It’s been hard for us surviving lockdown without daily income – Street traders, hawkers (Punch)
Lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic is disrupting economy at different scales across the globe with several income-yielding activities being at their lowest ebb. While big firms have devised some models like allowing their workers to work from home to cushion the effect of the shutdown, hundreds of small businesses have been brought to a standstill, leaving the operators in lack.
The President, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), ordered a 14-day movement restriction in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to curb the spread of coronavirus.
A food vendor at Ogba, Lagos, Mrs Kudirat Adebisi, reflects the dark side of this trying time. The 42-year-old woman has been enduring strenuous means to feed her family since March 31 as the Federal Government’s lockdown order took effect in the state. Read more
COVID-19 lockdown: Armed robbers, miscreants on rampage in Lagos suburb (Vanguard)
As harsh economic effect of the 12 day Presidential lockdown order bites harder on Lagos residents, armed robbers and miscreants on Saturday afternoon broke into homes to rob innocent citizens of their valuables.
The robbery, which was said to have started in the wake of the lockdown order, took a greater dimension on Saturday as people suspected to be armed robbers, numbering at least 20 invaded areas such as: Alakuko, Ijaiye, Meiran, Iju-Ishaga, Fagbenro Street, Kola, all in Lagos suburb.
Residents were in fears as some of them locked themselves indoors while others who were brave enough mobilized and engaged the robbers in confrontation. Read more
Coronavirus: Kano considers closing mosques, churches as index case attended Juma’at prayer (DailyTrust)
The first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Kano State on Friday. The patient was said to have attended the Friday congregational prayers. This development has led the state government to consider closing places of worship. The male patient was discovered after he was admitted to a private clinic along Lamido Crescent in Nassarawa GRA. Sources at the clinic told Daily Trust that all the staff and patients had been evacuated to one of the isolation centers in the state. Read more
Corps members join fight against COVID-19 pandemic (Nation)
Barely five years after the outbreak of Ebola, Nigeria, like the rest of the world, is confronted with another pandemic that threatens our common existence. The dangers presented by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are potent and lethal. Economies of the world are groveling at the outbreak of the pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives globally. Its effects do not look to be cooling off anytime soon.
Covid – 19 is an infectious disease that affects the lungs with resultant coughing, fever and shortness of breath. It is a pandemic ravaging countries across the world. In Nigeria, virtually all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), have announced various measures including a “stay at home” order to effectively check the spread of the virus. Read more
Anxiety in Kaduna as more residents ‘return’ from Lagos (DailyTrust)
Residents of Kaduna state are living in fears over possible community transmission of coronavirus as the State government yesterday said the sixth case of Covid-19 in the state, a male gateman in Mando area had no connection with the first five cases. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Mohammed Baloni, said the man who recently returned from Lagos, had been evacuated to the state’s Infectious Diseases Centre. She said he had travelled to Kaduna in a public transport and had contacted authorities when his symptoms worsened. Read more
COVID-19: It’ll be careless to relax too soon, says Adeboye (Punch)
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised governments and individuals to remain on guard in the fight against coronavirus.
The 78-year-old cleric said it would be unwise to relax efforts put in place to fight the pandemic because it was yet to be over.
Adeboye made this known in his Easter Message titled ‘A New Beginning.’ Read more
Three pastors arrested for holding Easter services in Warri (Nation)
Three pastors were on Sunday arrested in Warri for holding church services, one of which reportedly had over hundred congregants, in a bid to mark the Easter celebrations.
This is coming in spite of the ongoing lockdown across the state to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The defaulting churches are St James Anglican Church, Ojabugbe, All Saints Anglican Church, Airport Road and Christ For the World Mission, Daudu Street, all in Warri. Read more
ASUU knocks Buhari for proposed cuts in health, education budgets (DailyTrust)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday warned President Muhammadu Buhari against cutting down the budget of Health and Education sectors in the proposed 2020 revised budget. The Union also said that Government should not defraud the nation by muddling up budgeted social intervention funds with donated funds meant for palliatives for the vulnerables to cope with COVID-19 which has negatively affected their livelihoods. Read more
2 suspected cases of COVID-19 in Bayelsa test negative (Guardian)
The two suspected COVID-19 cases in Bayelsa State have tested negative for the virus, the state government has said.
The samples were collected from the suspects on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, for testing at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State.
Dr Inodu Apoku, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee of Bayelsa State Task Force On Covid-19, said the results were received on Thursday. Read more
Bar owner removes $3,000 worth of dollar bills stapled to the walls to pay her employees (Metro)
We’ve all come across cute coffee shops or trendy bars that are decorated with weird and wonderful ornamets. In some travel cafes, for example, you may see currency from all over the world. The Sand Bar in Georgia, however, collects dollar bills only and staples them to the walls and ceiling. So when the coronavirus pandemic struck, owner Jennifer Knox had an idea. Read more
Coronavirus: Pope calls for global solidarity in Easter message (BBC)
The Pope read his message at an empty St Peter’s Basilica
Pope Francis has called for global solidarity to fight the coronavirus crisis in his Easter message read to an empty St Peter’s Basilica.
“This is not a time for indifference. Because the whole world is suffering and needs to be united,” the pontiff said in a message broadcast online.
He warned that the EU risked collapse and urged debt relief for poor nations. Read more
Taliban free 20 Afghan prisoners (VOA)
The Taliban released a first group of 20 prisoners on Sunday, effectively moving forward a crucial swap with the Afghanistan government aimed at kick-starting peace talks between Afghan parties to the war.
The insurgent move follows the release of 300 Taliban prisoners over the past few days, including 100 freed on Sunday, by the government.
Afghan prisoners release
Taliban released pictures of the 20 freed men they identified as Afghan forces, April 12, 2020. Read more
Over 10,000 Brits have become German, French or Swedish since Brexit vote (Metro)
More than 10,000 Britons have taken up citizenship of an EU country since the Brexit vote. According to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical body, more than 6,000 UK nationals have become German and more than 3,000 have become French since 2016.
The figures suggest that the Brexit vote is the cause. There has been a six-fold increase in the number of Britons taking EU citizenship since 2015, when 2,642 successful applications were made. Some 16,193 EU citizenships were given in 2018, the latest year for which official data are available. Read more
Coronavirus: UK could be ‘worst affected’ country in Europe (BBC)
The UK is likely to be among the European countries worst affected by coronavirus, one of the government’s senior scientific advisers has said.
The warning from Sir Jeremy Farrar comes as UK hospital deaths are set to pass 10,000 on Sunday.
In response, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said countries were on “different trajectories”. Read more
Gorillas on lockdown in three African countries due to coronavirus (Metro)
Gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been put ‘on lockdown’ due to fears they may be able to catch coronavirus. Gorilla tourism has been suspended, as has tourism for other apes, including orangutans, which are also endangered. Though habitat loss and poaching are seen as the biggest threat to the future of gorillas, viral diseases represent a big threat for big apes. Read more
Coronavirus: The US clothing firms now making gowns and gloves (BBC)
The US, like other countries, is grappling with shortages of medical supplies, but shies away from central directives
In a normal year Michael Rubin’s athletic apparel factory in Pennsylvania would be ramping up for the start of baseball season, churning out team uniforms and clothing to sell to fans. Instead his company, Fanatics, has remade itself into a gown and mask manufacturer for hospitals facing shortages of protective gear as they fight the coronavirus.
Fanatics isn’t alone. Thousands of companies across the US have responded to pleas for help from hospitals facing shortages of critical health supplies. Read more
Nigerian football will change for better after COVID-19 – Dikko (DailyTrust)
The chairman of the League Management Company Mallam Shehu Dikko has expressed his confidence that Nigerian football will change for the better after the coronavirus pandemic comes to an end.
Dikko who responded to questions online from journalists on a football Whatsapp group also stated that he is not sure when the Nigeria Professional Football League will return to action. Read more
Motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss dies aged 90 (Metro)
British motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss has died aged 90 after a long illness, his wife has announced.
His wife Lady Moss told the PA news agency he died peacefully at his London home following a long illness. ‘It was one lap too many,’ she said. ‘He just closed his eyes.’ Read more
Peter Bonetti: Former Chelsea and England goalkeeper dies aged 78 (BBC)
Former Chelsea and England goalkeeper Peter Bonetti has died aged 78 after a long illness.
Bonetti was described by Chelsea as a “goalkeeping superstar of the 1960s and 1970s” and “one of our indisputably all-time great players”.
He was part of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad but was unused throughout the tournament. Read more
Liverpool: Sir Kenny Dalglish released from hospital after positive coronavirus test (BBC)
Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has been released from hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.
Dalglish, 69, was admitted to hospital on Wednesday for treatment of an infection which required intravenous antibiotics.
He was routinely checked for coronavirus and tested positive despite showing no symptoms. Read more
Nwakali must work harder to revive career – Amuneke (Vanguard)
World Cup-winning Nigeria captain Kelechi Nwakali has been urged to work harder in order to revive his career by Emmanuel Amuneke.
The promising midfielder led Nigeria to the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup triumph and he was snapped up by English giants Arsenal FC.
However, Nwakali left the Gunners for Spanish side Huesca last year having been loaned out to several clubs including Dutch outfit VVV Venlo. Read more
Tyson Fury tricked Deontay Wilder with ‘manufactured’ weight, says Ben Davison (Metro)
Ben Davison believes Tyson Fury posted a ‘manufactured’ weight before his showdown with Deontay Wilder to mess with his rival’s head. Fury weighed in three stone heavier than Wilder for their rematch in February and used the extra pounds to smother the Bronze Bomber in a dazzling performance. Davison, who was Fury’s coach for the first fight against Wilder, suggested the Gypsy King was doing all he could to unnerve the WBC champion at the weigh-in. Read more
1982 Brazil team reunite to help fight COVID-19 (DailyTrust)
Members of Brazil’s 1982 World Cup squad have reunited to work together and donate money to help the country’s overcrowded favelas avoid the worst ravages of the coronavirus. In an initiative led by Paulo Roberto Falcao, 19 players, including Zico, Junior and Leandro, recorded a video message appealing for donations. Read more