Television Nigerian

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa

…commends Army high command for the arrest

…urge Deltans to remain peaceful

By Festus Ahon, Asaba

DELTA State Government has urged the military high command to carry out a full investigation into the threat issued by two soldiers in an online video threatening to assault mothers, wives and daughters in Warri, Delta State.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu in a statement Saturday morning, however, commended Nigerian Army high command for arresting the two soldiers shown in the video.

Also read: Plateau: Herdsmen’ll wipe us out before Covid-19 disappears, residents tell Govt

Aniagwu held that the military was a special force known for its discipline and wondered where the errant soldiers got their training and orientation from, insisting that no soldier was killed in Warri.

He maintained that the state government was concerned about where the soldiers got their information that warranted their using uncouth and uncivilised language is threatening the people of Warri in a video that had gone viral,

Saying that the soldiers were reportedly arrested at the 9 Brigade Military Cantonment, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, Aniagwu called on the people to remain peaceful and continue to obey government directives which, according to him, were designed to protect the people from the dreaded Coronavirus.

He said, “you will recall that in our statement on Friday, we said the attitude of the soldiers did not represent the discipline and training associated with military personnel.

“Let me on behalf of the Delta State Government thank the military high command for arresting the deviant soldiers who were bent on tarnishing the image of the army.

“The arrest of the soldiers in the viral video will no doubt restore the confidence of Nigerians in the military. It is worrisome that soldiers who were supposed to be highly disciplined would indulge in such acts of brutality and threats to women.

“We call on the military high command to carry out a full investigation into the matter with a view to bringing the culprits to justice. As a government, we will continue to partner security agencies to ensure the peace and economic development of our state.”

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Buba Galadima

By Ibrahim HassanWuyo

Celebrated Buhari critic, Engr.Buba Galadima has told the Federal Government that unless the appropriate step was taken on the issue of coronavirus,  “a  calf will turn into  a big cow.”

Speaking in an Hausa interview monitored by journalists in Kaduna on Saturday, Galadima said why he couldn’t speak on the pandemic earlier, was because whoever advises the government would just be wasting his time unless he was amongst those who worship those in power.

He however, reminded those in power that the virus was not a respecter of personality and was capable of afflicting anybody in the society if the preventive steps were not taken.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: NCDC confirms 2 deaths in Lagos, Edo

“The governments should’ve taken preventive measures since and not now. But may Almighty Allah protect us…if the government is not doing the right thing, they will favour a situation in which a calf will turn into a big cow,” he said.

He said on this issue of COVID-19, he was particularly disturbed about the clergy ,Imam or the head of a shrine who misleads adherents.

“Whoever misleads adherents in the name of religion, that COVID-19 does not exist, is the number one enemy of the people, ” he said.

He alleged that government was complacent on the issue of COVID-19, saying that the story of deaths from countries overseas, was enough warning for those in government.

Galadima faulted the manner in which government locked down communities where many people had nothing to eat, concluding that it was quite a wrong and inhuman approach.

“Now that civil servants worked from home, they should be given half salary and the other half be given to people to feed,” he said.

He was of the belief that civil servants could only work when the people were alive and therefore, we must all be our brother’s keeper.

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LUTH

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Saturday confirmed the death of a COVID-19 patient in the hospital.

The LUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chris Bode, stated this in a statement issued by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo.

He said the man was brought unconscious to LUTH Emergency ward late in the evening of April 2 by his friend.

Bode said: “Although they denied any history of recent travel, his presentation strongly suggested COVID-19.

“He was handled professionally by the Infectious Diseases Consultant and his team without unduly exposing LUTH staff to danger. He died a few hours later.

“Further investigations later revealed he had earlier performed a test at Yaba soon after he travelled back to Nigeria from Holland and the test was positive.

“He was a known diabetic hypertensive patient. He also had a kidney transplant for chronic kidney disease and was on immunosuppressant drugs.

• READ ALSO: COVID-19 is a National emergency, Buhari’s Govt must Change tactics -NEF

“The corpse has since been handed over to the appropriate Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Health for safe burial according to international best practices.

“Our Department of Community Medicine has moved swiftly to trace, follow-up and assist gallant staff who managed the patient.”

He said that LUTH management implored all members of staff to continue observing strict standard protocols while handling all patients as medical personnel are especially at increased risk from such undisclosed exposure.

The CMD added: “All efforts are being made to ensure the availability of all required items to continue the effective management of such cases that come to LUTH.

“Efforts are also in top gear to complete the isolation facility in LUTH for management of any possible spillover from the Yaba Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), if the surge in patients’ load continues.” (NAN)

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FTCA), has designated the Asokoro District Hospital as a quarantine facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The facility was designed for isolation of persons who had contacts with those infected with Coronavirus disease.

To this end, the hospital on Saturday began to suspend its Out Patient Department (OPD) to protect visiting patients from exposure to COVID-19.

Also read: MultiChoice donates N1.2bn to support Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19

A News Agency of Nigeria  (NAN) correspondent who visited the hospital on Saturday reports that all the clinics were closed to patients while the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit was also shut.

NAN also reports that patients who used to collect routine drugs were being given drugs that could last them for at least three months of the initial quarantine.

FCT is ranked second to Lagos in exposure to COVID-19 pandemic, a situation that prompted the Federal Government to place the territory on complete lockdown alongside two other endemic states.

NAN reports, however, that in spite of the lockdown some motorists were plying the roads while youths and families utilised Saturday morning for outdoor aerobics around Kari – Orozo axis in Abuja.

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President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ibrahim Hassan

Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Dr.Hakeem Baba Ahmed has belittled the N20,000 allegedly given as palliative to select Nigerians by the Federal Government.

He reminded the Buhari-led Federal Government that the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria was not a child’s play but a national emergency which required a change of tactics by the Federal and state governments.

Speaking in an interview on RFI, Hausa Service, Dr.Baba Ahmed said it was irrational on the part of government to confine people in their homes without preparing on their mode of survival ,before doing so.

READ ALSO: Nigeria under attack by two epidemics

Dr.Ahmed was President Buhari’s returning officer when Chief Orubebe publicly protested against the then INEC’s verdict that favored the APC presidential candidate.

According to him, “this curfew imposed on societies where people are extremely poor,need a second look.”

“We are calling on the government to revisit the matter…government has the money.. Nigeria has never witnessed such a disaster. How can you ask people to stay indoors, people that have no means of livelihood? This could be impossible. “.

“The government should assist the people… Government has the money,they should give enough to the people if not poverty will make the poor to flout the stay at home order.”

“The government should use public funds and the money it got from donations to assist the people,” he said.

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The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, on Saturday confirmed the death of a COVID-19 patient in the hospital.

Prof. Chris Bode, LUTH Chief Medical Director, made this known in a statement issued by Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of LUTH, on his behalf.

According to him, a man was brought unconscious to LUTH Emergency late in the evening of Wednesday, April 2 by his friend.

Also read: Lagos Emergency Food markets: Ikorodu residents flock out to get essentials for homes

“Although they denied any history of recent travel, his presentation strongly suggested Covid-19.

“He was handled professionally by the Infectious Diseases Consultant and his team without unduly exposing LUTH staff to danger. He died a few hours later.

“Further investigations later revealed he had earlier performed a test at Yaba soon after he travelled back to Nigeria from Holland and the test was positive.

“He was a known diabetic hypertensive patient. He also had a kidney transplant for chronic kidney disease and was on immunosuppressant drugs.

“The corpse has since been handed over to the appropriate Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Health for safe burial according to international best practices.

“Our Department of Community Medicine has moved swiftly to trace, follow-up and assist gallant staff who managed the patient,” Bode said.

He said that LUTH management implored all members of staff to continue observing strict standard protocols while handling all patients as medical personnel are especially at increased risk from such undisclosed exposure.

“All efforts are being made to ensure the availability of all required items to continue the effective management of such cases that come to LUTH.

“Efforts are also in top gear to complete the isolation facility in LUTH for management of any possible spillover from the Yaba Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) if the surge in patients’ load continues,” Bode said.

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Illustrative, Medical staff

South Africa will conduct mass community testing for coronavirus as cases continued to rise, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.

An uptick in local transmissions prompted the need to prepare for mass community testing, the minister said while updating the nation on the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Until Friday, the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in South Africa has risen to 1,505, an increase of 43 from Thursday’s figure, Mkhize said.

Also read: COVID-19: Save Nigerians from the Spanish, Italian, Chinese experiences, VOR tells Buhari

Two more patients have died, both in KwaZulu-Natal Province, bringing the death toll to seven, he said.

The two victims were an 80-year-old man who died on April 1 and an 81-year-old woman who died on April 2, according to Mkhize.

With more local transmissions, South Africa is going to roll out mass community testing, Mkhize said in Khayelitsha, an impoverished township in Cape Town, where several positive cases have been reported.

“We have identified areas of priority,” he said without elaboration, adding that “we are ready to give additional support and reinforcement to the areas that need assistance.”

Mkhize said densely populated areas such as townships have reported COVID-19 cases, giving the pandemic a “new dynamic.”

The government wants to hit these areas first when it comes to taking measures to curb the spread, said Mkhize.

On Wednesday, the minister launched 60 mobile sampling and testing units in a bid to scale up the capacity of testing citizens across the country.

These units are part of the massive testing project announced late last month by President Cyril Ramaphosa, where workers will go out to different areas to test people for COVID-19.

South Africa, which reported its first case on March 5, has the largest number of COVID-19 infections on the African continent.

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The Seriki Hausawa of Lagos, Alhaji Aliyu Garuba and Seriki Idi-Araba, Alhaji Hassan Auyo, have condemned the attack on the state special taskforce by worshippers, saying, it was “unnecessary.”

The operatives of the Lagos State Environment Protection Agency (LASEPA) were allegedly attacked on Tuesday evening by some Muslim worshippers at the Agege Central Mosque while enforcing the Federal Government’s movement restriction in the state.

Subsequently, the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, ordered the closure of the Mosque, whose worshippers are mainly of northern extraction.

The taskforce is mandated to monitor and enforce compliance of the government’s directive public gatherings exceeding 25 people.

The worshippers at the Mosque called “Mosalasi Alhaja,” located at Balogun Street, however, flouted the order during the Evening Prayer (Isha) and worshipped in hundreds.

Attempts by officials of the Lagos State COVID-19 Taskforce, who arrived at the scene to enforce compliance following a tip-off, were met with stiff resistance from the Islamic faithful who chased them away.

Reacting to the development, the leaders of the Hausawa Community expressed disappointment at the attitude of the Islamic faithful during chat with journalists at the commencement of a three- day fumigation exercise sponsored by the leaders in collaboration with four Community Development Associations in Idi-Araba, Mushin Local Government Area of the state.

Garuba said: “The act is absolutely unnecessary by the worshippers. We have impressed it and enlightened them (Muslim brothers) on the need to adhere to the state government’s directive on 25 persons per congregation at a single gathering.

“To that effect, I called a meeting last week with the 49 Hausawa leaders across the state, including Agege communities to sensitise them on the social gathering and distancing, especially, in Mosques.

“At the end of the meeting, we all agreed to comply with the directive of the state government. It’s unfortunate that the incident happened in Agege but I can assure the government that such will not happen again in the state.”

On the fumigation exercise in Idi-Araba, Garuba said it was part of community efforts to prevent any possible outbreak of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

He added: “We, Idi-Araba communities have not received any form of assistance and welfare package as promised by both Federal, State and local governments.

“I use this opportunity to appeal to governments to come to our aid because Idi-Araba is densely populated and any outbreak of COVID-19 in the area could spell doom for the state and the country.

“There are 60 streets, 1,200 houses and 315,000 residents with1000 Christians and 4000 Muslims in Idi-Araba communities, hence, the government should give priority to densely populated communities like ours.”

GOVERNOR Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Saturday, announced the appointment of a seven-man committee of eminent professionals of the state to, amongst others, raise and manage resources in cash, or in kind from individuals; group of individuals; private and public organizations; local and foreign donor agencies to be used to complement the efforts of the state government to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The Governor, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Donald Ojogo, announced the Chairman of Greenwich Trust Limited, Mr. Kayode Falowo as chairman; while the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of DeltaTek and DeltaAfriks Engineering and Oil and Gas Limited, Engr. Akinwumi Odumakinde will serve as Deputy Chairman.

To ensure that tenets of transparency and accountability are upheld and funds raised are judiciously utilized, the Governor also announced the appointment of a renowned accounting powerhouse, Ernst and Young and SIAO Partners as Fund Advisors and Auditors respectively.

The two firms, according to the statement, are to render their services for the state free of charge.

The statement reads: “Following the constitution of the palliative committee put in place by his administration to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has constituted a committee for Ondo State CoronaVirus Response Fund to mobilize resources to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

“The committee’s mandate, amongst others, is to help mobilize funds, in cash or in kind, and manage the efficient and transparent utilisation. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are as follows:

“Recommend and advise the government on funding strategies; manage funds mobilized; direct funding campaign; identify and contact effective funding channels/sources and carry out any other activities for the success of the above-mentioned.

“The Response Fund Committee will work closely with the State Inter-ministerial Committee and they are expected to begin work immediately till the pandemic is wiped out of our state and the nation of Nigeria in general. The Committee will equally provide weekly reports and submit a concrete report at the end of its activities.”

Other members of the committee are Adesegun Fatusi, a Professor of Community Medicine and Public Health and current Vice chancellor of the state owned University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED); Ms Cecilia Akintomide, OON, a non-executive Director in the Board of FBN Holdings and former Vice-President and Secretary-General of the African Development Bank (AfDB); Seasoned Lawyer and CEO of JOF Nigeria Ltd Mr. Segun Fagboyegun while a Technical Consultant at WorleyParsons Nigeria Limited and Executive Director, Nigeria FlyLabs, South West Hubs, Mr. Babajide Akeredolu, will serve as Secretary.

FORMER Deputy National Chairman and Member, Board of Trustees of the Peoples  Democratic Party, PDP,  Chief Olabode George has made  a donation worth N160 million as a  direct aid to the needy in Lagos State to cushion the harsh effect of the restriction order by the Federal Government to halt the spread of the Corona Virus.

The aid, which includes cash donation, cows, bags of rice, groundnut oils, bottled water and beans were distributed to the needy irrespective of their political party affiliations.

George also donated  N10 Million to the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State to assist the party in providing relief to its members during this lockdown.

George, who commended the Federal and various state governments for their efforts in combating the dreaded COVID-19,  said as a an ElderStatesman, he believes that Government cannot do it alone, saying  that was why he provided relief materials to the needy in Lagos State.

He said his direct aid to the needy has nothing to do with politics and should not be given any political colouration.

George, however, promised to reach out to the needy in the South West just as he called on Nigerians to cooperate with the Federal Government in its efforts to combat the spread of Corona Virus.