Amidst Coronavirus Status: “My Wife Wants To Be By My Side”, Says Idris Elba

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March 18, 2020

The Senate, yesterday, witnessed a mild drama during plenary, when Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North East), a former governor, suggested that all Nigerian leaders should spend two days in the prisons.

However, the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, immediately countered him, saying that former governors and their deputies should be the ones to spend the two days in prison.

However, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East), who also spoke on the matter, said that correctional service in Nigeria is colleges for hardened criminals and not for civil persons.

The event unfolded during the debate on a motion on the need to upgrade, decongest and disinfect correctional centres nationwide, sponsored by Senator Uche Ekwunife.

While contributing to the debate on the motion, Suswam said that his two-day experience in the Kuje Prison gave him a lot of insight into the Nigerian prisons, suggesting that all Nigerian leaders should spend two days at the correctional centres.

“I spent two days in prison. I want to support this motion based on my experience and when I left, I recommended that for people to be proper leaders in this country, at least each and every one of us must spend one or two days in prison,” Suswam said.

However, Lawan interjected and said, “anyone who served as a governor, yes and deputy governor probably.”

Continuing, Suswam said: “Like what the former minister, Abba Moro, said earlier, I went there, they took me there in the night. The following day in the morning, the entire prison knew I was there.

“I sat down there from morning to evening because there were a lot of young people there and it might interest you to know that they spend years in prison, for demeanours you can easily dismiss.

“There was a young man who has spent 10 years there for just a problem of N10,000. Various individuals were there on very minor offences that the police can afford to correct them and send them home.

“I made it a point of duty that when I left that place, for the next month, I took close to 20 young people out of that place. It didn’t take anything, just pay the money, and send them back to court. I selected three lawyers who I sent to Kuje Prison. Most of the people that are there don’t need to be there and they unduly congest the place,” Suswam said.

However, Gobir (APC, Sokoto East) said that the prisons had, over the years, been a ground where criminal gangs were formed.

“It is a college for criminals. People become hardened criminals. Prisons are owned by the government and the correctional centres should be owned by individuals,” Gobir said. “If we can improve them to be well secured and well rehabilitated, it would be a good development.”

Senator Rochas Okorocha (APC, Imo), in his contribution, said that Nigeria prisons had demonstrated the worst kind of man’s inhumanity to man and should be addressed.

The Senate, in its resolution, resolved that the Federal Government should encourage private participation in the development of correctional centres across the country.

It also urged the Ministry of Interior to commence the process of upgrading facilities in the Nigeria correctional centres.

It also urged the correctional services to adequately profile inmates and separate them accordingly to avoid lumping of light/first offenders with hardened criminals and undertake a national clean up and fumigation of all correctional facility in the country, to avoid an outbreak of epidemics.

COVID-19: Economic council meets Buhari, warns of recession

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March 18, 2020

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The Presidential Advisory Council on Tuesday warned about dire economic consequences for Nigeria if the raging coronavirus infection was not contained as quickly as possible.

The council, which is chaired by Prof Doyin Salami, met with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the State House, Abuja.

It said one of the immediate consequences, as shown in the crash of crude oil prices, was slower economic growth, adding that confidence in the economy would also be eroded.

The council, which urged the President to consider immediate cuts in the budget, observed that ultimately, Nigeria risked receding into another recession if concrete measures were not evolved to stabilise its economy.

The council added that global oil glut, rise in unemployment, depletion of foreign reserves and trade imbalance were other consequences.

A State House statement by Buhari’s media aide, Mr Femi Adesina, after the closed-door meeting, said these were among the observations the council made at the session.

The statement said, “Noting that many countries around the world may go into economic recession, the PEAC advocated hard work for Nigeria to keep its head above the waters.

“Recommending, among others, a possible revision of the 2020 budget, with priority spending on healthcare, re-prioritisation of expenditure on infrastructure to focus on projects nearing completion with pro-poor effects, curtailing recurrent expenditure, mobilising the private sector to strengthen health sector infrastructure, and boosting of government revenue, the PEAC stressed that the projections may seem dire, but the worst may be avoided with hard work and scrupulous implementation of policies.”

The council made the observations as Buhari at the session reassured Nigerians that his regime was working on measures to ensure that the country survived the crash in oil prices.

Buhari stated that he was well aware that crude prices had fallen to between $29 and $30 per barrel, well below the $57 used as the benchmark for the 2020 budget.

First Speaker Of Plateau Assembly, Prof Shown Is Dead

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March 18, 2020

The first Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Professor Dakum Shown is dead. Professor Shown, who held office between 1979 to 1983 during the administration of late Chief Solomon Lar, died on Tuesday after a protracted illness.

The State Governor, Simon Lalong who confirmed the development, expressed sorrow saying late Professor Shown’s demise is a great loss to the State.

Lalong, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham said, “It is another great loss for the people of Plateau State as one of its finest politicians is called to glory. Professor Dakum Shown was an honest, patriotic, fearless and competent person who gave his all to every assignment he handled. He left so many legacies in the socio-political landscape of the State and the Nation having impacted many positively.”

The Governor recalled late Shown’s role in “laying the foundation for sound education in Plateau State and Northern Nigeria, as the first Nigerian Principal of the famous Girls High School Gindiri (GHS) where he taught and mentored many young persons that are today contributing positively to the society,” adding, “his political experience and contributions have also enhanced the fortunes of democracy in the State and Nigeria as a whole.”

He praised his contributions to the development of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS where he was once its Chairman and while consoling his immediate family, friends, well wishers and associates, asked them to “take solace in the fact that late Prof. Shown lived a fruitful life and raised many who will carry on his legacies.”

Vanguard

Facebook, Google in talks with US to track COVID-19

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March 18, 2020

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Facebook and Google are in talks with Washington over potentially using individuals’ personal data to track and combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The project would involve collecting location information from Americans’ smartphones and using it anonymously to map the spread of the disease and predict urgent medical needs, for example.

In a statement to the Washington Post, Google spokesman Johnny Luu, confirmed they were “exploring ways that aggregated anonymised location information could help in the fight against COVID-19.”

The two tech giants did not respond to AFP requests for comment.

The use of personal data in the US is highly sensitive after several scandals — such as in 2011 when the National Security Agency was found to be collecting phone records without permission.

But pressure has mounted for Silicon Valley to use their expertise to fight the deadly virus after roughly 50 scientists signed an open letter last week calling on them to act.

“It is clear that large-scale efforts by technology platforms could tip the scales on the right side to contain the pandemic and save thousands if not millions of lives,” the doctors, epidemiologists, and researchers wrote.

Among other suggestions, they recommended social networks broadcast educational videos, Uber distributes disinfectant products to its drivers, and Amazon limits the number of masks and hydro-alcoholic gels that can be sold per person.

As for Apple and Google, “they should integrate into the operating system of the phones a tracking tool, which users could choose to activate, anonymously, to find out if they have been in the presence of identified cases.”

People could quarantine themselves if necessary and monitor the appearance of any symptoms.

“In the longer term, such a system would better contain other future epidemics,” they added. “Tracking contacts between people has worked well in China and South Korea, and such a tool would make this method usable everywhere, on a large scale.”

COVID-19 Ban: Police Storm Church, Arrest Pastor [VIDEO]

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March 18, 2020

The police in Ghana has arrested a pastor for opening his church despite ban on social gatherings by President Nana Akufo-Addo amid the fight against coronavirus otherwise known as COVID-19.

According to reports by GH Page, the Ashanti Regional Police Command of the Ghana Police Service arrested and whisked away Kofi Nkansah Sarkodie, the head pastor of Open Arms Ministry, in North Suntreso, Kumasi after information got to the regional command that he was conducting a church service.

GH Page reports that Kofi Nkansah Sarkodie had gathered his church members at the church in flagrant disregard for President Akufo Addo’s directive banning gatherings and groupings of more than 25 people.

See video below:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B935hdgApJl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Kastina records first suspected COVID-19 case

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March 18, 2020

Katsina State Ministry of Health, says it has recorded a first suspected case of coronavirus ( COVID 19 ) in the state.

Briefing newsmen, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Kabir Mustapha, said the patient who is presently on self-isolation returned from Malaysia and developed symptoms that warrant further investigations.

Already, the blood samples have been taken and the result is being expected by tomorrow.

“He said that the people that the patient had contact will be traced as soon as results are out”

He said the ministry is taking all precautionary measures and closely working with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the matter.

According to him, the patient’s history of travel was a high index and the symptoms reported at the clinic prompted actions noting that since his arrival into the state.

The patient was taking personal protection of using face mark and self-isolation”

He advised people of the host community of Dutsinma town where the suspected patient come from to be cautious of movements and gatherings.

He said that people should feel free to seek medical attention as all precautionary measures are on place to provide support.

Thugs Attack Ex-Kano Gov Kwankwaso In Kano

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March 18, 2020

The convoy of former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso was attacked by thugs in Kano on Tuesday.

It was gathered not less than three utility vehicles in his convoy were destroyed during the incident, which occurred close to a three star hotel in the city.

The incident was said to have occurred shortly after Kwankwaso conferred with the Chairman of Kano State PDP ward Congress, Governor Fintiri.

A statement by Ibrahim Adam, spokesman to Abba Kabir Yusuf, 2019 PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kano said “the leader escaped unhurt ”

Adam said: “While leaving the hotel, some hired thugs attacked the convoy of Sen. Kwankwaso and destroyed 3 cars belonging to some of our House of Assembly members.”

He added: “But, Alhamdulillah, the congress was successful. They couldn’t achieve what they want to achieve.”

Coronavirus: Ban Religious Gatherings, Reps Tells FG

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March 18, 2020

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to ban all religious gatherings in the country to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The green chamber made the request at Wednesday’s plenary session after deliberating on the pandemic.

A prayer for the federal government to shut all schools for two weeks and to ban all foreign airlines from entering Nigeria was rejected by the house.

The lawmakers also resolved to test all members and staff of the national assembly, as well as temporarily ban visitors from the legislative complex.

They asked for an agreement between Nigeria and countries certified free of the disease on the mass production and supply of test kits and other infrastructure needed to tackle the virus.

They lamented the ill-treatment reportedly meted out to a suspected coronavirus patient in Enugu state, and asked the ministry of health to henceforth ensure adequate care for those under quarantine.

Nigeria currently have eight cases of the coronavirus — five of which were confirmed on Wednesday.

Apart from banning travellers from 13 countries with over 1,000 cases of the virus, the federal government had also suspended foreign trips for public officials.

Coronavirus: Senate Urges Buhari To Address Nigerians

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March 18, 2020