Headlines
COVID-19: Nigeria’s Confirmed Cases Rise to 40
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Nigeria has risen to 40, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed early Tuesday, after four new cases were diagnosed late on Monday.
The new cases were reported on the health agency’s situation report dashboard and its Twitter handle, @NCDCgov.
Two of the four cases were confirmed in travellers who just returned to the country.
Of the 40 cases, 28 had travel history to high-risk countries in the last two weeks.
A breakdown of the current cases shows that three of the cases were diagnosed in Lagos State and one in Abuja.
“As at 11:00pm on the 23rd of March, there are 40 confirmed cases of COVID19 in Nigeria. Two have been discharged with one death recorded,” the NCDC said.
With the newest update, Lagos has so far reported 28 cases of the virus, FCT – 7, Ogun – 2, while Oyo, Ekiti, and Edo states have one case each.
So far, a breakdown of cases by states in real time, shows that 37 cases are active, two have been discharged and one death reported.
Death
He recently returned from the United Kingdom.
As of Monday, most of the remaining 39 cases were clinically stable with mild symptoms and one patient being oxygen-dependent.
Precautions
With the increasing number of confirmed cases in the country, the federal government has been putting in place some measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Some include the ban on all international flights effective from Monday, with the exception of emergency and essential flights.
Some states have also banned large gatherings, closed schools and some offices
Response activities
With new cases soaring daily, the government has intensified contact tracing to trace those who might have been in contact with the infected groups.
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had earlier lamented that most of the people who returned to Nigeria from high risk countries are part of the reasons why cases have been rising in the country.
He said most of them had not adhered to the directives to self isolate for 14 days after returning to Nigeria.
“The fight to contain COVID-19 is a call for collective action,” he said.
Mr Ehanire urged all Nigerians to take self-isolation and social distancing very seriously, to prevent the spread of the disease in Nigeria.
He added that people should ensure that they maintain at least two metres (5 feet) physical distance between themselves and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
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Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
