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* Recalls suspended council boss

Wike

By Egufe Yafugborhi

PORT HARCOURT – GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike has lifted the punitive curfew he imposed on parts of Port Harcourt metropolis in sustained Rivers state’s aggressive measures to check spread of Coronavirus in the state.

Wike had on 30 March imposed the 24hr curfew from Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction along Ikwerre Road and Obiri Ikwerre Junction to Ozuoba, Rumualogu and Choba localities of Port Harcourt metropolis in anger over perceived residents’ violation of his order on closure of markets.

The Governor in a Thursday evening broadcast said the lifting or the curfew takes effect on Friday, April 3, 2020, following widespread residents outcry on alleged abuses and brutality on perceived defaulters by security operatives including court arraignment and remand in correctional center of over 200 suspected violators.

Wike also lifted the suspension of Solomon Eke, Chairman Obio/Akpor Local Government Area along with his deputy whose locality much of the defaulting residents’ were found.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Wike imposes 24hrs curfew in identified areas

He said the recall of Eke should however, “Serve as a warning to Local Government Chairmen and Traditional Rulers who will allow markets to be open in their areas.”

He further said, “All Borders and Markets in the state remain closed. Residents of Mgbuosimini-Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area are hereby warned to desist from flouting Government directive on closure of markets or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences.”

“Commercial vehicle operators will soon get appropriate directives on their operations in order to maintain social distancing”

On widespread calls for palliative over the pandemic, he said, “Implementation of palliatives to cushion the effect of recent directives on the citizens will soon take effect. International Oil Companies operating in the state should support government by donating towards containment of the virus.”

To Rivers populace, he said, “The sacrifices we are all making have greatly helped us not to record any positive case since the index case was reported. As we continue to put in our best as humanly possible, we expect Almighty God will intervene and wipe away this plague from our midst.”

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Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Abubakar Badaru

Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, on Thursday urged residents to pray fervently against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to the state.

Badaru made the call after inspecting the state’s Isolation Centre in Dutse.

He also urged residents to comply with experts’ and government’s directives on what they should do in order not to contract the disease.

The governor said that prayers and compliance with experts’ directives would go a long way toward preventing the spread of the virus to the state.

“Even though Jigawa has zero status of the virus, there is the need for all of us to pray to Allah to prevent the outbreak of the disease in the state.

ALSO READ: Jigawa: Gov Badaru presents N152.92bn budget estimate for 2020

“For this, we call on everyone to fervently pray for the virus not to get to the state,” the governor said.

According to him, the state government is doing its best to prevent an outbreak in the state by taking precautionary measures.

Badaru said that some of the measures were the provision of a well-equipped 20-bed-capacity isolation centre with trained manpower and the setting up of a task force on COVID-19.

Another measure, he said, was the inauguration of local implementation committees in  the 27 local government areas of the state to implement the decisions of the task force at the grassroots.

“Also, disinfecting contact areas and scaling up public awareness, limiting public gatherings, border closure, and suspension of weekly markets are parts of the measures.

“These measures were taken in order to protect the public and to prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.

The governor further urged residents to exercise patience, assuring them that all the measures would be lifted once the situation improved.

“The measures were not taken to inconvenience people but to protect (them).

“So, we urge you to exercise more patience, as all these measure are temporary and will be lifted as soon as the situation improves,” the governor said.

According to him, in case of the outbreak of the virus in the state, the government will provide more isolation centres, as well as convert some of its properties to isolation centres.

He said the centres (10-bed-capacity), could be sited in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area and at the 20-bed-capacity Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital in Dutse.

“And if we become overwhelmed with the situation, we will convert Three Star Hotel in Dutse and the NYSC Camp to isolation centres (120-bed-capacity each),” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor later inspected some of the proposed isolation centres.

[NAN]

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*Cases rise to 6,940; death 278; recoveries 567

*Malawi records 3 cases

AFRICA

By Clifford Ndujihe

With Malawi hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, on Thursday, only four of the 55 countries and sovereign states of Africa are still safe from the spreading scourge.

The coronavirus-free African states are South Sudan, Comoros Island, Lesotho, Sao Tome & Principe.

ALSO READ: Zimbabwe, Lesotho begin three weeks COVID-19 lockdown

Malawi recorded three cases, on Thursday, as the number of cases in Africa struck 6,940 with 278 deaths and 567 recoveries as of 8.30p.m.

The most affected countries in Africa are South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.

As of 8.45p.m., the global death toll was 1,000,959 with 51,375 deaths and 210,244 recoveries.

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By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA—THE daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari who went on self-isolation after returning from the United Kingdom, UK, two weeks ago has rejoined the family.

Recall that the First Lady, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari had about two weeks ago wrote on her Twitter handle that her daughter had gone on self-isolation for 14-days.

She had explained that the action was a precautionary measure to curb any spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) as the daughter returned from UK which is one of the high-risk countries.

But a statement issued by Aliyu Abdullahi, Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the First Lady, said that the Buhari’s daughter has completed the isolation period and has reunited with the family.

READ ALSO: Covid-19 emergencies: 4 new cases emerge; Buhari’s daughter in self-isolation

The statement read, “I’m happy to inform you that the young lady in question, Mr. President’s daughter has successfully completed her isolation period of 14 days and she’s normal, very healthy and well.

“She has since this afternoon (Thursday) rejoined her family, the mother, her Excellency First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari personally received her.

” The lesson here for Nigerians and other parents to learn is that this is a child with all the privileges one can ever think to have in the country but the parents and the daughter insisted in following the NCDC protocol.”

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By  David Odama

Not less than 68 persons have been arrested for allegedly violating the state government order aimed at curbing the spread of the deadly Coronavirus in the state.

Out of the number, 48  apprehended in Karu local government area of the state and  charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others in the state.

The Police Public Relation Officer Nasarawa state command, A S P Nansel Rahman disclosed this  in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital on Thursday while speaking to journalists

READ ALSO: COVID-19: We stand by number of confirmed cases in Akwa Ibom, says NCDC

The command  PRO  said about 59 suspects have also been charged to court and the remaining 9 suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded

He explained that violation of an order duly promulgated by a public servant goes contrary to section 152 of the Penal code.

“A total number of 68 suspects were arrested to that effect while 59 have been charged to court while the remaining 9 suspects will also be charged to court at the end of the investigation,” he added.

According to him,  the proclamation order made by the Nasarawa State government in order to curtail and contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus in the State.

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By Demola Akinyemi – Ilorin

Kwara State Technical Committee on Corona Virus (COVID-19) will Thursday night begin fumigation of markets across the state.

According to the statement issued last night by Spokesman of the Committee Rafiu Ajakaye, the fumigation takes place between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

“Fumigation is slated to begin across seven markets tonight (Thursday). These markets are Baboko Market; Oja Oba Market; Mandate Market; Ipata Market; Kulende Market; Ago Market; and Yoruba road Market,” Rafiu Ajakaye, spokesman of the technical committee, said in a statement in Ilorin, the state capital,

READ ALSO: COVID-19 and Kwara’s capacity to hold its own

The statement said the committee had earlier consulted with market leaders in the state on the measure.

The statement said, “The fumigation exercise will extend to other parts of the state in the coming days. It is part of the government’s holistic approach to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Kwara State and keep the people safe.

The government, meanwhile, has commended corporate organisations and private individuals who have also donated to the humanitarian cause — apart from the donors that had earlier been acknowledged.

It said,”The government hereby expresses its appreciation to various organisations and individuals who continue to donate to the efforts to keep Kwara people safe. Specifically, we commend Tuyil Pharmaceuticals Limited for donating N10m to the cause; Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN) for donating N5m; the Head of Service and the Forum of Serving Permanent Secretaries in Kwara State for donating 40% of their March salary; the Forum of Retired Permanent Secretaries in Kwara State for giving us N500,000,” it stated.

“Similarly, we are grateful to HMA Medical Limited for donating N2m to the cause; Bioraj Pharmaceuticals for the gift of N1m; OFM Charity Foundation in collaboration with Yusuf Olaolu Ali Foundation which donated 2000 bottles of hand sanitisers to the government; Ambassador Yahaya Seriki for donating 720 bottles of sanitisers; and DIG Bolanta for lending his industrial sprayers for fumigation of markets.”

READ ALSO: N20,000 for vulnerable: No section of Nigeria’ll be left, says Farouq

The statement also commended eight-year-old Akinduro Oluwapamilerin who donated his savings of N1,120 to the state government’s anti-COVID-19 campaign.

“The government is definitely impressed by this rare show of altruism, and is confident of Pamilerin becoming a leader of his generation,” it stated.

The government also commended individuals and corporate organisations who have agreed to channel their palliatives to the ward committees earlier announced by the subcommittee on palliatives, saying such measures would ensure social distancing and temperature measurement of beneficiaries, among other safety protocols.

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