Lagos preaches safety in gradual easing of lockdown (Guardian)
The Director General, Lagos Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, has called on corporations and businesses to ensure all safety and precautionary measures while they embark on the gradual easing of the lockdown. He also reiterated government’s commitment to the safety of lives and property of Lagos residents.
He disclosed this yesterday in commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health tagged: Stop the Pandemic, Safety and Health can Save Lives. The Word day for Safety and Health is an annual event celebrated globally on 28th of April by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and initiated to create awareness on accident prevention and reduction of work-related illnesses and injuries at work places.
According to Mojola, various institutions and governments are faced with challenges of combating the pandemic ravaging the globe and there is a need for continuous campaign on prevention and safety in workplaces. Read more
Parents, educators unite to protect children from sexual predators (ThisDay)
Guarding against sexual and gender-based violence and supporting survivors is a collective responsibility, as parents and educators explained to Funmi Ogundare how they have been able to put the interest of the children first and restore the dignity of the child that has suffered abuse In the aftermath of a sexual assault or rape, survivors can face complicated and painful emotions and experiences. So parents and educators are devising safety plans to teach children how to protect themselves.
These include making the home comfortable for the children to live in by ensuring the right communication and cordial atmosphere, the commitment of parents to each other and the children seeing that they are living the values, parents believing in their children and giving them the right words to say. Other plans are paying attention to people who may be paying attention to their children, teaching them the age-appropriate sex education, protecting their children, as well as monitoring individual relationships that others may have with them. Read more
Amnesty: LASG names 204 inmates to free from custodial centres (Nation)
The Lagos State Government (LASG) has released the names of 204 inmates to be freed from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Custodial Centres in Lagos.
The Controller NCoS, Lagos Command, Mr Sam Iyakoregha, confirmed the receipt of the names of the inmates while presenting the list to the Deputy Controller of Correction, in-charge of the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Mr Ayoola Opadeji, on Tuesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the 204 inmates are part of 2,600 announced by the Federal Government to be released, in line with its amnesty policy, to decongest the country’s Custodial Centres against the outbreak of COVID-19. Read more
Nigeria’s coronavirus cases jump by single-day record of 195 cases (Guardian)
Nigeria on Tuesday confirmed a total number of new 195 coronavirus cases in the country.
Nigeria economic hub Lagos and Kano states has the highest numbers. While Lagos recorded 80 new cases, Kano State recorded 38 new cases.
Ogun and Bauchi states also recorded a tally of 15 new cases each. While Borno State has 11 new cases.
The spread of the virus also intensified in Gombe with 10 new cases while Sokoto State also recorded new nine cases. Read more
I stabbed my mother-in-law for asking son to divorce me – Suspect (Punch)
The police in Niger State have apprehended a 36-year-old woman for allegedly stabbing her mother-in-law to death in the Mashegu Local Government Area of the state following a misunderstanding.
The suspect, Fatima Sani, of Gobirawa village, was arrested by a team of policemen attached to the Mashegu Division while trying to escape.
It was learnt that the suspect and her husband, Sani Umaru, had a misunderstanding on April 23, 2020, which led to a divorce. Read more
3 siblings drown in Ebonyi river (Guardian)
It was a black day last Saturday, April 25, as three sisters drowned in a river at Amaeze village in Ishiagu community of Ebonyi State. The death of the girls, between the ages of 14 and 20 still remains a mystery to residents of the village.
The three sisters who attended Comprehensive Secondary School in Ishiagu, were found floating on the water. Their bodies have been buried beside the stream without caskets, as culture and tradition demands.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ivo Divisional Police Post, Mr. Nwornu Daniel, confirmed the incident and said it was a case of “sudden and unnatural death. Read more
Court remands cop who allegedly shot dead Rivers policewoman (Punch)
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, remanded a police sergeant, Bitrus Hosea, who allegedly shot dead a policewoman on duty in a correctional facility.
The policewoman, Lovender Elekwechi, also a sergeant, was allegedly shot in the head by Hosea at the Eneka Market roundabout in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state last Thursday.
The police said the offence was punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999. Read more
Police inspector found dead in Imo (Guardian)
Residents living around Shell Camp near Alvana Primary School, Owerri in Imo State, were yesterday morning thrown into confusion as they woke up to see the lifeless body of a Police Inspector attached to the Imo State police command, Kaura Haruna, on the floor.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Orlando Godson Ikeokwu, said the deceased had no history of suffering from any ailment, adding that they were surprised by his sudden demise, especially as there were scars on his body showing signs of “shuffling and violence”. Read more
Lassa fever emergency phase over – NCDC (Punch)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday said the emergency phase of Lassa fever outbreak for 2020 was over following decline in the number of cases in the country.
A statement from the communication unit of the centre said it was however vital for Nigerians to observe strict hygiene protocol. The disease, according to the NCDC, has killed 188 in Nigeria between January 1 and April 5 this year.
The statement read, “The NCDC has declared the emergency phase of the 2020 Lassa fever outbreak over. This is following successive decline in cases below the emergency threshold and an epidemiological review carried out by the NCDC and the World Health Organisation. Read more
‘Superhuman’ woman, 101, beats coronavirus after surviving Spanish flu pandemic (Metro)
A New York woman who survived the Spanish influenza pandemic, cancer and sepsis, has beaten coronavirus at the age of 101. Angelina Friedman’s family say they weren’t surprised when she overcame Covid-19 as she is a ‘survivor’ who has ‘superhuman DNA’. The pensioner’s mother died giving birth to her on a passenger ship that was taking immigrants from Italy to New York City during the second wave of the Spanish flu in 1918. One of 11 children, she was taken care of by two of her sisters and they eventually reunited with their father in Brooklyn, where she was raised. The New Yorker has been called a ‘survivor’ by her daughter (Picture: North Westchester Restorative Therapy) She went on to marry and start a family with a man named Harold Friedman, but tragedy struck when they were both diagnosed with cancer. Read more
US records millionth case of Covid-19 as pandemic lockdowns ease (France24)
The United States on Tuesday recorded its one-millionth coronavirus case as countries including Spain, Russia and Nigeria took tentative steps back towards normal life by preparing to reopen some businesses.
Excitement over partial easing of the lockdowns affecting more than half of humanity has been tempered by fear of new outbreaks and growing evidence of the economic devastation wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US — where millions of jobs have gone — reached another grim milestone as it registered 58,351 deaths, a larger loss of life than recorded by the US military in the Vietnam War. Read more
Number of smokers catching coronavirus is ‘lower than expected’, scientists say (Metro)
A review of scientific studies has found that smokers may be less likely to contract coronavirus. Researchers at University College London looked at 28 papers with data on people who test positive with the virus and are hospitalised with it and found the number of smokers among them was ‘lower than expected’. However, smokers who did end up in hospital with the virus appeared to suffer more severely. It has been suggested nicotine could have a protective effect, although the UCL researchers stressed the ‘substantial uncertainty’ around their findings due to the way smoking habits had been recorded. Read more
Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden for US president (France24)
Hillary Clinton, the first woman to become a major party’s presidential nominee, endorsed Joe Biden’s White House bid on Tuesday, continuing Democrats’ efforts to coalesce around the former vice president as he takes on President Donald Trump.
Clinton made her announcement during a Biden campaign town hall to discuss the coronavirus and its effect on women. Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton assailed the Republican president’s handling of the pandemic and hailed Biden’s experience and temperament in comparison.
“Just think of what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science … but brought us together,” said Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential race to Trump. Read more
Coronavirus: Putin admits PPE shortage as lockdown extended (BBC)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that there is a shortage of protective kit for medics as the country battles the coronavirus.
This was despite a big increase in production and imports, he said.
Mr Putin warned that the peak of the coronavirus infection rate had not yet been reached in the country, and the population must remain vigilant.
Russia’s lockdown aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19 was extended until 11 May.
It has more than 93,000 coronavirus cases, with 867 recorded deaths. Read more
US govt reveals details of sunlight study on virus (France24)
The US Department of Homeland Security revealed to AFP on Tuesday new technical details regarding its highly anticipated study into how ultraviolet radiation destroys the new coronavirus, saying that its experiment had accurately mimicked natural sunlight.
A summary of the research was presented last week at the White House, with some scientists calling for caution until a more comprehensive report was made public.
US President Donald Trump raised eyebrows last week when he used his daily live national press briefing to ask whether light could become a medical treatment. Read more
Coronavirus: France mandates masks for schools and transport (BBC)
France will make face masks compulsory on public transport and in secondary schools when it starts easing its coronavirus lockdown on 11 May, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said.
Schools will reopen gradually, starting with kindergartens and primary schools.
Pupils aged 11-15 will be expected to wear face masks.
It comes as hard-hit Spain also outlined its lockdown exit plan, aiming for what its prime minister called “a new normality” by the end of June. Read more
Pence criticized for not wearing a mask on Mayo Clinic tour (NYPost)
Vice President Mike Pence went mask-free during a tour of the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday — in violation of the medical facility’s coronavirus guidelines.
Photos and videos of Pence’s tour showed the vice president bare-faced as he met with the staff of the Minnesota clinic and at least one patient.
Everyone else in the footage had a protective face covering on, in accordance with the policy established April 13 for “all patients and visitors to wear a face covering or mask to help slow the spread of COVID-19.” Read more
My dad flogged me anytime I played football – Uzoho (Punch)
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, says his father never supported him playing football, adding that he got flogged anytime he disobeyed his advice.
The national team first choice made this known during a live Instagram chat with ng_supereagles on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old made his Nigeria debut on November 14, 2017, replacing Daniel Akpeyi in a 4–2 friendly win against Argentina and has since gone on to play 14 times rimes for the Eagles. Read more
Reading Women become first WSL club to furlough players (BBC)
Reading have become the first club in the Women’s Super League to place their players on the government’s furlough scheme.
The club will pay the remaining 20% of players’ salaries and the squad were informed last week.
The men’s under-23s players have also been furloughed, along with a large number of the club’s non-playing staff.
No WSL fixtures have been played since 23 February because of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Premier League told to ban spitting and give players yellow cards if caught (Metro)
The Premier League has been advised to ban spitting during matches in order to stop the threat of coronavirus and give players who ignore the rule a yellow card.
The English top flight is aiming to return on June 8 and discussions will continue this week to determine how the league can be concluded safely and in accordance with Government guidelines should lockdown and social distancing measures remain in place.
Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham and Brighton have allowed players to return to the training ground this week as clubs begin initial prepations to resume the halted season. Read more
Franz Beckenbauer: Trial of German football legend on corruption charges ends without verdict (BBC)
The trial of German football legend Franz Beckenbauer on corruption charges has been ended without a verdict.
The five-year long trial, held in Switzerland, had been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic and the statute of limitations has now expired.
Beckenbauer was one of four men investigated over suspected corruption linked to the 2006 World Cup. Read more
Tyson Fury may not fight Deontay Wilder next, reveals promoter (Metro)
Bob Arum has revealed plans to bring Tyson Fury back to the US to fight a ‘less expensive’ opponent than Deontay Wilder if travel restrictions in the UK are lifted. Fury’s trilogy showdown with Wilder this summer was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic and there has been endless speculation about if the fight will go ahead as planned. Anthony Joshua wants to take on WBC and lineal champion Fury, but Arum has repeatedly insisted the Gypsy King is contractually obliged to fight Wilder again. Read more
Arsenal will regret if Saka leaves – Report (Punch)
Arsenal rising star, Bukayo Saka, whose contract with the Gunners is yet to be extended, has come under scrutiny by Football London.
The British-born Nigerian youngster’s contract expires in 2021.
“Out of those whose contracts expire in 2021, (Saka), the 18-year-old probably stands as the player who Arsenal need to secure an extension for the most. Although losing Aubameyang would hurt greatly, failing to tie down Saka’s would be nothing short of a travesty,” Football London said. Read more