Home Blog Page 3273

PDP blames Buhari for coronavirus in Nigeria

0

Nigeria’s main opposition party, PDP, has blamed the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, for the coronavirus that has now been detected in the country.

ABN TV reported how the Nigerian government in the early hours of Friday confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country. It was detected in an Italian who recently arrived in Nigeria.

The Nigerian case is the first in sub-Saharan Africa of a disease that has killed thousands across the world, the majority in China where the disease originated from.

In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “berated the Buhari Presidency for its negligence and laidback attitude to governance and the welfare of Nigerians leading to the avoidable entrance of the deadly coronavirus into our dear country.”

The party said “it was evident that the Buhari Presidency, not being alive to its responsibilities, as usual, took no concrete steps to hedge our nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation,” Kola Ologbodiyan,” the PDP spokesperson said in a statement.

Many Nigerians including lawmakers had condemned the level of preparation by Nigeria to prevent the disease from being brought into the country and prevent it from spreading.

The government had, however, said it was fully prepared and had put necessary measures in place. The Italian who has the disease has been isolated at a treatment centre in Lagos while a contact tracing of everyone who had contact with him is being done.

There is no known cure for coronavirus yet while its exact origin is yet to be determined.

Read the full statement by the PDP below.

Corona Virus: PDP Berates Buhari For Negligence…Seeks Concerted Effort, Adoption of Ebola Intervention Strategy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the Buhari Presidency for its negligence and laidback attitude to governance and the welfare of Nigerians leading to the avoidable entrance of the deadly coronavirus into our dear country.

The party says it was evident that the Buhari Presidency, not being alive to its responsibilities, as usual, took no concrete steps to hedge our nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation.

The PDP notes that a responsive and proactive government would have mobilized effective surveillance and screening measures to ward off the menace, particularly at our entry points, but the incompetent, insensitive and indifferent Buhari administration, was more interested in propaganda and unnecessary showboating with false performance claims.

The party also recalled that the Buhari administration had done nothing to assist Nigerian citizens stranded in China despite their pleas, just the same way it abandoned our compatriots who were being murdered in the heat of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The PDP said Nigerians should directly hold the Buhari Presidency responsible should any national calamity arose from COVID-19 in addition to the economic and security challenges its negligence had caused our nation.

Coronavirus: Atiku reveals what FG must do to defeat coronavirus

0

Nigeria’s government must be proactive and not resort to blame games if it is to contain the coronavirus, a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has said.

Mr Abubakar assured Nigerians that the coronavirus disease would be defeated, just as the country defeated Ebola, in 2014.

Nigerians woke up to the news of the first recorded coronavirus (officially called COVID-19) case early on Friday, following confirmation from the Lagos State Government.

The disease has killed thousands of people globally, a majority in China where the disease originated from.

ABN TV earlier reported that an Italian national, who came into the country on Tuesday on a business trip, had tested positive at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, and taken to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba.

Following the confirmed case, the Lagos State Ministry of Health said it has begun to identify all the contacts of the infected Italian national in order to isolate them and hedge the spread of the virus.

Mr Abubakar, in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, called on the federal government to be proactive in its approach.

“Now that Nigeria has had her first confirmed case of the Corona Virus infestation, via a citizen of Italy, who visited Lagos and Ogun states, I would want to offer my patriotic counsel to the government of General Muhammadu Buhari, on how best to tackle this issue.

“We must call upon our experience with the Wild Ebola Virus, of which we were the first nation in the world to defeat that scourge in 2014. How did Nigeria do it? We achieved it by showing unprecedented unity.

The federal government of the day worked closely with the Lagos and Rivers state governments.

There was complete unity, solidarity and oneness of purpose, which created the atmosphere that defeated that deadly infestation.

“I strongly counsel that any tendency to blame and point fighters must be temporary, if not permanently, suspended. If fingers must be pointed, it must be to solutions.”

Mr Abubakar, in the statement, which was also posted on his social media pages on Friday, emphasised that Nigeria needs firm and decisive actions to prevent an escalation of the scourge.

“Recently, we closed our borders as an act against economic sabotage. Perhaps now is the time to temporarily halt flights to and from any nation with a prevalence of this scourge.

It is more important to secure human lives than to secure an economy. We also need to invest in early detection facilities at our airports.”

He, however, advised that Nigerians, whether at government or individual levels, should not panic.

“We have defeated Ebola before, and we can defeat this present predicament.

“This crisis is an opportunity to show that we are first and foremost Nigerians and that we have no other country but our dear fatherland, which we must work together to keep healthy and secure,” he said.

Boko Haram target Christians to trigger religious war, Lai Mohammed reveals

0

The minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, said that Boko Haram terrorists are now targeting Christians and Christian villages to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos.

He said the group has realised how emotive and divisive religion can be when exploited by unscrupulous persons.

While addressing a press conference, the minister said although Boko Haram has also not stopped attacking Muslims, it seems to now “have a deliberate policy of attacking Christians.”

Recently, the insurgents attacked a Christian village, Kwarangulum, near Chibok and also killed the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Lawan Andimi.

Also in recent times is the killing of a student who was also a member of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Ropvil Dalep, and the killing of 11 Christians on Christmas eve.

The minister said all these killings are new strategies adopted by the insurgents at the wake of their ceaseless pounding by the military.

“Recall that Boko Haram insurgents didn’t use to discriminate between Christians and Muslims when they carried out their attacks in the past.

“But in the wake of a renewed onslaught by our tireless military against Boko Haram and their ISWAP allies in recent times, the insurgents have apparently changed their strategy.

“They have started targeting Christians and Christian villages for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos.

“Apparently, they have realized how emotive and divisive religion can be when exploited by unscrupulous persons.

“Lest I am misunderstood, let me repeat: the insurgents, who delude themselves as Muslims whereas they are nothing more than blood-thirsty, rapacious killers who subscribe to no religion, have recently started targeting Christians with a view to sowing the seeds of confusion between the two great religions.

“This did not in any way signify that they have stopped attacking Muslims. But, they seem to now have a deliberate policy of attacking Christians” he said.

The minister appealed to religious leaders not to fall for the tactics of the insurgents.

He said the renewed vigour by the military in the war against the insurgents “is paying off handsomely.”

He cited the killing of top ISWAP leaders at two separate meeting venues at Marte local government in Borno State a few days ago.

According to him, a similar one is a successful attack against the leadership of Boko Haram in Alafa Yagayaga in Borno earlier this month and the killing of Boko Haram chief Judge in Lake Chad.

“The in-fighting in the leadership cadre of Boko Haram is a fallout of the pressure on the insurgents by the military.”

PDP blames Buhari for coronavirus in Nigeria

0

Nigeria’s main opposition party, PDP, has blamed the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, for the coronavirus that has now been detected in the country.

ABN TV reported how the Nigerian government in the early hours of Friday confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country. It was detected in an Italian who recently arrived in Nigeria.

The Nigerian case is the first in sub-Saharan Africa of a disease that has killed thousands across the world, the majority in China where the disease originated from.

In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “berated the Buhari Presidency for its negligence and laidback attitude to governance and the welfare of Nigerians leading to the avoidable entrance of the deadly coronavirus into our dear country.”

The party said “it was evident that the Buhari Presidency, not being alive to its responsibilities, as usual, took no concrete steps to hedge our nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation,” Kola Ologbodiyan,” the PDP spokesperson said in a statement.

Many Nigerians including lawmakers had condemned the level of preparation by Nigeria to prevent the disease from being brought into the country and prevent it from spreading.

The government had, however, said it was fully prepared and had put necessary measures in place. The Italian who has the disease has been isolated at a treatment centre in Lagos while a contact tracing of everyone who had contact with him is being done.

There is no known cure for coronavirus yet while its exact origin is yet to be determined.

Read the full statement by the PDP below.

Corona Virus: PDP Berates Buhari For Negligence…Seeks Concerted Effort, Adoption of Ebola Intervention Strategy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the Buhari Presidency for its negligence and laidback attitude to governance and the welfare of Nigerians leading to the avoidable entrance of the deadly coronavirus into our dear country.

The party says it was evident that the Buhari Presidency, not being alive to its responsibilities, as usual, took no concrete steps to hedge our nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation.

The PDP notes that a responsive and proactive government would have mobilized effective surveillance and screening measures to ward off the menace, particularly at our entry points, but the incompetent, insensitive and indifferent Buhari administration, was more interested in propaganda and unnecessary showboating with false performance claims.

The party also recalled that the Buhari administration had done nothing to assist Nigerian citizens stranded in China despite their pleas, just the same way it abandoned our compatriots who were being murdered in the heat of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The PDP said Nigerians should directly hold the Buhari Presidency responsible should any national calamity arose from COVID-19 in addition to the economic and security challenges its negligence had caused our nation.

Coronavirus: Italian patient arrived via Turkish Airlines, says Lagos commissioner

0

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said the Italian citizen who was tested positive for Coronavirus, on Thursday, in Lagos came into the state from Milan, Italy en route Istanbul on Turkish Airlines on Monday and did not exhibit any symptom of the disease.

Abayomi during a briefing on Friday said the patient slept over at a hotel in Lagos from where he left for Ogun State, where he lodged in an accommodation provided by his place of business there.

The Commissioner revealed that the patient fell ill on Wednesday while still in Ogun State and was brought over to Lagos on Thursday, where he tested positive to COVID-19 and has been confined at the isolation facility at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

He noted that the patient was showing no acute symptoms of the virus yet, adding that the management of the Company where the patient work in Ogun State has been cooperating with the State Government and had also put in place monitoring mechanisms for all those who came in contact with the patient.

Troops nab female bandit dancing with AK-47 rifle

0

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected bandit, Zainab Abubakar, at the Ungwan Salaha, Mararaban Jos community, in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The military said on Thursday that preliminary checks into the suspect’s phone “revealed a video clip of her dancing with an AK-47 rifle hung on her neck.”

Our correspondent learnt that Abubakar was arrested on Monday by troops of the 1 Division Garrison under the Operation Mesa.

The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect to newsmen, said, “Troops of the 1 Division Garrison have arrested a female bandit at Ungwan Salaha in Mararaban Jos. Preliminary checks into her phone revealed a video clip of the suspect dancing with an AK-47 rifle hung on her neck during a social event.

“The same troops on a reconnaissance patrol around Kirsa Village in Anka LGA of Zamfara accosted a motorcyclist conveying a young woman.

“However, the rider abandoned the motorcycle and the lady and ran into a nearby bush.

“After the encounter, troops arrested the lady, recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a Honda motorcycle.

“Similarly, on February 25, 2020, troops of 1 Division Garrison, acting on credible information, intercepted a group of bandits who had earlier kidnapped some victims from Niger State.

“Consequently, the troops made contact with the bandits at Chikwale in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State. The criminal bandits abandoned their victims and beat a hasty retreat into the nearby forest.

“One of the victims, Mr Abubakar, was rescued, while the troops recovered two AK-47 rifle magazines, one military pullover, 36 mobile phones, two solar panels and three bags containing clothes and food condiments.”

Coronavirus: Facebook To Partner With Nigeria To Combat Fake News – Lai Mohammed

0

The social networking site, Facebook, has pledged to partner with Federal Government to check the spread of fake news and disinformation in the wake of the outbreak of the Coronavirus in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who announced this at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday, said it’s obvious that the purveyors of fake news will scale up their act to create panic and spread disinformation, following the confirmation of the disease in Nigeria.

We know that at times like this, purveyors of fake news and disinformation usually ramp up their acts. We are therefore urging Nigerians not to fall for the antics of purveyors of fakes news and disinformation

“Fortunately, Facebook is working with us in this regard. They have asked Nigerians to report any false or misleading report on Facebook and Instagram pages so they can immediately bring them down.

“They have also assured us that they are taking preemptive action to remove any false or harmful messages about this epidemic and public health in Nigeria 24/7. All that Nigerians are required to do is to flag any false or misleading report on the epidemic and Facebook will remove any such report,” he said.

The Minister said media agencies of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, like the NTA, FRCN, NAN, and VON, have been directed to intensify their ongoing sensitization and enlightenment campaigns to arm Nigerians with the necessary information to stay well.

He said measures being taken by the agencies include enlightenment jingles on radio and television, up-to-date reports on the efforts being made by Nigerian health authorities to ensure proper screening
at the nation’s gateways and also handle possible cases, continued airing of documentaries on the disease by the NTA and SMS sensitization messages being sent to Nigerians by the News Agency of
Nigeria.

Alhaji Mohammed said the National Orientation Agency (NOA), with its
wide reach (offices in all the 774 local governments), is pushing the various sensitization/enlightenment programmes to all the nooks and crannies of the country by translating the campaign to the major indigenous languages to expand their reach.

He added that Features on the disease (prevention, treatment, etc.) are also being written and disseminated.

The Minister therefore appealed to all Nigerians not to panic, as the Government is well-equipped to detect and handle any possible case or cases.

Pope Francis Remains Sick, Cancels Friday Audiences

0
Pope Francis remained ill with an apparent cold on Friday and canceled official audiences for a second day, Vatican officials announced.
 
The 83-year-old pontiff celebrated morning Mass as usual and greeted congregants at the end, the Vatican said. He planned to go on with his private meeting schedule but opted to cancel his official audiences.
 
“The Holy Father celebrated Mass this morning and at the end, as usual, greeted the participants, but decided to postpone today’s official audiences,” spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Friday, the Vatican News reported.“The meetings on the agenda at Casa Santa Marta continue regularly.”
 
The Vatican has not said exactly what the pope came down with, but he appeared to have a cold as he coughed and blew his nose during Ash Wednesday Mass.
 
On Thursday, he nixed a penitential Mass, marking the start of Lent, that he’d planned to celebrate at the St. John Lateran basilica across town with Roman clergy, the Vatican said.
 
Meanwhile, the coronavirus outbreak continues to sweep through Italy — with 650 people infected and 17 killed. More than 400 of the cases occurred in the country’s northern Lombardy region.
 
Three cases were reported in Rome, but each person has already recovered.
 
During a General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Ash Wednesday, the pope expressed his support for coronavirus sufferers.
 
“I wish, again, to express my closeness to those who are ill with coronavirus and to health care workers who are caring for them,” he said.
 
Francis has not specifically met with coronavirus sufferers but shook hands with the faithful in the front row during the audience. He also kissed a baby during his popemobile spin through St. Peter’s Square and greeted visiting bishops.
 
But the clergy members appeared to refrain from kissing his ring or embracing him as they normally would.
 
The Argentine pope has generally been in good health. He lost part of a lung as a young man due to a respiratory illness and also suffers from sciatica.
 
New York Post
 

Coronavirus: Italian patient arrived via Turkish Airlines, says Lagos commissioner

0

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said the Italian citizen who was tested positive for Coronavirus, on Thursday, in Lagos came into the state from Milan, Italy en route Istanbul on Turkish Airlines on Monday and did not exhibit any symptom of the disease.

Abayomi during a briefing on Friday said the patient slept over at a hotel in Lagos from where he left for Ogun State, where he lodged in an accommodation provided by his place of business there.

The Commissioner revealed that the patient fell ill on Wednesday while still in Ogun State and was brought over to Lagos on Thursday, where he tested positive to COVID-19 and has been confined at the isolation facility at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

He noted that the patient was showing no acute symptoms of the virus yet, adding that the management of the Company where the patient work in Ogun State has been cooperating with the State Government and had also put in place monitoring mechanisms for all those who came in contact with the patient.

Troops nab female bandit dancing with AK-47 rifle

0

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected bandit, Zainab Abubakar, at the Ungwan Salaha, Mararaban Jos community, in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The military said on Thursday that preliminary checks into the suspect’s phone “revealed a video clip of her dancing with an AK-47 rifle hung on her neck.”

Our correspondent learnt that Abubakar was arrested on Monday by troops of the 1 Division Garrison under the Operation Mesa.

The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect to newsmen, said, “Troops of the 1 Division Garrison have arrested a female bandit at Ungwan Salaha in Mararaban Jos. Preliminary checks into her phone revealed a video clip of the suspect dancing with an AK-47 rifle hung on her neck during a social event.

“The same troops on a reconnaissance patrol around Kirsa Village in Anka LGA of Zamfara accosted a motorcyclist conveying a young woman.

“However, the rider abandoned the motorcycle and the lady and ran into a nearby bush.

“After the encounter, troops arrested the lady, recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a Honda motorcycle.

“Similarly, on February 25, 2020, troops of 1 Division Garrison, acting on credible information, intercepted a group of bandits who had earlier kidnapped some victims from Niger State.

“Consequently, the troops made contact with the bandits at Chikwale in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State. The criminal bandits abandoned their victims and beat a hasty retreat into the nearby forest.

“One of the victims, Mr Abubakar, was rescued, while the troops recovered two AK-47 rifle magazines, one military pullover, 36 mobile phones, two solar panels and three bags containing clothes and food condiments.”

Latest News

Popular News Now