See Photos: Kwara State Gov. Intercepts & Returns Travellers Back To Niger State

@kwaragovt has returned a loaded Toyota Hiace passenger bus which defied the interstate travel ban to Niger State.

See Reasons For Lockdown Extension By FG

The Federal government has explained that

Covid-19 Lockdown: Lagos State Gov., Considers Reopening, Economy & Worship Centres

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Covid-19 Lockdown: Airtel Nigeria Partners FG To Offer Free Online Education

One of the telecommunication Companies in Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, has said it is collaborating with the Federal Government to offer free qualitative education for students across the country during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Its Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Mr Emeka Oparah, said this in Lagos, last week.

Oparah said the company had decided to waive data charges for all its users who visit Schoolgates.ng, the federal government approved portal and online resource for learning during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Schoolgate.ng, is a robust educational online resource that provides quality education for everyone and currently collaborating with the government of Nigeria to offer subscription-free education during the pandemic facing the global community,” he said in a statement.

Commenting on the partnership, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Educational Interventions, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said Airtel’s support to the initiative would go a long way in assisting the Nigerian students during this period.

”I want to say a big thank you to Airtel for its promptness and professionalism in response to the partnership request.

As a major stakeholder in Nigeria, we believe that our kids must continue to learn despite the threat of COVID-19.

“We will continue throwing our resources and expertise to support and empower young Nigerians who are the leaders of tomorrow.

“We believe that this partnership with FG will benefit many kids as well as deepen qualitative learning across Nigerian homes,” he said.

Lockdown: Airtel Nigeria partners FG to offer free online education https://t.co/2YxUvDETiY

— YGist Ng (@YgistNG) May 12, 2020

Covid-19 Lockdown: DUNAMIS Distributes Food Items For The 4th Time (See Photos)

The Dunamis International Gospel Centre, DIGC, has once again extended its helping hands to the society as the effects of the coronavirus lockdown continue to bite harder on the people.

This is the fourth time the ministry would be embarking another humanitarian feeding gesture since the lockdown order was announced due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Barely two weeks after donating food items and other relief materials to cushion the effects of the lockdown on members of the church and residents of the Federal Capital Territory, the ministry on Friday at the Dunamis Lord’s Garden, distributed the relief materials to people irrespective of religion or denomination under the supervision of the Senior Pastors, Dr. Paul and Dr. Mrs. Becky Enenche.

IDOMA VOICE recalls that the church had distributed preventive kits and other medical materials to the Federal Capital Territory Authority and AMAC Clinic as parts of its support to the fight against the disease.

Speaking during the outreach, the Senior Pastor of DIGC, Dr. Paul Enenche, said the gesture was not done to prove any point or make a show but to meet the desperate needs of the people at this critical time.

He said, “This is the fourth time we are doing in this season to cushion the effect of COVID-19 and we will continue to do more as the Lord strengthens us. Please, note that this is NOT an attempt to make a show or prove a point but to meet the desperate needs of the people, to shine the light and glorify our Father in Heaven. (Matt. 5:16). Be encouraged to do same to the extent of your capacity. God bless you.”

On her part, Dr. Becky Enenche urged the people to not to give up as the coronavirus scourge would soon be a thing of the past.

“Whatever we are going through at this critical time should not make us give up. Like we sang in our latest song, “Keep Holding on, your victory is here”, we believe strongly that our victory over this plague of coronavirus ravaging our nation and the rest of the world will soon be history.

“Let us continue to hope in God and observe all the precautionary measures and the Lord will help us.”

Among items distributed were: thousands of smaller kg bags rice, bags of beans, tubers of yam, bags of orange, and mangos.

Others included: crates of eggs, cried fish, fresh fish, cooking oil and other items.

Covid-19 Lockdown: Woman Gave Birth In A Boat (See Photos)

 She gave birth inside a local boat while travelling due to the Lockdown . Thanks to God a Doctor was onboard to assist her.

 This is a Divine Arrangement from Above!!!

We bless God and Congratulations on the arrival of a new baby

Covid-19: Kaduna Extends Lockdown By 30 days

The Kaduna State government has extended the quarantine order in the state by 30 days.

This was confirmed in a statement released by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye. The Kaduna state Governor stated that only Wednesdays will be lockdown-free, until the trajectory of Coronavirus infections becomes clearer.

Residents of the state have been directed to wear facemasks and observe social distancing everywhere they go. While public gatherings has been prohibited in the state, the only category of persons exempted are workers in essential services such as health workers, the fire service, water corporation, electricity distribution and security personnel.

During the extended lockdown, persons seeking to come into the state will be denied entry. Such persons will be given the option of returning to their take-off points or entering isolation for 14 days in locations and conditions that are so austere that nobody can mistake them for holiday resorts.

The vehicles being used to enable such attempts to breach the quarantine conditions will be confiscated and forfeited to the government. The companies operating those vehicles will also be prosecuted and shall lose their license to operate in the state, even after the Covid-19 pandemic is contained. Within the state, vehicles of whatever type that are determined to be in violation will be confiscated and forfeited to the government, while the persons driving them will be fined, and may be imprisoned upon conviction. Motorcycle taxis and tricycles (popular known as Keke Napep) are prohibited in the state. Persons driving or riding in them shall be prosecuted while the vehicles shall be forfeited upon conviction.

The press statement reads in part;

The Governor’s decision follows a recommendation to that effect by the State Standing Committee on Covid-19, which is chaired by the Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe. This is effective from today, April 26.

With Covid-19 cases rising rapidly in neighbouring states and the FCT, and with strong evidence of interstate travel being a major means of spreading the virus, the Standing Committee’s evaluation is that measures to protect Kaduna State residents require further strengthening and more vigorous enforcement.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has endorsed this evaluation and has accordingly reviewed the Quarantine Orders to strengthen the provisions against unauthorised movements. The two-day window during which the restriction of movement is relaxed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays has been reduced to only one day.

Henceforth, only Wednesdays will be lockdown-free, until the trajectory of Covid-19 infections becomes clearer.

All persons that venture out of their homes for whatever reason must wear facemasks and observe social distancing everywhere they go, in markets and in authorised vehicles.

Government is making efforts to provide facemasks for poor and vulnerable residents, and it appeals to everyone that can afford it to get their tailors to make them cloth facemasks which they can wash after every use. The government also encourages tailors to produce facemasks for sale to those that are neither poor nor vulnerable.

Wearing of facemasks will be robustly enforced as a critical public health measure to reduce person-person transmission.

The state government said that the measures announced on 26th March 2020, to contain Covid-19 remain in force and have been renewed. These were imposed in exercise of the powers vested in the Governor by Section 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended), Sections 2 and 8 of the Quarantine Act 1926, now known as CAP Q2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Public Health Law of 1917.

Therefore, further to these declarations, and in accordance with the law, the quarantine orders imposed at midnight on Thursday, 26th March 2020, are further extended for another 30 days, with the following conditions, amongst others.

All residents of Kaduna State are quarantined and must stay at home.

No office, event centre, market, shop or business of any sort or place of worship is allowed to open;

The only category of persons exempted are workers in essential services such as health workers, the fire service, water corporation, electricity distribution and security personnel. Tankers conveying fuel to petrol stations are also permitted to move;

Businesses in the food and pharmaceutical value-chain are exempted; and shall enjoy the protections accorded to other essential services;

Schools, places of worship, event centres, sports grounds, bars, restaurants, public parks and all other places where large crowds could gather are to remain closed until further notice.

Residents are advised to stay at home, observe social distancing, avoid large gatherings, wear facemasks and wash their hands regularly with soap and water.

The Quarantine Orders prescribe fines, imprisonment and forfeiture for violations of the provisions specified therein.

Covid-19 lockdown: Miami ‘Went 6 Weeks Without Murders’ For First Time Since 1957

The city of Miami in the US, has reportedly gone six weeks without a murder, the very first time that has happened since 1957.

According to the Miami Herald, Miami, once dubbed as America’s ‘murder capital,’ did not report a homicide from February 17 to April 12 and the Miami police say there has been a 33 percent decrease in homicides since March 17, when Miami county Mayor Carlos Gimenez issued a stay-at-home order to reduce Coronavirus spread.

But Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina has warned that these numbers are hypothetical and not an accurate representation of crime in Miami.

According to Colina, there are unreported domestic violence and child abuse cases going on now that the city is in quarantine.

COVID-19 Lockdown: Lagos Mortuaries Now Full and Need Urgent Decongestion — Governor Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Governor said mortuaries in the state are not full due to Coronavirus cases, but because residents of the state have been unable to gather to hold burial ceremonies for their loved ones due to the lockdown order in the state.

Sanwo-Olu also outlined new measures to ensure the decongestion of mortuaries in the state.

He said;

“Because of this inability to hold funerals, occasioned by the restriction on movement, the mortuaries in Lagos State are now full and in urgent need of decongestion. Let me make it clear at this point that these are not Covid-19 deaths.

“I am now constrained to make this appeal to all Lagosians who have the corpses of loved ones in the mortuaries, to please go ahead and schedule these funerals.

“The mortuaries in Lagos are not full because of Covid-19 deaths –the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Lagos as at today is 20; the only reason the mortuaries are full at this time is because funerals are not being held, and have not been held for most of the last two months.

“Lagosians can hold or attend funeral ceremonies in the state as long as they comply with the requirements of the state, which are as follows:

• The total number of persons at the funeral, including officiating religious leaders, must not exceed 20.

• Physical distancing must be maintained at the funeral ceremony.

• All attendees/mourners must use masks and ensure they wash their hands after the

ceremony.

• There must be no receptions or parties to accompany the funerals.

“If we are unable to see a decongestion of the mortuaries across the state in the next two weeks, the Lagos State Government will be compelled to carry out mass burials to achieve this. We do not want to be forced to do this, which is why we are asking for your cooperation in this regard.”

Covid-19 Lockdown: Lagos Church Conducts its First Online Wedding

A Nigerian couple and members of the Harvesters church in Lekki Lagos, Yinka and Demola have gotten married via Zoom and it was a million shades of beauty.

While many chose to postpone their weddings till the COVID-19 epidemic is over, the lovebirds chose to go ahead with theirs by having it online and they had several guests that join in the event.

The church held a wedding online using Zoom in a simple arrangement

The Harvesters said it is their first online marriage ceremony as they wished the couple well

A church at Lagos, Harvesters, in Lekki has adapted to the present situation caused by Covid-19 as it used technology to beat its restriction.

In a very unconventional move, the church held its first online wedding with popular video conferencing media, Zoom.

Harvesters, in an Instagram post, said the occasion was all shades of beauty and was super amazing. The names of the couple were Yinka and Demola.

Gushing about the wedding, the groom said “I’m so happy today because I married my friend. It’s be beginning of the best times ever in our lives. I love you baby”

Covid-19 Lockdown: 6 Nigerians fined over N900K Each for Attending a Birthday party in Ghana

A circuit court in Ghana has fined six Nigerians around $2,500 (over N900,000) each for attending a birthday party last Saturday in the capital, Accra, in violation of the lockdown imposed in the country.

Gatherings were banned under a three-week lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus which has now been partially lifted in the country.

According to reports in Ghana media, the convicted persons were Amadi Mine, Aboy-Iyen Precious, Marshal Ovieshare, Godsway Fejiro, Eliot Sharker, and David Amos.

The six pleaded guilty and the court fined them, saying if they could not pay, they risk prison term of five years each.

According to prosecutors, the six were part of a group of about 50 people who attended the said party on Saturday, April 18.

The police, upon a tip-off, stormed the venue and arrested the six people. According to the police, the convicts breached the restriction orders imposed by the president.

The court presided by Efia Owusua Appiah in handing them her judgment indicated that her decision was to serve as a deterrent to other people.

COVID-19 LOCKDOWN: Closure of Airport Extended For 2 Weeks

The Federal Government has extended the closure of airports in the country by two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this on Monday.

The PUNCH had reported that the FG shut all international airports in the country on Monday, March 23 for one month.

Subsequently, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had extended the closure to all local airports in the country while announcing total lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States on March 29.

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja are two major entry points into Nigeria.

Despite the closure of these airports and all others in the country to commercial flight operations, the government had said emergency and essential flights could be operated from any of the airports within the period.

COVID-19 LOCKDOWN: Air Peace Distribute Food Items To Lagos Residents

Air Peace on Friday, April 17,2020, distributed food items to many less privileged families in different areas in Sabo Makoko in Yaba and Ajegunle areas of Lagos to help in cushioning the effect of the restriction order as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airline’s officials gave out bags of rice, cartons of noodles and loaves of bread to hundreds of people whose sources of livelihood have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown aimed at curtailing the spread of the pandemic that has stifled the global economy.

The Chairman, Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, who was on hand to help in the distribution stated that the airline is aware that the current lockdown has made it very difficult for many Nigerians to eke out a living as they are compelled by government directive to stay at home, so as to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

He said that the initiative to give out food items was inspired by the need to provide succour to the less privileged many of whom survive on daily earning from their work but can no longer work due to the stay at home policy.

“What we have done is our own way of touching the lives of the people directly. That’s why we came to Makoko, which is populated by very indigent people. When we leave here now, we are going to Ajegunle. We are providing them bags of rice and cartons of noodles. This large turnout of people is a witness to the fact that there is hunger. We cannot leave the care for the people to government alone. The private sector must be involved in this. If you have two million naira in your house, use N200,000 to help people around you. If you have one million, use N100,000 to help people. We are living in extraordinary times.

“One way or another, let us take positives from the Coronavirus situation. Now, people have discovered that wealth is nothing because you cannot take this money to your grave. So you must do anything you can to touch the lives of people around you. My happiness will not be complete if people around me do not benefit from my prosperity,” Onyema said.

Elated by Air Peace good gestures, the Bale of Okira Olayeni located in Ajegunle, Chief Taiwo Hassan Olayeni, thanked the company and said that this is the kind of support people expect from corporate organisations and expressed gratitude to the airline.

“I am very happy that the company came to our area to feed us. We have been expecting this gesture from corporate organisations for over three weeks now. I am very happy for Air Peace and I pray that God will continue to prosper the company. This is a very happy thing for me. I am so happy that they selected my community to benefit from their good gesture so I don’t know how I can thank the company. But I know that God will continue to prosper Air Peace and those that will benefit from the company’s kindness,” he said.

Covid-19 Lockdown: 50% rise in Domestic & Sexual violence Cases in Lagos

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (LSDSVRT) has disclosed that the number of domestic and sexual abuse cases being reported daily has increased by as much as 50% since the Coronavirus lockdown started in the state.

According to the LSDSVRT, before the lockdown they received 8 domestic abuse cases daily but now that number has increased by 50% as the lockdown has made it difficult for victims at home to avoid their abusers.

According to Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Coordinator of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, the state has now added more helplines while virtual meetings are now being used to resolve abuse cases.

Before the lockdown, the LSDSVRT used to receive an average of eight new cases daily, since the lockdown came into effect, we started to receive an average of 13 new cases daily and this is coming from our major hotline.” Vivour-Adeniyi said to SaharaReporters on Monday.

“Because of this pandemic, we had to include two other hotlines and we have our USSD short code that people are taking advantage of to report, as well as social media.

“We have increased our accessibility and we have seen an increase in calls; people calling to report cases, get advice and psycho-social support as well as people calling on behalf of others.”

“During this period, because of the restriction on movement, provision of shelter is last resort when there is no other option.

Options include survivors being moved to family members’ house. We have been able to insist or encourage the alleged abusers to leave the house for the wife and the children and we have had online mediation.

“We leverage on sexual assault referral centres and primary healthcare centres. We have 67 primary health care centres that provide sexual assault management services.

“If the incident has happened, the survivors need to have access to the test, which would be done and we need to be able to collect and present the evidence needed in securing a conviction.”

She also warned perpetrators, that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.

She added, “Perpetrators of sexual and domestic violence may think because this lockdown is ongoing, they can act with impunity.

“The Lagos State Government would ensure that the long arm of the law catches up with such persons.”

COVID-19 Lockdown: Rescue Nigerians from Hunger -Tinubu tell FG

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state, says history will not be kind to the federal government if it fails to protect citizens from hunger and disease during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

In a document released on Wednesday to suggest economic stimulus programs to help the economy recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, Tinubu said the goal must be for citizens not to live with disease or hunger.

He states that intervention programmes like TraderMoni would only cater to small scale traders and leave out the average salary earner who lost his job due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

“We dare not underestimate the twin dangers posed by the virus itself and the economic consequences of the public health response. Our goal must be that the people live neither with disease nor in hunger. This situation presents a historic chance to establish a more beneficial social contract between the government and the governed,” he said.

“If we so utilize this moment, it will be recorded as a pivotal one in our national history. If we allow this moment to slip, history will not be obliged to treat us with great mercy.

“The worst of this dark potential can be avoided if the government is prepared to act in ways that not only feed people but protect the basic contours of our private-sector economy so that it can more quickly revive once normal conditions return.”

Some of the policy recommendations made by Tinubu, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress alongside President Muhammadu Buhari are:

Suspension/amendment of the 5% deficit limit of the fiscal responsibility law which prohibits fiscal deficit from exceeding 5% of the nation’s gross domestic product. “The best step would be to suspend the 5% budgetary limit for this fiscal year. Alternatively, the limit should be raised to 25-30% to allow the federal government more room to make the minimum expenditures necessary to save the economy and the people,” he wrote.

Emergency sustenance payments: This, he said, could be paid to households for monthly needs or as emergency unemployment insurance to people who can prove they have been laid off due to the crisis or as payroll support to businesses to help them maintain staff so they can return to full operation when normalcy returns.

Re-establishment of agricultural market and commodity boards for strategically important crops to stabilise farmers’ income and consumer prices.
Import suppression through luxury taxes, higher tariffs and higher import processing fees due to the partial closure of ports of entry due to the coronavirus.

Conditional interest-free loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria to large businesses. Tinubu said some of the conditions could be maintaining their workforce and even hiring an extra 10% for two or three months at reduced wages. “These additional workers should be youth hired under a temporary internship or training program.”

Other recommendations listed by the sexagenarian include an expansion of the school feeding programme to cover more vulnerable children and a push for debt relief from lenders.

COVID-19 Lockdown: Give The Controversial 37bn NASS Renovation Fund To States, FCT As Palliative -SERAP Appeal Lawan, Gbajabiamila

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an urgent appeal to the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila urging them to “immediately make a public commitment to redirect the N37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex to give N1billion to each of the 36 States, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as COVID-19 direct reliefs and benefits to the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”

SERAP said: “We applaud the patriotic steps and voluntary contributions already made by the National Assembly towards fighting COVID-19 in the country. We now urge you to make major strides to national efforts to deal with one of the greatest threats facing the country by immediately redirecting the N37 billion to provide direct and tangible benefits to the poorest and most vulnerable people among us.”


In the letter dated 11 April, 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Nigeria is at a crossroads and National Assembly leaders and members must now decide whether to continue to look after themselves and do little for the country’s poorest or make commitment to redirect the N37 billion to help ameliorate the suffering caused by COVID-19 restrictions.”

According to SERAP: “While some of the authorities’ responses to COVID-19 across the country may be necessary to stop the spread of the disease and save lives, we are concerned that the prevailing situation has taken its toll on the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people who continue to endure the grimmest of conditions in several states and the FCT.”

SERAP’s urgent appeal, read in part: “We also urge you to immediately advise President Muhammadu Buhari and Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to urgently implement your commitment to redirect the N37 billion to provide direct and tangible benefits and reliefs to the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”

“The money must be spent now to serve the public good. Spending the N37 billion as proposed would increase the ability of states and FCT authorities to provide COVID-19 reliefs and benefits. It would not cause any budget deficit. But assuming it does, it would be a good deficit, as it would serve the public good.”

“Going ahead to spend N37 billion to renovate the National Assembly complex even when COVID-19 is over would further undermine the social contract in Nigeria, and hurt the poorest and most vulnerable people across the 36 states and FCT, as it would limit the ability of the authorities to provide much needed benefits and support to these Nigerians, and undermine efforts to reduce the impact of the disease on the country.”

"Giving the N37 billion to States and FCT would be in the public interest at this time of national crisis, as it would improve the chances of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people to live a life of dignity while obeying authorities’ directives to stay at home.”

“Without sufficient COVID-19 direct reliefs and monetary benefits to these Nigerians, many may be forced to turn to criminal activities as their only perceived options for surviving. Redirecting the N37 billion renovation fund would help to improve the conditions of the people.”

We urge you to invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the civil society to monitor the spending of any redirected funds to the 36 States and FCT, to ensure that the funds are spent to support the poorest and most vulnerable people, such as pensioners, people living with disabilities (PWDs), and not diverted, stolen or mismanaged.”

“The appalling quality of life, and rapidly growing levels of suffering among the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people are harmful to equity and undermine respect for human rights.”

We hope that the above would help guide your actions in immediately acting to redirect the N37 billion as proposed. We would be happy to discuss any of these issues in more detail with you.”

“Please accept the expression of our highest consideration. Thanking you in advance of your urgent attention to the matter."