Coronavirus scare in the country hit a frightening phase on Wednesday, March 18, as fives more cases of the global epidemic were reported, barely twenty-four hours after the Ministry of Health announced the third case.

The new developments were confirmed by the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on new media, Tolu Ogunlesi. In a series of tweet, Ogunlesi said four of the victims are Nigerians who just came from the United States of America and United Kingdom.

The presidential aide also claimed that one of the four new Nigerian victims is a 6-week old baby — the youngest victim reported so far.

He added that the fifth victim is a “foreign national who came in through the land border — the first case of infection via land border in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, coronavirus test has been carried out in 10 states since February 27 when the first case was reported.

Although some suspected cases tested negative, the last five days have seen the country dive into the red zone as more cases- confirmed or suspected- were reported in some states.

And as it stands, here are the states with confirmed and suspected cases of the Covid-19 epidemic.

1. Ekiti: Ekiti state has recorded its first case of coronavirus with the victim testing positive after driving an American citizen from Ibadan.

2. Edo: There are only suspected cases in Edo, though the state government says all hands are on deck.

3. Enugu: There is no confirmed case of coronavirus in Enugu as the state government announced that the test result of the suspected case in the state is negative.

4. Plateau: The Plateau government has announced that all 43 suspected cases in the state are negative.

5. Katsina: Coronavirus cases are still suspected.

6. Kano: Kano state commissioner of health, Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, said that the three rumoured cases of coronavirus were confirmed negative, adding that the state remains free from the coronavirus.

7. Lagos: Lagos, unarguably, tops the coronavirus index in the country as not less than eight cases have been reported in the state.

8. Ogun: Ogun state has one case of coronavirus and many suspected cases.

9. Yobe: Coronavirus case in Yobe state is still suspected.

10: Ondo: Ondo state government has confirmed that there is a suspected case of coronavirus in Akure, the state capital.

This is coming after the state government announced it’s first suspected case of COVID-19. Engr Yakubu Danja, the state commissioner for health speaking to journalists on Thursday, March 19, said the result of the test was negative.

While advising residents of Katsina state to be calm, Danja added that there was no other confirmed case of the virus in Katsina at the moment.

A few hours after President Donald Trump said chloroquine had been approved to treat COVID-19, the demand for the drug increased in stores across Lagos and Abuja.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, health experts had dismissed speculations that chloroquine could be used in fighting the virus, but at a press conference on Thursday said, Trump, the drug had gone through the approval process, a statement contrary to that of Stephen Hahn, the commissioner for Food and Drug Administration who maintained that chloroquine would still need to go through clinical trials.

Chloroquine, oral artemisinin-based monotherapy (oAMTs) for malaria treatment, could become a scarce commodity in a matter of days.

At Chris Health Pharmacy, Onilekere area of Lagos, the store owner who gave his name as Chris said he was yet to understand why people trooped in to buy chloroquine.

I have about 20 packs left and all finished this evening. In fact, only one person bought 15 packs. He said he would return tomorrow when I have more,” he told TheCable.

Chris who appeared not to have followed the news lately asked: “Please, what is happening? Why are people buying chloroquine?”

At the Ojota/Ogudu axis, people also rushed to buy chloroquine. A lady who came in and bought six chloroquine syrup for children said: “They said it was 50:50 cure for coronavirus before, but the US president confirmed today that it should be used for coronavirus. I’m sure the prices would go up immediately.”

A pharmacy at Jendol Superstores in Isheri Olofin, chloroquine was not available but a roadside shop had it at the rate of N150 per sachet. When TheCable visited Abek Pharmacy at Old Ipaja road in Agege, the attendant said chloroquine was still available also at the rate of N150.

At Christies Pharmacy along Ijegun-Ikotun road, Alimosho, the attendant said chloroquine was also available but sold for N250

One of the store owners in Ijegun who identified himself as Moses said the drug has been in high demand as he had received more orders in just six hours.

The product was unavailable at Skylife Standard Pharmacy on college road, Ogba. The pharmacist said: “People rushed in to buy this evening as soon the announcement was made that it could cure coronavirus.”

Three of the pharmacies in Garki area of Abuja were selling the drug within the price range of N200 to N250, while it sold for N500 in another.

At Glotop Pharmacy, located close to Apo legislative quarters, the drug was already sold out at the rate of N500.

“It was not in high demand before but people have been rushing it,” an official at the pharmacy said.

At Augustina Medical Complex in Durumi, the drug was sold at N200 even as the attendant said there has not been any noticeable difference in the demand.

It was the same situation at Dorathyl Pharmacy, also in Durumi, except that it sold for N250.

The last packet was being sold for N150 as TheCable got to Zochem Pharmacy in Abuja. The store owner, however, said he has placed orders for more and from Friday, he would sell for N500 or even more.

The drug was sold out at Jessi-Jen pharmacy in Abuja but at the Eleventh Pharmacy also in Abuja, a packet that used to be N300 is now selling for N800.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit challenging last year’s elevation of four Justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) at its meeting held on October 22 and 23, 2029 recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari, the appointment of Justices Adamu Jauro (North-East Zone); Emmanuel A. Agim (South-South Zone); C. Oseji (South-South Zone); and Helen M. Ogunwumiju (South-West Zone) to the Supreme Court.

Shortly after the recommendation became public, a Lagos-based group, Access to Justice (AJ) sued, through its Registered Trustees, challenging the process leading to the choice of the four Justices nominated for elevation.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1450/2019, the plaintiff claimed, among others, that the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) did not fully comply with the provisions of the
“Revised NJC Guidelines & Procedural Rules for the appointment of judicial officers of all superior courts of record in Nigeria” in arriving at the choice of the four Justices.

In a judgement on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo upheld the preliminary objection raised against the suit by the respondents and proceeded to strike it out.

Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiff was without the requisite locus standi (the legal right to initiate the suit) before the court.

The judge was of the view that the Registered Trustees of the AJ failed to prove, through credible evidence, that it was a registered corporate personality in the country.

Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiff’s claim to have been registered under Section 590(1), Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) did not confer it with the power to engage in public interest litigation, among other combative activities.

Details shortly…

The National Youth Service Corps has suspended its weekly Community Development Service activities indefinitely.

This is coming a few days after shutting down its orientation camps nationwide.

The suspension of the CDS was contained in a press statement obtained by our correspondent on Friday.

The statement, which was signed by NYSC Director of Human Resource Management Abdulrazak Salawu, said the CDS suspension was because of the increasing cases of Covid-19.

Corps members across the country meet weekly in their local governments and once in a month in their zones.

The statement explained that the CDS meetings have a large number of persons coming in close contact.

It also ordered all Local Government Inspectors to immediately comply with the directive.

The statement read, “Sequel to the pandemic of coronavirus globally and management’s concern for the wellbeing of corp members nationwide, I am directed to inform you to suspend all Community Development Service activities until further notice.

“This obvious course of action is directed by circumstances beyond our control.

“The sudden changes in many countries warranting social changes between persons and isolation of persons on account of COVID-19 present no other option but to stop CDS activities because of a large number of persons in close contact.

“With the abundance of caution, avoidance of errors is easily achievable.”