Coronavirus: FG Launches Search For Italian’s Contacts [LEADERSHIP]
The federal government has begun a massive search for all the persons that had contacts with the Italian who was confirmed on Thursday to be infected with coronavirus in Nigeria.
The Italian national came arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday before he was taken to Ogun State where he took ill on Wednesday, leading his confirmation as the first case of the dreaded virus in the country.
To curtail the spread of the disease, the Federal Ministry of Health said yesterday that it had started working with all the stakeholders to track all the contacts with the patient since he came to Nigeria.
The ministry, however, cautioned against the abuse of social media to spread misleading information that could cause fear and panic among the citizens.
The minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who spoke on the tracking of the contacts, said that Nigeria would still follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and would not put restriction on international travel or quarantining of travellers.
Ehanire, who stated this at a press briefing in Abuja, said that the government would continue to intensify screening at the entry ports to prevent further importation of the virus into the country.
The case, which was confirmed on Thursday, remains the only one so far identified in Nigeria since the outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, which has spread to about 53 countries.
According to the minister, “the case is an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy to Lagos, on 25th February.
“He was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos,” Ehanire said.
Osinbajo, Gowon Preach Selfless Service To God, Humanity [LEADERSHIP]
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, have admonished Nigerian leaders to commit themselves to the service of God and humanity.
They said exhibiting decorum and humility in governance would ensure stability and reduce friction between the leaders and the led for economic prosperity and development.
The two leaders made the admonition in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti, yesterday, during the dedication and commissioning of the new Saint Peter Anglican Church auditorium donated to the Anglican Communion by a legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).
Osinbajo, who spoke at the dedication service presided over by the primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, lauded Olanipekun for dedicating his life to the work of God through the project.
He said: “David was the most favoured in the history of mankind despite not being a saint of any kind.
“If you read your Bible, God described David as a man after his heart. Even while trying to describe Jesus, they referred to him as a son of David. But why was David so favoured? Some said because he sang and danced for God, but that is not the case, it was because he built a tabernacle for God.
“So, when this smart lawyer (Olanipekun) told me a year ago that he was building a house for God, I considered him a wise man. And as you doing this, the mind and heart of God will always attend to your supplications.
Military To End Terrorism, Kidnapping Soon – Defence Minister [LEADERSHIP]
Defence Minister, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), has assured Nigerians that the armed forces are prepared to end the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, kidnappers and other criminals in the country.
Magashi said that the military are combat ready to bring to make the country safer for Nigerians, adding that the end of insurgency and kidnapping was in sight.
The minister disclosed that the Ministry of Defence would soon establish a full military battalion in the Falgore Forest to complement the efforts of the Kano State government at ensuring security in the region.
Magashi made the statement during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the first phase of the Nigerian Army Training Area located at Falgore Forest, being built by the Kano State government to dislodge terrorists and bandits from the area.
He said that the battalion and its facilities when built would be used to address any security challenge in the region and beyond.
“In addition to what Kano State is doing by establishing the training area, I will make sure that more military barracks are built around here; it will not be out of place to put a battalion here in Falgore (Tudun- Wada) and it will re-enforce all the confidence neighbours have in the area and make it safer for productive economy and living,” the minister said.
He, therefore, called on the Nigerian Army to reciprocate the efforts of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje by making judicious usen of the facility.
Middle Belt Can’t Be An Appendage Of North – Bitrus Pogu, President, MBF [SUN]
The National President of Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, has said that when it comes to political power equation, the North doesn’t see the Middle Belt as part of them. He therefore said as such the area is distinct and not an appendage of the North or any other section of the country. In this interview with VINCENT KALU, he stressed that power should shift to the South, pointing out that it is selfishness for a Northerner to succeed President Buhari.
Another prominent voice from the area and former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, has however disagreed with Porgu over his position that Middle Belt is not part of North. Reacting, Tsav accused Porgu of toeing the line of Major Gideon Orkar’s coup speech by holding that position.
Orkar and other military officers on April 22, 1990, plotted a coup to oust then Military President Ibrahim Babangida, but it was foiled. Tsav said: “Gideon Orka in his coup speech pointed out that Middle Belt was not part of North.
“The first person who started this thing was J. S. Tarka, and along the line, he found that he was pursuing a bad cause, and he came back and identified himself with the North. Anybody who tells you that Middle Belt is a different identity, and is not in the North is lying and doesn’t know what he is talking about. That is Porgu’s personal perception.”
Nigerian Footballer Contracts Coronavirus [SUN]
Italy based Nigerian footballer, King Paul Akpan Udoh, has become the first footballer to be infected with coronavirus .
King Paul currently plies his trade with Pianese, an Italian Serie C side.
The Pianese forward was diagnosed of the disease on February 27, and he has been quarantined.
The 22-year-old started his career with Reggiana before moving to Juventus in 2011, where he was loaned back for a year.
After progressing through the youth ranks of Juventus, Udoh secured a loan move to Virtus Lanciano, a Serie B side, in 2016, with an option to buy at the end of the season.
Failing to impress, he was returned to Juve, and then loaned to Lega Pro side, Pontedera, later the same year. He had a loan stint with Pontedera, Fernana, Fano and Viareggio before joining Pianese on July 14, 2019.
Coronavirus has spread from China to countries in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa.
Wike Decries Nigeria’s Inability To Conduct Credible Elections [SUN]
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has decried the inability of the country to conduct credible elections after several years of practicing democracy.
The governor has also instituted a N100 million empowerment programme for Wakirike women from Okrika and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas, for stoutly defending Rivers mandate during the 2019 elections.
Wike spoke yesterday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, during a solidarity visit by the leaders and people of Okrika and Ogu/Bolo LGAs. He said:”It is unfortunate that up till now, we cannot conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria.
“It is unfortunate that the giant of Africa, lacks the capacity to conduct credible elections”, he complained. He commended the Wakirike women for defending the state mandate against the invading soldiers, and urged Rivers people to always ensure that their votes count during elections.
Crime Merchants At Work [THE NATION]
Members of St Lawrence Catholic Church, Isheri Olofin, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State were thrown into mourning recently when a top member of the church identified simply as Ohale met his untimely death at the hands of criminal elements pretending to work as transporters. He was said to have gone to seek the support of his kinsmen for the burial of the late catechist of the church when the incident occurred.
A member of the church, who identified himself simply as James, said: “He was thrown down from a moving bus after they had dispossessed him of his valuables. He hit his head on the ground and later died.
“There abound similar ugly stories of how these despicable characters have sent many passengers, male and female, young and old to their early graves. It is disturbing and condemnable.”
James lamented that the criminal activities being perpetrated by hoodlums working as transporters is increasing and disturbing. “Something drastic needs to be done by the government to stop this,” he said.
“The practice is not restricted to commercial buses; tricycle operators okada (commercial motorcycle) riders also do it.
“Criminals operating with tricycles put their victims in the middle and have their gang members flanking them on the right and left. When they get to a dark spot, they point a gun at the victim and take all that he has on him.
“The brutal ones among them could even push the victim off the moving tricycle without minding if he injures or even dies.”
Coronavirus: 28 Quarantined Amid Anxiety In Lagos, Ogun [THE NATION]
The Ogun State Government on Friday quarantined 28 people it claimed had physical contact with the Italian diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus.
A factory located in the Ewekoro community in the state, which the unnamed Italian visited, has been shut down with government intensifying effort to locate others who had met with him.
The search is taking place simultaneously in Lagos and Ogun states as part of the strategies aimed at containing the deadly virus.
It was not clear last night how many people had physical contacts with the unnamed Italian between his arrival in Nigeria on Monday night and Thursday when he tested positive to COVID-19.
He is currently in isolation at the bio-security facility in Yaba, Lagos.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has already deployed its rapid response teams in Lagos to deal with the situation.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State confirmed the decision to quarantine the 28 people during a press conference in Abeokuta last night.
Government, according to him, was leaving no stone unturned to bring the situation under control.
Ogun Shuts Down Firm, Quarantines 28 Over Coronavirus [THE NATION]
The Ogun state government has shutdown a firm in Ewekoro, Ogun state, following the incident of Coronavirus recorded in the state.
The state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, disclosed that 28 people who had contact with the Italian victim of the disease have been identified and quarantined.
The 44-year-old Italian victim is said to be a consultant to the Lafarge, Ewekoro factory.
The governor said efforts were on to identify more contacts to curb the spread of the disease.
Sanwo-Olu Narrates How Coronavirus Patient Was Brought To Lagos [THE GUARDIAN]
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the Italian who has been diagnosed with coronavirus in Lagos was brought in from Ogun State after he exhibited symptoms of the disease.
Speaking at a press conference, yesterday, the governor said the patient was on a business trip to Ogun State, but when he exhibited some symptoms of Coronavirus, he was isolated in the health facility of the company (Lafarge Cement) he visited and was only transferred to Lagos for proper test to be conducted, adding that the patient was transferred to Lagos because it has two facilities to conduct test for such disease.
He revealed that immediately the patient was brought into Lagos, he was put in an isolation centre and a test was conducted, which turned positive.
The Lagos State governor implored all residents to be calm and not panic, as the state government has put in place measures to manage the crisis, including activating surveillance team at each of the councils.
Also, yesterday, the Ogun State Government announced that it had begun moves to identify all the persons that came in contact with the coronavirus patient during his visit to the state.
California Confirms Second US Coronavirus Case Of Unknown Origin [THE GUARDIAN]
California health officials on Friday confirmed a second suspected US case of the new coronavirus transmitted to a person who did not travel overseas or come in contact with anyone known to be ill, prompting fears of a possible outbreak in the country.
“This new case indicates that there is evidence of community transmission but the extent is still not clear,” said Sara Cody, director of public health for Santa Clara County, the heart of Silicon Valley where tech giants like Apple and Google are based.
“What we know now is that the virus is here, present at some level, but we still don’t know to what degree,” she added.
The patient in the second case of community spread of COVID-19, as the virus is called, is an adult woman with chronic health issues. She is being treated at a local hospital.
Cody said the woman’s doctor had reached out to health officials on Wednesday evening, concerned she may have contracted the virus.
Authorities have identified dozens of people the woman had come in contact with and they were quarantined in their homes.
“An important priority… for us is to conduct public health surveillance to determine the extent of what’s happening,” Cody said.
Ogun SARS Bloodletting: One Killing Too Many [THE GUARDIAN]
The unabated vicious killings by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and their colleagues from other units, recently, have necessitated renewed calls for the reform of the unit and indeed the entire Police system.
In 2018 and last year, for several months running, SARS was in the news, not because of positive records in crime fighting, but due to ceaseless killings and attacks on innocent citizens and gross infringements on their fundamental human rights.
Recent killing of a Remo Stars Football Club player, Tiamiyu Kazeem, also known as Kaka, by officers attached to plain-clothed Police outfit called Zonal Intervention Squad (ZIS), under the Zone 2 Command Headquarters in Lagos, has resurrected the call by Nigerians for the total scrapping of SARS and other plain-clothed outfits of the Police.
The Police had earlier lied, claiming Kazeem jumped out of the moving vehicle in which he was been conveyed and was crushed by an oncoming vehicle. But truth was later unraveled when his friend, one Abubakar, alleged that Kazeem was actually pushed out of the vehicle by an operative.
Coronavirus Patient Attempts To Escape Lagos Isolation Centre [PUNCH]
Following the detection of the first case of the novel Coronavirus disease and the placing in quarantine of the patient, identified as a 44-year-old Italian, at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, a health worker at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, said on Friday that the patient was angry and attempted to escape, given the state of the isolation centre.
The high ranking health worker, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Friday, decried the ‘very poor quality’ of the isolation centre, lamenting that “the authorities have not matched words with action.”
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, had said on Friday that the state government had built a facility to handle the situation, adding that the patient was getting better.
He said, “It is a lab that we built that can accommodate 100 for now but it is only one bed that is occupied today. Hopefully it wouldn’t spread. We are ready and we are well equipped. He (the patient) is there and he is getting better. He is steady. The doctors say he is going to be fine.’’
PDP Dumps Plans To Seek Review Of Supreme Court Judgments [PUNCH]
The Peoples Democratic Party may have abandoned plans to seek a review of the Supreme Court judgment dismissing its case against the election of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The PDP and its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Buhari of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the 2019 presidential election.
The former ruling party lost its case at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, and also lost at the Supreme Court.
But the party indicated on Monday that it would approach the apex court to review its judgment.
Sources close to the leadership of the party said there was pressure on the party to forget the plans due to what they described ‘‘as the need to respect the sanctity of the Supreme Court.’’
Also, it was learnt that the decision of the party was fuelled by the manner the apex court treated the appeal filed by the APC for the court to review its judgment on the Bayelsa State governorship poll.
The Supreme Court stopped David Lyon of the APC from being inaugurated as Bayelsa State governor, along with Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, on the eve of his inauguration after the deputy governor-elect submitted forged certificates to the INEC.
