President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that SA’s lockdown will be extended by two weeks.
The lockdown was implemented to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initial lockdown would have only been for 21 days, but Ramaphosa, in a televised address to the nation on Thursday evening, said SA was at the beginning of a monumental struggle and could not be complacent.
Boris Johnson was tonight taken out of intensive care in a sign he is winning his coronavirus battle.
The Prime Minister, who has been in hospital since Sunday, has spent three nights in a high-dependency unit at St Thomas’s Hospital in central London after his condition deteriorated.
The announcement came just hours after Foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who has been standing in for him while he was incapacitated, said he was making ‘positive steps forward’ in his treatment.
This evening a No 10 spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery.
‘He is in extremely good spirits.’
Thoughts will now turn to how long Mr. Johnson might remain in hospital before he is well enough to play a full part in Government again.
The birth of his child with Carrie Symonds, 32, is also only weeks away, and the couple has been apart since he went into isolation on March 27.
President Muhammadu Buhari has granted a presidential pardon to a former governor of the old Bendel State, Professor Ambros Alli, and retired Lt. Colonel Moses Effiong, who were Jailed for various offenses, on Thursday.
Buhari announced the pardon in a series of tweets on his official Twitter account (NGRPresident) on Thursday.
NOTICE:
President @MBuhari has granted presidential pardon to the following five convicted persons:
1. The Late Prof Ambrose Alli
2. The Late Chief Anthony Enahoro
3. Ex Lt. Col. Moses Effiong
4. Major E.J. Olanrewaju
5. Ajayi Olusola Babalola
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 9, 2020
The President has also approved an Amnesty for 2,600 inmates in Custodial Centers across the federation. This presidential amnesty DOES NOT apply to inmates sentenced for terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, culpable homicide and other violent offences.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 9, 2020
“These [2,600 beneficiaries of the Amnesty] include 885 convicts who could not pay their fines totalling N21.4 million which @NigeriaGov will pay on their behalf to enable them get their freedom.” — Minister of @MinOfInteriorNG, @raufaregbesola
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 9, 2020
An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has approved the Lagos State Government’s application to withdraw a social distancing violation charge against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Babatunde Gbadamosi, his wife, Folashade, and musician Afeez Fashola (a.k.a Naira Marley).
Chief Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa made the order after Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed that the Gbadamosis and Marley had accepted and complied with the State’s conditions for the withdrawal.
As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter on Sunday, the Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has temporarily relaxed the extended lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state with conditions.
He said while worshippers are free to move around within the hours of 6 am on Friday, April 10 (Good Friday) and 2 pm on Sunday, April 12 (Easter Sunday),2020, they must observe all conditions attached to the slight relaxation, maintaining that weddings, burials and other social gatherings in the state remain banned till the expiration of the lockdown.
In a release signed and made available to ABN TV by the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the COVID-19 Committee, Barr. Chris Ezem, the governor charged Christians and Muslims in the state to use the opportunity to pray for God’s mercy and intervention in the state in particular and country at large.
“In view of the impending Easter Celebrations, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD has magnanimously approved a relaxation of the extended 7 Day Lockdown in the State.
“Accordingly, there would be free movement of people within the State ONLY between the hours of 6 am on Friday, April 10(Good Friday) and 2 pm on Sunday, April 12(Easter Sunday),2020.
“Accordingly, religious worshippers shall be free to worship at their various churches and mosques but must compulsorily observe the following guidelines –
“Not more than 50 persons per stream of worship and a social distance of 1.5m must be maintained.
“All worshippers MUST wear face mask.
“Churches and Mosques MUST provide a minimum of 4 points for handwashing with running water and soap.
“Hand sanitizers MUST also be provided at different points for the use of intending worshippers” he said.
The governor also reiterated that the State and Local Government Enforcement Teams and Security Operatives shall continue to move around to ensure strict compliance.
“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu hereby enjoins all religious worshippers to use this period to pray for God’s intervention and mercy upon our dear State Abia, our nation Nigeria and the entire world over this dreaded pandemic.
“It must be clearly understood that this relaxation order DOES NOT extend to Public Gatherings such as burial ceremonies, weddings, meetings, clubbing, etc. The initial order on these activities remain valid and subsisting.
“All our State borders remain closed and Security Operatives must continue to ensure strict compliance.
“All public places allowed to operate like Supermarkets and Malls MUST NOT entertain more than 10 persons at a time subject to differences in size and must maintain minimum STANDARDS of hygiene by providing handwashing materials, sanitizers and digital thermometers.
“Government shall immediately shut down any business concern that flouts these directives.
“The Governor urges all Abians, as a matter of collective responsibility, to be vigilant at all times and report any suspected case of COVID-19 around their environs.
“Finally, the 7 Day Extension shall continue from 3pm on Sunday, April 12 to Friday, April 17, 2020.
“Government appreciates Ndi Abia, all Frontline Service Providers, and all those on Essential Services for their support and sacrifice at this difficult period, and encourages all and sundry to continue to support the Government fight against the pandemic by complying with all professional advice, safety tips and government directives throughout this period.” he concluded.
Thank you.
Barrister Chris Ezem
Secretary to Abia State Government and Chairman of the COVID-19 Committee, Abia State.
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode took to his Twitter handle on Thursday morning April 9, to react to the news of the arrival of 15 Chinese doctors to Nigeria to help in the fight against the ravaging COVID-19.
He wrote:
“Whilst Buhari is inviting the Chinese to Nigeria to “help fight Covid 19”, the Chinese Govt. is throwing Nigerians out of their homes, persecuting them, subjecting them to the most vile & despicable human rights abuses & mocking, insulting & humiliating them on a daily basis!”
FFK was speaking about the recent viral videos of Nigerians being kicked out of Chinese hotels, malls and other places as the Chinese people feel that Nigerians will bring back Coronavirus into their country.
The federal government says it is freeing 2,600 inmates in various prisons to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, announced that the government has decided to grant amnesty to the inmates at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
He said among those to be freed include sick and old inmates.
More to follow…
Following the lockdown order issued by state governments and the federal government after the outbreak of Coronavirus in Nigeria, popular lawyer, and activist, Femi Falana has advised the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to direct Judges to listen to “urgent cases” via Skype and Zoom.
This was contained in a statement released by the popular lawyer, Falana while advising the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review the suspension of court sittings to enable them attend to urgent matters.
This is coming days after the federal government has relaxed the lockdown by allowing markets, shops and stalls selling food and groceries to open to customers between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm daily.
He averred that this will ensure that thousands of people who are either awaiting trial or under investigation are not subjected to unlawful detention.
Falana’s statement reads in part;
“Since the federal government has relaxed the lockdown by allowing markets, shops and stalls selling food and groceries to open to customers between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm daily, the National Judicial Council (NJC) ought to review the suspension of court sittings to enable them to attend to urgent matters.
“The review has become necessary in view of the fact that motions for the bail of many criminal suspects and applications to secure the enforcement of the fundamental right to personal liberty of other detainees are pending in several courts in all the states of the federation and in the federal capital territory.
“In addition, the return dates in respect of several ex parte orders made by magistrates for the remand of a number of criminal suspects which have since expired are due to be quashed or renewed to extend the time for further investigation.
“More so that the heads of the various courts are vested with the power to designate judges and magistrates to attend to urgent matters in accordance with the laws establishing such courts. However, in order to observe the social distancing directive we suggest that arrangements be made for Judges to hear urgent applications via Skype or Zoom.”
Power distribution companies on Wednesday announced that there were in support of the proposal by the National Assembly and the Federal Executive arm of government that Nigerians should get two months of free electricity.
https://youtu.be/1UtGdogmpBg
Speaking through their umbrella body, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, the Discos stated that modalities for the free power would be worked on and made public in due course.
The Executive Director, ANED, Sunday Oduntan, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday night.
He said, “The electricity distribution companies recognize the challenging effects of the coronavirus on the economic and daily lives of our customers.
“In fulfillment of our commitments to the nation, we hereby align ourselves with the efforts of the National Assembly and the Federal Executive to mitigate the hardship that is currently being borne by our customers and other citizens all over the country.
“The Discos commended the federal legislators, the executive arm and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission for their initiative.
Oduntan said, “We are committed to working with them to ensure more efficient power supply within this difficult period, as the nation battles with the ravages of COVID-19.
“We are also completely aligned with the plans to ensure palliative measures, including free electricity supply to all Nigerians for two months, to make life easier, during the lockdown period. Details of implementation to come soon.”
He stated that Discos as key utility players in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry reiterate their commitment to improving service delivery to the nation during this pandemic period and thereafter.
The power firms urged Nigerians to stay home and stay safe.
Nigeria has recorded new 22 cases of Coronavirus as the total number of confirmed cases in the country rise to 276.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed that the new cases were recorded in Lagos, Abuja, Bauchi and Edo.
As at 09:00 pm 8th April there are 276 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Forty -four have been discharged with six deaths
As at 09:00 pm 8th April, there are
276 confirmed cases
44 discharged
6 deaths
Lagos- 145
FCT- 54
Osun- 20
Oyo- 11
Edo- 12
Bauchi- 8
Akwa Ibom- 5
Kaduna- 5
Ogun- 4
Enugu- 2
Ekiti- 2
Rivers-2
Benue- 1
Ondo- 1
Kwara- 2
Delta- 1
Katsina-1
