Davido Goes Into Self-isolation As Fiancée Tests Positive For COVID-19 [LEADERSHIP]
Popular music star, David Adeleke known as Davido, has announced that his fiancée, Chioma Avril Rowland, has tested positive for coronavirus.
Chioma, according to Davido, recently returned from the United Kingdom with their baby.
“However, the baby tested negative”, the singer said.
Posting on his social media handle, the singer wrote; “Unfortunately, my fiancée’s results came back positive while all 31 others tested have come back negative including our baby. We are however doing perfectly fine and she is even still yet to show any symptoms whatsoever. She is now being quarantined and I have also gone into full self-isolation for the minimum 14 days.”
Davido is the first Nigerian music artiste to declare his loved one test positive to Covid-19 even as cases of those that have tested positive to the virus are now 65 with five new cases reported on Friday, March 27, 2020 and as at filing this report.
The global pandemic which many famous people have tested positive to and are being treated, has caused many countries to be on a lock down.
Covid-19: United States Now Ground Zero [LEADERSHIP]
The United States of America has now become ground zero for the coronavirus pandemic as it now the most reported coronavirus cases in the world, surpassing China and Italy, with the three countries accounting for almost half of the world’s infections.
There are at least 100,013 cases of novel coronavirus in the United States, according to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the country through public health systems.
So far, 1,545 people have died in the United States from coronavirus.
As of yesterday, there had been at least 359 new deaths reported, the most deaths reported in the US in a single day.
The total includes cases from all 50 states, Washington, DC and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases.
In China, where the virus was believed to have been transferred from wild animals to humans, the National Health Commission on Friday reported 55 new cases, including 54 it said were imported infections in recent arrivals from overseas.
There were no new cases reported in Wuhan, the provincial capital where the coronavirus is reported to have emerged from late last year.
The virus is also having serious damage on the country’s economy as a record-shattering 3.3 million US citizens applied for unemployment benefits in a single week – nearly five times the old record, set in 1982.
Job losses have swept across sectors from food services to retail to transportation, as nearly half of the country has closed to non-essential businesses.
“It is staggering; we are only seeing the initial numbers. They will get worse, unfortunately,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters, estimating that half a million people in the city would lose work.
But stock markets continued to climb on Friday, with Asian bourses in the green after a third straight day of rises on Wall Street.
Traders have taken heart from the passage through the Senate of a $2 trillion stimulus bill – the largest in US history, which will support the country’s businesses and provide cash payouts to people.
The rescue plan, which is expected to be voted on in the House of Representatives on Friday, would initially dispense cheques of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child.
Scientists had earlier warned that the United States someday would become the country hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic and that moment arrived on Thursday.
With over 330 million residents, the United States is the world’s third most populous nation, meaning it provides a vast pool of people who can potentially get Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.
And it is a sprawling, cacophonous democracy, where states set their own policies and President Donald Trump has sent mixed messages about the scale of the danger and how to fight it, ensuring there was no coherent, unified response to a grave public health threat.
According to report, a series of missteps and lost opportunities dogged the nation’s response. Prominent among them is the failure of the country to take the pandemic seriously even as it engulfed China, a deeply flawed effort to provide broad testing for the virus that left the country blind to the extent of the crisis, and a dire shortage of masks and protective gear to protect doctors and nurses on the front lines, as well as ventilators to keep the critically ill alive.
“This could have been stopped by implementing testing and surveillance much earlier for example, when the first imported cases were identified,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York.
“If these are the cases we’ve confirmed, how many cases are we still missing?” she added.
China’s leaders, stung by the SARS epidemic in 2003 and several bird flu scares since then, were slow to respond to the outbreak that began in the city of Wuhan, as local officials suppressed news of the outbreak.
However, China’s government acted with intensity after the belated start, eventually shutting down swaths of the country. Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan quickly began preparing for the worst.
The United States instead remained preoccupied with business as usual. Impeachment. Harvey Weinstein. Brexit and the Oscars.
Only a few virologists recognized the threat for what it was. The virus was not influenza, but it had the hallmarks of the 1918 Spanish flu: relatively low lethality, but relentlessly transmissible.
Now at least160 million Americans have been ordered to stay home in states from California to New York. Schools are closed, often along with bars, restaurants and many other businesses. Hospitals are coping with soaring numbers of patients in New York City, even as supplies of essential protective gear and equipment dwindle and other hospitals, other communities fear what may be coming.
Coronavirus: FG Converts NYSC Camps, Stadiums To Isolation Centres [LEADERSHIP]
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the ministry of Youth and Sports Development to open and make available stadiums in Surulere, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna and Abuja as well as orientation camps of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) nationwide for use as isolation centres for patients of coronavirus.
The minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who confirmed this via his twitter handle, noted that the ministry was already in in touch with relevant authorities and stakeholders to make the facilities available in line with the president’s approval and as part of the ministry’s contribution to halting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “Since the stadiums are huge complexes with many outdoor and indoor areas, it is now up to medical personnel and authorities to determine the appropriate areas of usage if and when necessary.
“The stadiums can be used as testing centres and because of space they will allow for required distancing. The identification and fumigation of multiple buildings such as the multipurpose sports hall, gymnastics and other spaces located in the stadium will commence shortly.
“The world over, stadiums are being used by nations as they race against the ravages of COVID -19. The Santiago Bernabéu (Real Madrid Stadium) will be turned into a storage and distribution centre for medical materials donated to the health authorities in Spain. London’s ExCeL Exhibition and Conference Centre is being repurposed to care for patients infected with COVID-19.
“In Brazil, top football clubs have turned over their stadiums to the country’s health authorities to use as field hospitals. The Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, United States was converted into a community testing centre amongst others.
“Back home, Lagos State Government has set up the Onikan Stadium (Mobolaji Johnson Stadium) to support efforts at halting the pandemic. While our prayers are that Nigeria never gets to the level where these facilities will be put to this use, we must however all be prepared to support the system and ensure that the nation is not caught unawares”.
Urging the youths to be accurate in the kind of information they make public on social media, the minister said, “We are in this together, and together we shall overcome. I call on the youth of Nigeria to be at the vanguard of dissemination of timely and accurate information via social media to Nigerians in their communities. We must ratchet up the awareness campaign for our people. God bless all our doctors and medical staff at this critical time”.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Test Positive
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose country has seen more than 14,000 declared coronavirus cases and 759 deaths, said he had developed mild symptoms over the previous 24 hours and was self-isolating after testing positive.
Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock also tested positive with mild symptoms.
The coronavirus pandemic has killed 25,066 people, with Europe accounting for most of the deaths, according to an AFP tally at 1430 GMT Friday based on official statistics.
Europe was the worst-hit continent with 17,314 fatalities. Italy had the highest number of deaths in the world at 8,165, followed by Spain (4,858) and China (3,292).
At least 547,034 coronavirus cases have been registered around the world since December.
Confirmed Cases In Nigeria Now 81
Back home, Nigeria has confirmed five new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 81.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), three of the new cases were reported in FCT and two in Oyo State.
As at 11:55pm on 27th March, cases of confirmed COVID19 in Nigeria stood at 81.
Spain reported that its death toll had hit 4,858 after 769 people died in 24 hours, a record one-day figure.
It was higher than the latest toll from hard-hit Italy, where experts said the epidemic could peak in the next few days but regional authorities warned the crisis was far from over.
The rate of new infections also appeared to be slowing in Spain, something officials cautiously described as “promising”.
Europe has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus crisis in recent weeks, with millions across the continent on lockdown and the streets of Paris, Rome and Madrid eerily empty.
US Entices Foreign Doctors, Nurses With Work Visas
Meanwhile, the United States government has asked medical professionals around the world who would want to work in that country to reach out for visa appointment.
On Thursday, the United States overtook China as the country with the highest number of novel coronavirus patients anywhere in the world.
To further tame the spread of the virus and treatment of those infected, the US is calling out to medical professionals to apply to work in the North American country.
“We encourage medical professionals seeking to work in the United States on a work or exchange visitor, particularly those working to treat or mitigate the effects of COVID-19, to reach out to the nearest embassy or consulate to request a visa appointment,” a statement to that effect noted.
The US is also extending visas for medical professionals in the country.
“For those foreign medical professionals already in the United States: J-1 Alien Physicians (medical residents) may consult with their program sponsor, ECFMG, to extend their programs in the United States. Generally, a J-1 program for a foreign medical resident can be extended one year at a time for up to seven years. Note that the expiration date on a U.S. visa does not determine how long one can be in the United States”, it stated.
According to various sources, 77 percent of black doctors in the US are Nigerians.
Nigerian Military Recalls Retired Doctors, Sets Up 17 Quarantine Centres
Meanwhile, to support the federal government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian military has resolved to recall its retired medical personnel.
The decision, according to them, was to complement those in active service.
The coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, while briefing journalists on the armed forces’ preparedness to support the fight against COVID-19, also disclosed that the military has established 17 isolation and treatment centres.
He said the military has also constituted a committee to provide the necessary support to the federal government.
He noted: “Sequel to the on-going fight against the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the Federal government of Nigeria, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has put measures in place to aid the civil authorities. As you may be aware, Section 217 (2) c of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), empowers the Military to act in aid of civil authority.
“Consequently, a committee was constituted at the Defence Headquarters to ensure that the AFN provides the necessary support to the Federal Government of Nigeria, at this period.
“It is mainly a non-kinetic military operation with major features of Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities. Equally, it is in line with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) lines of conducting contemporary military operations in Nigeria”.
Speaking further, Enenche added that the military has developed a two-pronged approach to combat the pandemic, namely; the medical and security approaches.
He continued: “The medical approach is the deployment of military personnel in aid of all Ministries Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government through the provision of land, maritime and air assets, for transportation of emergency cases and medical supplies, as was the case with the medical supplies donated by the Jack Ma Foundation.
“Furthermore, under the medical aid, we have 17 medical facilities spread across the Country, which have been designated for isolation and treatment of confirmed cases of the COVID-19. We have also concluded plans to recall our retired medical personnel to complement those in active service.
“On Security Related Support, the Armed Forces of Nigeria will activate its Disaster Response Units across the Country in conjunction with National Emergency Management Agency. These units will be responsible for security management of emergencies other than medicals”.
Bauchi Gov Speaks From Isolation Centre, Says He Is In Good Spirit
Meanwhile, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has assured the people of the state that his condition has not deteriorated after testing positive for coronavirus.
The state governor who spoke from isolation said his only regret staying in there was that such condition will not allow him to serve his “dear people at this critical time of need”, adding however that the challenges are surmountable.
A statement by his media aide, Muktari Gidado, quoted the governor as saying:”By the grace of God, we shall have the courage, strength and faith to overcome all tribulations. Allah is the Greatest! He is Sufficient and Merciful. May these tests be the utmost expiation of our sins, limitations and inadequacies.
“Insha Allah we shall overcome. With humility and gratitude, I wish all the people of Bauchi and Nigeria Allah’s bountiful blessings, prosperity and protection from the scourge of sickness, insecurity and poverty.”
Governor Mohammed further appreciated what he described as “numerous calls, flurry of texts massages and WhatsApp posts sympathizing with me.
“Thank God I am still leading the fight against our numerous challenges from isolation”, he added.
Bala, in the statement, reiterated that his condition has not worsened, adding “he is sound, calm and in good spirit despite infection with COVID-19.”
NNPC, 33 Upstream Operators Dole Out N11bn To Combat COVID-19 [LEADERSHIP]
Barely 24 hours after a coalition of private sector operators and financial institutions led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had announced a donation of N1billion each to combat COVID-19, 33 players in the upstream segment of Nigeria’s oil and gas value-chain under the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday donated N11 billion ($30 million) to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Members of the intervention initiative, including NNPC, International Oil Companies (IOCs) as well as Independent oil companies in the upstream and downstream sectors, said they donated the N11billion to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as part of its support to combat the global pandemic.
Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, gave the hint during a press briefing at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
Kyari said in recognition of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID -19) pandemic on the Nigerian population and the economy, the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry embarked on an Industry-wide collaborative initiative to support the effort to combat the pandemic and its attendant impact.
“The intervention initiative is in alignment with the ongoing Federal Government’s efforts and in collaboration with the NCDC to curb the pandemic. It is aimed at supporting our national healthcare delivery facilities and covers three key thematic areas: Provision of medical consumables; Deployment of logistics and in-patient support system; and Delivery of medical infrastructure. The three thematic support initiatives amount to USD30million (N11bilion naira) and will be delivered in phases, starting today,” a statement by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr Kennie Obateru, noted.
He noted that the increasing demand for medical services, medical consumables covering testing kits, medical protective suits and ambulances to the highly impacted areas across the federation informed the intervention of the oil industry.
The NNPC helmsman added that as a responsive and responsible Industry, the oil and gas industry is taking this action to strengthen the collective national resolve to stem the pandemic.
He stated that the effort was collaboration between the NNPC and its partners in the Upstream and Downstream Sector of the nation’s oil and gas value chain.
The NNPC GMD stressed that as a national oil company, the corporation on its own would equip the intensive care unit of the University of Abuja Teaching hospital with 16 beds, provide ventilators and a dedicated laboratory, adding that the medical infrastructure would be made available to the hospital immediately.
Kyari said while Nigeria needed the oil and gas industry now and always, the Industry was prepared to make further contributions to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
He stated: “As a responsive and responsible industry, we are taking this action to strengthen our collective national resolve in combating this pandemic and it’s dreadful impact,” the NNPC said. The Oil & Gas Industry Intervention on COVID-19 became exigent following the ravaging impact of COVID -19 pandemic on the critical sectors of the economy”.
On how the money will be utilised, the statement further noted: “The funding plan for the three thematic support initiatives showed that N1.98 billion, representing 18 per cent of the total fund, will be used in procuring medical consumables such surgical masks, respirator masks, safety gloves, protective suites and safety googles.
“Logistic and in-patient support will gulp N2.42 billion, which is 22 per cent of the total sum, and will be used in purchasing ambulances, oxygen kits and ventilators. The largest sum of N6.60 billion will be used to build medical infrastructure in each of the six geopolitical zones”.
Some of the medical items to be donated to the NCDC include 200 ambulances, 86 ventilators, 2,000 test kits, over 4,000 coveralls and laboratory equipment.
Other items include one diagnostic centre and several medical equipment.
The companies collaborating with the NNPC in the project are Shell Group of Companies in Nigeria, ExxonMobil Group of Companies in Nigeria, Total Group of Companies in Nigeria, Chevron Group of Companies in Nigeria, Eni Group of Companies in Nigeria, Addax Petroleum and Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.
Others include AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited, Dansaki Petroleum Limited, Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Eroton Exploration & Production Company Limited, Energia Limited, First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited and Frontier Oil Limited.
Also in the coalition are Green Energy International Limited, Lekoil Nigeria Limited, Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Ltd, Newcross Exploration &Production Limited, Network Exploration & Production, Niger Delta Petroleum Resource Limited, Oando Oil Limited, Oriental Energy Resources Ltd, Pillar Oil Limited and Platform Petroleum Limited.
Others are SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, Shoreline Natural Resources, Suntrust Oil Company Nigeria Limited, Vertex Energy Limited, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited and Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Limited, Sahara Energy Fields Limited and Belema Oil Producing Limited.
The statement added that the next phase covering the efforts of NNPC and its downstream partners will be unveiled in the coming days.
PMB Hails Elumelu, Rabiu, Dangote, Atiku, Banks, Others Over Donations
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted what he described as the public-spiritedness of wealthy Nigerians and organizations for standing up to be counted in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the president commended members of the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19 made of people like Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Herbert Wigwe, Segun Agbaje and Jim Ovia of UBA, Access, GT, and Zenith Banks, respectively for contributing N1 billion each to fight the pandemic.
He thanked them for being in the vanguard of encouraging others in the private sector to do same.
He also commended UBA which had equally donated the sum of N5 billion to Nigeria and Africa; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who pledged N50 million; First Bank for partnering with government; the United Nations, and innovative technological firms for providing e-learning solutions to at least one million children under its ‘Keep Them Engaged, Keep Them Safe’ initiative.
The president praised every other helping hand that has been lent by individuals, groups and organizations, which may not necessarily be in the public domain, noting that God who sees all things will abundantly recompense.
President Buhari recommended the laudable strides of the donors to other high net-worth Nigerians and organizations, stressing that hand in hand, the country will overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic, and chart new course in nationalism and brotherhood.
Minister Clarifies Position On Release Of Inmates [LEADERSHIP]
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday clarified himself on what he termed as misleading reports in some sections of the media, which claimed that the federal government ordered the immediate release of 70 percent of prison inmates.
Aregbesola in a rebuttal statement by the ministry’s director, Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, said he was quoted out of proportion as he only called for the speedy trial of awaiting trial inmates to check and reduce the possibility of the coronavirus getting into the facilities.
The minister who maintained that he never ordered for the release of inmates said, “Contrary to claims in some sections of the media, I only emphasised that the nation was in an extraordinary situation which requires all hands to be on deck in order to ensure that the pandemic does not go into any of the custodial centres.
“To this end, I called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, States Chief Judges, the governors and other stakeholders in the Justice Sector to immediately identify measures to be taken for quick decongestion of the custodial centres across the country as a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19 at the centres.
Recall that the minister had as part of further precautionary move aimed at curtailing the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease in the country, called for the immediate decongestion of all the custodial centres in the country.
He made the call during an emergency meeting held in his office in Abuja on how to manage the custodial centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The minister, who said the meeting was convened in response to the outcome of the Presidential Task Force meeting on COVID-19, noted that the safety of inmates, staff of the Nigeria Correctional Service and all Nigerians was of great concern to government.
According to him, the number of those in the custodial centres across the country calls for quick response, considering the present situation, as they are more vulnerable to infection.
He added that the situation is further compounded by the huge number of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) which accounts for over 70% of the national inmates’ population in the nation’s holding facilities.
He further called for an urgent need to find a way of trying the cases of the ATPs in the country to overcome the challenge of space in order to reduce the possibility of the virus getting into the facilities.
Coronavirus: Lagos Nears Total Lockdown, Fears Cases May Hit 39,000 [PUNCH]
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says a total lockdown is imminent if the cases of coronavirus continue to increase.
Sanwo-Olu said this while giving an update on the situation of the pandemic in the state at the State House in Marina on Friday.
Out of the 70 confirmed cases nationwide, Lagos accounts for 44, but the governor said going by the development, the state was gradually moving towards the number.
Sanwo-Olu said, “We are moving in the direction of a total lockdown but there are numbers or indices that we need to see before we carry it out, which we have yet to see. We need to see a huge spike in the numbers of confirmed cases, so, we are looking at that.”
Sanwo-Olu also said based on available data, out of the 44 confirmed cases in the state, Ikeja and Eti-Osa local government areas had the highest number of patients, adding that the government was focusing on those areas.
LASG says cases may hit 39,000
However, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, in an earlier press briefing said the state might witness 39,000 cases of COVID-19 in a worst-case scenario.
Abayomi, therefore, urged residents to adhere to the social distancing rules to contain the spread of the disease.
He said, “Our mathematical modelling shows that the worst-case scenario is that we may see up to 39,000 cases in Lagos, but if everyone practises good social distancing, the figure will be limited to 13,000.
“If we add social distancing to active contact tracing, then we will be able to bend the curve further. The figures may seem alarming at this point, but this is just to emphasise to the Lagos community to follow the instructions of the incident commander to make sure that we practise social distancing.
“Looking at the same timeframe from the introduction of the index case, you can see that Lagos State is not seen anywhere near what Spain, Italy, and Iran are showing. So, at weeks two and three of our index case, we are flat and at week four, we have 37 cases; while at the same fourth week, Italy, Iran, and Spain had more than 20,000 cases.”
The commissioner added that the state was tracing 3,000 contacts who might have had contact with some of the confirmed cases.
Curfew begins on Sunday – Gov
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu directed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Lagos starting from Sunday to allow the state to carry out a comprehensive disinfection of the metropolis.
He also said the state would close the domestic airport.
He said, “I am hereby directing a statewide curfew from 8pm to 6am, starting from Sunday until further notice. This is to enable us to carry out comprehensive disinfection of the Lagos Metropolis.
“I am pleased to note that we have taken possession of over 200 disinfecting machines, and starting today, we will be disinfecting all major highways, bus stops, markets, parks, and other public areas.
“With effect from Sunday, we will be closing the domestic airport in Lagos, the General Aviation Terminal and the MM2. All movements in and out of Lagos through the two domestic terminals will, therefore, be suspended from Sunday for two weeks in the first instance. The only exceptions will be flights carrying essential supplies and those on emergency operations.”
He further said travelling in and out of Lagos would be restricted on Sunday, adding that all inter-state motor parks should shut down for two weeks.
The governor also signed into law the Emergency Coronavirus Pandemic Bill 2020 passed by the House of Assembly.
The law empowers the governor to punish violators of the shutdown order policy.
14 Nigerian students rescued in Seme
Also, Sanwo-Olu said 14 Nigerian students were rescued on Thursday at Seme border.
According to him, the students are being tested for coronavirus and if found negative will be allowed to go home.
NCDC says cases in Nigeria now 70
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Friday said the number of persons confirmed to have been infected with coronavirus in Nigeria had risen to 70, after five new cases were confirmed.
While giving an update on the coronavirus during the press briefing in Abuja on Friday afternoon, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, confirmed 65 cases.
Later in the evening, the NCDC on its website said two cases were confirmed in Oyo State while three were confirmed in Abuja.
It said, “On March 27, five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 (were) recorded in Nigeria. Till date, 70 cases have been confirmed, three cases have been discharged and one death from COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria.
“Of the five new cases reported on March 27, two are in Oyo State and three in Federal Capital Territory. All new cases have mild to moderate symptoms and are currently receiving care.
“A multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre activated at level three continues to coordinate the national response activities.”
Stop COVID-19 now, WHO warns Nigeria
The World Health Organisation has warned Nigeria to stop the spread of COVID-19 now that cases are still few.
The world body said it might be too late, too hard, or almost impossible to deal with a much bigger and wider crisis.
The Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday Nigeria should stop the virus from spreading by identifying and isolating those who had tested positive.
Nigeria has 70 confirmed cases and one death while three persons have recovered; about 4,370 persons who have had contact with positive cases are also being traced.
But Ghebreyesus said Nigeria might not be able to cope with a surge in cases should the community transmission starts.
He said, “We need to do the public health interventions effectively to test cases, to follow up contacts and isolate the cases so the problem doesn’t grow. Meaning, from the sporadic cases or cluster cases, they would not grow into community transmission.
“The problem comes when community transmission starts, when the number of cases builds; when that happens, then doing the solutions, follow up, quarantine and so on would be difficult if not impossible. At the same time, growing cases means the healthcare system could be overwhelmed too.”
The WHO chief said Nigeria should invest more in public health interventions and follow the body’s guidelines on COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
Over 25,000 people have died from the coronavirus, more than 550,000 have been infected and over 127,000 have recovered globally.
China pledges to help Nigeria contain COVID-19
China has promised to share COVID-19 containment strategies, drugs and vaccines with Nigeria.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian, said he and other Chinese diplomats would stay in the country and work closely with medical professionals to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking while presenting some medical items, including hand gloves, sanitisers, automatic hand dryers and other hygiene products to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Friday, the envoy said it was imperative for the international community to strengthen confidence, act with unity and work together in a collective response.
Though the situation in China is now under control with life gradually returning to normal, Pingjian said, “Yet, there is no way we will lower our guard or relax control.”
He said his country received strong political support and assistance in various means from the Federal Government and Nigerians during the most difficult period in China’s fight against coronavirus.
The diplomat said, “Despite the daunting task of epidemic control remaining at home, China will try its best to provide medical supplies to Nigeria and do whatever it could to support Nigeria.
“China will continue to share information and experience with Nigeria and strengthen cooperation on containment, treatment and vaccines in response to the COVID-19 challenge, with a view to building together a community of shared health for mankind.”
The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Lot Egopija, lauded the Chinese government for the donation and the promised assistance.
Lagos, Rivers, Six Others To Use Force To Compel Partial Lockdown [PUNCH]
…as soldiers, airforce men, naval officers, police begin patrol
Chukwudi Akasike, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Success Nwogu, Mudiaga Affe and Tunde Ajaja
As part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease in the country, many state governments have set up task force, comprising soldiers, police and other paramilitary organisations to enforce the ban on gatherings.
The states include Lagos, Niger, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano and Ekiti. Many of them had ordered the closure of schools, clubs, worship centres, markets and other public gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus.
The latest enforcement drive by the states came amid the rising spread of the disease. Since February 27 when the index case was recorded in Nigeria via a 44-year-old Italian, the number of cases as of Friday night had risen to 70, covering eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.
While one death has been recorded and three persons discharged so far, Lagos has recorded 44 confirmed cases, FCT, 14; Ogun, three; Ekiti, one; Oyo, three; Edo, one; Bauchi, two; Osun, one and one in Rivers State.
In Lagos State, the government had banned all religious and social gatherings of over 20 persons, while it also shut schools, clubs, event centres and markets, among others. The closure of open markets and stores, excluding sellers of food, medicines, medical equipment and other essential life-saving products, took effect from Thursday.
But due to poor compliance with the closure directives, there are strong indications that the Lagos State government will deploy security agents to the streets to ensure total compliance to contain the spread of the disease.
Multiple sources at a virtual meeting between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly during the week told one of our correspondents on Friday that the governor gave the hint during the meeting.
The members of NECA present included pharmaceutical and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods companies, including Nestle, Unilever, Nigeria Breweries, Promasidor, Flour Mills, Honeywell Flour Mills and Cadbury.
One of the sources quoted the governor as saying, “Lagos will not be on complete lockdown. The intention is to take non-essentials out of the street. There will be increased military presence comprising army, police, navy, air force and other paramilitary organisations on the road as from tomorrow (Thursday) to ensure compliance.”
Meanwhile, a video had gone viral on Thursday where policemen attached to the Lagos State Task Force were seen vandalising people’s shops and goods as part of the enforcement of the directive.
But the governor said at the meeting that, “The security personnel will be well briefed to be cautious with citizens to avoid untoward incidents.”
Another source at the meeting also quoted Sanwo-Olu as saying, “FMCGs are essential goods classified as daily need products, foods and drugs, beverages, health and hygiene products, medicaments, etc. Employees of these companies must carry their identity cards to and from work to ensure easy identification and smooth passage.
“Electronics markets, shops, spare parts markets, clothes markets and all classified as non-essentials shall be closed down while all food markets shall remain open. The retail chains like Spar, Game, Shoprite etc., shall remain open daily. People should not engage in panic buying. Government will ensure that supplies are kept flowing.”
Soldiers, police, NSCDC deploy personnel in Ekiti
In Ekiti State, combined forces of security agents, including soldiers, police and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence.
Corps, have been deployed in the Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to ensure Governor Kayode Fayemi’s Executive Order and directive on the closure of markets and shops to curb the spread of the virus.
As of the time of filing this report, the task force had already taken over Atikankan, Irona, Okeyinmi, Ijigbo and the Oja Oba Market areas to enforce the order, a step which compelled traders violating the orders to run for safety.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Sunday Abutu, said the security agencies owed it a duty to support the government to ensure that every action taken was enforced to guarantee the safety of all citizens. He said the state would be inhabitable for criminals.
The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state, Solomon Iyamu, had said the corps would deploy 250 personnel across the state to enforce the directive.
In a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Tolulope Afolabi, the commandant said the personnel would work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Humanitarian Task Force in the state health sector “for the purpose of surveillance, response and enforcement of safety rules and laws”.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, has also released an advisory to law enforcement agencies to clarify the legal framework for the effective prosecution of persons who violate the measures for the prevention of the spread of the virus in the state.
The advisory, dated March 23 and made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, partly read, “Anyone who intentionally exposes another to COVID-19 be prosecuted for the offence of assault or murder as applicable” under Section 247 (b) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State.
Fapohunda said gathering of more than 20 persons, overloading by commercial vehicles and motor bikes, violation of closure of schools, unlawful entrance into isolation centre and hindrance or obstruction to law enforcement agents “may be prosecuted for the offence under the provisions of sections 61, 202 and 203 of the Criminal Code Law, cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012”.
Fayemi tests negative
Meanwhile, Governor Fayemi has tested negative to the virus. In a tweet on Friday, the governor tweeted, “I just received my test result from National Centre for Disease Control and it is negative. Thanks to all for your concern.
“This, however, calls for continued vigilance on the part of everyone. COVID-19 is real and we cannot afford to be complacent.”
The governor on Wednesday tweeted that he took the test having gone into self-isolation since Tuesday evening having met with two people who tested positive for the virus.
Obey movement restriction order, Niger police, NSCDC tell residents
The Niger State Police Command on Friday also asked the people of the state to obey the order restricting movements and gatherings of more than 20 people, saying the Force was set to implement the government directive.
Governor Abubakar Bello had imposed curfew on the state from 8am to 8pm daily as he also directed civil servants from levels one to 12, except those on essential services, to stay at home till further notice.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement that the state police commissioner, Adamu Usman, had directed Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to apprehend and prosecute those that violate the orders.
He said, “Essential workers are allowed to continue their services. Commercial drivers, motorcycle and tricycle operators are warned to desist from overloading.
“The commissioner has also ordered the decongestion of police cells across the state as part of preventive measures. Members of the public are hereby advised to avoid social visit to the police stations and contact them through telephone numbers for information or general complaint.”
Offenders will be prosecuted – Oyo govt
In Oyo State, a joint security team, comprising the Nigeria Police Force; Federal Road Safety Corps; and the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority, has begun the enforcement of the social distancing directive by the state government. It said those who flout the order on gatherings would be prosecuted.
This, according to the Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Dr Akin Fagbemi, would curtail the spread of the virus in the state, adding that the team would ensure strict compliance at public parks and garages across the state, in line with Governor Seyi Makinde’s directives.
The state had suspended religious activities and banned gatherings with more than 30 persons, among other measures, while advising residents to maintain social distancing.
“The people had been warned that anyone caught flouting the recommendations would be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law,” he added.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, said aggressive public sensitisation were ongoing, adding that four isolation centres had been established with two ambulances to convey infected persons to isolation centre for treatment.
Kaduna police vow to deal with curfew violators
Also, Kaduna State Police Command has said it will deal with violators of the 24-hour-curfew imposed on the state by the government.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, in a broadcast to residents of the state on Thursday announced the curfew, stating that from the midnight of Thursday, all residents must stay at home and that no offices, businesses of any sort or places of worship are allowed to open.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mohammed Jalige, said in a statement on Friday that the command would commence compliance with immediate effect, saying the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, had directed all policemen in the command to ensure that the directive was fully adhered to.
He said, “The Kaduna State Police Command in compliance with the directive on the enforcement of curfew/social distancing order wishes to inform the general public that it has commenced the enforcement as directed by the Kaduna State Government.”
Rivers NSCDC deploys 250-man squad to enforce order
The Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also said on Friday that it had raised a 250-man team to enforce compliance with the directives put in place by the state government.
The state commandant, Mr Muktar Lawal, said, “The command has deployed 250 Disaster Management personnel to the 23 local government areas of the state to relate intelligence gathered on the coronavirus pandemic and respond speedily to emergency situations where and when necessary.”
He urged the people of the state not to panic but remain calm. He added that the corps and the task force inaugurated by Governor Nyesom Wike were on red alert to ensure that the virus did not spread in the state.
Sokoto closes borders, constitutes task force
In Sokoto State, the government announced the closure of all routes into the state from midnight of Friday to April 10, as an initial two-week period.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Thursday explained that the measure did not include supply of food and essential medical commodities.
“The state government had constituted a task force team of experts under the leadership of the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Ali Inname, since March 19,” Tambuwal added.
Tambuwal said the terms of reference of the team were to advise government on all measures needed to be taken to prevent the entry and spread of the disease into the state.
Kano task force meets religious leaders
In its effort to prevent the spread of the virus, the recently inaugurated Task Force Committee in Kano State has met with the Ulamas, who are transmitters and interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam, on how to take proactive measures in the mosques.
The Deputy Governor Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who chairs the committee, said even though there had not been any reported case of coronavirus in the state, it had become imperative for the state government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, to take measures on the risk posed by the pandemic.
The co-chair of the Task Force, Prof Abdurrazaq Garba Habib, asked residents of the state to keep the social distancing advised by the government.
Ondo arrests five persons for violating restriction order
The task force in the Ondo State says it has been going from street to street to ensure the restriction order by the government was obeyed.
The state government on Wednesday ordered the closure of markets and shops across the state while social, religious and political activities were also banned for 14 days.
The Chairman of the task force, Dr Doyin Odebowale, said out of the five persons arrested, two were pastors conducting christening, while the rest were shop-owners selling non-essential items.
Odebowale added, “The task force has been moving round day and night to enforce orders on closure of markets, night clubs, beer parlours, social gatherings and other preventive measures put in place by the state to contain the spread of the COVID-19.”
He said the suspects had not been handed over to the police but would be prosecuted later.
FCT threatens curfew, warns traders, worship places against violating orders
The Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has threatened to impose curfew on the territory if residents and traders refuse to comply with restriction orders on gatherings and social distancing.
FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, on Wednesday, announced the closure of all markets, except those selling essential items.
But speaking at Gwarinpa market on Friday during the fumigation of some areas, Aliyu expressed concerns that traders were flouting the rules.
There was however enforcement of the orders in Garki International Market, Area 1 Market and Wuse market on Friday.
Aliyu said, “If the situation continues like this, we will be forced to impose a curfew. That is why I came out myself to monitor and appeal to their conscience to vacate the market especially those not selling foodstuffs and other essential commodities.
“I have called the (FCT) Commissioner of Police myself to ensure that the enforcement team commence enforcement immediately.”
Defence Headquarters, others speak
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Kelvin Adegoke, said he had not been briefed on the involvement of soldiers in the enforcement in Lagos State.
He said, “As I speak to you, I don’t have such information.”
The Command Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Commodore Tom Otuji, stated that the Navy is prepared to assist in enforcing the directives whenever “we are called upon.”
“Whenever such directive is activated in aid to civil authorities, you will be duly notified,” he added.
But the spokesperson for the NSCDC in Lagos State, Kehinde Bada, said the corps had already started enforcement.
She said, “Our men are on the streets. The command deployed over 250 specialised officers for sensitisation. We have about 200 armed personnel and 250 unarmed men on the streets to ensure the enforcement is carried out.”
Also, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has said the military will deploy personnel nationwide to assist in the case of security emergencies during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen John Enenche, said the military had also created Disaster Response Units to handle such security emergencies.
He said, “In this regard, the Armed Forces of Nigeria has developed a two-pronged approach to fight the pandemic, namely; the medical and security approaches. The Defence Headquarters hereby assures the general public of its total commitment to the human security effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
On plans by state governors to ensure partial lockdown, a top source at the DHQ said the military commanders in states would not carry out such orders unless they received approval from the Service Chiefs in Abuja, who are also answerable to the President.
He added that the DHQ had not been briefed yet about such moves.
Check movements at borders, CG orders NIS personnel
The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has ordered all the heads of its formations that have entry and exit points in the form of land and sea borders as well as airports to check movements in their areas.
He asked them to ensure compliance with the Federal Government’s directives on restriction of movement and control inter-state travellers from spreading the coronavirus among the citizens.
Babandede, in a statement on Friday by the NIS Public Relation Officer, Mr Sunday James, said efforts were being put in place to reduce person-to-person contact in the service windows at the airports, Passport Offices and other operational offices where the general public patronises the service.
“The NIS in full support of government efforts is advising all those in need of emergency facility requirements to stay at home and make contacts through the emergency contact lines provided without necessarily visiting our offices for this period.”
Lagos to open 50 emergency markets in public schools
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso has confirmed that the state would open 50 emergency markets in public schools.
He said the emergency markets are to bring the food centres nearer to residents in different parts of the state following the closure of some markets in the state.
Omotoso said, “We are opening 50 new markets in public schools that have been shut down. The idea is that if you ask people not to congregate and they need food, where do they go to? Even though we have said some of these markets should not be shut down.
“So, we are trying to create new markets in neighbourhoods and we are discussing with farmers associations that have keyed into the idea. The Commissioner for Agriculture is on top of it and they are going to open the market this weekend so that farmers can bring food directly to those places and people will get such items cheap without going long distances. We are going to use schools that have closed down now.”
The governor had at the forum with NECA said some of the schools would be allocated to FMCG companies for them to erect stands to sell essential goods to people who could not go to malls to buy their daily needs.
Sanwo-Olu, Fayemi to meet
Following the decision of some state governors to restrict movement into their states, Sanwo-Olu was also quoted to have said at the forum with NECA that he would contact the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to use his good offices to intervene.
He said he would call the NGF chairman to prevail on other governors to allow trucks of FMCG companies delivering essential raw materials and products supplies free passage into and through their states.
We’ll consider tax break for companies, citizens – Sanwo-Olu
On the demand by the NECA representatives that the state government should consider tax break for companies and citizens due to increased cost at this time, the governor said it was being considered by the state government.
He added that government was setting up centres across the state in Yaba, Onikan, Lekki, Gbagada and that the target was to achieve 2,000-bed capacity by the end of March.
He pointed out that government was setting up three test centres with capacity to test 100 persons per day and that two were already functioning while work was still in progress in the third one.
Obasanjo donates residence for Isolation centre
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday said he had donated his former hilltop residence in Abeokuta to the Ogun State government as an Isolation centre.
The Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi said this in a statement on Friday.
Akinyemi said his boss announced that the 32-room facility had been handed over to the state government for immediate takeover.
Akinyemi added that the development was to show that the former President was concerned about the pandemic.
Coronavirus: NMA, CMA React As US Woos Nigerian Doctors, Others [PUNCH]
The Nigerian Medical Association and the Commonwealth Medical Association have reacted to the United States’ offer of employment to medical professionals willing to help in the treatment of coronavirus patients in the US.
The President of the NMA, Dr Francis Faduyile, said people, including doctors, had the right to work anywhere they pleased.
He, however, called on the Nigerian government to do the needful by strengthening the health system and making health workers comfortable for them to stay in Nigeria.
The President of the CMA, Dr Osahon Enabulele, also called on the Federal Government to do everything possible to retain its health workers in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to one of our correspondents, Faduyile said if doctors were well treated, they wouldn’t bother to travel abroad.
He, however, cautioned doctors who might want to leave the country to be sure they would be protected and that the condition of service would be in their interest before they left.
He said, “If Nigerian doctors are well taken care of, many of them would prefer to stay, but if they are not well taken care of, I see some difficulties in anybody telling them to stay. Again, everybody has a fundamental right to travel or move anywhere to practise.
“I’m a medical doctor and I’d like doctors to stay in Nigeria. However, what has the government put in place to make its employees comfortable? I know we have many doctors and other health professionals who want to work in this country.
“So if the government does the needful, they may not have any reason to leave. Doctors and medical workers who are not gainfully employed or who are being owed (salaries) must find ways to fend for themselves.”
However, Faduyile cautioned doctors intending to grab the US’ offer, saying although the offer might sound interesting presently, it might turn sour if they (doctors) were not “protected.”
“So, my advice to Nigerians is that they have to be careful because this is a time of war. And in a time of war, if they recruit you into the military, certainly, you would be on the battlefield and you would likely be in the area that is the most difficult. So, if they want to go, they should be sure of what they would meet there,” he warned.
Amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the US Government had on Thursday asked medical professionals with an approved non-immigrant or immigrant visa petition from across the world, including Nigeria, to approach the nearest embassy and apply for a work visa.
“We encourage medical professionals with an approved US non-immigrant or immigrant visa petition (I-129, I-140, or similar) or a certificate of eligibility in an approved exchange visitor programme (DS-2019), particularly those working to treat or mitigate the effects of COVID-19, to review the website of their nearest embassy or consulate for procedures to request a visa appointment,” the US Department of State said in a statement on its website.
The US added that foreign medical professionals already in the country could have their visas extended one year at a time for up to seven years.
Clarifying the statement further on Friday, the US Embassy Nigeria said in a Facebook post that only medical professionals with previously approved H or J petition would receive emergency visa appointments.
The announcement came as the US became the country with the highest number of persons diagnosed with COVID-19.
As of 9 pm on Friday, the US had surpassed Italy and China in the number of coronavirus cases, with over 100,000 persons being infected. Over 1,500 patients had died.
This was as the number of cases worldwide hit over 589,000, with around 27,000 deaths. More than 132,000 patients had, however, recorded.
In Nigeria, there were 70 COVID-19 cases. Three had recovered while one had died, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Incidentally, as hundreds of doctors in Abuja and Cross River State went on strike last week over non-payment of salaries, the US Embassy Nigeria said medical workers with previously approved H or J petition would receive emergency visa appointments.
Following this development, the Commonwealth Medical Association has also called on the Federal Government to do everything possible to retain its health workers in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to one of our correspondents, the President of the CMA, Dr Osahon Enabulele, said, “It is the responsibility of every country to decide what means and measures it wishes to use in addressing the current pandemic.
“If the Nigerian government understands and appreciates the fact that the dearth of health care professionals is a challenge in Nigeria, especially in the face of this pandemic, it needs to do something to equalise what the US is offering them.
“The government should institute very attractive incentives and do everything possible to retain its professionals, especially those at the forefront of attending to the patients. I think it’s a matter of need to drive what I call ‘equipoise’ with the kind of pool factor that has been introduced by the US Government.
“In my tour of some of the isolation centres and health facilities, I saw that health workers were giving their best in spite of the deficiencies. They voiced their concerns and we keep reassuring them that it’s our country and we should do whatever we can to support the current efforts of the government.”
Enabulele said in the light of the various donations by individuals and corporate organisations, the government should prioritise the welfare of the health workers.
“If more leave at this time, we are in for trouble. The rising cases are alarming already. That is why the government should introduce some incentives to retain them,” he added.
Similarly, the President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, AbdlRauf Adeniji, said it was time for the Nigerian government to review and improve on its attitude towards the terms of engagement of health workers and their work environment.
He said, “In Nigeria, the condition of service is appalling. People who are working in Nigeria are doing it as a calling. That is why we have always advised the government to make the condition of service attractive. However, during a pandemic, no work environment is conducive.
“The government has a role to play to entice health care workers. We have always submitted demands to the government. An enabling environment, which will include infrastructure, policy, reliable tenure of job and satisfactory retirement plan are needed to win workers’ loyalty.”
Even though health professionals in Nigeria have always protested over poor welfare, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in 2019 boasted that Nigeria had more than enough doctors and those who were dissatisfied were free to leave the country.
“Who said we don’t have enough doctors? We have more than enough. You can quote me. There is nothing wrong in them travelling out.
“When they go abroad, they earn money and send them back home here. Yes, we have foreign exchange earnings from them and not just oil,” Ngige had said.
Long Road To Death: Why Rev King, 2,744 Others Have Not Been Executed [THE NATION]
There are 73,102 inmates in Nigeria. Over 2745 of them have been sentenced and are waiting to die for over 10 years now, write ADEBISI ONANUGA and ROBERT EGBE
Celestine Egbunuche’s story is not the type you hear very often. In 2000, he and his son Paul were arrested by the police following a death in his community in Imo State.
The police accused Egbunuche, then 82, and Paul, then 22, of hiring some individuals who kidnapped and murdered a man in litigation over land ownership. They were tried, convicted and sentenced to death by a high court in 2014.
In 2018, he clocked 100, becoming Nigeria’s oldest prisoner. His death warrant was never signed. Father and son maintained their innocence.
Following pressure from a non-governmental organisation, the Global Society for Anti Corruption and the media, Egbunuche received a state pardon from former Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2019.Paul was not so lucky. He is still at the Enugu Maximum Security Prison, awaiting the hangman’s noose.
2,745 death row inmates
Paul is not alone.The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) stated last year that there were 2,745 death row inmates in the country.
One of the most notorious of them is the self-proclaimed leader of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukuemeke Ezeugo King. King’s death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court and he has been awaiting the hang man’s noose for more than 10 years.
He was arraigned on September 26, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder but he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He was sentenced to death by the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on January 11, 2007 for the murder of Ann Uzoh and the Court of Appeal, Lagos, upheld his death sentence in 2013.
On February 26, 2016, a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, then a justice of the apex court, confirmed the death sentence that was earlier handed to Ezeugo by the Lagos State High Court.
The verdict was delivered on behalf of the justices of the apex court by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta.
The justices held: “This appeal has no merit. The judgment of the Court of Appeal is hereby affirmed. The prison sentence that was earlier handed to the appellant is no longer relevant in view of the death sentence passed on him.”
On January 28, 2020, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, convicted and sentenced Maryam Sanda to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yusuf Halilu said: “Every available evidence” had proved that Maryam “fatally” stabbed her husband to death in Abuja on November 19, 2017.
Last December 17, Justice Raliat Adebiyi of an Ikeja High Court in Lagos sentenced a Nigerian prince to death by hanging for strangling his boss to death and dumping her body in a well.
Prince Adewale Oyekan murdered Alhaja Sikirat Ekun, a businesswoman and politician, on October 1, 2012. Oyekan, who managed Ekun’s restaurant, paid her former domestic servant, Lateef Balogun, N6,000 to kill her, the prosecution said.
The pair strangled the 62-year-old woman before throwing her body down a 1,000feet well in her home.
Justice Adebiyi said: “For this reason, the first and second defendants are hereby sentenced accordingly on each of counts one and two to death by hanging. May God the giver of life have mercy on your soul.”
Oyekan is the son of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, king of Lagos, who died in 2003.
Death row prisoner crisis
But because the death sentence is not often carried out in Nigeria, prisoners like Paul, King and Sanda will stay on in prison without hope of obtaining state pardon and swelling the overstretched prison population.
NCS Controller-General, Ahmed Ja’afaru, also stated last year that 2,745 of inmates who have spent 10 years on death row live under the suspense and mental torture of death.
According to Amnesty International, between 2007 and 2017, there were seven executions – the last one taking place in 2016.
“Out of the number, a greater percentage of them may have finished appeals and are still waiting for the determination of the approving authority to either approve their execution or commit them to life imprisonment,” said Ja’afaru.
According to him, prisons across the nation have a population of 73,102 prisoners, 19,878 convicted males and 299 convicted females. Condemned male prisoners stand at 2,745, and females, 42. Prisoners awaiting trial constitute over 52,000 of this number or about 69.9 percent.
The NCS says the official capacity of the prison system is 50,153 as at July 2018, while the occupancy level (based on official capacity) was 146.8 percent.
The figure for Lagos, which has the highest condemned convicts population, is 320, The Nation learnt.
Last December 18, the NCS raised the alarm that inmates on death row were becoming difficult to control. NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr Francis Enobore, stated this during a media parley and facility tour of Dukpa Farm Centre, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The service has about 17 farm centres spread across the country.
Enobore said: “On those on death row, we have crisis on our hands. Currently, we have 2,745 condemned persons in our facilities across the country. Of course you know that this category of inmates are very difficult to maintain or control. They are afraid of nothing because they know that they are already destined to die.”
Is death penalty legal?
Capital punishment is legal in Nigeria.
Execution of condemned persons is recognised in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(CFRN), 1999, as amended provides that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”.
Methods of execution include hanging, shooting, stoning, and since 2015, lethal injection.
Death penalty offences
Most death row inmates are kept in solitary confinement. Capital crimes include murder, terrorism-related offenses, rape, robbery, kidnapping, sodomy, homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery, incest, assisting the suicide of a person legally unable to consent, perjury in a capital case causing wrongful execution, treason, some military offences like mutiny and practice of indigenous beliefs in states applying Shariah law.
Who can sign death warrants?
In June 2013, four death row inmates were hanged in Benin City, Edo State, after their death warrants were signed by then Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
The inmates included Osaremwinda Aigbuohian and Daniel Nsofor, whose lawyers have been struggling to obtain a stay of execution on the death sentence; and two other convicts whose identities are yet to be ascertained.
Then President Goodluck Jonathan had directed state governors to exercise their constitutional rights by signing death warrants of death row inmates in order to reduce the rising level of criminality in the country.
The state government said the governor merely carried out his constitutional requirement by signing the warrants of the convicted criminals.
The Edo State Government was correct.
Statutorily, governors are constitutionally empowered to sign death warrants. This obligation is conferred on them by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, Section 221 of the Penal Code and Section 319 of the Criminal Code. The sections prescribe capital punishment for murder, while sections 37 and 38 of the Criminal Code prescribe the same punishment for treasonable felony.
But governors are not bound to sign the warrants for the execution of people on death row. They can exercise their prerogative to commute such sentences to lifetime in jail or reduced the jail terms. They can also grant such convicts state pardon, just like in Egbunuche’s case, therefore putting a closure to the matter.
Why governors don’t sign death warrants
The use of the death penalty in Nigeria has generated varied opinions among people.
Governors are generally reluctant to sign death warrants on humanitarian, political, religious, emotional and ethnic grounds.
Nigerian society is largely religious and most faiths hold life as sacred.
Globally also, there is a debate on the appropriateness of death penalty as a means of punishment and there is a push for its abrogation by some non-governmental organisations, such as Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP).
In October 2014, former Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, pardoned three inmates who were on death row following the recommendations by the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
In 2017, the Federal Government rejected the call by Amnesty International to halt the planned execution of some inmates on death row in Lagos State, and pointed that the death penalty was expressly authorised by Section 33 of the Constitution of Nigeria.
How to salvage the situation
LEDAP often observes that prolonged solitude is a punishment that is detrimental for the psychology of death row inmates and that it kills the victims incessantly and unmercifully.
Enobore suggested a way out. He said one way to address the hostile manner in which this category of inmates behave was to commute their death sentences to life imprisonment, in which case they could be locked in more spacious facilities.
There is hope on the horizon that this could become the reality sooner than later, following the passage of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) Act.
Section 12 (2c) of Act provides that where an inmate on death sentence has exhausted legal procedures for appeal and a period of 10 years has elapsed without execution of the sentence, the chief judge may commute the death sentence to life imprisonment.
Niger IDPs: We’re Home Sick [THE NATION]
How we survived one week without food
They never lacked food — NSEMA
For five months, the displaced people living in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Kuta town in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been living in Dr. Idris Ibrahim Primary School, a four-block school. It will has become a home to them.
These IDPs have said that they tired of remaining in the camp as they cite hunger, poor sanitary conditions, poor sleeping space and poor hygiene as reasons why they no longer want to stay in the camp.
When The Nation visited the camp on Monday and spoke to some of the displaced people, they disclosed that they had to stay a week without food from the government, adding that during that period, the adults had to rely heavily on the youth.
Zakari Galadima, who is one of the elders in the camp, said they had to stay a week without food before the government responded to their cry to bring food for them.
“We stayed a week without food in this camp last week. During this period, the youth were kind to us and helped us tremendously. Relying and leveraging on their strength, the youths helped to contribute to ensuring that there was food in the camp.”
Galadima said that the youth, during the trying period, engaged in menial jobs just to gather money for the people in the camp to feed.
“The youth went out to look for odd jobs; some of them went for mining, others took to construction work. All the proceeds they got, they joined everything together and brought food for the camp to feed.”
Fati Salihu also corroborated this, saying that the government was aware that they had no food as the chairman of Shiroro council told them that it was being sorted out.
“During this period, we had to help one another. Those who had saved little over some time shared it with others. We had to scramble and beg for food.”
We have been robbed of our social activities – Women in IDP camp
For the women in the Kuta IDP camp, there are no more social activities for them as they have been cut off from every social activity in the past five months. This is the reason they are asking the government to expedite action to enable them return to their homes.
According to Fati Salihu, staying in the camp has robbed her of her social activities, which she misses above everything else.
To every question she answered, Fati harped and returned to how she missed attending social activities, which she wouldn’t miss while she was in her homestead.
“My stay here has destabilised me. Comparing here to staying at home remains incomparable. Staying here has robbed me of my social activities. My enjoyment has been taken away from me. It is incomparable in terms of enjoyment.”
For Habiba Masuku, staying in the IDP camp meant no more weddings, naming or other ceremonies to attend and she misses these above anything else.
“While I was in my village, I attended weddings and naming ceremonies often but here, there is really nothing like that. Even the women who gave birth here are too discouraged to even have a naming ceremony. You rarely see any parties happening here.”
The inconveniences and sleeping arrangements are grossly inadequate – Men in IDP camp
For the men in the camp, their concern is the sleeping arrangements and inconveniences.
The stench from the toilets were so terrible that one could smell it from a distance. It was learnt that only the adults use the toilets and bathrooms, while the children defecate and bath openly.
The IDPs were seen sleeping in the classrooms on the bare floor with no mattresses in sight when The Nation visited the camp during the week.
According to Zakari Galadima, most often, about 50 persons sleep in a classroom without any mattress. “At least in a classroom, you cannot find less than 50 to 60 people. We are about 2,000 in this camp. We squeeze ourselves into the classes to sleep,” he said.
Speaking about the toilets and the hygienic situation in the camp, Zakari said: “The conveniences are grossly inadequate. You have gone there yourself, you can see it. We have no choice but to use it. But the government tried to build additional bathrooms for us but it is not still adequate.”
Speaking about the food, Aliyu Ibrahim said they just had to eat the food served them to keep body and soul together. “The food is just being taken to quench hunger. It is not the kind of food we are used to. It does not contain what is needed for a balanced diet.”
What we want – IDPs
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kuta have called on well-meaning individuals to speak to the government to provide adequate security that would enable them return to their villages.
They said they were tired of living in the camp for five months, stressing that they want to return to their villages.
“We want people to talk to the government so that government can take action with regards to insecurity because it seems our voices can no longer be heard”, Zakari Galadima said.
Aliyu added: “Government should provide security that would enable us return to our communities. Although there is security here, we prefer our homes. Please tell them to take us backhome”.
The IDPs are lying; they never spent a day without food – NSEMA
However, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) saddled with the responsibility of taking care of emergency situations told The Nation that the people were lying about staying without food for a week.
The Public Relations Officer of NSEMA, Hussein Ibrahim, said when the IDPs complained that their food was about to finish, the agency provided food for them the next day.
“No IDP camp in Niger State has enjoyed the privilege Kuta enjoys. The day they informed us that their food had finished, the next day, we took food to them.
“We also went there with a committee that was set up by the government to take their inventory so that the government will be able to provide what will enable them to relocate back to their places.”
Our Problem with the IDPs
Ibrahim explained that the IDPs have refused to leave the camp despite the fact that there are no more crises in their communities stressing that they are busy enjoying government food and do not want to leave the camp.
“The problem we are facing at Kuta is the problem of when a government opens a camp for a longer period of time. These people have been enjoying free food and because the planting season is gone, they do not have anything to do at home, that is why they prefer to stay in the camp than staying at home for the government to continue giving them food.
“There have been suggestions that we close the camp but the Governor, being someone who knows the pain they are going through asked us to let them remain in the camp even when the bandits’ problem is over. He feels staying in the camp would enable them to overcome the trauma they have been through.
“For more than a month now, the bandits’ activities have been reduced with the state government using both military and local vigilante. It is the governor that said we should allow them to stay so that their tension and trauma would reduce.
“Most of them are still in the camp just to have this free food. If you go there now, you will see a few people but when you take food there, a whole lot of them will come out to take the food and enjoy it.
“Government has set up a committee in place in conjunction with NSEMA to take them back to their communities and provide little stipends for them to go back to their places and ensure that they have vigilantes who will guard them until when things normalize in their village because some of them are still afraid.
On the poor sleeping arrangements
The NSEMA PRO explained that there were beddings when the IDPs arrived camp but pointed out that those who have left the camp to their villages, left with the beddings and utensils and no one made moves to stop them from taking these items with them.
“We provided them with beddings but each IDPs that come and return to their village return with these beddings. If a community is sacked by bandits today, they stay in the camp for some weeks and if their environment is stable, they go back and if they go back, they move with everything we provide them with and make us start afresh when another community comes. That has been the problem that we have been facing.
“These ones in camp now were not attacker by bandits, they fled because their neighboring communities were attacked but we are looking at how we will return them back to their villages and a committee is being constituted to that effect.”
The Youths of Shiroro local government area said that the relief materials given to IDPs Camp are not a privilege adding that It is a right by virtue of government’s failure to live up to its responsibility of protecting lives and properties.
The Youths blamed the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) for not proactive enough to know when the next supply is due until the stocked food is exhausted pointing that this is an indictment that the agency is not up to its billing.
When told of the PRO’s comment, one of the Youths who is one of the Co-Convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, Bello Ibrahim said, “If Mr. Hussaini believes the Camp has been opened for too long, we challenge him to lead a convoy that will convey the displaced persons back to their communities, and we pledge to pay his allowances and support him with his upkeep logistics for a month in those communities.
“The ignorant Hussaini doesn’t know the history of Shiroro people. We are so hard working, particularly in food production that we export beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“Shiroro people gift food item to their visitors beyond what their horses and cars can convey.”
Speaking about the state of the camp, Ibrahim stated that none of the IDPs wish to remain in the camp as it is currently inhabitable for people to live in.
“Nobody desires to remain in that filthy and uninhabitable Camp. Our people are more than eager to return to their homes. Safe for circumstances, the IDPs Camp is at best habitable for domestic animals. ”
The Youths further berated the Governor for not going to visit the people in the camp adding that his action shows he is not feeling the pains of the people.
“The governor doesn’t know the pains our people are going through, he can only imagine it by virtue of reports he receives. The governor was practically on ground during electioneering to canvass for votes in Kuta. Shiroro Local Government was second to Rafi Local Government in terms of number of votes for Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
“Unfortunately, despite our numerous outcries the governor has not found it worthy to personally visit and sympathize with the displaced. And we are by his actions compelled to ask, if Kuta IDPs Camp was a political Ward/Unit that will determine his victory at the polls, will he look the other way or send his deputy to campaign?
“It is the zenith of insensitivity and insincerity for anyone to sit in the comfort of his office and opine that insecurity is over.”
The youths have called on the state government to make the IDPs Camp more habitable by providing the necessary facilities.
However, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has said that because the State Government is concerned about the issue of insecurity affecting the people in Shiroro Local Government area just as in other areas of the state where bandits have been terrorising, the state government has make concerted efforts towards ensuring that the affected communities receive adequate care and attention.
He reiterated the commitment of the Agency to ameliorate their sufferings through all necessary means.