School Reopening: Only JSS3, SS2 Students Allowed To Resume On September 21 – Lagos Govt

The Lagos State Government has announced that only JSS3 and SS2 students will be allowed to resume school on Monday, September 21, 2020.

The Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Folashade Adefisayo disclosed this in a statement on Sunday through the Head, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi while revealing plans for a new 2020/2021 Academic Session resumption for public and private schools.

‘How we spent N31bn in 4 months to fight COVID-19’, FG replies SERAP, CODE

The Federal Government of Nigeria has disclosed that it “spent N30,540,563,571.09, representing 84% of the N36.3 billon public funds and donations received to respond to COVID-19 between 1st April, 2020 and 31st July, 2020, leaving the balance of N5.9 billion.”

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris stated this in response to the Freedom of Information request dated 10 August, 2020 and sent to him by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Connected Development (CODE).

International flights resume as Middle East Airlines plane lands at Lagos airport

After a five-month closure of the Nigerian airspace to scheduled international flights due to lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, foreign travel resumed in the country on Saturday when an aircraft operated by Middle East Airlines touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The plane which took off from Beirut, Lebanon, landed at the airport at exactly 02:27 pm, The PUNCH can confirm.

Trump ‘terminates relationship’ with WHO

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was severing ties with the World Health Organization, signalling the end of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the UN agency as the deadly coronavirus pandemic rages on.

As Europe speeded along the path to reopening after months of crippling lockdowns, Trump’s move is likely to spark dismay, especially in other parts of the world where the outbreak has yet to reach its peak.

Resident doctors threaten strike, issue FG 14-day ultimatum

The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to immediately implement all the agreements it had with the Association or it will embark on an indefinite strike.

The ultimatum was issued by the NARD in Bauchi on Saturday at the end of its 2020 Ordinary General Meeting with the theme: ‘Health Inequalities and Social Determinants of Health in Nigeria.

It also lamented the poor working condition of its members across the country.

FG to use hotels, schools as isolation centres

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government would require hotels and school dormitories as quarantine and isolation centres because of shortage of hospital beds.

He stated this on Thursday during the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

The minister noted that there were four levels of COVID-19 patients ranging from those on quarantine with zero or mild symptoms to those that would need to be in an intensive care unit.

COVID-19: Don’t Put Masks on Babies and Toddlers - Doctors Warn

Children under the age of two shouldn’t wear masks because they can make breathing difficult and increase the risk of choking, a Japan medical group said, launching an urgent appeal to parents as the country reopens from the Coronavirus crisis.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas on Monday after the number of infections fell across Japan, but warned that it could be reimposed if the virus started spreading again.

To prevent the virus spread, health experts worldwide are recommending people wear masks when it is difficult to maintain social distancing as countries loosen restrictions following Coronavirus shutdowns.

Dangote-promised isolation centre yet to take off as Kano COVID-19 cases hit 900

Over a month after Dangote Foundation announced the donation of a 300-capacity isolation centre for the management of COVID-19 patients in Kano, the facility is yet to be handed over to the state government for use.

The state as at Tuesday has 919 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 134 recoveries and a death toll of 38.

Spokesperson of Kano health ministry, Hadiza Namani confirmed that construction work was ongoing at the facility, adding that no single COVID-19 patient has been admitted in the isolation centre.

Business mogul and chairman Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, donated isolation facility as part of his contribution to the fight against coronavirus pandemic in the state.

COVID-19: LUTH Volunteers did not shut operations — Medical Advisory Committee

Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba,  has refuted an online publication that its volunteers shut operations over their unpaid emoluments.

Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) made the refusal in an interview in Lagos on Tuesday.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all volunteers and LUTH workers working at our Isolation wards have not shut down operations and have no intention to do so.

“They are very much aware of the importance of the services they are rendering to the country, Lagos state, and humanity in general.

“They have been assured by the PTF on COVID-19, Minister of Health and LUTH Management that their emoluments will be paid in due course as promised by the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government delegation led by the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, (SAN) came to LUTH to deliver a solidarity message from President Muhammadu Buhari on May 23.

“The Minister along with the President of NMA and other HCW unions/associations assured the frontline workers, who were physically present at the briefing on the update on the payment of their allowances.

“This is the true situation of things at LUTH,” Adeyemo said.

He urged the media to be their partner in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic so that the war would be won together.

NAN

Vanguard

COVID-19: Lagos Govt gives update on reopening of schools

The Lagos State government has explained that it does not have the authority to unilaterally order the reopening of schools in the State.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo during an online programme, ‘Covinspiration show,’ moderated by a United Nations (UN) Youth Ambassador, Dayo Israel in Lagos, while giving scorecard of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration within the last one year.

Adefisayo disclosed that the State government was meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to draw up guidelines ahead of reopening of schools.

According to Adefisayo: “Like other sectors already approved by the Federal Government to reopen, the state government is meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to design guidelines that must be adopted before the schools will be reopened.

“We are watching the behaviour of the pandemic to see what happens next and we are working with the Federal government on the reopening of the schools in the country as soon as possible.

“This is not a decision that any state can unilaterally take on its own. If we are certain that the children are safe, we will reopen the schools for learning to resume.

“We are already working with the Federal Ministry of Education and they are working with National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on the guidelines that could be adopted when the need arises for the schools to reopen.

“After the protocol is completed and health officials assured us that the coast is clear, we will give the schools some days to adjust their premises in accordance with the guidelines on commencement of academic activities”.

Daily Post

COVID-19: Pay relief funds to households through BVN, Tinubu tells FG

National Leader of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has urged the Federal Government to make cash payments to households through Bank Verification Numbers to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians.

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, gave the advice in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday.

He said payments could be made quickly by using the BVN of prospective recipients to make direct deposits into individual bank accounts.

BREAKING: Buhari to address Nigerians today

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will address Nigerians at 7pm today (Monday).

This was contained in a statement by;

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Buhari: Lockdown will last as long as necessary

THE ongoing lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos and Ogun States may continue for as long as necessary, President Muhammadu Buhari hinted on Saturday.

The lockdown may even be extended to more states as the total confirmed cases in the country reached 318 last night.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has, on his own, ordered that the state be shut down immediately.

Violators of the lockdown will be arrested, he said.

His Kano State counterpart, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, directed tricycle operators in the state to carry only one passenger for now following the detection of an infection in the state -a 75 year old man described as  a retired ambassador.

Bill Gates Seeks Funding From G-20 Members To Develop Vaccine Against Coronavirus

In order for the world to better contain the spread of the coronavirus, leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) major economies should provide more funding to develop a vaccine, Bill Gates said.

In an opinion piece provided in South Korea exclusively to Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, noted that COVID-19 had not yet affected many low- and middle-income countries, and said world leaders, particularly G-20 members, should step up efforts to keep it that way because it is “likely only a matter of time before one part of the planet reinfects another.”

Inmates Will Die Like Chickens if Coronavirus Gets into Prison in Nigeria” – Lamboginny

It is no news that the world is currently facing a pandemic; Covid-19.

As at 5 April, 2020, the total number of persons infected, was 1, 253,079 and total number of deaths; 68,158 and these figures keep rising, which is why we are deeply concerned about the situation of inmates in our prisons (also known as Custodial Centres) in Nigeria.

Statistics:

As of Jan 2020, total population of inmates in Prisons in Nigeria, was 72,677, the breakdown of which is as follows:

Convicted: 21,890; and

Awaiting Trial: 50,737

Based on this, 70% of the total number of inmates are awaiting trial whilst 30% have been convicted.

Coronavirus: 15 Chinese Medical Team Arrive in Nigeria

Fifteen Chinese doctors have arrived in Nigeria to support the Federal Government on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The team arrived in Nigeria in a chartered Air Peace aircraft on Wednesday afternoon.

Lagos State Govt Moves To Withdraw Charge Against Naira Marley, Gbadamosi, Others

The Lagos State government has agreed to withdraw charges against former governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Lagos State, Babatunde Gbadamosi, his wife Folasade, and popular singer Naira Marley.

This is as the defendants accepted to tender written apologies to the Lagos State Government, as well as to issue undertakings to comply with the directive on lockdown and social distancing, including a stay in isolation for the next 14 days.

Police bar journalists from covering Naira Marley’s trial

Policemen on Wednesday barred journalists from covering the trial of a popular singer, Fashola Azeez, alias Naira Marley, for alleged violation of the lockdown order in Lagos State.

The Lagos State Government charged the musician before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ogba for attending a crowded birthday party in violation of the social distancing directive to check the spread of coronavirus.

COVID-19: China Reports Zero Deaths For First Time

China has reported no new Covid-19-related deaths for the first time since health authorities began putting out daily figures.

On Tuesday, the National Health Commission reported 32 new cases across China, all of which were arrivals from another country. There were also 30 new asymptomatic cases reported.

REVEALED: Why Funke Akindele Was Arrested

Lagos State Police Command has arrested Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele-Bello for hosting a house party to celebrate her husband, AbdulRasheed Bello’s birthday in contravention of the lockdown order in Lagos.

The Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, confirmed that the actress had been taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.