COVID-19: Lagos State discharges one new patient

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, today said the state has discharged another patient of the COVID-19 disease after testing negative for the virus.

Sanwo-Olu while disclosing this during a press briefing held at Lagos House Marina also confirmed that the total cases of the virus in the state has tallied 109 after confirming 11 new cases.

The newly discharged case according to the governor made the total number of discharged patients in Lagos 25. Lagos State has only recorded two fatalities from the virus so far.

Nigeria records 5 new cases of COVID-19

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced five new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria; three in Bauchi and two at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“As at 10:10 pm 4th April, there are 214 confirmed cases. 25 discharged and 4 deaths.

For a breakdown of cases by states: Lagos- 109 FCT- 43 Osun- 20 Oyo- 9 Akwa Ibom- 5 Ogun- 4 Edo- 7 Kaduna- 4 Bauchi- 6 Enugu- 2 Ekiti- 2 Rivers-1 Benue- 1.

3 UTME students abducted in Kaduna regain freedom

Three students abducted along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway sometime in March have regained freedom.

The students were abducted on their way from Kaduna after they had written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The teenagers were released alongside a toddler who was also abducted ‎from the same vehicle.

A resident of Birnin Gwari who didn’t want to be mentioned told Daily Trust that the teenagers were released after a ransom was paid.

Bode George donates N160m worth of food to less privileged

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has donated cash and foodstuffs worth N160million to the less privileged and the needy to cushion the effect of the lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The distribution of the items cuts across all party lines, the PDP chieftain said in a statement by his Special Adviser, Prince Uthman Shodipe.

However, out of the sum, N10m was set aside for PDP faithful in Lagos as well as providing financial assistance to other state chapters in the South West and beyond.

The statement reads: “Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, former National Deputy Chairman of PDP, has donated N160 million in cash and foodstuffs (rice, beans, Indomie noodles) directly to the needy, the poor and the less privileged; and all who are ravaged by the scourge of COVID-19, regardless of partisan affiliation.

Nigerian Military destroys ISWAP camp in Borno

The Nigerian Military through the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE and Artillery Batteries of Sector 3 of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has destroyed an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) camp at Tumbun Fulani on the fringes of Lake Chad in Northern Borno State.

In a statement signed by Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, the attack was a combined air and artillery bombardments conducted on 3 April as part of the coordinated joint offensive by the MNJTF to dislodge and completely rid the Islands (Tumbuns) of Lake Chad of terrorists’ presence and activities.

He said the operation was executed on the heels of credible intelligence reports indicating that the ISWAP elements, with their structures concealed under the dense vegetation of the area, used the settlement as a base from where they plan and launch attacks.

Coronavirus infects 17 doctors, nurses in Egypt

Egypt’s main cancer treatment facility has 17 cases of the novel coronavirus among its medical staff, an educational institute said on Saturday, sparking fears of exposure among vulnerable patients.

Cairo University, with which the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is affiliated, said in a statement Saturday that “17 doctors and nurses” at the NCI had contracted COVID-19.

The university said it would open an investigation “to determine whether there was any negligence” at the institute.

Earlier in the day, NCI director Hatem Abulkassem had told a private TV channel that three doctors and 12 nurses were infected.

5-year-old among 708 COVID-19 deaths recorded in UK today

Britain today reported a record 708 daily deaths from COVID-19, including a five-year-old child, who is thought to be the country’s youngest victim.

The health ministry said 4,313 people who tested positive for the virus in the hospital had died as of 1600 GMT Friday while there were 41,903 confirmed cases as of 0800 GMT Saturday, up 3,735.

The toll has been steadily increasing by more than 500 deaths a day this week and the country is bracing for an expected peak in the next week to 10 days.

A total of 637 of the latest deaths were in England, the National Health Service (NHS) said.

Sanwo-Olu says Lagos may extend lockdown if need be

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the ongoing lockdown in the state might be extended beyond 14 days.

He said this during a media briefing on today.

He said the lockdown would be extended depending on the situation of things, adding that the number of patients discharged in Lagos had risen to 24.

The governor, however, assured residents that palliatives would be provided.

NCDC apologises for error in COVID-19 results

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says it committed an error in announcing confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.

It said that the total number of cases in Nigeria as of 10.30 pm on Friday is 209 and not 210 that was earlier reported.

With the correction, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Osun is 20 and Oyo now has nine.

Lagos State retained its lead with 109 cases, followed by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja which has 41 cases.

The NCDC subsequently apologised for the error on its Twitter handle today.

Ex-Barcelona and Spain star Xavi donates 1m euros to hospital to fight coronavirus

Former Barcelona and Spain star Xavi Hernandez and his wife have donated one million euros to the city’s Hospital Clinic to help the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

“Xavi Hernandez and Nuria Cunillera have made a donation of one million euros to the clinic to face up to COVID-19. Thanks a lot for your help and support… All together, we will get there,” the hospital tweeted on Saturday.

In a video posted on his twitter account, Xavi also said;

“Nuria and I, we support the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona’s fight against the coronavirus. Thanks to the donations they are receiving, the hospital has acquired equipment for patients and healthcare professionals.” 

Enugu fire service fumigates environs over COVID-19

The Enugu State Government has commenced the fumigation of the metropolis and neighbouring environments in the state capital.

This is part of some precautionary steps taken by the state government to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to safeguard the lives of residents of the state.

According to the Chief Fire Officer, Okwudiri Ohaa, the state government will fumigate major markets in the state before they will be allowed to reopen for normal activities after the pandemic.

Ohaa who maintained that the soluble substance for fumigation is not dangerous to health said the major streets and suburbs will be captured in the exercise.

He has also called on citizens to comply with the sit at home order and avoid public gatherings so to enable them carryout the assignment.

Spain records drop in deaths for second straight day

Spain recorded a second successive daily drop in coronavirus-related deaths with 809 fatalities, official figures showed today.

The total number of deaths in Spain now stands at 11,744, second only to Italy. A record 950 people died on Thursday.

The number of new cases also slowed at 7,026, taking the total to 124,736.

Recoveries over the last 24 hours stood at 3,706, taking that total to 34,219.

Enugu state commissioner for health is dead

The Enugu State commissioner for Health, Professor Anthony Ugochukwu, is dead.

The renowned surgeon was said to have died Friday night at a leading private hospital, Memphys Hospital Enugu.

The development was confirmed by the House member representing his constituency, Oji River state Constituency in the Enugu House of Assembly, Hon. Jeff Mbah.

Mbah described the late Surgeon as a Genius, Technocrat; “he is a great loss to both Enugu state and Nigeria.

Adamawa NULGE Chairman abducted from his home

The Adamawa State Chairman of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Alhaji Hammanjolde Gatugel, has been abducted by suspected kidnappers.

Hammanjolde Gatugel was taken away in the early hours of Saturday, at 12:50 am, from his residence in Mayo-Belwa, headquarters of the Mayo-Belwa local government area in the southern part of the state.

“The kidnappers struck about 12.50 midnight and fired shots sporadically and took the chairman away,” a neighbour said.

Mayo-Belwa has recently become known for notable residents getting kidnapped or killed.

Two killed, four injured in France knife attack

Two people have been killed and four others injured in a knife attack in the southeastern French town of Romans-sur-Isère, the town’s mayor has said.

The attack took place on Saturday morning outside a bakery where customers had queued, according to mayor Marie-Hélène Thoraval.

She added that the assailant had been arrested.

Lyon judicial police are investigating the incident and France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) is evaluating whether to open an investigation into the stabbing, the French newspaper Le Monde reported.

Some of the injured are thought to be in serious condition, the newspaper said.

Missing Osun COVID-19 patient apprehended by police

The missing COVID-19 patient in Osun state, has been apprehended by the police and returned to the Isolation facility in Ejigbo, area of the State today.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan confirmed this to The Nation.

He said the patient, a woman, was apprehended by the police in Ejigbo town and returned to the facility this afternoon.

I became a Chelsea fan because of Mikel – Paul Okoye

Paul Okoye popularly know as Rudeboy shares his love for sports, playing football with Mikel Obi as a teen and why he became a Chelsea fan in this interview with  Kelvin Ekerete. Enjoy!

Favourite Sport?

Everybody knows my favourite sport is foo
tball. I can’t do without football. I play a lot of sports as well including basketball but I was really good at playing football.

Why did you not become a professional footballer?

Let’s just say I was checking football and music at the same time. But somehow, I was making more money from music. How do I make money? I performed at weddings and they sprayed me money.

I was tricked to Ghana with juicy job offer, sold into prostitution for N150,000 – 18-year-old trafficked Edo girl

There was a pin-drop silence in the room where only five of us sat; two men and three women. One of the women was her aunt who also doubles as her mother from age three when she lost her biological mother and the second woman is her elder sister who was 11 years old when their mother died.

Her three-year-old daughter strolled into the living room crying. It was her cry that broke the silence, but she was quickly returned to another room where other people around kept her busy to prevent her from disturbing her 18-year-year mother.

All this while, the centre of attraction, Oveze, had yet to speak. Her mood was pensive as she struggled to hold back tears which had welled up in her eyes. She stared into empty space with her chin resting on her two hands as she appeared to be unconscious of her environment.

Neymar revealed as the anonymous donor who gave £775,000 to fight coronavirus

Neymar has been revealed as the anonymous donor who gave 5 million Brazilian real (£775,000) to charity to fight coronavirus.

The Paris Saint-Germain star split the donation between UNICEF and a benefit fund in his home nation of Brazil to aid in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Neymar had made the generous gesture without putting his name to it, however, Brazilian television channel SBT revealed that the national team striker had made the donation.

The revelation was made on SBT programme Fofocolizando, which said: "He preferred not to publicly disclose the donation, so we're telling everyone, because we like to talk when a person does something nice.

Amir Khan defies social distancing rules as he hosts birthday party for FIVE friends

Amir Khan defied the Government's strict rules on social distancing last night as he hosted a party for five of his friends.

The boxer enjoyed a cosy takeaway curry at his home in Bolton and videoed the  gathering before posting the footage onto his Instagram feed.

Quickly realising what he had done, he deleted the film but not before eagle-eyed fans had spotted it.

The video shows Amir and three pals tucking into tasty plates of food, laughing and joking in the face of government guidelines to avoid socialising with those who do not live in your household as part of the drive to stem coronavirus from spreading.

Oprah Winfrey reunites with her partner two weeks after he went into isolation

Oprah Winfrey has reunited with Stedman Graham.

The 66-year-old media mogul's partner had been staying in their guesthouse for two weeks since returning from a work trip as a precautionary measure because she is still not fully recovered from pneumonia and didn't want to risk catching coronavirus, but now the incubation period for the virus is over, her long-term companion has been welcomed back into their home.

In a video posted on the O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine Instagram account, Stedman was greeted by Oprah with a hug while two former students from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls sang for them.

Six coronavirus patients escape from Osun isolation center

Osun State residents panic as six persons who tested positive escaped from isolation centre at Gedu in Ejigbo area of the state, The Nation reports.

According to an unofficial public announcement the state has launched a manhunt for the six persons who escaped from the isolation centre on Friday night.

The announcement enlisted the names and phone numbers of the six infected persons as;

Lawal Waliyulah, Masifa Ejigbo: 08063691573

I have no regrets killing my mother-in-law – Housewife

The entire Abena community in Doma Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, is in mourning mood since a housewife, Rosemary Osegba Chem, hacked her mother-in-law, Mrs Ashi Chem, to death over the latter’s alleged undue interference in the former’s marriage.

Sensing that her marriage to Mr Abaagu Chem was on the verge of collapse on account of her mother-in-law’s undue influence, Rosemary decided that the only way to save her marriage was to kill her mother-in-law.

Rosemary had got married to Chem, a farmer and petty trader, in February 2016, but the marriage was yet to produce a child. Now 43 years old, Mr. Chem, the only son of his parents, had lost his father when he was only 18 years old.

Funke Akindele celebrates her husband on his birthday

Funke Akindele Bello's husband JJC Skillz is a year older today. And his wife took to her instagram page to celebrate him on his special day.

''Happy birthday my darling husband❤️❤️❤️ The Lord will Grant you longer life and good health. Thank you for being a sweetheart! Our home will always be peaceful and the Lord will continue to bless us. Enjoy your day my King @jjcskillz #babaibeji'', the mum of two wrote.

China mourns victims of COVID-19 in three minutes silence

China held three minutes of silence during Tomb Sweeping Day on Saturday for people who have died in the COVID-19 outbreak.

During the national mourning event, national flags across China and at Chinese embassies and consulates abroad were lowered to half-mast, and public entertainment activities halted.

The three minutes of silence started on time at 10 am (0200 GMT).

At the same time, car horns honked, trains and ships sounded their whistles, and air defence alarms went off.

Trump announces new face mask recommendations

President Donald Trump said Friday his administration was now recommending Americans wear “non-medical cloth” face coverings, a reversal of previous guidance that suggested masks were unnecessary for people who weren’t sick.

Trump said the recommendations, which came after a week of heated deliberations inside the White House, were voluntary and that he would not partake.

“I don’t think I’m going to be doing it,” he said, going on to suggest it was hard to envision such a thing in the Oval Office: “Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens — I just don’t see it.”

After weeks of insisting Americans should not wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus — and even suggesting their use could increase the chance of infection — administration officials this week engaged in an internal debate over reversing course, according to people familiar with the matter.

Pastor Adeboye donates another N20m to support Osun State COVID-19 relief package

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has made another donation of N20 million to Osun State government to support its effort to cushion the effect of coronavirus (COVID-19) on Osun residents.

As at Friday, April 3, 2020, Odin ranks third among the states with confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 30 confirmed cases out of the 198 confirmed cases in Nigeria as released by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

The state, no doubt, would require all the support that it can get in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and the N20 million support, which was transferred into the state government’s dedicated COVID-19 account domiciled at UBA, is considered timely support in the fight against COVID-19.

The General Overseer noted that by the donation, the mission “acknowledge the efforts of the state government in curbing the spread of the virus in the state and prayed that God would put an end to COVID-19, not just in Nigeria, but in the entire world”.

Awala Boys: Teenage hoodlums terrorise Lagos community, kill three

Amid lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, residents of Aiyetoro community in Ajegunle, in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State are living in fear of hoodlums popularly known as Awala Boys.

The thugs who belong to different factional groups have reportedly been terrorising residents and passersby since 2018, dispossessing them of phones, cash and other valuables.

Their operations recently led to the death of three persons – a photographer and secretary of a security committee in Aiyetoro, Peter Edogbei, one Daniel aka Warrior and Moshood aka Alegba – while many others, including a traditional ruler (otherwise known as baale), were injured.

Saturday Punch learnt the traditional ruler, Baale of Oke-Ira (also in Ajegunle), Taiwo Olayeni, Edogbeji and other community leaders, were returning from a meeting held at Ajeromi Plaza on Tuesday, March 24, when they ran into the hoodlums on Okoya Bridge, Aiyetoro, around 7pm.

Lockdown may increase domestic violence, activists warn

Women rights groups, including 283 organisations, have urged the Federal Government to prepare for the likely surge in cases of sexual and gender-based violence resulting from the coronavirus lockdown.

The President General Muhammadu Buhari had, on March 29, ordered the lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory for an initial period of 14 days. Some states have taken similar action.

The activists made the call in a joint statement by the Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi; Secretary General, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, Saudatu Mahdi; and the Country Director, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Dr Joy Onyesoh.

The statement read, “While the ‘stay-at-home’ order serves to protect families from the disease, it has the tendency to worsen sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls.

Army arrests soldiers threatening to r.a.p.e women in a video

The Nigerian Army has arrested two soldiers seen in a viral video threatening to molest women in the Warri area of Delta State and using uncouth and uncivilised language.

The two soldiers were arrested by 9 Brigade, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos State.

In the video, the soldiers had threatened to carry out a spree of r.a.p.e of women in Warri, with one of them threatening to inflict the women with the deadly HIV virus.

But the Nigerian Army, on Twitter, said the soldiers were arrested on Friday after the video went viral, adding that investigations were ongoing into the incident.

Woman gives birth to baby boy 14 years after marriage

A Nigerian woman has delivered a bouncing baby boy after 14 years of marriage.
She delivered the baby boy during this lockdown period.

A Facebook user who is very happy for them shared the good news while thanking God and wrote;

''Bouncing Baby Boy Arrived.
After 14 years of marriage.
Mr & Mrs Michael Ibeh.
God is wonderful. May his name alone be praised''. More photos below...

Toke Makinwa expresses are dissatisfaction for cooking

Toke Makinwa has expressed her dissatisfaction for cooking, saying it;s one thing she hates and can;t withstand. The media personality and author said she tried cooking yesterday when she went into the kitchen to make a meal, but ended up walking out with a glass of wine and cracker.

She then came on Twitter to talk to her followers about it, saying she might try again today tho.

“I walked into my kitchen ready to cook and walked out with a glass of wine in my hands, cooking is not for me, all that sweat and smell yuck, crackers to the rescue maybe I’ll try tomorrow”, she wrote.

South Africa rolls out mobile testing in virus lockdown

South African public healthcare workers dispersed into the buzzing streets of Johannesburg's Yeoville neighbourhood on Friday as Africa's worst virus-hit country rolled out mass door-to-door testing for COVID-19.

Armed with screening questionnaires and testing kits, medics and volunteers set up their testing station on the front porch of a block of flats in the gritty business neighbourhood.

Nurse Xola Dlomo told AFP they were asking one resident to mobilise fellow flat dwellers to come for screening and tests.

"They've been coming for screening and they are even open to testing if they have symptoms," Dlomo said.

China to mourn COVID-19 victims Today

China will on Saturday hold a national mourning for martyrs who died in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and compatriots who died of the disease, according to the State Council.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across the country and in all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and public recreational activities will be suspended across the country.

At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Chinese people nationwide will observe three minutes of silence to mourn for the deceased, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.

As of Thursday, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.

OAU s,e,x-for-mark lecturer released from prison two years after

A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Richard Akindele, jailed for se,xu,al harassment has been released from prison after serving a two-year term.

The Cable, an online newspaper, reports that Akindele, a professor of management accounting, was released about two weeks ago.

A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, in 2018 had sentenced Akindele to prison after he pleaded guilty to four counts filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The Commission had investigated se,xu,al harassment allegations levelled against the professor by a female student, Monica Osagie.

Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire

Juventus talisman Cristiano Ronaldo will become the third sportsman in the world after golf star Tiger Woods and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr to have earned $1bn during his career.

The Old Lady announced a massive pay cut to help them during a period with loss of revenue, but it won’t affect the Portuguese superstar too much.

Thanks to the brand that is CR7, he exclusively earned about €100m only in 2019, but in his career, he is expected to reach the $1bn club in 2019-20, even with the three-month pay cut at the Bianconeri.

Only Barcelona star Lionel Messi earned more than Ronaldo last season, but the fact that the 35-year-old has almost played 18 seasons of professional football helps him become the first-ever footballer to reach $1bn during his career.

Police bust Abuja gang selling cocaine

Six suspects dealing in cocaine and rohypnol in the Federal Capital Territory have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

Cocaine weighing about 15 grams and 300 sachets of rohypnol (popularly called refnol) were said to have been recovered from them.

City Round learnt that the suspects – Jide Akinsanya, 37; Johnson Uche, 45; Apai Idoko, 30; Nnemaka Kalu, 38 and Azubike Kelechi, 40 – were apprehended recently in Abuja and Kaduna State.

It was learnt that the suspects got the supplies from Lagos and Onitsha, Anambra State and sold the drugs to miscreants in bits.

Fifty-five-year-old patient dies of COVID-19 in Lagos

A 55-year-old man who was admitted to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, has died in the facility.

A reliable source at the tertiary hospital said the man died of COVID-19 complications.

The source said the hospital discovered that the patient had COVID-19 after he tested positive for the virus when a Polymerase Chain Reaction test was done on his blood posthumously.

“Fingerprint antibody test was done on him, confirming his COVID-19 infection,” punch source said.

Nigeria records 20 new cases of COVID-19, total now 210

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Friday night confirmed twenty new cases of Coronavirus in the country.

Eleven cases were confirmed  in Lagos, three cases confirmed in the FCT, 3 in Edo, twi in Osun and one in Ondo

Two new deaths have been recorded in Lagos and Edo State, with twenty-five cases discharged.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 210

Kwara state denies record of coronavirus case

Kwara State Government has denied that the state has recorded a case of COVID-19.

It, however, said that all the six samples of suspected cases so far tested in the state have been negative.

“The Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 wishes to clarify that the state has not recorded any confirmed case of COVID-19. As of now, all the six samples tested from Kwara State have returned negative,” Rafiu Ajakaye, spokesman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, said in a statement in Ilorin.

S.e.x workers evicted from Benin hotel over fear of COVID-19

Commercial s.e.x workers were today evicted from a hotel at Ugbague area of Benin in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State over fear of possible spread of coronavirus in the area.

Speaking with journalists, the Owner of the facility who only gave his name as Osagie, said the eviction became necessary because of the way the virus spreads from person-to-person.

He said there is high possibility that if one of the prostitutes contracted the virus , she will spread it to her colleagues in the brothel.

18 Chinese doctors are on their way to Nigeria to help

The Federal Government has said that 18 Chinese doctors are on their way to Nigeria with medical supplies including ventilators, to assist in overcoming the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said this on Friday in Abuja at the fifth joint national briefing of the Presidential Taskforce Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

According to him, a group of Chinese companies working in Nigeria have donated medical supplies to support the country’s fight against COVID-19.

He said the items being expected include commodities like personal protective equipment and ventilators.

Police invite two Imams in Delta over Jumat during lockdown

The Imams for the Ughelli main Mosque and Okorodafe Mosque were both invited by the Police following Friday Jumat services in the mosques despite the 14-day lockdown ordered by the Delta State Government.

Hundreds of Muslims had despite the lockdown, stormed the Mosques in flagrant disregard of the order by the state government which was done to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.

Angered by the position of the Muslim faithful, the Ughelli Police Commander, ACP Adamu Lawal Shinkafi had summoned the Imams of the two Mosques for a meeting which was still ongoing as at the time of this report.

World Bank excludes Nigeria in COVID-19 response money

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $1.9 billion first set of emergency support operations for developing countries around the world, using a dedicated, fast-track facility for COVID-19 response.

However, the global financial powerhouse excluded Nigeria from the list of the 25 countries to benefit from the support.

The organization said that the decision was reached by the board on Thursday and it was prepared to deploy about $160 billion in the next 15 months with a view to helping countries deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and quick economic recovery.

Ondo state records FIRST coronavirus case

Ondo State has recorded its FIRST coronavirus case, about five weeks after the first case of the disease was reported in Nigeria.

The Governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, announced this via his verified Twitter handle this evening.

He revealed that the state government received the report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shortly before he made the announcement.

Governor Akeredolu noted that the infected case has since been placed under isolation and would be monitored.

Tension in Kwara as UK returnee reportedly dies of COVID-19

The death of a Chartered Accountant, Alhaji Jimoh Muideen, on Thursday night at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITHC) who just returned from the United Kingdom where he had gone to attend the graduation ceremony of one of his children has sparked off tension in Kwara State that COVID-19 might have crept into the state.

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Chapter’s directive that all medical officers who participated one way or the other in attending to the deceased should immediately proceed on self-isolation, however, lend credence to wide speculation that the deceased might have been killed by the virus of pandemic Coronavirus.

Italian shoe designer, Sergio Rossi dies of coronavirus

Sergio Rossi, one of the most famous Italian shoe designers, has died of the coronavirus disease, an Italian official said today.

Several Italian media reported that Rossi, who was born in 1935, died on Thursday in a hospital in Cesena in the northern Emilia-Romagna region.

Luciana Garbuglia, the Mayor of San Mauro Pascoli, confirmed the death and its link to the novel COVID-19 to dpa.

San Mauro Pascoli is Rossi’s birthplace in Emilia-Romagna.