State
Troops kill 17 bandits in Kaduna
No fewer than 17 armed bandits were last Thursday, in Kaduna state, neutralized by troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). An operation update released on Monday, by the military High Command, through Major General John Enenche, Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, (CDMO), disclosed that some of the armed bandits also escaped with diverse degrees of gunshot wounds. General Enenche also disclosed that during the course of the operation, a church building and some houses of civilians, were damaged. However, he said that there were arrangements ongoing by the military High Command to have owners of the identified property fully compensated. The CDMO, in the update, said that, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria, on 7 May 2020, conducted a joint clearance operation, involving troops of O...
Sapele leaders urges governor to purge PDP of outright manipulations, illegalities
File Photo Prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Sapele on Thursday urged Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to purge the party of selfish manipulations and outright illegalities. They also issued a stark warning to the Delta State PDP chairman, Mr. Kingsley Afejuku Esiso, saying enough is enough. The leaders at a meeting in Sapele emphasized the reckless desperation of the incumbent chairman, the rule of fairness and the tenets of logic. They urged Governor Okowa to appreciate and defend the sanctity of justice and the fairness doctrine. ‘’The party zoned the Organizing Secretary, Assistant Secretary and National Woman Leader, South-South positions to Ethiope East Local Government. It also zoned the position of PDP state chairman to Sapele Local Government. Mr. Kingsley Afej...
Rivers governor demolishes two hotels for flouting lockdown order
Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike on Sunday monitored the demolition of two hotels for flouting the state’s lockdown order. This was in line with the state executive order 6, which banned the operation of hotels across the 23 local government areas of the state. The hotels demolished are Prudent Hotel in Eleme and Etemeteh Hotel in Onne. Governor Wike who spoke to journalists shortly after the demolition said that the law must be obeyed, hence the decision to enforce it. He said: “Government has no alternative but to apply the executive order which I signed before the lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt. I called all the traditional rulers and council chairmen and told them to ensure that no hotel operates in the state. “We are not saying it will be forever. This is for now, so that w...
Kano evacuates 1, 213 almajiris to their home state
Kano State Government on Sunday said no fewer than 1, 213 Almajiris have been evacuated to their state of origin. Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, Chairman, Kano State Almajiri Evacuation Committee told newsmen in Kano that “due process and proper screening are the hallmark of the ongoing evacuation exercise.” Garo who is also the Commissioner for Local government revealed that the Committee worked with the state Ministry of Health to ensure that Almajiris taken out of Kano to their respective states of origin are in good health. He said Kano has so far, received over 200 Almajiris returnees from Kaduna, Plateau and Niger states respectively. Garo stressed ‘as I speak to you, they are being quarantined in Kiru Reformatory Institute, where they are being provided with free feeding and medication b...
Edo screens 104,186 persons for coronavirus, discharges one, contact traces 689 others
The Edo State Government, as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has ramped up ongoing screening and testing exercise across the state’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), screening over 104,186 persons, testing about 704 residents and contact tracing over 689 others who have had various degrees of contacts with confirmed cases. Commissioner for Health, Dr Patrick Okundia, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, also announced the discharge of one more COVID-19 patient, who has tested negative twice for the virus and cleared from the state’s isolation centres. According to him, the new discharge brings the number of patients successfully managed and discharged from the state’s isolation facilities to 13. Okundia, however, reassured that the remaining cas...
Mabel Madojiemu rues schools athletics cancellation
Former Nigerian women 400m great, Mabel Madojiemu, has lamented the cancellation of the 2020 Schools athletics championships originally billed for May 15 in Benin City, Edo State. The championships, which is solely sponsored by the Princess Mabel Madojiemu Athletics Foundation, was well on its way to make it’s second edition with the young athletes looking forward to participating, but the event became another victim of the worldwide sports postponements due to the Coronavirus pandemic. “Just like the young athletes, I’m sad that we are not going to have the Schools Athletics Competition as scheduled,” said Madojiemu. “We were good to go, and were looking to give the kids a treat, most especially with the National Sports Festival which would have been hosted in Benin by Edo State. It was o...
EFCC: Lockdown won’t abort cases against ex-first lady, former governors, others
The lockdown arising from coronavirus appears to have slowed down the fight against corrupt practices in the country for close to six weeks. Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says there is no cause for alarm as it will ensure that none of its ongoing investigations and cases in court will be aborted. The Commission is certain that as the federal and state governments begin to reopen the economy, it will ramp up legal actions to bring the suspects of financial crimes to account for their actions. “These suspects will unfailingly have their days in court,” EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, declared. Documents reviewed by newsmen indicate that the Commission has its hands full of cases awaiting resolution in court, while some cases being investigated are ripe en...
Post-coronavirus economy will be tech driven – Kwara governor
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday said that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the country to come to terms with the reality of migrating to a full IT driven economy. The governor made the call when he joined the government-backed virtual digital training for youths in the state amid a call on participants to compete to evolve with homegrown technological solutions to local problems. At least 3,195 young people are involved in the digital training which is supported by the Grow with Google and Wootlab Foundation. Called K-Power, the initiative is a component of the four-layer state social investment programme. AbdulRazaq said the lockdown arising from the COVID-19 pandemic again confirmed that the country must come to term with deploying technology in all facets of life...
Rivers inaugurates three coronavirus testing machines at state university teaching hospital
In its determination to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state, the Rivers State Government Friday evening inaugurated three PCR machines at its Covid-19 testing centre at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Teaching Hospital, Dr. Friday Aaron, said Shell Petroleum Development Company donated two of the PCR machines to the state government while the third came from Total E and P. He said: “This evening we are here to celebrate, because it has been our goal to get a testing centre in Rivers State. Today, I am happy to announce that we can now do Covid-19 tests at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital courtesy of the Rivers State Government ably led by our own Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. “We also tha...
Coronavirus: They’re treated like prisoners – Dubai returnees
Some Nigerians recently evacuated from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, have stated that they are being treated like prisoners. They told newsmen that the hotel where they are being quarantined in Lagos is surrounded by soldiers who do not allow them to even get fresh air or receive some sunlight within the compound. One of them, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being victimized, said, “Sincerely, we have not had it good since we returned from Dubai. We all tested negative for COVID-19 but we are being treated as if we have the disease. “We have been here for three days now but we have not been allowed to even breathe fresh air or even feel sunlight on our skin. It is as if we are in prison. Even the food we are being given is not good at all. We are just managing it.” Another evacue...
Gunmen shoot police inspector dead in Edo
A police inspector, Felix Egbon, was on Friday night shot dead by unknown gunmen who attacked a team of police operatives in Auchi, Edo State. This was contained in a statement issued Saturday evening by the state Police Command spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, titled “Attack on policemen and the gruesome murder of a police inspector.” The statement stated that Inspector Egbon, who was attached to the Auchi division, was on patrol with his team, enforcing the COVID-19 curfew imposed by the federal government when they were ambushed. “Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of the attack on the operatives of Auchi Divisional Police Headquarters, Auchi, Edo State and the gruesome murder of a Police Inspector, Felix Egbon during the process. “On Friday the 8th of May, 2020,...
Governor Sanwo-Olu: Success of easing lockdown depends on residents’ compliance
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has decried the non-compliance to measures to contain the Coronavirus pandemic by some residents of the state. Governor Sanwo-Olu who stated this on Saturday while giving the 11th Update on Coronavirus in the state, reiterated that the success of the gradual easing of the lockdown is dependent upon the compliance of Lagos residents. He said that the state government “will not hesitate to review the terms of this easing if we continue to see evidence that Lagosians are determined to flout the rules. “The continued maintenance of this easing is only guaranteed when people consistently comply.” While also describing as unacceptable, the poor compliance level with the COVID-19 protocols, including physical and social distancing, wearing of face masks, no...
