“The Corps respects the sanctity of life and dignity of the human person as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. Once again, we apologise profusely for any inconvenience or embarrassment this isolated action must have caused anyone most especially at this critical period when the world are facing the pandemic of covid 19.

Gana charged all state commandants to read the rules of engagement to all armed personnel in their commands and ensure periodic screening to keep them in check.

The victim whose identity is yet to be known, was said to have been shot by Officer of the Corps while enforcing lockdown order in the state on Wednesday.

The slain driver was said to have approached the checkpoint without stopping and that in his bid to pass the checkpoint in a haste, he brushed an NSCDC personnel, where they were enforcing the lockdown order by the government before the incident occurred.

WHO To President Trump: This Is Not The Time To Play Politics

Editorial staff

April 15, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked President Donald Trump of the United States of America to stop playing unnecessary politics with the lives of millions of people across the world with is threat to cut funding to the world health body.

According to WHO, “we regret the decision of the president” amid calls for global unity to defeat the pandemic. Now is the time for us to be united against a common struggle, a common enemy.”

The Director-General of the world health body, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who reacted to President Trump’s threat, said: “when we’re divided, the virus exploits the cracks between us.”

He had earlier this month, criticized the US President of politicizing the virus, warning him to “stop pointing fingers” unless the US wants “more body bags. It’s like playing with fire.”

The Director General said however that WHO is “assessing how its programmes will be affected” by the administration’s decision, adding that the fund suspension could result in millions of dollars in a funding shortfall, based on 2020-2021 budgets, as the organization mounts a global response to coronavirus, requiring international support.

The US President had, yesterday, April 14, announced that the US would suspend financial support for the WHO after he defected blame for the slow response to the crisis in the US following reports that he largely ignored warnings from members of his administration for several weeks.

He accused WHO of “severely mismanaging” the global response and “pushing misinformation” from China’s government. The announcement came a day after he aggressively defended the US response, including his restrictions on travel from China at the end of January, and screened a video to reporters that downplayed the outbreak’s impact, without answering whether the administration deployed any response in the entire month of February.

I Have Not Recovered From Coronavirus Yet – Gov El-Rufai Of Kaduna

Editorial staff

April 15, 2020

The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has said that he has not yet been confirmed to have recovered from coronavirus as he is still under isolation for testing positive to the virus.

Governor el-Rufai, who today, April 15, chaired a virtual meeting of the State Executive Council for the first time since he was diagnosed, said he will personally announce to the public as soon as he is cleared negative of the disease.

He advised Nigerians to ignore any report insinuating that he was cleared of the disease and assured that he would personally announce the news when he is confirmed negative.

The Governor said via his tweeter account that: “earlier Wednesday 10am -2pm, I took a few hours during isolation to chair a virtual meeting of the State Executive Council.

“I haven’t been cleared of COVID-19 yet and will personally announce when confirmed negative.

“Ignore fake news even if you like it.”

Governor el-Rufai had, on 28 March, personally announced that he tested positive for coronavirus and added that he is in self-isolation as required by the case management guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for a someone that is not showing symptoms.

80 Percent Of Coronavirus Cases In Nigeria Are Not Serious – NCDC

Editorial staff

April 15, 2020

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (BCDC) has said that 80 percent of persons discovered to be positive for the novel coronavirus are not serious cases.

“Current evidence shows that about 80% of persons with #COVID19 have the mild form of the disease and recover with minimal management.”

The NCDC medical officer, Sandra Mbah, in tweet chat, said: “our current protocol is to have all cases managed by a team of clinicians in a treatment centre to ensure we have good recovery rate.”

The commission’s medical officer said that she believed that Nigerians can practice the homecare approach to Covid-19 treatment.

According to her, cases that are classified as mild can self-isolate and be managed at home with routine checks by healthcare workers who are supported to do so.

“This has not yet taken effect in Nigeria.”

Source: The Guardian.

Ezekwesili Condemns Trump On Plan To Cut Funds To WHO, Says It Poses Danger To Africa

Editorial staff

April 15, 2020

Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has condemned the move by United States President, Donald Trump, to cut funding to the World Health Organisation.

She noted that such action would adversely affect African continent, with its weak health systems.

“Any action taken by the United States against the @WHO @WHOAFRO @WHONigeria in the midst of a deadly pandemic like COVID-19 will adversely impact African countries.

“WHO activities help to backstop the continent’s weak health systems and must be sustained.”

Ezdekwesili spoke against the background of President Trump announcement, while speaking to news men yesterday, April 14 in the Whitehouse that his government would suspend funding to WHO after accusing the organisation of aligning with China to cover up the extent of Coronavirus in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus emanated from.

Abuja Activates Mobile Courts To Try Violators Of Lockdown Laws

Editorial staff

April 15, 2020

The Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory has announced the activation of mobile courts to try all violators of the directive on the cessation of movement across the capital city.

A statement today, April 15, by the spokesman of the FCT Administration, Anthony Ogunleye, said that decision was taken after the FCT coronavirus security committee, headed by the minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, discovered that many people, especially in satellite towns, were violating the lockdown procedures.

The statement said that while the level of compliance has been satisfactory at the Federal Capital City (FCC) over the first few days of the lockdown, the same cannot be said about the satellite towns located at the various area councils where residents there have largely ignored the lockdown directive.

It said that over the past few days, adherence to the lockdown directives at the City Center has also deteriorated, adding that residents have used the excuse of going to the markets to flout the lockdown directives and traders selling non-essential food commodities have also used this window to open their shops in clear violation of the directives not to do so;

“Despite the directives that residents should patronize neighborhood shops and markets within their districts and not move from one district to the other to buy their essential items in order to minimize movement of people and vehicles across the city, this has largely been flouted as well.

The statement directed that in the new dispensation, market operational days are henceforth reduced to two days in a week namely Wednesdays and Saturdays only;

It advised residents to patronize only neighborhood markets as movement from one district to the other now constitutes a violation of the lockdown.

The statement said that commercial motorcyclists have been banned from operating anywhere in Kubwa and Dutse Alhaji during the lockdown;

“The FCTA will step up sensitization efforts especially in the rural communities and enjoins Area Council, Chairmen, traditional rulers and community leaders to actively engage in sensitizing the populace on the dangers of COVID -19;

“The FCT Administration remains deeply committed to ensuring that the COVID-19 pandemic remains controlled in the FCT and seeks the cooperation of all residents in curtailing its spread especially into our rural and suburban communities.”

90 Percent Of Noise About Coronavirus In Nigeria Is Political, For Economic Gain – Kogi Gov

Editorial staff

April 15, 2020

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has said that 90 percent of the noise about coronavirus in Nigeria is politically and economically motivated.

According to him, the reported spread of coronavirus in Nigeria is full of lies and an avenue for political office holders and corrupt officials to embezzle and steal the nation’s resources.

The governor, in a video posted last month on his verified Facebook page, while denying rumours that he tested positive to the virus said: “I can assure you, 90 percent noise about COVID-19 is political and economic financial material thing.

“There are a lot of lies, politics about COVID-19, I will not play with that. I will not play with my people’s life or pretend and steal money because of this so-called . Please, stay safe.

“Please stay at home and stay safe. I got NO Covid. It’s fake news. People of Kogi State, I love you all. Don’t mind the political aspect of COVID-19, maximum of 21 days, COVID-19 will disappear.

“Don’t panic, if you have catarrh (fluid), take hot water with garlic, ginger, lemon, lime and steam yourself, you will be good.

“I’m good, strong, hale and hearty. If COVID-19 comes to Kogi State, you have a governor who will combat and defeat the idiot.”

Buhari Rejoices With British Prime Minister For Surviving Coronavirus Infection

Editorial staff

April 15, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed joy over the discharge from hospital’s intensive care unit, of the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, after being infected by coronavirus.

In a letter dated April 14, 2020 to Mr. Johnson, President Buhari said that he received “with great relief, the news of your discharge from hospital after being successfully treated for Covid-19.”

Nigerian leader expressed delight at the Prime Minister’s recovery, adding: “we all join you in appreciating the wonderful staff at both the hospital and the NHS who worked round the clock to look after you and those afflicted by Covid-19.”

President Buhari wished the Prime Minister “full recovery and good health in the coming days.”

Within 4 weeks, 762 People Died From Coronavirus In France

Editorial staff

April 14, 2020

French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing a protective face mask, talks with health workers as he visits a medical center in Pantin near Paris as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in France, April 7, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool

No fewer than 762 people died within four weeks of lockdown in France as a result of the novel coronavirus. The number of deaths in hospital is reported at 10,129 and those in nursing homes are 5,600 as of today, April 14, bringing the total to 15,729 deaths since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.

A total of 103,573 cases of infection have been reported to date as well. The numbers were reported by Jerome Salomon, France’s director general of health, in a daily press briefing.

The total number of patients in intensive care is 6,730, a drop of 91 patients as at yesterday, April 13 whereas there are 71,903 patients in the hospital still receiving treatment.

The number of those who have recovered fully from the coronavirus stands at 28,805.

President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation yesterday evening to announce an extension of the lockdown the country has been in since March 17. The new deadline, originally set for Wednesday, April 15, is now May 11.

Despite moving in the right direction, the virus is far from being conquered and the confinement must remain.

“The epidemic is starting to slow down, the results are there,” the executive said.

Despite the disappointment of three and a half more weeks of isolation, Macron remains his country’s biggest cheerleader.

“Thanks to your efforts, every day we have made progress.”

Worldwide, there are nearly 1.95 million cases of coronavirus with over 122,500 reported deaths. Nearly 468,000 people have recovered from the coronavirus as well since the start of record-keeping for the outbreak, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Despite the severity of the virus, most people experience mild symptoms and recover in due time.

Source: Anadolu Agency.

Gov Ganduje Locks Down Kano For 7 Days As Coronavirus Case Rises To 4

Editorial staff

April 14, 2020

Kano state governor Abdullahi Ganduje has announced the lockdown of the state seven days beginning from Thursday April as coronavirus case rose to four as at today, April 14.

The governor, who made the announcement after a meeting with various stakeholders in the state and the state security council today, said: “from Thursday 16th April by 10pm Kano is locked down for the benefit of all in the state.

“All markets are closed and all public gatherings are banned. The lockdown is for 7 days. We then wait and see what will come up. We are hoping that Allah will see us through” Ganduje stated.

The state ministry of health on its verified Twitter handle today, confirmed that coronavirus cases in Kano had risen to four.

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