Knocks, kudos greet ‘Eko Telemed’ (Punch)
Patients who use the Lagos State Government owned ‘Eko Telemed’ platform have expressed diverse opinion about the virtual medical consultation service.
Again, healthcare professionals say though the service should be extended beyond the post-COVID-19 pandemic experience, certain structures should be in place in order to make it acceptable to the generality of Nigerians.
Launched on April 22 by the state government through the Lagos State Health Management Agency, the ‘Eko Telemed’ initiative is designed to cater for health issues not related to COVID-19.
According to the General Manager of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, ‘Eko Telemed’ would increase access to care, reduce the challenge of going to hospitals during this period of restricted movement, except for emergencies. Read more
Police withdraws new order on movement of essential workers (Guardian)
Nigeria Police Force has withdrawn an order restricting the movement of essential workers during the coronavirus curfew.
In a tweet on Tuesday night, police authorities said essential workers can now go about their essential duties even during the curfew imposed from 8pm to 6am.
“All essential workers including Medical Personnel,Firefighters, Ambulance Services,Journalists,etc are exempted from the restriction of movement associated with both the partial lockdown and the national curfew across the Federation,” the police tweeted. Read more
BRT driver who killed businesswoman handed over to police (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a Bus Rapid Transit driver, Collins Nnodi, who went into hiding after ramming a businesswoman, Grace Okeleke, to death in the Agric area of Ikorodu.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Grace, the wife of the Head of Public Relations, Globacom, Andrew Okeleke, attempted to cross the road after being dropped off by her driver around 7.20pm, on Monday, May 11, 2020, when Nnodi, who was driving a BRT bus with number plate, EPE 59 XR, knocked her down. Read more
Bread price to increase by 60 per cent over rising materials cost, say Lagos Bakers (Guardian)
Lagos State Bakers have said the price of bread may go up by 60 per cent if no urgent intervention from government to halt the rising prices of baking materials attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the world.
While appealing to both federal and state governments to quickly come in and arrest the situation for the benefit of all, the association maintained that “if we are suppose to follow the trend of increase in the prices of raw materials for our production, the prices of bread may increase by 60 per cent.” Read more
TCN MD Mohammed fired (Nation)
For Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)’s Managing Director Dr. Usman Gur Mohammed, it was time to go home on Tuesday.
He was fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mohammed’s sack was part of government’s measures to improve power sector performance, Power Minister Sale Mamman, said in a statement.
He said Mohammed’s removal was with immediate effect.
According to the statement issued by the minister’s media aide, Aaron Artimas, the sacked TCN boss has been replaced by Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz in an acting capacity. Read more
Don urges rejig of affordable housing delivery framework, private investors’ involvement (Independent)
In order to encourage private investors’ involvement in the delivery of affordable housing to Nigerians, Prof. Chinedu Okoye of the Department of Environmental Management, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka, has called on the governments to address challenges of institutional framework by stakeholders in housing delivery.
The Don explained that the institutional framework hitherto engaged by stakeholders in housing delivery were grossly inadequate in addressing the burgeoning affordable housing challenges in Nigeria. Read more
Edo, Ondo gov’ship dates stand -INEC (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out the postponement of the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections.
National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the the commission management meeting. Read more
Yuguda is new SEC DG (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr Lamido Yuguda as the new substantive Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The appointment ends the uncertainties around the leadership of the Commission since the suspension of former Director-General, Mr Mounir Gwarzo by former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun. Read more
Two positive patients refuse isolation, allege COVID-19 is scam (Vanguard)
Bauchi State government has lamented the refusal of two coronavirus positive cases to isolate themselves.
Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, yesterday, said two COVID-19 positive people have declined to be isolated in the state.
Mohammed, who is also the Chairman, Contact Tracing Committee on COVID-19 in the state, said they refused to be isolated because they denied that COVID-19 is real. Read more
‘Tortured Zimbabwe abductees’ may face prosecution (BBC)
Zimbabwe’s justice minister has threatened to prosecute three female opposition members who allege they were arrested and then abducted from police custody and sexually assaulted.
They say they were beaten and forced to drink each other’s urine.
The three, including an MP, are being treated in hospital for their injuries.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the women made up the story to divert attention from the fact that they broke lockdown rules by attending a protest. Read more
Johnson & Johnson to stop selling baby powder in US (BBC)
Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson is to stop selling its talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the US and Canada.
The firm faces many thousands of lawsuits from consumers who claim that its talc products caused their cancer.
The move comes after years of litigation where Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay out billions of dollars in compensation.
The company has consistently defended the safety of its talc products. Read moi
Navy foils attack on Chinese vessel, rescues 18 (Guardian)
The Nigerian Navy yesterday said it had rescued 18 crewmembers on board a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II, from pirates.
The disclosure was made by the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Ibrahim Shettima.
He said the event took place on May 15, 2020, adding that the crew, comprising Chinese, Ghanaians and Ivoiriens, were attacked by pirates off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire. Read more
Death Angel drummer says he met Satan during near-death coronavirus coma (NYPost)
A thrash metal drummer says he visited hell during a coronavirus-induced coma — and Satan wasn’t as cool as he thought.
Will Carroll, of the band Death Angel, was comatose at the California Pacific Medical Center for two weeks in March after catching the virus on a European tour earlier that month, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Datebook.
During that time, Carroll, 47, said he had disturbing dreams of visiting the afterlife.
There, the devil — a woman in this case — punished him for the deadly sin of sloth and turned him into a “Jabba the Hutt-like-monster” who vomited blood until he had a heart attack, the outlet reported last week. Read more
100-year-old U.K. veteran, who raised £33M for hospitals, to be knighted (CBC)
Col. Tom Moore, who became a national hero in Britain after raising 33 million pounds ($56.4 million Cdn) for the National Health Service in the run-up to his 100th birthday, is to be knighted.
Moore becomes “Sir Tom” after a special nomination from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Second World War veteran raised the world record sum by painstakingly completing 100 laps of his garden with the aid of a walking frame. Read more
Brooklyn artist Jeremy Penn’s Dr. Anthony Fauci portrait nets $15K for charity (PageSix)
After we reported that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is inspiring crafty types to sell Cuomo-centric goods on Etsy, Dr. Anthony Fauci has become an unlikely art muse.
Brooklyn artist Jeremy Penn, who has painted Diane von Furstenberg, Kate Moss, John Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld, sold a portrait of Fauci for $15,000, we hear.
Penn — who’s collaborated in the past with Puma and the Row, and created a piece inspired by Lady Gaga for a Universal Music Group-sponsored benefit — is donating all proceeds from the Fauci piece to charities True Hero Fund and No Kid Hungry. Read more
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, to sign new contract (Punch)
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr will sign a new contract next week after agreeing on terms to extend his four-year stay with one of Africa’s football powerhouses, the national football body said Tuesday.
During the new two-year contract, Rohr will be expected to lead Nigeria to qualification for a seventh World Cup finals and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
“The executive committee mandated the general secretary to liaise with Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, with a view to concluding all matters around his new contract within the next one week,” the Nigeria Football Federation said in a statement in Abuja. Read more
Man Utd urge fans to stay away if matches resume (Guardian)
Manchester United have warned fans to stay away from matches played behind closed doors at Old Trafford if the Premier League restarts amid the coronavirus crisis.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are set to resume small group training on Wednesday as Premier League clubs step up the “Project Restart” plan to finish the season.
But all 92 remaining matches will have to be played in front of empty stands due to the pandemic, leading United to activate a refund or rebate to ticket holders for their remaining home fixtures. Read more
Coronavirus: Watford and Burnley confirm positive tests (BBC)
One player and two staff at Watford and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan are among six positive Premier League tests for coronavirus.
The other two are at a third club, the details of which have not been revealed.
Players and staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for seven days. Read more
Man City’s European ban appeal to hold June 8-10 (Punch)
Manchester City’s appeal against a two-season ban from European competition by UEFA will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport from June 8-10, the Swiss court confirmed on Tuesday.
The reigning English champions are accused of committing “serious breaches” of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations by overstating sponsorship revenue in its accounts between 2012 and 2016.
On top of the ban, City were also fined 30 million euros ($33 million, £27 million).
When contacted by AFP, the court said it “does not yet know” if the appeal will be heard via video conference or in person due to the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Read more
Lakers’ LeBron eager to get back to basketball (Guardian)
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James said on May 18 he’s eager for the NBA season to resume, as long as the health of players and their families won’t be endangered amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James said Monday he’s eager for the NBA season to resume, as long as the health of players and their families won’t be endangered amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
James, speaking on the “WRTS: After Party” programme on the Uninterrupted multi-media platform, said he hoped the NBA season resumes sooner rather than later. Read more
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Chelsea forward back in training after arrest (BBC)
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi returned to limited training on Tuesday following his arrest in the early hours of Sunday.
The 19-year-old England international was held on suspicion of rape after a woman was taken to hospital.
He was released on bail and then cleared to train at Cobham after a coronavirus test proved negative. Read more