Television Nigerian

Wearing of face masks in public places is now compulsory in Lagos state, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said on Saturday.

During a news conference at the State House, Marina, the governor said the decision is part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Lagos communities.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said failure to comply with the directive on the use of face masks in public places would met wit stiff penalties and sanctions.

He also appealed to Lagosians to leave the medical-grade N-95 masks for the use of medical workers who need them the most.

Sanwo-Olu, however, urged residents who are not medical workers to make do with simple cloth masks.

He said: “Let me now formally announce that face masks are now compulsory in public places in Lagos State. Failure to use masks in public will invite sanctions and penalties.

”We have commenced arrangements for the production of large quantities of face-masks for the use of the people of Lagos State. This is indeed a great opportunity for many businesses, small and large, in the state, to contribute to the COVID-19 response while also getting a chance to do business and earn money.”

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has announced that 74 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the state.

The governor disclosed this known during a press briefing on Saturday.

He said the state government has taken 489 samples and 74 tested of the samples tested positive for the dreaded virus.

“We’ve taken samples of 489 people, out of these number 74 were confirmed positive for the virus,” he said.

More to come…

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said a mass burial will be conducted for dead bodies that are not evacuated from the state’s mortuaries within the next two weeks.

Sanwo-Olu made this known at a news conference on COVID-19 pandemic at the State House, Marina.

The governor said the state government needs to decongest the mortuaries, adding that residents are now allowed to conduct burials.

Sanwo-Olu, however, told the families to adhere to the rules on social distancing when burying their loved ones.

“If we’re unable to see a decongestion of mortuaries across the state within the next two weeks, Lagos state government will now be compelled to seek to have a mass burial and we would not want to force this on anybody, which is why we are asking for the cooperation of all of us,” he said.

“This is not the time when you need to wait for your brother or your sister or your sibling, who is 10,000km or 6,000km away from here for them to come back before you can have the funeral.

“These are very difficult times and I can imagine that families and relatives and siblings will understand that we need to have this and we need to put this behind us.

“So, we are reiterating it again that we’ll give two weeks window and we’ll expect a lot of people to comply after which the state government might have to take other decisions in that manner.”

At least 12 persons have been confirmed positive for Coronavirus in Osun State, POLITICS NIGERIA can report.

The cases were recorded after the government conducted fresh 167 coronavirus tests.

According to the state health commissioner, Rafiu Isamotu, the cases were recorded in Osogbo, Ife, Ede, Ikire and Ejigbo.

This newspaper earlier reported that the state has only one active case left.

But with this development, Osun now has 13 active cases.Only 32 cases have been recorded so far in the state and 19 had been discharged.

Mr Isamotu urged residents of the state not to panic but should continue to comply with the stay-at-home directive of the state government.

Information reaching POLITICS NIGERIA has it that a renowned Professor of Economics, Ibrahim Alkali Ayagi is dead.

It was learned that Ayagi lost his life to a protracted illness on Saturday afternoon in Kano. The educationist reportedly died at the age of 80.

This newspaper gathered that the professor’s burial arrangement has been fixed by his family shortly after Zuhr prayers in Kano.

More to come…

The post BREAKING: Ibrahim Ayagi is dead appeared first on Politics Nigeria.

The Nigerian airforce has suspended entrance examinations into its comprehensive and secondary schools till further notice over the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the country.

In a statement on Saturday, signed by Airforce commodore Ibikunle Daramola, a new date for the examinations will be announced soon.

“This is to inform parents/guardians of candidates that applied for admission into Air Force Comprehensive Secondary Schools and Air Force Secondary Schools that the entrance examination, which was earlier scheduled for 2 May 2020, has been postponed till further notice in compliance with precautions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. A new date will be announced in due course.”

“You are please requested to disseminate this information through your medium for the awareness of the general public. Thank you for your usual support and cooperation.” the statement read

Firstbank Plc has reacted to the death of one of its Top staff members from COVID-19. Abdullahi Lawal, who was a manager in a branch of the Bank in Kano died recently from the deadly virus.

Below is a statement signed by Folake Ani-Mumuney, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications of the bank;

“FirstBank mourns as we confirm the loss of our staff, Abdullahi Lawal who until his passing worked at our Kano Main Branch. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time as we do all that is necessary to support them. We ask that all necessary courtesies be extended to the family so they can grieve privately.”

“As a responsible corporate organization, FirstBank has been at the forefront of the concerted efforts against the coronavirus pandemic alongside others. We have robust protocols in place including practising social distancing, frequently disinfecting our buildings and locations even whilst ensuring services are available through our alternative channels such as our ATMs and other digital platforms.”

“We have immediately, therefore, shut down access to the premises as we disinfect the entire location and ask all staff and customers who may have been in contact with our late colleague to follow the NCDC guidelines and self-isolate. We will, as a matter of course, extend all possible support to staff and customers at this difficult time.”

“Our thoughts are with the family he left behind and indeed with the wider FirstBank family who mourn this loss deeply at this time. We remain committed to protecting the health and safety of all staff, customers and host communities, as together the fight against coronavirus will be won.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has reacted to the ban placed on two newspapers by the Ebonyi state government.

In a statement signed by the group’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare and sent to POLITICS NIGERIA, the group demanded the immediate reinstatement of the newspaper houses.

The group also condemned “the blatant intimidation, harassment and attacks on journalists and media houses by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, and the illegal banning of the Correspondent of The Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and the Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, from entering Government house and Government facilities in the State for life.”

The journalists and media houses were reportedly banned over a report on the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state.

“This action is a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression and media freedom as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party. We will pursue appropriate legal action nationally and internationally against Ebonyi State authorities if this illegality is not reversed within 48 hours of the publication of this statement.”

“We urge Governor David Umahi to show a greater level of transparency and accountability by immediately reversing the purported ban, and allowing journalists and media houses to freely cover the activities of his government.”

“Nigerians expect their leaders to show a greater level of transparency and accountability and to explain and take responsibility for what they are doing rather than threatening, intimidating, harassing and banning journalists and media houses from covering their public functions. These journalists and media houses are simply doing their work and playing their constitutional roles.”

“The ban clearly runs counter to the notion of a free marketplace of ideas, necessary to serve the best interests of the public. Barring journalists undermines Nigeria’s pledges on democratic reforms and the rule of law and must stop now.” the statement read.

The COVID-19 Committee in Taraba State announced the arrest of 134 travellers at various entry points into the state on Wednesday.

The travellers will be quarantined for 14 days, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.

According to Innocent Vakkai, the Chairman of the committee, who made this known while inspecting a quarantine facility at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Jalingo, the state capital, the travellers were intercepted by security operatives.

Vakkai, who is also the state Commissioner for Health, said the committee deemed it necessary to visit and inspect the facility.

He said that some of them were travelling from Bauchi en route Gombe, noting that  Bauchi was affected by the novel coronavirus.

He noted that some of the travellers were coming from Yobe. The official said that all the travellers would undergo  COVID-19 test to ascertain their status.

The commissioner said that the state would do its possible best to prevent people with the virus from entering the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Taraba Governor, Hassan Mijinyiwa, in a statement obtained by this paper, said the borders of the state remain closed.

“Taraba State Government wishes to state for the avoidance of doubt that security agencies in the state are under strict instructions to also shut border towns in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the state.

“From 11pm today, Wednesday, April 22, 2020) Balaifi town bordering Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa state, Amache/Bachama town bordering Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State and Jeb-Jeb town bordering Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State will be shut with security agents deployed there to ensure strict enforcement,” the statement read in parts.