Day: March 19, 2020

FRIDAY SERMON: What Is Obligatory Upon Us Concerning Covid-19 (Corona Virus) By Imam Murtadha Gusau

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In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all creation. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger, his family, his Companions and those who follow him till the Hour is established. Respected servants of Allah, during these days, many people are speaking about Corona Virus, the disease that has caused them to be fearful, fearful of its propagation as well as being afflicted with it. There are those who speak about it in jest, there are…

COVID-19: Niger Govt. shuts public, private schools

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The Niger State Government has directed the closure of Public and Private Schools as well as Tertiary Institutions across the State from Monday, 23rd March, 2020. A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane further stated that all public gatherings have been suspended by the State Government. Ahmed Matane disclosed that the closure of the Public, Private Schools and Tertiary Institutions which was for the period of thirty days and the suspension of all Public gathering was with immediate effect. The SSG revealed that the…

Senate mulls debate for Presidential, Governorship candidates

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The Senate on Thursday began amendment to the Electoral Act to introduce electoral debate as a requirement to be fulfilled by candidates of political parties seeking to contest Presidential and Governorship elections in Nigeria. Sponsor of the Electoral Act Amendment bill 2020 (SB.176), Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC – Oyo North), in his lead debate said if passed by the National Assembly, the piece of legislation will put an end to voting based on ethnic and religious allegiances in the country. He added that when signed into law by President Muhammadu…

Nigeria doing poorly in Agric research, says Lawan

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President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has decried Nigeria’s poor performance in the area of Agricultural Research and Development. Lawan made this known in his concluding remarks after the Senate considered a bill that seeks to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act. According to the Senate President, given the number of specialized agricultural institutes in the country, Nigerian farmers should have access to technology needed to make farming easy. “I want to say that we are doing very poorly in the area of agricultural research and…

COVID-19: No confirmed case in Oyo— Commissioner …says state on high alert, warns residents to practise personal hygiene

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The Oyo State government, on Thursday, allayed the fears of residents of the state on the Corona Virus pandemic, declaring that there was no confirmed case of the disease in the state yet. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello, who made the disclosure at a press conference held at the Agodi Secretariat, maintained that following the confirmed cases of the virus in neighbouring states, all facilities in the state were on high alert and that resources have been deployed to facilities in case of unforeseen circumstances. A statement…

COVID-19: Senate suspends hearings, shuts public gallery

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President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday announced the decision of the Senate to suspend public hearings and restrict access to its chamber over growing concerns of Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in the country. The announcement came after the Senate embarked on a closed session at the resumption of plenary to deliberate on the devastating impact which a spread of the disease may cause in the absence of preventive measures. “The Senate resolves to suspend all public hearings till further notice as a result of the Coronavirus, COVID-19. “In…

Insecurity: Senate wants Police Force decentralized …Says corruption responsible for indiscipline among security agencies

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The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Security Challenges has called for the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force as a way of improving efficiency aimed at addressing the problem of insecurity bedeviling the country. The upper chamber also recommended to the executive arm of government that the Police Command structure be decentralized with operational and budgetary powers vested in the zonal commands. These formed part of recommendations contained in the report of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Security Challenges. The Chamber also recommended that all Joint operations should be carried out…

COVID-19; Ogun Extends Ban to Schools, Worship centres

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Due to the global spread of the Corona virus and the recent ban of all high-density gatherings in Ogun State, the State Government has clarified that the ban on high-density gatherings affected all schools, whether public or private-owned, as well as all religious activities in the State. Consequently, all schools in the State will remain closed indefinitely after school hours on Friday, March, 20th, 2020. Also, all religious centres and activities including regular and special services that bring together fifty (50) or more persons in the same place are banned…

NASFAT suspends Assalatu, Juma’at over coronavirus

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An Islamic group, NASFAT at an Emergency Meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) convened to review the latest guidance available from State and National Government Authorities,has announced the suspension of its weekly Assalatu and Juma’at service across Nigeria. In particular, the NEC’s attention was drawn to the recent directives of the Lagos and Ogun State Government and Federal House of Representatives announcing the banning of In-Person gatherings with more than 50 persons, shutdown of schools in Lagos state among other actions. Read the statement in full: After due consultation…

Corona Virus: Al-Habibiyyah suspends gatherings, Juma’at service

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As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and in consonance with efforts by the Nigerian government to stave off the occurrence of Corona Virus infestation in the country, the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has announced the suspension of all gatherings in its mosques across the country with effect from Monday, March 23, 2020. While making the declaration in Abuja on Thursday, the National Chief Imam of the society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, said while no case has been recorded in Abuja, the city of the society’s corporate headquarters, the society took the…