Police storm Lagos ritualists’ den, arrest suspect (Punch)
A suspected ritualist, Dona Asogbo, has been arrested by the personnel of the Lagos State Police Command.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspect was arrested when the personnel stormed a ritualists’ den at Oko-Afo in the Badagry area of the state, while acting on a tip-off by a resident of the community, Yusuf Rashid.
Rashid reportedly told the police that an uncompleted building in the community had been turned into a centre, where various crimes were being perpetrated.
He explained that activities in the uncompleted building had been sources of tension for residents and traders in the community. Read more
Lagos adopts biosecurity measures at abattoirs (Nation)
The Lagos State Government has adopted some biosecurity measures at every facility within the Oko-Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex and other slaughter houses within the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, said on Monday in Lagos that this was to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Lawal said in a statement that the government had stopped all non-essential activities such as food vendors and other non-related abattoir activities.
He added that the ban on any religious gathering or any form of gathering that involves more than 20 people would be strictly enforced at the abattoir and slaughter houses in the state. Read more
‘We did not stop service at God’s Chamber church’ (Guardian)
The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State government yesterday gave clarifications on the picture caption on front page of The Guardian on Monday March 23, 2020.
The security outfit noted that God’s Chamber Church, which was among the churches visited by the RRS Commander, Tunji Disu, complied with the directives of the government.
Spokesman of the RRS, Moliki Femi, said: “We refer to one of the pictures on the Monday, March 23, 2020 edition of your newspaper.
“The picture bordering on the visit of Rapid Response Squad’s Enforcement team to God’s Chamber Church, Ajayi Road, Aguda, Ikeja, Lagos, was wrongly captioned. Read more
Land-grabbers allegedly kill Lagos businessman during scuffle (Punch)
The family of Samson Akinde, who died from the injuries he sustained during an attack by alleged land-grabbers at the boundary between Isheri-Fagbile and Amuwo-Kuje areas of White Sand in Lagos State has demanded justice over his death.
The White Sand is located between the Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development and the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government areas of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that two families were laying claims to the ownership of the land at White Sand and were set to meet to agree on the boundaries when the land-grabbers allegedly invaded the venue of the meeting. Read more
How to end Lagos Assembly crisis, by lawmaker (Nation)
Many All Progressive Congress (APC) members are canvassing political solution to the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis.
Two principal officers have been removed by Speaker Mudadhiru Obasa, who also suspended two other members indefinitely.
At plenary, a lawmaker, Bisi Yusuf from Alimoso Constituency, also urged caution, saying that the crisis can be resolved by political method.
Other party chieftains want the leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to wade into the crisis.
To party stalwarts, the removal of the principal officers and indefinite suspension without prior consultation with the party leadership were a blunder. Read more
Coronavirus: Stay at home, FG orders civil servants (DailyTrust)
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan. The Federal Government on Monday directed federal civil servants from Grade Level 12 and below to stay and work from home with effect from Tuesday, to stem the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, gave the directive in a circular with reference number: HCSF/109/SJ/1/100 and titled “Compulsory stay at home of non-essential public servants on Grade Level 12 and below as a further measure to curtail the spread of Covid-19”. “Government is concerned about the welfare and safety of all public servants just as it is about other Nigerians. All public servants are, therefore, strongly advised to follow the measures being put in place by government to curtail the spread of the pandemic. Read more
First death in Abuja as confirmed cases hit 40 (Nation)
Nigeria on Monday recorded its first Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)-induced death.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) identified the victim as a 67-year male who returned from a medical trip to the United Kingdom UK).
The victim – a one-time Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Managing Director Suleiman Achimugu – had underlying medical conditions, including multiple myeloma and diabetes. He was said to be undergoing chemotherapy.
As of Monday, Nigeria had 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with Lagos accounting for 28; Federal Capital Territory (6); Ogun State (two); Edo and Ekiti states (one each). Read more
32-year-old man gets N200,000 bail for allegedly stealing N40,000 phone (DailyTrust)
An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun state, on Monday, admitted one Kehinde Olumide, 32, to N200,000 bail, for allegedly stealing a N40,000 Itel mobile phone.
Olumide, who was not represented by a counsel at his arraignment, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs Muhibah Olatunji, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with one surety in like sum.
Olatunji added that the surety must swear to affidavit of means and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. Read more
Long queues as banks screen customers in Delta State (Guardian)
Unusally long queues were noticed yesterday in banks in major towns and cities in Delta State as banks begin implementation of new directives on combating the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.
Most banks in Warri and Ughelli had long queues of customers as early as 8am.
At one of the banks on Isoko Road, Ughelli, the queue was so long that it extended into the busy road and partially obstructed vehicular traffic.
An official of the bank was sighted taking the temperature of customers with a remote temperature checker, before they were allowed into the hall. The new procedure, he said, may have caused the unusual queues. Read more
Nigeria records chloroquine poisoning after Trump endorses it for coronavirus treatment (CNN)
Health officials in Nigeria have issued a warning over chloroquine after they said three people in the country overdosed on the drug, in the wake of President Trump’s comments about using it to treat coronavirus.
A Lagos state official told CNN that three people were hospitalized in the city after taking the drug. Officials later issued a statement cautioning against using chloroquine for Covid-19 treatment.
US President Donald Trump claimed at a White House briefing last week that the Food and Drug Administration had approved the “very powerful” drug chloroquine to treat coronavirus.
“It’s shown very encouraging — very, very encouraging early results. And we’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. And that’s where the FDA has been so great. Read more
Prominent 30-year-old Zimbabwe broadcaster dies of coronavirus (CNN)
A prominent 30-year-old television journalist has died in Zimbabwe after contracting the new coronavirus infection, the first person to die in the country from the virus.
Zororo Makamba was one of the two people who tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.
He was admitted to hospital in the capital Harare after exhibiting flu-like symptoms last Thursday, the health ministry said in a statement.
Makamba contracted the disease while he was in New York and was in isolation at Wilkins hospital, Harare’s only isolation facility. Read more
If you can’t find bread in local stores, this cheap flatbread recipe only needs three basic ingredients (Metro)
Can’t find loo roll, hand sanitisers, milk or bread? Though we can’t help you make everything, we do have some simple food recipes you can use to create your own isolation-friendly goods. Chef and baker Brandon Johnson has shared a flatbread recipe that looks super simple and easy to make. Brandon, from South Dakota, posted the Navajo (Native American) flatbread recipe on Facebook where it was shared by 190,000 users.
It’s not surprising that the post was so popular, considering that this simple staple only consists of three essential ingredients; flour, butter (or oil if you can’t find butter), and baking powder. Read more
South African President announces three-week lockdown over coronavirus (CNN)
South Africa will enforce a three-week lockdown over coronavirus, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Monday.
In a televised address to the nation, Ramaphosa said the 21-day lockdown will begin at midnight Thursday and he called on the country to “urgently and dramatically” escalate its response.
“Immediate, swift and extraordinary action is required if we are to avoid human costs of this virus,” said Ramaphosa, adding that if the nation failed to act swiftly, it could face “a human catastrophe of enormous proportions.” Read more
Coronavirus: Strict new curbs on life in UK announced by PM (BBC)
Strict new curbs on life in the UK to tackle the spread of coronavirus have been announced by the prime minister.
People may only leave home to exercise once a day, to travel to and from work where “absolutely necessary”, to shop for essential items, and to fulfil any medical or care needs.
Shops selling non-essential goods have been told to shut and gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together will be prohibited.
The UK death toll has reached 335. Read more
US coronavirus deaths exceed 100 for first time in a single day (NYPost)
The US on Monday reported more than 100 coronavirus deaths — marking the first time fatalities hit triple digits in a single day.
The grim milestone pushed the nation’s death toll to at least 550, with New York seeing the most fatalities of any state at 157, according to a count by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
Asked about the bleak disclosure, President Trump said he was not surprised.
“It’s going to be bad. Certainly this is going to be bad,” Trump said during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing. Read more
Trump says coronavirus not Asian Americans’ fault (BBC)
US President Donald Trump – under fire for labelling Covid-19 the “Chinese virus” – has said Asian Americans should not be blamed for the outbreak.
He said it is “very important that we totally protect” Asian Americans, whom he praised as “amazing people”.
Mr Trump spoke out amid rising reports of verbal and physical attacks on the community amid the pandemic.
Coronavirus is still spreading in the US, which currently has over 43,000 confirmed cases and 533 deaths. Read more
Man dies after self-medicating with chloroquine phosphate to treat coronavirus (NYPost)
A man died after ingesting an additive used to clean fish tanks — which included a pharmaceutical drug touted by President Trump and others as a potential coronavirus cure.
Within 30 minutes of taking chloroquine phosphate, the man in his 60s experienced “immediate effects” and had to be admitted to a nearby Banner Health hospital, the medical system in Arizona said in a press release Monday.
His wife, also in her 60s, is in critical condition after taking the additive, which is used in aquariums to kill some organisms, like algae, that may harm fish.
The man’s wife told NBC News she’d watched press briefings where Trump talked about the potential benefits of chloroquine — and she recalled the name from the treatment she used on her koi fish. Read more
Ok Zoomer: Why Zoom is the world’s new favourite social network (Metro)
Businesses and families scrambling to adjust to self-isolation and remote working have turned to video conferencing to substitute for face-to-face contact. And although there are plenty of video conferencing apps to choose from, the one rising to the top appears to be Zoom. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Jose, Zoom has been catapulted into the spotlight as the video conferencing app of choice in both Europe and the US. It’s sitting as the top download in Apple’s App Store and while the rest of the economy plummets, its valuation has risen to $29 billion. Zoom is being used by businesses for meetings, by families to keep in touch and by teenagers who want to hang out with their friends. Read more
Enyimba plead for release of kidnapped Dayo Ojo (Guardian)
kidnappings in Nigerian football
Nigerian champions, Enyimba of Aba have pleaded with kidnappers of their striker, Ekundayo Ojo to release the star, who was abducted by gunmen along the Benin-Owo Expressway.
According to Enyimba, the incident occurred on Sunday as the player journeyed to Akure to observe a break following the suspension of the Nigeria Professional Football League amid concerns over the global pandemic, Covid-19.
Ojo, his teammate, Emmanuel James and Benjamin Iluyomade of Abia Comets, were travelling in the same vehicle when the kidnappers struck. While James escaped the attack, Iluyomade was captured alongside Ojo. Read more
Coronavirus: UEFA postpones European club finals (BBC)
UEFA could authorise one-legged knockout matches for some Champions League and Europa League ties after postponing the finals of all this season’s major competitions.
With European football suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, there was no possibility of the competitions reaching their scheduled conclusion at the end of May.
It is still hoped to play the respective finals on 27 June and 24 June, potentially at the end of mini tournaments to be played in Istanbul and Gdansk.
The Women’s Champions League final – originally scheduled for 24 May – has also been postponed. Read more
D’Tigress’ Kalu excited about playing for Nigeria (Nation)
The 2019 Women’s Afrobasket MVP, Ezinne Kalu has said she was happy to have chosen to play for Nigeria, a country, she stated, appreciate hard work.
Kalu who was born in the in Newark, USA, said playing for Nigeria has opened doors of opportunity for her and also reaffirmed her readiness to ensure Nigeria wins a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“I decided to play for Nigeria because that is where my root lies; it was my responsibility to represent a country that appreciated my hard work and dedication to the game of basketball,” Kalu said. “It was a chance for the other half of my family to see me, appreciate where I have come from and this was my way of giving back to them.” Read more
The Charitable One: Jose Mourinho delivers food to old people in London amid coronavirus crisis (Metro)
Jose Mourinho showed his softer side on Monday as the Tottenham boss was snapped doing charity work in north London to help the elderly affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The self-proclaimed Special One has plenty of time on his hands right now as Spurs’ training sessions have been cancelled following advice that players should self-isolate. Mourinho joined forces with old foe Arsene Wenger last week to send a message of warning to those not adhering to government advice since the coronavirus outbreak. But the former Manchester United boss really stepped up his efforts today as he was seen working alongside the charity Age UK near Spurs’ training complex in Enfield, north London to deliver food to elderly members of society. Read more
Tokyo 2020: Olympics to be postponed until 2021, says IOC member (BBC)
The 2020 Olympic Games will be postponed by one year because of coronavirus, says International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound.
It comes after the chairman of the British Olympic Association said Great Britain would be unlikely to send a team to Tokyo this summer.
Australia and Canada have already said they will not compete in Japan.
“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound told USA today.
“The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on 24 July, that much I know.” Read more
NFF urges football fraternity to pray against deaths, kidnappings of players (DailyTrust)
Following recent deaths and kidnappings of football players, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, yesterday called on stakeholders to pray harder for an end to such tragedies. NFF president, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick said the deaths of three footballers in a horrendous auto crash along Benin-Agbor Road on Sunday, among them Rangers International FC star forward Ifeanyi George, and the kidnappings of Enyimba FC’s Dayo Ojo and Abia Comets’ Benjamin Iluyomade in Ondo State some hours later were huge causes for concern in Nigeria’s football firmament. “These sorrowful incidents are becoming too much for us to bear. We must seek spiritual solace and seek help from Almighty God. Read more
What Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had planned before Premier League postponement (Metro)
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had planned on putting his players through a military-style bootcamp to preserve his squad’s fitness levels before the club were forced to cancel training in line with government advice over coronavirus. The Premier League was initially suspended until April 3rd, meaning a three-week break before the next set of fixtures. Solskjaer’s side had been on a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions, meaning the postponement came at the worst possible time. But in a bid to stay positive, it meant the likes of Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba could step-up their recoveries during the break. Read more