Lagos doctor goes missing on way to sister’s house (Punch)
Family members of a medical doctor with the Lagos State Government, Medinat Somuyiwa, are in distress after she went missing on Thursday.
It was gathered that the doctor who resides in Oworonsoki, left home around 5pm that day for her family house to visit her elder sister at New Garage – a neighbouring community.
Sunday PUNCH learnt that she neither reached her destination nor returned home.
Her husband, Dr Nurudeen Osagie, told our correspondent on Saturday, that the family also searched for her at her workplace at Gbaja Randle Hospital, Surulere, without success.
Osagie added that apart from someone who called in and offered to prepare charms that would make her return home, no one had contacted the family to demand a ransom. Read more
Buhari, govs, Lawan, Gbajabiamila hail Tinubu at 68 (Nation)
Goodwill messages are pouring in for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as he clocks 68 years old today. President Muhammadu Buhari, while noting his ability to live above all stereotypes, particularly religious and ethnic, hailed him for his broad-minded leadership, his party branded him an outstanding politician and statesman, whose contributions to the enthronement and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria have been phenomenal and acknowledged far and wide.
Senate President Ahmed Lawan called him champion of national unity while House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said his beliefs in democratic tenets are unparalleled. Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege said the former Lagos State governor still has a lot to offer Nigeria.
President Buhari, in the message, contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, prayed for a longer and healthy life for the party Leader, acknowledging his wisdom in solving problems and directing way forward, especially in situations like the current global health emergency. Read more
COVID-19: Ogun shuts borders with Lagos, Oyo, others (Punch)
Ogun State Government has announced the closure of all borders with neighbouring states and the international border with the Republic of Benin.
States in the South-West including Lagos and Oyo with high COVID-19 cases would be affected by the border closure.
The government, which said this on Saturday, explained that the closure would be effected at 12 midnight on Sunday, 29th March 2020. Read more
COVID-19: Don’t use sanitizers to wash teeth or as body cream, ex-minister advises (Nation)
Former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi under the aegis of Omoluabi Movement on Sunday urged Kwarans not abuse the use of hand sanitizers as a preventative measure against the onslaught of coronavirus ravaging the world.
Mallam Abdullahi added that sanitizers should not be used to wash teeth.
The former minster said this in Ilorin, the state capital while handing 3,000 free sanitizers to professional associations like the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Others that benefited from the free sanitizers gift include community associations within Ilorin West local government area. Read more
UCH Chief Medical Director tests positive for coronavirus (Punch)
The Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, has said that he tested positive for coronavirus.
The CMD made this known in a statement on Sunday morning.
The PUNCH reports that the CMD’s positive status was among the four new cases recorded in Oyo State and announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Saturday evening.
The statement, which was personally signed by him, read, “Unfortunately, my result returned positive on Saturday afternoon and I remain in isolation as I am not symptomatic. Read more
Churches defy government order on large gatherings in Jos (Guardian)
At least two churches in Jos, Plateau State capital, held services on Sunday in clear defiance of government order prohibiting religious and social gatherings of more than 50 persons.
Our correspondent, who visited Church of Christ in Nations located at Diye Tohort, Jos South, said the church service witnessed a massive attendance by members.
A Living Faith Church in Jos metropolis was also holding service with more than 50 members in attendance before a team of the Nigerian police visited. Read more
COVID-19: we’d rather lose our money than lose our lives – Onitsha traders (Nation)
Leadership of Ochanja Market Dealers Association, Onitsha, Anambra state said it was ready to comply with the directives by the government on shutting down markets as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
President- General of the association, Mr Nelson Ojukwu, made the disclosure weekend in Onitsha, saying the decision was reached following a meeting he had with the market leaders immediately the directives got to him.
He said they were aware of the economic implications the closure would have on the traders, but said they were ready to lose their money than risk their lives. Read more
Plateau records suspected case of COVID-19 (Guardian)
A suspected case of Coronavirus has been recorded in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, Commissioner for Health, Dr Nimkong Ndam said.
In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos, he said the suspect is an aide of Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi that has tested positive.
He said the state team comprising of World Health Organisation (WHO), health officials and security Agencies among others have gone to his home to take his sample for test in Abuja. Read more
We have 60-days fuel sufficiency – NNPC (Guardian)
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has urged Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), as the country has adequate stock of the products to last for over 60-days.
Mr Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the corporation, gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
Kyari assured that the NNPC had the support of all stakeholders to ensure an adequate supply of petroleum products in the country. Read more
Prayer moves online for people across Africa (BBC)
With many countries in Africa now banning religious gatherings in order to slow the spread of coronavirus, Christian worshippers turned to online or televised services on Sunday.
The continent has some of the world’s most committed Christians, according to a 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center, and the inability to go to regular church services has been hard for some of the faithful.
While the online streaming of services is not new, Sunday was the first time that many preachers had been talking to empty pews.
They also referred to coronavirus in their sermons. Read more
Police break up house parties amid coronavirus lockdown (Metro)
Pubs are shut and we’ve all been told to stay at home – but some people have been holding house parties. Two police forces had to break up large gatherings yesterday, sparking concern that people are not adhering to the lockdown. Derby West Response tweeted: ‘Officers have just attended an address in absolute shock to find 25 adults and children having a massive party with speakers and karaoke. Everyone dispersed and hosts dealt with. ‘It is clear people are still having complete disregard for the Government advice and rules.’ Read more
French expert says second study shows malaria drug helps fight coronavirus (Guardian)
The controversial French professor who believes the anti-malaria drug chloroquine can help beat the coronavirus has claimed that a new study he has conducted confirms its “efficiency” at combatting the virus.
But several other scientists and critics of microbiologist Didier Raoult, who heads the infectious diseases department of La Timone hospital in Marseille, were quick to cast doubt upon his findings.
They said the testing was not carried out in a controlled study and that the results were purely “observational”. Read more
Coronavirus: Up to six months before life ‘returns to normal’ says UK government (BBC)
It could be up to six months before life in the UK returns to “normal”, England’s deputy chief medical officer has said.
Speaking at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing, Dr Jenny Harries added: “This is not to say we would be in complete lockdown for six months.”
But, she added, “We have to be really, really responsible and keep doing what we’re all doing.”
It comes as the number of UK virus deaths has reached 1,228.
Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the UK is on “emergency footing” in a way “unprecedented” in peacetime. Read more
Egypt shuts hospitals, isolates villages to slow coronavirus (Punch)
Egypt has shuttered several hospitals and quarantined villages in an attempt to halt the rising infection rate of new coronavirus in the most populous Arab state.
A Cairo hospital was closed for sterilisation late Saturday after two COVID-19 cases were confirmed.
An official at Al-Salam hospital told AFP on Sunday: “We are currently disinfecting the hospital for the safety of everyone concerned. One patient had come in tested positive and a member of our staff was infected after”. Read more
Arab and Jewish medics together on frontline of Israel’s virus fight (Guardian)
In Israel, Jewish and Arab doctors have worked side by side on the frontlines of the novel coronavirus fight, also battling entrenched schisms between their communities and stressing their unity in the face of the crisis.
Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, near the city of Tel Aviv, is ranked among the best in the world and its directors say its standing is thanks to a team of Arab and Jewish caregivers working together in a society otherwise marked by divisions.
“We work together with Arab medical staff everywhere and not just in the time of coronavirus. There is no difference between us,” Sheba deputy director emeritus, Rafi Walden, told AFP. Read more
Italy coronavirus death toll falls for second day running (Metro)
The coronavirus death toll in Italy has fallen for the second successive day. In total 756 more people died, which brought the number of victims up to 10,779, the Civil Protection Agency said on Sunday. The number of fatalities, by far the highest of any country in the world, account for more than a third of all deaths globally. More than 662,700 people have been infected by Covid-19 across the world and 30,751 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Read more
Netherlands recalls faulty masks imported from China (Punch)
Dutch officials have recalled tens of thousands of masks imported from China and distributed to hospitals battling the coronavirus outbreak because they do not meet quality standards, the health ministry said on Saturday.
They received delivery of masks from a Chinese manufacturer on March 21, the ministry said in a statement to AFP.
They received a first indication they did not meet their standards when they were inspected. Read more
Okocha wins best EPL goal by a Nigerian (Punch)
Jay Jay Okocha’s strike against West Ham United on April 19, 2003, has been ranked the best Premier League goal scored by a Nigerian beating Nwankwo Kanu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and other strikes to the award.
The mercurial midfielder had taken the ball from his own half and running 40 yards on the break with the ball before unleashing a blistering shot from the edge of the area. Handing his team the win.
Finidi George’s chip from outside the box against Sunderland on December 29, 2001 is ranked second on the list. Finidi played for Ipswich Town.
Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi found his goal against Stoke City on April 1, 2019 was voted third on the ranking. Read more
Coronavirus: Belarus Premier League attracts global attention as it plays on (BBC)
Football is suspended in the UK and across most of world because of the coronavirus pandemic – but the game rolls on in Belarus.
The Belarusian Premier League rarely gets a mention in normal circumstances yet it is attracting attention from foreign fans as one of the few places around the globe – and the only place in Europe – where football is still being played.
On Saturday, there were six top-flight games in the eastern European country including the derby between FC Minsk and Dinamo Minsk watched by a capacity 3,000 crowd in Belarus’ capital.
“It so happened that this derby was practically the only official football match on earth,” read Dinamo’s match report after their 3-2 defeat. Read more
Nigeria top Africa in FIFA rankings (Nation)
Nigeria climbed one place in the latest FIFA Women’s World ranking, moving from 39 to 38 and thus retain its top spot in Africa.
Though Nigeria improved in the ranking, the team has not played a competitive game since last October’s Olympic qualifiers. The biggest mover in the latest ranking is Zambia, the Shepolopolo climbed six places to 100th globally.
Zambia has played twice since the turn of the year, facing Cameroon in an Olympic qualifying double header. The Shepolopolo qualified for their debut appearance in the football event of the Olympics with an aggregate victory over the Lionesses. Zambia lost the first leg 3-2 in Yaounde, but picked up a famous 2-1 win in the return leg. Read more
Spurs star Son returns to South Korea for ‘personal reasons’ (Guardian)
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min has been allowed to fly home to South Korea for “personal reasons”.
Although Britain is on lockdown due to the coronavirus, the Premier League club on Sunday said Son has been given permission to return to Asia.
The 27-year-old has been recovering after suffering a fractured arm during Tottenham’s win at Aston Villa on February 16. Read more
Anthony Yarde: Boxer says his father has died with coronavirus (BBC)
British boxer Anthony Yarde says his father has died after contracting coronavirus.
The 28-year-old light-heavyweight has urged people to stay at home, saying his father had been “fit with no health issues” before becoming ill.
“I’m still in shock but maybe this can help people stay at home,” Yarde posted on social media.
“The more people go out and mingle, the longer this isolation will last and the more it will spread.” Read more
Xavi gives condition for Barcelona return (Punch)
Xavi Hernandez has reiterated his desire to coach Barcelona in the future but suggests he will not return until a different board brings a new sense of direction to the club.
Hernandez is in charge of Al-Sadd in Qatar and turned down an approach in January after Barca sacked Ernesto Valverde, which led to the surprise appointment of Quique Setien.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia published on Sunday, Xavi said Neymar would be a “spectacular signing”, and singled out former Spain defender Carles Puyol and the one-time Dutch winger Jordi Cruyff as people he would like to work with. Read more
Postponing Olympics saves athletes from mental turmoil (Guardian)
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said Sunday that the decision to postpone this year’s Tokyo Olympics because of the coronavirus has saved athletes from “mental turmoil”.
Former Olympic champion Coe supported the move to push the Games back to 2021 and said competitors would have been placed in an impossible position if the event had been left to start on July 24 as originally scheduled.
They would have been tempted to continue training despite large parts of the world being in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more than 31,000 people. Read more