Month: April 2020

Oyo Covid-19 emergency: Between public health and sophomoric politics By Olusola Sanni

Emporium Reporters

If anyone was in doubt about the notion that the people remain the centre-piece of the Seyi Makinde’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in Oyo State, the method and manner the state government has adopted to respond to the emergency situation arising from the Covid-19 pandemic should clear such doubts. Covid-19 is a highly infectious disease and it has claimed many a life across the globe. There are 11 confirmed cases of the disease in Oyo State, with seven victims being fully treated – including the governor himself. Just about…

Police commence investigation into allegation of sale of COVID-19 exemption tags

Emporium Reporters

Police commence investigation into allegation of sale of COVID-19 exemption ta The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Bala Ciroma, has ordered a discreet investigation into the allegation trending on the social media that the COVID-19 exemption tags are being sold to persons not on the exemption list. This was revealed in a statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of the Command, Anjuguri Manzah. The statement said: “It is imperative to state that the tags which are only issued by the Police and the FCTA Security Service Department are…

COVID-19 LOCKDOWN: IGP warns transporters against continued night journeys …..Violators to face full wrath of the law

Emporium Reporters

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has warned of tough consequences for members of the organized transport sector who continue to breach the existing restriction order by resorting to night travels – a development that has proven to be counter-productive as it undermined the tireless efforts of the Federal Government at curbing the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus. This warning was sequel to intelligence at the disposal of the Force showing that road transport workers, especially interstate operators, have continued to defy the lockdown order and cessation of…

I am still COVID-19 positive – El-Rufai ….Chairs state council meeting from isolation

Emporium Reporters

Against the earlier speculations that Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has been cured of Coronavirus Disease, the Governor on Wednesday said he is still positive of the virus. The Governor, who disclosed this on his Twitter handle Wednesday afternoon, also disclosed that he chaired the State Executive Council meeting through a video conference. Governor El-Rufa’i called on Nigerians and people of Kaduna State in particular to ignore fake news over his status, saying that he will personally make it public when he is cleared of the disease. According…

IPC launches Journalists Advisory on COVID-19 reporting

Emporium Reporters

The International Press Center, IPC, Lagos-Nigeria, today formally launched an advisory to aid journalists in the course of covering and reporting the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said in a statement today that generations of Nigerian journalists were covering a pandemic for the first time and therefore needed as much professional support as possible. Arogundade also said as front men and women in the effort to disseminate information that would help combat the pandemic, journalists were being exposed to heath and security risks, which must…

TRIBUTE TO HAMDALLAH DAMILOLA SHITTA

Emporium Reporters

HAMDALLAH DAMILOLA SHITTA, born 24th July, 1996, died on 11th April, 2020. Last child of the fifteen children of father, ALHAJI SURAKAT OYEYIGA SHITTA of Imota, Lagos State and, the last child of the seven children of mother, ALHAJA JEMILAT ADUNNI SHITTA of Ikorodu, Lagos State. She came last but, returned first. Would the grieving cease ! Our loss is immeasurable. HAMDALLAH was in deed blessed with valuable qualities. She was Patience, intelligent, soft-spoken, calm, brilliant and enterprising. From Al- Hikma Nursery and Primary School, Otubu, Agege, Lagos to Ilham…

Makinde signs Oyo State Agribusiness Devt Agency Bill into law

Emporium Reporters

Oyo State Governor, Engr.Seyi Makinde, has signed the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) Bill into law. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the signing ceremony took place at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital. Speaking shortly after signing the bill into law, Governor Makinde said: “I have just signed the law to make provision for the establishment, composition and powers of the Oyo State Agribusiness Agency and every other matters connected therewith. “Agribusiness is one of the cardinal…

Osun discharges six more COVID-19 patients

Emporium Reporters

Government of The State of Osun has discharged six more COVID-19 patients after testing negative twice to the virus, in line with the National Centre for Disease Control protocol, following their treatment at the Isolation Centre in Ejigbo. The State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, who made this known via his official Twitter handle, @GboyegaOyetola on Wednesday afternoon, said the six were among the remaining seven Ivory Coast returnees at the Ejigbo isolation centre. “Another good news from our Isolation Centre, as 6 more COVID-19 patients have tested negative twice, in…

LOCKDOWN EXTENSION: create feeding centres – MURIC urges Governments

Emporium Reporters

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised the Federal, state and local government authorities to create feeding centres urgently in order to cushion the effect of the extension of COVID-19 lockdown. It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari extended the lockdown by two weeks in his broadcast yesterday, Monday, 14th April 2020. MURIC gave this advice in a press statement issued by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 15th April, 2020. “Though the extension is our best option if we don’t want to see Nigerians dropping dead on…

Police arrests five for cattle rustling,abduction in Niger state

Emporium Reporters

Niger state command of Nigeria Police force has apprehended five suspects for alleged cattle rustling in the state. The command in a statement signed by Niger state Police Public Relations Officer,ASP Wasiu A. Abiodun said on 5th April, 2020 the command received information from a reliable source that one Jibrin Sabo of Fulani Camp, Ekun village via Paiko LGA returned home with bullet wound on his right leg and was seen receiving treatment from one Suleiman Abdulkadir of Kwakuti village, Paiko LGA. On receipt of the information, a team of…