COVID-19: Lagos discharges female patient (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has discharged a female patient from the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made this known via his Twitter handle on Tuesday.
With the newly-discharged person, the governor said a total of 32 persons have recovered from coronavirus in the state. Read more
Gridlock returns to Lagos amid stay-at-home order (Guardian)
The twin effect of boredom and idleness yesterday forced Lagos residents to the streets on Day Seven of the lockdown. Barely seven days into the 14-day stay-at-home order issued by the federal government and enforced by the Lagos State government, traffic snarls resurfaced in some parts of the state as angry Lagosians have begun to flout the directive.
In different parts of the state, Lagosians were seen on the roads, either driving, walking or having group fitness exercises together. The highway at Gbagada was blocked by residents who turned the road into a fitness class yesterday morning, thus making mockery of the social distancing policy and restriction order.
At Lagos Island, there were pockets of traffic on the Lekki-epe expressway. In Lekki, the traffic stretched and lasted for a long time because some motorists who tried to cut corners drove against traffic. Read more
Customs releases 247 truckloads of relief items worth N3.2bn (DailyTrust)
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) has approved the release of 247 truckloads of relief items with a market value of N3.250 billion and a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2billion from its warehouses. A statement by Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, said the approval was in compliance with the Presidential directive to provide relief items from seizures by Customs operatives. It said the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) necessitated various and continuous actions by Government at different levels to prevent and/or stop the spread of the virus in Nigeria. Read more
‘How police, military extort at COVID-19 checkpoints’ (Guardian)
The police and other security agencies have been accused of profiteering from the lockdown put in place to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Some residents in Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Umuahia, Jalingo and other major towns told The Guardian yesterday that rather than enforce the restriction, the operatives, including military and immigration personnel, were helping themselves to pecuniary gains.
The border closure in Oyo and Osun States might not achieve the intended desire as police and immigration officers along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway turned the exercise to a money making venture.
At the checkpoints in Olukeye, Iyana Water, and Asejire, a border village between Oyo and Osun States, motorists were allowed free passage after parting with between N200 and N2000. Read more
CBN, FIRS, INEC now free of coronavirus – Fire service (DailyTrust)
The Federal Fire Service (FFS) says it has decontaminated premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Other premises fumigated are; Federal Ministry of Environment, Raw Material Research Council, Human Rights Commission, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), amongst others. The FFS had, on Thursday, 2nd of April, commenced the fumigation exercise in collaboration with the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria under the supervision of NEMA to ensure offices, market places and the whole environment of the FCT is decontaminated in order to contain the pandemic. Read more
IPMAN, others back removal of fuel subsidy (Guardian)
Some stakeholders in the petroleum sector on Tuesday said removing subsidy on fuel would benefit the nation’s economy in the long run.
The stakeholders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos that the crash in the price of crude oil in the international market had provided the government with the opportunity to stop subsidising the product.
NAN reports that Mr Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had on Monday said the era of fuel subsidy was gone forever in Nigeria. Read more
FG knocks Oyakhilome for calling COVID-19 lockdown a scam (Punch)
The National Orientation Agency has berated Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder and President of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy.
Paul Ogenyi, a spokesman for the NOA, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, described as unfortunate, Oyakhilome’s claim that the lockdown ordered by the Federal Government in Lagos and Abuja was a mere ruse to lay fibre optic cables in preparation for the launch of 5G technology.
In a chat with The PUNCH, Ogenyi said it was disheartening that while Pope Francis and other respected clerics worldwide were educating their followers on measures to fight COVID-19, Oyakhilome and his ilk were spreading speculations thereby misinforming the public. Read more
Covid-19 lockdown is not license for conception, unplanned pregnancy – Group (Vanguard)
In the face of the stay at home or lockdown order to curtail the spread of the raging Coronavirus, the Non-governmental organizations, Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI II) and Development Communications (DevComs) Network have warned Nigerians not to abuse the order to perpetuate high rate conception and unplanned pregnancy.
The organizations working around childbirth spacing warned that at the crucial time of Coronavirus, Nigerians should keep safe sex and use preventive measures if at all they must meet with their partners during the stay at home order to avoid unplanned pregnancy.
Also read: Sexual Reproductive Health: SCI to engage 3,000 husbands of adolescent girls in Katsina
A Family Planning Expert, Ajani Bless-me Oluwatobi in a statement on behalf of the organizations and made available to newsmen said going by the past experience of Ebola, outbreaks such as Coronavirus increases the risk of the vulnerable population – Internally Displaced Persons, women and girls – to teenage pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Rape, gender-based violence and Domestic violence. Read more
5G demonstration trials done with 4G spectrum – Minister (Punch)
Fifth Generation Mobile Networks demonstration trials conducted in the country by MTN Nigeria in November 2019 were carried out with 4G spectrum.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, disclosed this in an interview monitored on Channels Television.
The minister, who was reacting to claims that 5G technology was responsible for the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, insisted that 5G had yet to be deployed in the country. Read more
WhatsApp makes a big change to grapple with coronavirus misinformation (Metro)
As the most popular messaging app on the planet, WhatsApp is where many people turn in order to stay in touch during the current coronavirus pandemic. But as well as providing people with a way to stay connected, it’s also a breeding ground for hoaxes and misinformation that can quickly gather stream. WhatsApp has already said it plans to fight the spread of fake news on its service and now it’s going one step further. This morning the app – which is owned by Facebook – is limiting the amount of times a message can be forwarded. Read more
Boris Johnson stable in hospital and not on ventilator (BBC)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “in good spirits” after spending the night in intensive care being treated for coronavirus, No 10 has said.
Mr Johnson, 55, was stable overnight, is being given oxygen and is not on a ventilator, a spokesman added.
The Queen has sent a message to Mr Johnson’s family and pregnant partner, saying they are in her thoughts.
It comes as Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove became the latest politician to self-isolate. Read more
US federal agencies buy massive supply of hydroxychloroquine (NYPost)
Two federal agencies have placed orders for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine — using taxpayer money — even as debate rages over its effectiveness in fighting the coronavirus, according to a new report.
The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Justice Department’s Bureau of Prisons have both reported purchases of the drug — which is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus — since March 26, according to procurement records obtained by The Daily Beast.
Veterans Affairs purchased $168,000 in hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets from the Colorado-based generic drug distributor Golden State Medical Supply, and an additional $40,000 from the pharmaceutical company McKesson, according to the report. Read more
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle announce name of their new foundation: Archewell (PageSix)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Monday revealed they have plans to start a new nonprofit organization called Archewell.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex — who recently moved to Los Angeles to start a new life after relinquishing their roles as working members of the royal family — said they “look forward” to setting up the foundation.
Details about the project were first reported in the Daily Telegraph, which obtained paperwork the couple filed in the US last month showing they were looking to create their own charity, volunteering service and wide-ranging website. Read more
WHO warns of severe global shortage of nurses (VOA)
The World Health Organization warns a severe global shortage of nurses is putting the lives of millions of people at risk and is particularly worrisome at a time when the world is doing battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. To mark World Health Day, the first ever State of the World’s Nursing Report, produced jointly by WHO and the International Council of Nurses, is being launched.
Data from 191 countries show the critical work performed by nurses is frequently undervalued. Instead of celebrating their skills and compassion, the survey finds nurses too often are abused, subject to discrimination, and work long hours under stressful conditions for low pay.
Nurses account for more than half of all the world’s health workers and are the backbone of any health system. The report reveals there are just under 28 million nurses worldwide, which leaves a global shortfall of nearly six million nurses. Read more
China reports no new coronavirus deaths for first time since January (VOA)
Chinese health officials reported no new deaths from the novel coronavirus outbreak over the last 24 hours, the first such report since January.
The National Health Commission said Tuesday that it only had 32 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, all of them from people who have returned from overseas.
The declining number of new cases and fatalities come as authorities in central Hubei province are making plans to further ease a mandatory quarantine in the city of Wuhan, where the new coronavirus was first detected late last year. Read more
Maeve Kennedy McKean’s body is recovered after canoe search (BBC)
The body of Maeve Kennedy McKean, granddaughter of assassinated presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, has been found in Maryland.
The 40-year-old and her eight-year-old son were last seen on Thursday evening riding in a canoe off Chesapeake Bay.
After an extensive search operation, police said on Monday that her body had been found in water about 2.5 miles (4km) south of where they had set off.
Officials will continue looking for her missing son, Gideon, on Tuesday. Read more
European stock markets continue long-awaited rally (VOA)
Global markets are enjoying a second consecutive day of gains Tuesday with Europe’s major indexes in positive territory in mid-morning trading amid rising hope that the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic may be easing.
The FTSE in London has gained more than 2%, Paris’s CAC-40 is up nearly 3.5%, and the DAX in Frankfurt is up well over 4%.
Europe’s higher numbers continue Monday’s much-needed rally across the globe, capped by gains of 7% percent or more on Wall Street.
The gains resumed again Tuesday in Asia, with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index earning 2% at the closing bell as the nation awaited Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s formal introduction of a $990 billion economic stimulus plan. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong and Shanghai’s index also finished 2% percent higher, while Seoul’s KOSPI index was up 1.7%. Read more
Premier League players ‘prepared to step up’ amid coronavirus crisis (BBC)
Premier League players are “mindful of their social responsibilities” and “prepared to step up to the mark” during the coronavirus pandemic, says Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor.
Talks are ongoing about a collective pay deal in response to the crisis.
The Premier League proposed a 30% pay cut, but the PFA said it would harm the NHS.
“It is a question of asking players to be involved,” Taylor told BBC Sport. Read more
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hits back over criticism of Premier League players (Metro)
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at criticism of Premier League players and says they have become an ‘easy target’ during the coronavirus crisis. Health Secretary Matt Hancock called on footballers to ‘play their part’ last week by taking pay cuts to keep costs down for clubs during the pandemic, with several teams taking advantage of the government’s job retention scheme to pay staff. As yet, no Premier League players have agreed to a pay cut – with the PFA holding extensive talks between the captains of each club and the league – but Solskjaer insists footballers will do their bit, and in many cases already are. Read more
FA chairman Greg Clarke: English football could ‘lose clubs and leagues’ (BBC)
English football faces “the danger of losing clubs and leagues” amid economic challenges “beyond the wildest imagination”, says Football Association chairman Greg Clarke.
The season has been halted indefinitely amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Some club have placed non-playing staff on temporary leave, while talks continue over the salaries of players.
“Many communities could lose the clubs at their heart with little chance of resurrection,” said Clarke. Read more
UFC getting private island to hold weekly fights amid coronavirus crisis (NYPost)
If you didn’t fully grasp just how desperate Dana White is to run UFC fights amid the coronavirus pandemic, you will now.
UFC 249 might actually happen
Not only is UFC 249 set to happen on April 18, but White says he is getting a private island so he can run fights every week, including with international fighters who currently cannot enter the US because of travel restrictions.
“I’m a day or two away from securing a private island. I have a private island that I’ve secured,” the UFC president told TMZ. “ Read more
Ronnie O’Sullivan sends well done message to China for handling of coronavirus crisis (Metro)
Ronnie O’Sullivan has sent a message of congratulations to the Chinese people for their handling of the coronavirus crisis and thanked them for their help in other countries during the pandemic. The five-time world champion is out of action at the moment, like all other snooker professionals, with tournaments postponed due to the global health crisis, and no events now scheduled till at least July. The Rocket has used some of his time to send a message to the people of China of encouragement, congratulations and thanks. Read more
Russia denies bribing FIFA officials to host 2018 World Cup (Punch)
The Kremlin on Tuesday “categorically” denied allegations that Russia had bribed FIFA officials for the right to host the 2018 World Cup.
“Russia absolutely legally got the right to organise the World Cup,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
He said the decision was “not linked to any bribes, we categorically deny this.”
“Russia organized the best football World Cup in history. We are proud of it,” he added. Read more
La Liga eyeing May return, says league boss Tebas (Guardian)
La Liga could return to action as early as next month, its president Javier Tebas said on Tuesday, as the league awaits a chance to restart following the coronavirus shutdown.
Tebas also warned Spanish clubs could lose as much as one billion euros ($1.1 billion) if the season is not completed, pushing football bosses in the country to search for a late finish to the current campaign.
“The different scenarios we have been looking at with UEFA to go back to competing are most probably starting on the May 28-29 June 6-7 or June 28-29,” Tebas said. Read more