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Nigeria’s Coronavirus Tally Hits 627 With Additional 86 Cases
Nigeria, on Sunday, recorded 86 new cases of coronavirus, its largest daily figure since the outbreak in February. With the newest update, the total tally of infected people in the country rose to 627 from 541 reported on Saturday evening.
The public health agency in a tweet late Sunday night said that new cases were reported in seven states. These are Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Bauchi and Borno states.
Two states, Jigawa and Borno, reported their first cases of the infection on Sunday.
Also, Lagos State reported its highest daily figure of confirmed cases since the index case was reported in February.
A breakdown of the newest update shows that 70 of the new cases were reported from Lagos, seven in the FCT, three each in Katsina and Akwa Ibom, and one each in Jigawa, Borno and Bauchi.
NCDC said as of 11:50 p.m. on April 19, there were 627 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. Of these, 170 infected people have recovered and have been discharged while the death toll rose to 21 from 19 reported on Saturday.
A breakdown of all the cases shows that Lagos State has so far reported 376 cases, followed by FCT – 88, Kano – 36, Osun – 20, Oyo – 16, Edo – 15, Ogun and Katsina, 12 cases each, while Kwara and Akwa Ibom have recorded nine cases each.
Bauchi has 7 cases, Kaduna – 6, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti, 3 cases each, Enugu, Rivers, Niger and Jigawa have two cases each, while Benue, Anambra and Borno have recorded one apiece.
A total of 21 states and the FCT have so far reported at least a case of the disease.
Meanwhile, NCDC earlier tweeted that it made a mistake in the compilation of cases reported from Ekiti State.
The agency said as of Saturday, there were three cases in the state and not four as reported.
Correcting the error, it said “yesterday , we erroneously reported one new case in Ekiti. This was wrong and was caused by an error in the verification process.”
Therefore, as of April 18, 2020, there were 541 confirmed cases, 166 discharged and 19 deaths.
Ekiti State has three confirmed cases, so far, not 4, the agency said.
The agency also apologised to the government of Ekiti State for the error.
“We remain committed to improving our quality control processes, to ensure accurate and transparent reporting of cases,” it stated.
COVID-19 is primarily spread through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.
As such, it is important to keep a distance of two metres away from people because those infected by the virus can not be detected without a test.
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The Lagos State Police Command has restored normalcy in Onosa Community in the Elemoro area of Lagos State, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The statement, signed by the Lagos Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, recalled that “In the early hours of today, August 29, 2025, six officers from Elemoro Division while on routine patrol encountered an irate mob. In the course of ensuring their own safety, the officers used their firearms, resulting in three individuals sustaining injuries. The injured persons were taken to hospital for medical attention.”
The statement further observed that “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, promptly responded to the incident by personally leading a detachment of officers to the scene. The swift intervention led to the removal of all barricades, restoring the free flow of traffic in the affected area. CP Jimoh also moved deep into the community and engaged with youth and community leaders in the neighborhood to de-escalate tensions and foster understanding. He has further extended an invitation to these leaders for continued dialogue to address concerns and prevent future occurrences.
“The officers involved in the shooting have been taken into custody as investigations into the incident commence. The Lagos State Police Command is committed to a thorough and transparent inquiry to establish the facts surrounding the event.
“Normalcy has been restored to the area, and significant police presence remains in place to ensure the sustenance of the restored peace and order. The Command urges residents to remain calm, cooperate with law enforcement, and refrain from actions that could disrupt public safety.”
Hundeyin assured members of the public that further updates will be provided as the investigations progress.
Former Nigerian leaders, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), have expressed deep sorrow over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday in London.
In separate condolence statements, the elder statesmen paid glowing tributes to the late Nigerian leader, describing him as a patriot who served the country with distinction as a soldier, administrator, and statesman.
Obasanjo, through a statement issued in Abeokuta, Ogun State, noted that Buhari played his role dutifully throughout his life and gave his best to the country.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received this afternoon the passing to glory of a colleague, a comrade, a co-patriot, General Muhammadu Buhari,” Obasanjo said.
“As a soldier, he played his role; as an administrator, he played his role; as a statesman, he played his role.”
He added that Buhari’s death comes at a critical time when Nigeria needed the wisdom and experience of leaders who have previously steered the country through difficult times.
“He will be sorely missed. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” Obasanjo added.
Babangida described Buhari as a brother, course mate, and fellow patriot whose life was defined by discipline, humility, and unwavering loyalty to Nigeria.
In a personal tribute, Babangida recalled their shared history that began in 1962 at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna, noting that Buhari stood out early as a principled and deeply patriotic officer.
“Through the years, we shared trenches and trials, dreams and disappointments, victories and moments of reflection,” IBB said.
“Our bond was forged not only by military training but by a shared commitment to service and love for country.”
He acknowledged that while they may have held differing views at times, Buhari’s sincerity and patriotism were never in doubt.
“His passing today is not just the loss of a former Head of State or two-term civilian President—it is the loss of a symbol. He embodied the transition from the old guard to the new republic,” Babangida stated.
He prayed for Allah’s forgiveness for the late leader and extended condolences to his wife, Aisha Buhari, their children and grandchildren, as well as the entire nation.
“May his legacy endure, and may Allah (SWT) grant him Aljannatul Firdaus,” he concluded.
Veteran journalist and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bashorun Dele Momodu, has reaffirmed his unwavering support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to emerge as the presidential candidate of the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Monday evening, Momodu emphasised that while he stands with Atiku, he respects the right of other political supporters, including the Obi-dients to back their own candidates, particularly Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
“My best choice is Atiku, and that is what I expect Obi-dients to say, which I expect those who support Amaechi to say — there’s nothing wrong with that,” Momodu stated.
“I have never asked anyone not to support Obi. Obi is my very good friend. If you asked me about one of the people who should lead the coalition, I would say it should be Obi. But as a democrat, I’m appealing to them, hoping they will be able to do it democratically so that they will not say it was forced upon them.”
Momodu’s comments came amid heated debates surrounding who should lead the ADC-backed coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He stressed that all aspirants, including Obi and former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, should face the test of popularity through a democratic process.
