Lagos security guard, neighbour arrested for defiling minors (Punch)
Personnel of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested one Christian Chikezie for allegedly having sexual intercourse with his neighbour’s nine-year-old daughter in the Ikorodu area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim’s mother was ill and left her daughter in the care of one Mercy and went to hospital for treatment, but on her return, she saw her daughter coming out of Chikezie’s room.
Upon interrogation, the little girl told her mother that Chikezie had carnal knowledge of her in his room, adding that she reported the case at the Ikorodu Police Station, where policemen were detailed to arrest Chikezie.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that the victim had been taken to hospital for examination, adding that the suspect was arrested and taken to the Gender Unit of the command for further investigation. Read more
Police detains Naira Marley over Funke Akindele’s house party (Guardian)
Nigerian Police Force has detained controversial hip-hop artiste, Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley, for contravening the lockdown order imposed on Lagos State by President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Police spokesman in Lagos Bala Elkana in a statement said Naira Marley “will also be charged to Court for violating the restriction orders.”
“The Command has launched a manhunt for the remaining persons who attended the party.”
Nollywood star Funke Akindele over the weekend hosted a crowd of more than 20 people, despite the lock-down in the state, to celebrate her husband Abdul Rasheed Bello – popularly known as JJC Skillz. Read more
Face masks now mandatory in Ogun, as lockdown takes toll (DailyTrust)
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun. Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State says the government will be enforcing the compulsory use of face masks by residents of the state, as efforts are intensified to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease. The enforcement of the face mask will take effect from tomorrow morning when Gov Abiodun is expected to announce a relaxation of the lockdown, our correspondent gathered. The governor, who addressed residents of the state last Friday night, insisted that “a face mask has the benefits of preventing an afflicted person from infecting others and vice versa.” Saying that the quality or what the face mask was made of did not matter, the governor stressed what was important was that residents must “tie something on your face to keep you protected.” Read more
We’ve not started sharing relief package –Ogun (Punch)
The Ogun State Government on Sunday denied sharing a bag of its stimulus relief package per street as being alleged on the social media.
The government said it had yet to commence sharing and distribution of the packages in the affected areas.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, on Sunday in Abeokuta, accused politicians of being the mastermind of the allegation. Read more
No life lost in Enugu building collapse (Guardian)
The Enugu State Government on Monday said that no life was lost in the collapse of an uncompleted three-storey building in Awkunanaw axis of Enugu metropolis.
The state’s Chief Fire Officer, Mr Okwudili Ohaa, who was among first responders to arrive at the scene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
He said that the building under construction had been marked with “stop work and demolition’’ by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority before the COVID-19 lockdown in the state. Read more
FG seeks $3.5bn from IMF, AfDB to support implementation of 2020 budget (Guardian)
The Federal Government says it has applied for $3.5 billion request from International Monetary Fund (IMF) and African Development Bank (AfDB) to access concessional funding to support the implementation of the 2020 Budget.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed disclosed this during a news conference on fiscal stimulus measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic and oil prices fiscal shock in Abuja on Monday.
Ahmed explained that the government applied for $2.5 billion from IMF on behalf of the states and Federal Government. Read more
FRSC orders closure of driving school portal Guardian)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has ordered the immediate closure of the Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP) portal.
The FRSC Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, who gave the order, called for the suspension of driving school operations to further discourage driving school certificates for trainee-drivers by proxy.
The closure order is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Corps’ Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Bisi Kazeem. Read more
COVID-19: FG allays fears over visiting Chinese health workers (Nation)
The Federal Government has clarified that the aid expected from China is actually a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by a company and not the Chinese Government.
Giving the clarification on Monday at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who is also Chairman of the PTF, also informed that the personnel invited from China are all public health specialists and medical engineers.
He also explained that the essence of the expected personnel was to draw from the experience of those who managed the pandemic in China, adding that the relationship would be advisory and not for management of cases or interface with patients. Read more
Governors react to FG’s permanent removal of petrol subsidy (DailyTrust)
Governors of the 36 States in Nigeria have backed the federal government’s implementation of the petrol price modulation mechanism to eliminate petrol subsidy “permanently” in the country. This decision was contained in a communiqe released in the early hours of Monday by members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) after a meeting on Sunday to deliberate on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The communiqe, signed by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who is also the NGF Chairman, also supported the unification of exchange rates into a single, market-determined window and the use of the market-determined exchange rate to calculate all revenues due to the federation. Read more
Coronavirus: Japan to declare emergency as Tokyo cases soar (BBC)
There are fears Tokyo, the world’s most populous city, is on the verge of a major outbreak.
Japan is to declare a state of emergency in the capital Tokyo and six other regions in an attempt to tackle the rapid spread of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the move could come as early as Tuesday.
He also announced a huge stimulus plan to help the economy weather the virus.
Japan has a relatively small number of infections compared to other countries, but there are concerns a sudden surge in cases in Tokyo could lead to a major outbreak in the world’s biggest city. Read more
US warns China not to ‘exploit’ virus for sea disputes (Guardian)
The United States on Monday warned China not to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to exert itself in the South China Sea after Vietnam said Beijing sank a trawler.
Amid the global focus on fighting COVID-19, China has ramped up self-described research stations and landed special military aircraft in the dispute-rife sea, according to the State Department.
“We call on the PRC to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Read more
Nurse uses paint to show how easy it is to spread germs (Metro)
A nurse has used paint to show how easy it is to spread germs around – even if you wear gloves. Huge numbers of people around the UK – and the world – have been covering their hands and faces when leaving their homes and in supermarkets as they attempt to avoid coronavirus.
But medical experts say gloves could in fact cause people more problems than they solve. Molly Lixey made the video after a trip to the supermarket alerted her to the cross-contamination which can take place. Read more
UN chief decries ‘horrifying’ rise in domestic violence amid virus lockdown (France24)
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged governments to include the protection of women in their response to the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic.
Reports of domestic violence have surged globally in the wake of massive lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the disease.
“Violence is not confined to the battlefield,” said Guterres in a statement and video released in multiple languages, days after his call for a worldwide ceasefire in the wake of the outbreak.
“For many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest. In their own homes,” he said. Read more
Iran says virus infections show ‘gradual’ decline (Guardian)
The trajectory of coronavirus infections in Iran appears to have started a “gradual” downward trend, the government said Monday, but it warned the disease is far from being under control.
The COVID-19 outbreak claimed 136 lives in the past 24 hours, bringing Iran’s overall death toll to 3,739, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a televised news conference.
Iran registered 2,274 new cases of infection over the same period, he said, putting the total number at 60,500 across the country. Read more
Hundreds of migrants still sleeping rough in Paris region amid coronavirus (France24)
Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures in place in France, hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers are still sleeping rough in the Paris region. Local NGOs are providing help as best as they can. FRANCE 24’s Eléonore Vanel, Armelle Caux and Nadia Massih report.
On March 24, hundreds of migrants who had been living in a makeshift camp in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers were moved to hotels and sports centres, as part of the region’s fight against COVID-19.
“There were tents everywhere, stretching across the whole area. The tents were touching each other, it wasn’t hygienic,” said Christian Reboul from Doctors of the World, an NGO that had been sounding the alarm for weeks about the lack of proper sanitation conditions at the site. Read more
James Bond actress Honor Blackman dies aged 94 (BBC)
Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger, has died at the age of 94.
In a statement, her family said she died peacefully of natural causes at home in Lewes, East Sussex.
Blackman was also known for playing Cathy Gale in the 1960s TV series The Avengers opposite Patrick Macnee.
The pair had a novelty hit with 1964’s Kinky Boots, which reached the Top 10 in 1990. Read more
Pep Guardiola loses mum to COVID-19 (Nation)
Dolors Sala Carrio, mother of Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has died after contracting COVID-19.
She was 82.
A statement by Manchester City said: “The Manchester City family are devastated to report the death today of Pep’s mother Dolors Sala Carrió in Manresa, Barcelona after contracting Coronavirus. Read more
Kyle Walker faces £240,000 fine after sex party with two escorts (Metro)
Manchester City are set to fine Kyle Walker around £240,000 after he held a sex party with two escorts at his flat during the coronavirus lockdown. The 29-year-old and his friend invited the two women to his apartment on Tuesday evening, just hours after he told his 1.5 million Twitter followers to strictly observe the lockdown measures in place. ‘Please everyone stay home, look after one another through this difficult time and check in on loved ones but don’t visit them,’ he posted. Louise McNamara, 21, claims she left Walker’s flat at around 2am on Wednesday morning and said she was paid £2,200 in cash. Read more
Tyson Fury’s promoter Bob Arum talks of ticket impact as fighter focuses on home (BBC)
Tyson Fury’s promoter Bob Arum says the economic impact of coronavirus means “low ticket prices” will be needed at events when boxing action returns.
The sport is on hold in the UK, while Arum has called events off in the US given the social distancing rules in place to slow the spread of the virus.
Arum, 88, does not feel fans will be “frightened” to attend future events.
“I think the problem will be prices for admission will have to be adjusted,” Arum told the 5 Live boxing podcast. Read more
‘Keep calm and stay home’ says Kane amid virus lockdown (DailyTrust)
England captain Harry Kane has urged people to keep calm and stay home during the coronavirus. Like many parts of the world, Britain has been locked down because of the pandemic and Tottenham striker Kane has reminded people of their responsibility to remain indoors as much as possible. In a video posted on social media by the Football Association, Kane said the only option was to enjoy the extra time at home with loved ones. “During this time I think it’s important to just stay calm,” Kane said. Read more
Ugbade slams faulty use of Iheanacho (Nation)
Kelechi Iheanacho’s struggles for dependability at Leicester City are down to the Premier League outfit playing him out of position, stated Nigerian football icon Nduka Ugbade.
The Foxes were labelled to have pulled off quite a coup when winning the race for the Nigerian from Manchester City.
Ugbade – who worked with Iheanacho as assistant coach of the Nigeria U17 and U2 teams, believes the wrong approach is being taken with the star.
“Iheanacho’s coaches must know how best to use him,” Ugbade said in an interview with goal.com Read more
IOC announces new date for non-completed Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifiers (DailyTrust)
The suffocating suspense that gripped athletes around the world over the remaining qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has ended as the International Olympics Committee, IOC, has announced new date for conclusion of the qualifying events. It will be recalled that following the outbreak of the coronavirus which has dealt sports devastating blows, the host country Japan and the IOC announced the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021. Consequently, the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics by a year had cast a shadow of doubt over most of the qualifiers that were yet to be completed. Read more
Manchester United send heartfelt message to Pep Guardiola (Metro) Manchester United were quick to send their condolensces to Pep Guardiola after Manchester City announced the Spaniard’s mother, Dolors Sala, had passed away at the age of 82 after contracting coronavirus. ‘The Manchester City family are devastated to report the death today of Pep’s mother Dolors Sala Carrió in Manresa, Barcelona after contracting Corona Virus. She was 82-years-old ,’ a statement read. ‘Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends.’ Read more