The Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, has relaxed the lockdown on the state and has asked markets, churches, others to commence full activities.
The governor stated this in a broadcast to the people of the state yesterday.
Before the Saturday broadcast church activities had been restricted for 14 days as one of the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
But on Saturday, Obiano asked the churches to resume full service, stating that the worshipers must wear face masks and observe the World Health Organisation’s guidelines about the pandemic during worship.
He listed the protocol to include regular hand washing, avoiding handshakes, application of hand sanitizers, and social distancing.
The Governor announced that movements around the state were not restricted, stressing, however, that all boundaries in the state remained closed.
He said, “All food and drug markets in the state are to open with immediate effect.
“I will meet with market leaders on Monday, 27th April, for further discussion. When to re-open the schools as well as when civil servants will be allowed to go back to offices will be announced soon.”
On Saturday, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu said;
'Today, I gave an order that families who have corpses of loved ones in our mortuaries have 2 weeks to pick the bodies for funeral so as to decongest our facilities.
For about two months, there have been no funerals in Lagos due to the Lent period and restrictions of #COVID19.
You can hold funeral ceremonies in Lagos State as long as you comply with the requirements that we have outlined, which are as follows:
the total number of persons at the funeral, including officiating religious leaders, must not exceed 20; appropriate physical distancing must be maintained at the funeral ceremony, all attendees/mourners must use masks and ensure they wash their hands after the ceremony.
There also must be NO receptions or parties to accompany these funerals.
Be rest assured that as long as these directives are fully complied with, funerals will be allowed and encouraged to take place.
If we are unable to see a decongestion of the mortuaries across the State in the next two weeks, the Lagos State Government will be compelled to carry out mass burials to achieve this. We do not want to be forced to do this, which is why we are asking for your cooperation in this regard.'
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has cautioned against any extension of a nationwide lockdown over COVID-19 pandemic. He warned that extending the cessation of movements would rather ignite major economic and security crisis that could hurt Nigerians, majority of whom depend on daily wages for sustenance.
The Senator, in a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, said extension would be counterproductive as the people seem totally worn-out in all ramifications to soak in further shocks.
He, however, called for a cautious and guided lifting of the lockdown where the existing measures such as compulsory wearing of face masks, sanitizers, and other associated sanitary conditions and personal hygiene are enforced in public places.
He said, “Aside from the above, daily disinfection of halls, rooms, vehicles, vessels, surroundings must become the new normal. Doing these would definitely tamp the hot air and guide our people to resume their normal life.
“My fear is that majority of our people in the informal sector are daily earners hence their survival is predicated on their going out daily if they must survive. Our people operate mostly in the commercial sector, I have the feeling that further extension of the lockdown would hurt the people the more."
Why are things looking like there is no proper protocol in the city of Kano, with regards to the novel Coronavirus?
The head of COVID-19 testing centre in Kano, Nasiru Magaji, on Saturday said there is no definite date for resuming the test in the state.
He stated that although the laboratory was opened on Friday, they are yet to commence treating samples.
“We have opened the lab since yesterday (Friday), but you can’t run samples just like that when you open the lab. You have to do a lot of things. So, we are doing those things up (till) now,” he said.
Commenting on when they would resume testing, Mr Magaji said, “We don’t know until we finish everything. In a lab like that, you have to do all the safety procedures before you start exposing yourself.
A member of Kano Task Force on COVID-19, Isa Abubakar, had told PT that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control‘s COVID-19 testing centre in Kano suspended its operation due to shortage of testing kits.
But the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire said the centre was temporarily closed because some staff of the laboratory were reportedly infected with COVID-19. He also added that the centre ran short of some testing reagents.
For four consecutive days, Kano did not feature in NCDC’s daily update on COVID-19.
Nigeria’s cases rose to 1,095 with Kano recording 73 as of Friday night, according to the NCDC.
The COVID-19 testing centre, domiciled at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, hosts many northern states’ suspected cases.
Experts say testing capacity is a major step in fighting the spread of coronavirus.
The challenge faced in Kano typifies the challenge of testing Nigeria has faced since the first case of the disease was detected in the country in February. About 10,000 people have been tested so far, across Nigeria, less than a quarter of the number tested in smaller African countries like Ghana and South Africa.
Comfort, safety and satisfaction are key when you need to change your automobile or if you're buying a car for the first time. No need to rush and buy something you won't really enjoy.
There are six things we see as necessary for a modern car...
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) watch individual wheel speeds.ABS has been introduced in the hatchback segment in recent years. One has to pay a premium but then it’s worth the amount as it prevents a car’s wheels from locking up during “emergency” braking. Basically ABS allows the driver to steer the car and swerve away from harm’s way even under hard braking. Simple physics dictates that a turning wheel has more traction than one that is skidding. This is one sure feature to look out for in a car.
Keyless entry
Keyless entry systems allow you to unlock your car by pushing a button on a remote. This feature works by the car sensing that the fob is nearby, without the driver having to press any buttons on the fob. The ability to quickly get into your car without fumbling for the key is an important safety feature, especially in poorly-lit areas. A number of vehicles have the ability to unlock and raise the tailgate or trunk as well, just by sensing the fob’s presence.
Functional Airbags
Airbags are one of the most important safety innovations of recent decades. Airbags provide crucial cushioning for people during a crash. They’re normally hidden but inflate instantly when a crash begins. Front airbags have been required in all new passenger vehicles since the 1999 model year.
The airbag inflates automatically to prevent occupants from hitting the dashboard, steering wheel or windshield. Side airbags reduce the risk of occupants injuring themselves during a side impact. Although airbags are optional, we recommend them. Airbags are now available in affordable cars.
GPS Navigation System
A Satellite navigation device colloquially called a GPS receiver, or simply a GPS, is a device that is capable of receiving information from GNSS satellites and then to calculate the device’s geographical position. GPS navigation systems can pinpoint your exact location and give you turn-by-turn directions (via a small video screen, spoken voice, or both) to help you find your way. Most will also guide you to the closest gas station, ATM, hospital, or police station. A GPS can help you find your way home or to any other specified location when installed in the car, the GPS can be especially convenient because frequently used addresses can be saved in the system.
TRACTION CONTROL
A traction control system, also known as ASR, is typically a secondary function of the electronic stability control on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels. If the system recognizes that a wheel is turning faster than its counterpart on the opposite side of the vehicle, it pulses the brake on the faster-spinning wheel in an attempt to transfer power to the wheel with better traction. Traction control can be a big help when you’re driving on wet tarmac or other slick surfaces, and if a wheel spins when taking off from a stop.
Backup Assist
This feature can help prevent accidents as it gives the driver warning beforehand when it senses anything that can result in such damage.
This is very worrisome, as many have wondered how he was able to travel so easily, exposing many others to the dreaded Coronavirus, giving the lockdown in place. The details as shared by Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu below...
'Earlier today (Saturday), I got news of another positive case of #COVID19 admitted to our facility in Akure. The case of this individual who is a police officer is unique. He was tested in Lagos but came to Ondo state while awaiting his results . Upon receiving a positive result.
He claimed to have returned back to Lagos. According to him, he waited a few days in Lagos to be picked up. When this failed, he panicked and rushed back to Akure for treatment. While we appreciate the confidence reposed in our facilities, We do find it most reckless on the part of the officer of the Law to risk the lives of others.
I am most disappointed in the level of porosity of the entry points to the state. The police officer should know better. I have contacted the commissioner of police to double up on securing our entry points.'
North Korea's Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un has reportedly died, or is on his death bed with no hope for recuperation -- according to media outlets in China and Japan.
Amid reports China has sent a medical team to their communist neighbors to check in/advise on Kim, a Hong Kong-backed news channel's vice director -- who's apparently the niece of a Chinese foreign minister -- blasted out the news herself ... he's dead.
The woman put the report on a social media app called Weibo for her nearly 15 million followers to read, citing a "very solid source" about the claim Kim had, in fact, passed on.
A Japanese magazine reports he's in a "vegetative state" after a heart surgery gone wrong.
The outlet reports -- citing a Chinese medical expert privy to the situation -- that Kim had clutched his chest in early April and fell down while visiting the countryside there. He needed a stent procedure done, but apparently ... it either wasn't done rapidly enough, or it was botched completely by the surgeon -- with some reports saying he had shaky hands.
According to TMZ, there's a lot of rumors swirling about his condition -- and the fact is ... he hasn't made any major public appearances looking to be okay in several weeks now. About a week or so ago, CNN reported Kim was in "grave danger" after a medical procedure.
President Trump has downplayed the reports and has refused to elaborate -- but it looks like KJU's sister, Kim Yo-jong, might be getting set up to possibly replace him as Supreme Leader ... reports say she was recently re-promoted to a prominent position of power there.
Here's another point ... Saturday marks a major military anniversary in North Korea, where they celebrate the founding of the Korean People's Army in 1932 -- something they hype annually with a parade, and one in which Kim might normally make an appearance.
International reporters on the ground say if Kim was doing alright and not on death's doorstep, he and his team would figure out a way for him to show up to squash the rumors.
If he doesn't, it's probably not a good sign ... almost all but confirming something is wrong.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has appointed Osaze Ethan Uzamere as his Chief of Staff.
He replaces the former Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, who resigned from Obaseki’s kitchen cabinet on Friday.
The 38-year-old investment banker is son of Senator Ehigie Uzamere, who represented Edo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011.
He graduated from Stony Brook University, New York, where he majored in Computer and Electrical Engineering.
He has had stints with Lehman Brothers and South Grade Engineering, among others.
Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, in a statement Saturday night, said the appointment takes immediate effect.
The statement described the younger Uzamere as a thorough-bred professional, who had before his appointment, served as Executive Assistant to Governor Obaseki.
Nigeria has recorded 87 new cases of Coronavirus, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC said late Saturday night.
This represents a drop from the 114 cases the nation recorded on Friday.
As usual, Lagos recorded 33 new coronavirus cases, which represents a drop from the 80 cases it recorded on Friday.
Also Borno recorded a rise in infection with 18 new cases on Saturday, while Osun also recorded a rise with 12 new cases.
Katsina recorded nine new cases, while Kano and Ekiti have four new cases each, with Edo and Bauchi having three cases each and Imo, one case.
Imo is the latest State to have joined the league of Coronavirus infection states.
“87 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported; 33 in Lagos, 18 in Borno, 12 in Osun, 9 in Katsina, 4 in Kano, 4 in Ekiti, 3 in Edo, 3 in Bauchi and 1 in Imo.
“As at 11:55 pm 25th April there are 1,182 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Discharged: 222; Deaths: 35,” NCDC said on its twitter handle.
87 new cases of COVID19 have been reported in the last 24 hours in Nigeria; 33 in Lagos, 18 in Borno, 12 in Osun, 9 in Katsina, 4 in Kano, 4 in Ekiti, 3 in Edo, 3 in Bauchi, 1 in Imo.
As at 11:55 pm 25th April there are 1182 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.
Taiwo Akerele, the Chief of Staff to Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has resigned his appointment.
It was gathered the youthful Akerele, an indigene of Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, accused Obaseki of sidelining him.
The Governor is at loggerheads with his benefactor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), who handed over to him.
Akerele, who was appointed on November 14, 2016, in his resignation dated April 25, 2020, said: “My decision to exit the government is based on administrative and governance grounds.
“I am solidly with His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in his quest to transform Edo State. His mission and vision resonate with mine.
“This is all I have to say, I will like to be given opportunity to go private as I part ways administratively with the government, based on principles.
“I thank His Excellency for the opportunity given to me to serve in this capacity and also thanks to His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for his immense leadership and support during the period I served in this capacity. May his reign be long and peaceful. Amen”
A twitter user, @peterugavah has narrated how he lost his mom this morning in Rivers State.
According to Mr Peter they have being managing his mom's hypertension for over 20 years, but this morning as she was rushed to the hospital, the police insisted they won't let them pass due to the lockdown.
He however claimed they demanded the sum of N20,000 as bribe before they can let them pass. Sadly he lost his mom.
The man who says he is overwhelmed with anger and categorically stated he now hates this country tweeted thus;
'This morning my mom who has been managing hypertension for over 20 yrs passed away right there in the car while I was taking her to the hospital this morning simply because men of the @PoliceNG
insisted that I have to part with 20,000 naire before they will let us pass.
''I am in pains right now , I have now become an orphan all because of this lock down.
My mom would not have died if we had arrived at the hospital early enough. I even offered to make a transfer these officers refused, thy said it will be traceable , they needed cash .
''Even after pleading with them for over an hour , these heartless officers refused to all us move. They made me sit there and watch my mom pass away before my eyes. I doubt if I will ever be normal again after this. I hate this country .
''So many lives is being lost daily due to this lock down and sadly it is not covid 19 that is killing them. The anger I feel right now is totally overwhelming
''I want to get something clear , @NyesomWlKE are we not allowed to take our loved ones who need medical care to the hospital ? Are we just supposed to sit at home and die. @aproko_doctor''
Coronavirus can linger in the eyes long after it has cleared from the nose, according to a new case report which sheds further light on possible symptoms.
Italian scientists say the country’s first Covid-19 patient had virus particles in her eyes 27 days after she was admitted to hospital.
Researchers at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases are concerned the infection can make copies of itself in the eyes, after it disappeared only to return days later.
The report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, highlights the importance of personal protective equipment with eye mucus and tears being a possible source of infection. It also warns pink eye could be an early sign of Covid-19, as it developed before the patient’s other symptoms .
The 65-year-old woman, who fell ill after returning to Rome from Wuhan on January 23rd, was admitted to hospital after coming down with a dry cough, sore throat and conjunctivitis. Later, she developed a fever, nausea and vomiting.
Noticing the woman’s red eyes, doctors took swabs and discovered she had RNA, or genetic material, from coronavirus. This lingered up until the 21st day, when the virus disappeared from her eye fluid, only to return six days later.
Coronavirus was detected in her eyes on day 27, even after her nasal swabs were clear. That suggested to the researchers that the virus was continuing to make more copies of itself within the woman’s eye fluid.
‘These findings highlight the importance of control measures, such as avoiding touching the nose, mouth, and eyes and frequent hand washing’, the report said.
It also warned eye doctors to exercise caution during clinical exams, as the eyes could both be an entrance to the virus and a source of spread. Authors said their research suggested eye infections can occur early on in Covid-19, meaning ‘measures to prevent transmission via this route must be implemented as early as possible’.
Reports have emerged of people getting pink eye with coronavirus across the globe, but the number of patients affected by the symptom appears to remain quite low.
A US nurse said almost every patient she treated at the Life Care Center nursing home in Washington – where an outbreak infected over 80 people and killed 35 – had red eyes.
Studies in China have found that the eyes are one of the parts of the body that can be attacked by the virus, although research indicated this was not common. The NHS and the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not list red eyes as a sign of coronavirus.
A bra-shaped face masks in Japan sold out minutes after launch.
Recently, bra-cup face mask memes surfaced online and went viral but a Japanese company decided to make them a reality and they sold out almost instantly.
Atsumi Fashion, an apparel manufacturer in the city of Himi, Toyama Prefecture that specialises in women’s underwear garments decided that applying the same design to face masks wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
According to SoraNews24, though the lace bra face mask started out as a joke the company underestimated Japanese consumers appetite for ingenuity and sexy underwear. The prototype Atsumi Fashion originally showcased got a lot of attention online.
The company promoted the face masks by sharing a photo of model and TV personality Aya Kondo wearing a lace bra face mask. The former “Terrace House” cast member came by to visit the store, and wore the lace bra mask.
Soon after, a whole collection of bra face masks was announced.
The lace bra face masks went on sale last Saturday at 1,490 yen (N5600) and sold out minutes after it became available.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police zonal command in Lagos, CSP Dolapo Badmos has paid a tribute to her senior colleague who she revealed died of the ravaging Coronavirus.
Dolapo Badmos shared a picture of the officer, a compassionate man, who she said would have marked his birthday if he had not succumbed to the virus. She wrote...
”Today would have marked your birthday but u succumbed. I know by now you must have been telling COVID19 to leave the world since it has taken you. yes I’m sure you must be telling it to take your death as the “sacrifice”! Yes..that’s the person you are! So compassionate..RIP sir”
The presiding cleric of Resurrection Praise Chapel, Archbishop Samson Mustapha Benjamin has been released after he was arrested while protesting at the Chinese Embassy in Victoria Island, Lagos, on April 21, 2020.
He was arrested after he led a protest he described as a “one man protest against the inhumane treatment of Nigerians and Africans at large in China”.
After he was arrested, Archbishop Samson Benjamin was arraigned in court on charges of “failure to stay at home contrary to COVID-19 Regulations’ and “conduct likely to cause breach of peace”.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was subsequently granted a N1 million bail and also remanded pending fulfilment of the terms.
The popular cleric has met his bail condition and regained his freedom.
Government really need to look for a way to change this lockdown to curfew, so people can do their work/business from 6am to 6pm to avoid extreme poverty and mass hunger. Nigeria doesn't have the means of sending reasonable money to citizens the way other countries on total lockdown have been doing.
Despite this obvious fact, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has explained why the lockdown measure should not be relaxed amid efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking on Friday at a media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said it was not yet time to relax the lockdown.
He noted that although the lockdown was having negative effects on the economy as it was impeding Nigerians’ ability to go about their daily activities, he said it was vital to be patient and endure the lockdown further to ensure a safe and healthy society when the economy would be reopened.
He said, “We will eventually exit this stage and restart our normal life but that stage is still a while to come and I ask for your endurance, support and patience. Lots of efforts are going on across the world to find new therapy, to find vaccine.
“Everybody is pushing hard along this direction. We need unprecedented level of caution to continue carrying out the preventive measure that we have advised many times on this platform.
“Many families have not been able to bury their dead, rescheduled their marriages and baptism and everything they are doing. In a way, life is in suspense. Everyone recognises the sacrifice Nigerians have made but we really have to encourage one another to continue to a position where we can relax some of that (lockdown) but until we get to that place, we have to continue in the short term.
“We are working hard to reach a point where we can relax some of these measures but we are not there yet. We ask you to join us to continue this journey with us and amplify these messages that we are giving. We are happy to have the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress here with us today (Friday).”
One of the top issues trending on Twitter is the rumoured death of North Korea leader, leaving many to depend on third party sources due to the secretive nature of the country.
China has sent a team of doctors to North Korea to help determine their Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un's health status, Reuters reported on Friday.
Hong Kong Satellite Television reported that Kim was dead, though there has been no confirmation from U.S. sources at this point.
"While the US continues to monitor reports surrounding the health of the North Korean Supreme Leader, at this time, there is no confirmation from official channels that Kim Jong-un is deceased," a senior Pentagon official not authorized to speak on the record told Newsweek. "North Korean military readiness remains within historical norms and there is no further evidence to suggest a significant change in defensive posturing or national level leadership changes."
On Monday, rumors spread that the North Korean leader was in ill health after undergoing heart surgery on April 12. His last public appearance was on April 11, at a politburo meeting. These rumors were subsequently discounted by U.S. intelligence, who reported they had no reason to think that Kim had suffered any kind of serious illness.
Similarly, at the time, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency cited a government official who said there was nothing unusual coming from North Korea that could suggest Kim was ill.
Should the reports of Kim's death prove accurate, there are a number of questions over who would be his successor. Many think that his younger sister Kim Yo Jong, reported to be 31 and one of Kim's key lieutenants, would take over the role of Supreme Leader.
Following the orderly room trial and dismissal of the two officers who flogged her while going to get drugs for her daughter, Tola Azeez has released a pic of her body as gave an idea of what happened...
Recalling the incident in a chat with The Punch, the housewife and trained broadcaster said, “My daughter’s ear was discharging puss on that day and after contemplating for a while, I decided to visit a pharmacy owned by a family member. Because of the restriction order, I couldn’t get a vehicle that would convey me and I decided to walk down to the place located few metres away from my house.
“I was already walking to the place when I saw a man riding a motorcycle. He was an acquaintance and I begged him to give me a ride. He obliged but before we got to the pharmacy, he sighted two policemen from afar, manning a barricade.
“The man refused to move further. He told me the policemen at the barricade were tough. He said he could not face them. I had to disembark from the motorcycle and walked towards a building near the barricade. The building belongs to a family friend.
“I was in front of the building when one of policemen approached me. He held a cane in his hand and he asked me what I was doing outside. As I was trying to explain to him, he started using the cane on me.
“I kept pleading that he should listen to me but all entreaties fell on deaf ears. He dragged me to the side of their vehicle where another policeman holding a baton stood. The second policeman joined in beating me. Also, another security officer in a ‘Man O War’ uniform joined the two policemen and the three of them beat me mercilessly.
"While that was going on, a superior officer arrived at the scene and ordered them to stop beating me. He asked me what I was doing outside and I told him. I also told him his men did not listen to me.
“The superior officer said I should go to the pharmacy to get the drug for my daughter, but I told him I was already brutalised and couldn’t walk properly again. They kept threatening to arrest me if I refused to leave the area. A resident later came around and assisted as I walked out of the area in excruciating pains.
“I was first treated at Victory Hospital, Iwo, but when I was not feeling too well, I was later attended to at Police Clinic in Osogbo. When my condition did not improve, I was taken to the State Hospital, Asubiaro.”
She stated that she never knew there would be proof against the cops who brutalised her, adding that she was informed of the video while in hospital.
Tola Azeez commended the Osun State Police Commissioner, Johnson Kokumo, for his prompt action to ensure justice for her, after the arrest and dismissal of the cops.
