Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 19th April 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 19/04/20
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BREAKING: Nigeria Records 49 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 542
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 49 new cases of Coronavirus in the country, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections recorded so far to 542.
In a tweet on Saturday evening, the health agency revealed that the latest cases were recorded in five states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Forty-nine new cases of #COVID19 have been reported; 23 in Lagos, 12 in FCT, 10 in Kano, two in Ogun, one in Oyo and one in Ekiti.
“As at 10:40pm April 18, there are 542 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.166 discharged, and 19 deaths.” Forty-nine new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;23 in Lagos12 in FCT10 in Kano2 in Ogun1 in Oyo1 in EkitiAs at 10:40 pm 18th April there are 542 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.Discharged: 166Deaths: 19#TakeResponsibility pic.twitter.com/W63s32Iuj7— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 18, 2020
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BREAKING: Doctor Tests Positive for COVID-19 In Oyo
A medical doctor at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, has tested positive for Coronavirus.
Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed this on his verified Twitter handle on Saturday night.
He said, “The COVID-19 confirmation test for one suspected case, a doctor at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, came back positive today.
“Isolation and contact tracing have commenced. So, there are currently eight active cases in Oyo State.
“Please, keep following the directives of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force. Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser regularly.
“Also, continue to maintain social distancing. Gatherings in Oyo State are limited to a maximum of 10 persons.1. The COVID-19 confirmation test for one suspected case, a doctor at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, came back POSITIVE, today. Isolation and contact tracing have commenced. So, there are currently eight active cases in Oyo State.— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) April 18, 2020
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E2%80%99s-burial-fct-administration-vows-follow-health-guideline-burying After Uproar On Abba Kyari’s Burial, FCT Administration Vows To Follow Health Guideline In Burying COVID-19 Victims
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Following the uproar by Nigerians over the flagrant disregard for social distancing guidelines put in place to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country during the burial of Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, on Saturday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has apologised and promised to abide by guidelines in future burials of victims of the virus.
At the burial of Kyari, mourners and medical personnel in large number threw caution to the wind by having close physical contact.
While most of the attendees at the burial did not wear face masks, they also disregarded the social distancing rule.
The actions of participants at the burial led to an uproar on social media with many calling for their arrest, claiming that they could have been exposed to the virus. FLASH: Social Distancing Violated As Abba Kyari Is Buried In Abuja pic.twitter.com/5KRhGt77XH— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 18, 2020
In a statement, Dr Mohammed Kawu, Acting Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA, urged Nigerians to remain calm, adding that the FCT Administration would move to curb actions that could lead to further spread of the virus.
He stated that future burials would be done in line with guidelines of NCDC.
He said, “The administration has also taken steps to ensure that all future burials of victims of COVID-19 are conducted in line with protocols established by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
“Residents are therefore urged to remain calm and rest assured that the FCT Administration will continue to do all that is necessary to curtail and eventually end the spread of Coronavirus in the FCT,” Kawu said.
SaharaReporters had revealed that Kyari died of complications from COVID-19 on Thursday but his death was announced to the public on Friday.
He died at a private hospital in Lagos, First Cardiology Consultants, where he was secretly treated before his demise.
Nigeria has so far recorded 493 confirmed cases of Coronavirus with 17 deaths.
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Man Arrested In Yobe For Cutting Off Wife’s Hand
The police in Yobe State have arrested one Baari Bacha for cutting off the hand of his wife, Halima Bulama.
It was gathered that Bacha intentionally carried out the act because Bulama refused to respect his orders not to attend any ceremony without his consent.“This singular act of her disobedience provoked Baari and led to a heated argument between them which later prompted the husband to use cutlass to chop off the wife’s hand,” a source said.
Dungus Abdulkarim, spokesperson for the police in the state, urged residents not to panic.
He said the victim was currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital and the suspect will be charged to court after investigation.
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FCT COVID-19 Team Removes Protective Gear Indiscriminately Disposed By Man Who Participated In Abba Kyari’s Burial
The Federal Capital Territory COVID-19 Team has removed and disposed a protective suit indiscriminately dumped by a man, who participated in the burial of Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, at Gudu Cemetery, Abuja, on Saturday.
Nigerians had raised the alarm following a viral video showing the man pulling off his protective gear and dumping it near the fence of the cemetery shortly after the burial. VIDEO: PART 2: A man who participated in the burial of @MBuhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, is seen here irresponsibly disposing his Personal Protective Equipment after the burial of the CoS at Gudu Cementary in Abuja#coronavirus #COVID19 #lockdown #HealthyAtHome @NCDCgov @WHO pic.twitter.com/HFPzSkTMkT— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 18, 2020
SaharaReporters gathered that the man identified as a Muslim cleric, who participated in the burial rites, had since been arrested for immediate quarantine.
FCT Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr Mohammed Kawu, said that all the cemetery attendants, who participated in the burial, have been identified and placed under self-isolation.
He however, urged residents not to panic following the incident.
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EXCLUSIVE: In Wasteful Spending Of Public Funds, Lagos Assembly Speaker, Obasa, Approves N47.5m For Quarterly Media Promotion Of House
Mudashiru Obasa
Mudashiru Obasa
In an ongoing scandal and money laundering act being perpetrated by the Lagos State House of Assembly, lawmakers in the state have been looting N47.5m per quarter from the state’s treasury for media influencers.
The money, according to documents sighted by SaharaReporters, was paid to a media company to help publicise the activities of the House.
In the document, it could be seen that there was no procurement process approval attached or mentioned in the request for approval.
The money was released after approval by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
It was gathered that the release of the money for Bloggers Media has been in effect since 2017 and continued till 2018.
It was gathered that lawmakers hide under the guise of the payment to launder funds from the state coffers and divert same for personal usage.
According to the document sighted by SaharaReporters, the media outfit was handpicked without any procurement process with the Speaker directed to approve the release of the money.
“Please be informed of the desire of the Assembly to publicise its activities and achievements through print and electronic media for the second quarter of the year 2018.
“Sequel to the Ministerial Tenders Board Meeting held on Thursday, June 21, 2018, the board recommended Messrs Bloggers Media at the cost of N45,700,000 (Forty-five million, seven hundred thousand naira only) on single source selection based on commendable satisfactory performance in the year 2017.
“In line with the recommendation of the Ministerial Tenders Board Meeting, kindly consider and give approval on the notification of award in favour of Messrs Bloggers Media for N45,700,000 (Forty-five million, seven hundred thousand naira only) for the project to cover second quarter of the year 2018. The payment pattern is to reflect 60% advance payment and 40% balance after acceptable completing of the contract,” the letter to the Lagos Assembly Speaker reads.
During checks by our correspondent, it was discovered that Bloggers Media was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on January 4, 2016 with registration number RC: 2384816.
However, further checks showed that the address submitted to the CAC, 3B, Alade, Off Alade Avenue, does not exist in Lagos.
The organisation seemed not to be existent as there was no digital traces of it after multiple checks on various search engines.
As at the time of filing this report, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Tolani Abati, could not be reached for comments.
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COVID-19 Is Real: Follow The Science Not The Superstition By Leo Igwe
At a time like this, people tend to gullible and to believe whatever they are told or whatever hear. There is so much misinformation. In fact, the virus of misinformation is deadly, more deadly than the pandemic itself. That is why it is important to provide sound education and awareness programs that could enable individuals make responsible decisions, and take measures that help them remain safe, healthy and alive.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW) understands the dangers of make-believe and superstitions. AFAW is aware of the huge human costs in situations where people make decisions based on hearsay and on claims without evidence.
That is why AFAW and Humanists International are joining efforts with the UN, the various centers for disease control and health institutions across the world in tackling misinformation about COVID19. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has added his voice by deploring the ‘epidemic of falsehood and lies’ that is putting the lives of many at risk.
One of the places that will be most affected is the developing world, especially the African continent where misinformation about preventable and curable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis sometimes lead to violent exorcism, witch hunting and killing. In pursuant to its goal to end witch persecution and associated harmful superstitions, AFAW has released a poster: COVID-19 is real.
The poster has a pidgin English version, COVID-19 de Real ooo. This title is informed by the fact that many are still of the notion that the coronavirus is something that was made up. Many persons have not bought into the fact that the coronavirus is a real pandemic that could kill them.
Instead some people think that COVID-19 is part of the Chinese and western conspiracy to dominate the world. Others are of the view that they have a cure or some concoction for it or that they would not be infected because they are Africans, they live in warmer parts of the world. Some are confident that they could tackle the virus using some local concoctions. In fact, there has been so much misinformation, misleading claims and suppositions flying around
In response to the deluge of misinformation, AFAW urges people to follow the facts not the fiction, the science not the superstition regarding COVID-19. People should scrutinize and critical evaluate all COVID19 treatment claims. At a time of so much uncertainty, many people are desperate and tend to be gullible. Snake oil sellers are taking advantage of the situation. AFAW encourages people to consult medical experts not charlatans and ensure that their decisions are based on scientific evidence and sound medical advice.
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E2%80%98mysterious-fire%E2%80%99-consumes-three-government-offices-abuja-under Nigerians Express Concern As ‘Mysterious Fire’ Consumes Three Government Offices In Abuja Under 10 Days
In the space of 10 days, there have been three major fire incidents in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Corporate Affairs Commission and Independent National Electoral Commission have all been gutted by fire.
While these government offices have nothing in common, the close timing of the fire incidents have raised concerns in the public space.
On April 8, fire broke out at the Treasury House, a building housing the AGF’s office and exactly a week after there was another fire outbreak at the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission.
However, it was the fire incident that happened at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Abuja that pushed Nigerians into raising questions.
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JUST IN: Fire Guts INEC Office In Abuja
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While many have been linking the fire incidents to a ploy by some government officials to embezzle funds donated to the country to tackle the outbreak of Coronavirus, others have claimed that the fire incidents were deliberately caused to hide some top secrets by persons in high positions in the country.
Indeed more than a few Nigerians have refused to accept that the fire outbreaks were caused by natural events – without the input of any individual.
Sharing their views across various social media platforms, Nigerians said they could not trust government officials especially going by antecedents of the past where such incidents were deliberately orchestrated to cover up corrupt and criminal acts.
A Twitter user with the handle @collinsdike77 while reacting to the rising fire incidents in Abuja, said, “Nigerian Government are suspects, in a bid to cover up their shady deals they have set fire in three of the national offices, the first was the finance headquarter, the second was the Corporate Affairs Commission and the third is the INEC office.”
@realOlaudah, another Twitter user, questioned the Nigerian Government’s claims of fighting corruption.
The user said, “First was the Treasury House, then CAC, now INEC building, all within the last 10 days in the same Abuja.
“Who’s next in this season of arson? Why are they burning these places in this ‘anti-corruption’ regime? Your guess is as good as mine. We watch.”
Also joining the debate, rights activist, Joe Okei-Odumakin, questioned what could be causing the fire incidents in Abuja especially at this time of lockdown in the country.
She said, “Money will be used to put out the fire while billions will also be needed to repair the burnt edifice.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria’s main opposition party, in a statement, said the were deeply worried and hopes that this spate of fire outbreaks was not a coordinated design by sinister elements against demands for due process and accountability in the country.
The party said, “The PDP notes that our nation can no longer afford any more fire incident in our key institutions as such will be distressing to the polity, which is already under pressure occasioned by dwindling economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
One Twitter user, @ayemojubar, said the fire outbreaks were not mere coincidence.
He said, “BREAKING: INEC Nigeria office in Abuja is also on fire. This is beyond just a coincidence.”
Also stating that the fire incidents in Abuja were not ordinary, activist Deji Adeyanju said, “Fire guts INEC office in Abuja. The rate at which they are going, they will burn down Abuja.”
Ikpe Nyong, another user of the popular social networking platform, said, “First it was Accountant-General’s office, after that Corporate Affairs Commission and now @inecnigeria headquarters Abuja.
“This government of @MBuhari be using fire to cover up their illicit, evil, mischievous and sinful deeds.”
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Lagos Health Commissioner Confirms SaharaReporters’ Story, Says Kyari Died At First Cardiology Consultant
The Lagos State Government has confirmed a report by SaharaReporters that late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, died in a Lagos private hospital.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Kyari received treatment at First Cardiology Hospital also known as First Cardiology Consultants in Ikoyi, Lagos, until he died of complications from Coronavirus.
The hospital had earlier denied treating the late Kyari.
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REVEALED: Abba Kyari Died At Lagos Hospital, First Cardiology Consultants
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However, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, in a post on Twitter on Saturday evening revealed that Kyari died from complications of COVID-19.
He added that the hospital had a separate specialist wing with staff dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19.
Abayomi said, “Following enquiries on the passing away of the Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mallam Abba Kyari, on Friday April 17, 2020, the Lagos State Government states that: Mallam Abba Kyari died from complications of #COVID19 infection at First Cardiology Consultants in Lagos.
“This hospital is a Lagos State designated high care, biosecurity-compliant, #COVID19 facility accredited by the Health Facility Management and Accreditation Agency @HEFAMAA_LASG of the @LSMOH.
“As a basis for accreditation, First Cardiology Consultants established a separate specialist wing with staff dedicated to the treatment of complicated cases of #COVID19 under the supervision of the Lagos State #COVID19 emergency response team.” infection at First Cardiology Consultants in Lagos. This hospital is a Lagos State designated high care, biosecurity-compliant, #COVID19 facility, accredited by the Health Facility Management and Accreditation Agency @HEFAMAA_LASG of the @LSMOH 2/3— Prof. Akin Abayomi (@ProfAkinAbayomi) April 18, 2020
The Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos chapter, had earlier warned that there could be an explosion in the number of infections in the state and the country at large if private hospital continued to treat Coronavirus patients.
In a statement signed by Saliu Oseni and Moronkola Ramon, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the Lagos NMA said, “A disturbing trend in the private management of COVID-19 cases in private hospitals where capacity for infection control and surveillance may be limited.
“This action is likely to be the missing link to the worsening community transmission.”
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Abba Kyari: Speaking Ill Of The Dead By Remi Oyeyemi
“The evil that men do live after them.” — William Shakespeare
I am aware that this is breaking with the conventional wisdom. I am conscious that this is a rebuke of tradition. I am not oblivious to the fact that it is against the norm. I am not unaware that this is not in tune with the mainstream. I am aware some would loath me for it. Some would deride me. Others would call me names. Those who really never liked my guts, would have this reinforced it for them. But those who have the objective ability to see things the way they are and are able to call them as exactly as they should, would see some sense in this.
The idea of not speaking ill of the dead is not a good idea, especially if the dead person did nothing deserving of praise. The idea of praising the dead, regardless if the dead, during his or her life was mean spirited, greedy, selfish, inconsiderate, odiously acquisitive, ruthless and disdainful, is totally unacceptable. It is wrong and should be done away with. We should be able to say exactly what kind of person someone was during his or her life.
I have been reading in the media unbelievable eulogies about the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Abba Kyari. I have been reading some hypocritical praise-singing of this man who, to many Nigerians, who celebrated his infliction a couple of weeks back, was no less a monster, because he has become the casualty of Coronavirus. I have read from those who hated him saying embarrassingly ‘nice’ things about him. What a fraud. What a dishonesty.
It is a sad day when people cascade into casual casuistry with unbridled audacity. It is an act of deliberate undermining of the societal values to heap praises on someone whose remains ought to be used to cast away evils from the entire society. To project a mean-spirited public office holder as a saint when he is not, is a sin in itself.
I take serious objection to the rain of praise that has been raining down on the corpse of the late Abba Kyari. Though, this is a matter of choice to which we are all entitled depending on the way we see it. In my own view, Kyari is not deserving of any praise whatsoever. It is alright for President Buhari to cry himself hoarse. Kyari was his Chief of Staff and his relative. It is okay for his goons in Aso Rock, his partners in crime to weep without end. It is okay for those who are beneficiaries of his corrupt practices, his impunities to gnash their teeth to numb. It is their loss. His immediate and extended family members reserve the inalienable rights to mourn him infinitely and indefinitely.
I also believe that it is alright for the rest of us who are victims of the first family and their collaborators in Aso Rock, to acknowledge the loss of a soul, not because of any other reason other than the fact that we are all human beings. And this is where it ought to end. No more, no less.
For those who are Buhari’s sycophants and who still hope to benefit from the misery he is visiting on Nigeria, it might be acceptable to them to shed their crocodile tears even if they really did not like the man when he was alive. They are welcome to do so.
Here is a man, who never got a single vote, whether rigged or not, from the Nigerian people, but who hijacked the executive powers of the Presidency. He held Nigeria and Nigerians to ransom since 2015. He rode roughshod over the people of this country. He appropriated all the appurtenances of power for his personal idiosyncrasies.
Abba Kyari never cared. He never gave a damn. Yes, he did not give a damn how many Nigerians died. He did not care how many Nigerians went hungry. He did not care how much injustice was perpetrated. He did not give a damn how many innocent Nigerians were murdered. He did not give a damn how many Nigerians were chased off their ancestral lands. He did not care how many of our daughters were raped. He did not give a damn how many were maimed by his tribesmen.
He was a perniciously greedy soul. He was remorseless in his ways. The N500m bribe he took from MTN was emblematic of his innate rapacity. It was emblematic of his bloated edacity. He appointed himself to the Board of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. It was the first time in the History of Nigeria for an incumbent Chief of Staff. It was against the norm of decency and restraint. It was impunity at its worst.
Kyari relentlessly harassed the Vice President, licentiously anchoring Prof Osinbajo’s deliberate disempowerment. He unabashedly intimidated the Ministers and prevented them from meaningful collaboration with the man who appointed them, or whom he helped appointed. With a mien akin to that of a dove, he was a heinous hawk, a vicious vulture that is egregious and atrocious in its debauchery and cupidity.
He was mindless and mean. He was cruel and cold. He was crude and callous. His greed was congenital. His insouciance encrypted his guiled mendacity. He was hung up on power hunkering. He had disdain for the rules. Like his principal, Buhari, he believed and acted above the law. His arrogance was horrifying. His condescension, sardonically sickening in the way and manner he exercised unmerited power.
Yes, the idea of not speaking ill of the dead is a very wrong one, especially if that dead person never did anything to deserve it. If this practice was to continue, it means every criminal in our midst should look forward to being praised after he/she was dead regardless of the crimes committed. This would also mean a genuine disincentive for those who strive to do positive things and improve their communities.
It is very important to ensure that dead people’s memories be imbued with their acts of omissions and commissions when they were alive. It is an act of injustice to arrogate false achievements, fake qualities to monstrous figures more notorious for their kleptomania as they gallivant through the inner rooms of power.
Hopefully, when I die, people would have the unburnished courage to say exactly what they feel about me and not deodorize my omissions and imperfections. Hopefully, those who would feel the need to mourn me would not see the need to be hypocritical and dishonest in their elegies.
In all this, what became clearer is the vanity of vanity itself. It brought to the fore the cliché popularised by the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State in the early 1980s, “vanity upon vanity, all is vanity”. It underscores the ephemeralness of not just power, but of all things that are human, except our deeds. This probably informed William Shakespeare’s ageless rumination captured in the phrase, “The evil that men do live after them.”
We should not praise villains when they are dead. It is a great disincentive to those who laboured to be above board and did the right thing. You don’t have to agree with me. You don’t have to like me. Please, don’t like me, just respect the truth.
“The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.” –Pope Francis
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