Ridoola's blog

The index case of coronavirus in Nigeria was confirmed on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Over 10,000 cases of the coronavirus outbreak have now been confirmed in Nigeria. This figure was confirmed following the announcement of 307 more cases in the country on Sunday, May 31, 2020, precisely 94 days after the first case was recorded in February. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its update stated that the new cases were detected in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. twitter.com Out of the 307 new cases, 188 were confirmed in Lagos, the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria. With this, the total number of confirmed cases in the state has now jumped to 4943. According to the NCDC, 44 new cases were recorded in FCT, 19 in Ogun, 14 in Kaduna, 12 in Oyo, nine in Bayelsa and five in Gombe state. Three cases each were also confirmed in Kano and Delta state, two each in Imo, Rivers, Niger and Bauchi and one case each in Plateau and Kwara state. The agency’

The RCCG expressed sadness over Uwa's death saying the church has lost a great member. The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has commiserated with the family of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student, who was attacked and raped in a parish of the church in Edo State. While speaking to ThePunch about the tragedy, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi , the Head, Media and Public Relations of the church described the deceased as a committed chorister. Olubiyi expressed sadness over Uwa's death saying the church has lost a great member. He said, “The church wants to commiserate with her family because it is a great loss; somebody has lost a daughter and a promising family member. We are saddened by the occurrence. “The lady was a member of the choir in one of our parishes and from the report we have, she had been going to collect the key to the church, where she had been having her private study. “On May 27, she did the same thing and nobody knew what had happened. When the nigh

The team met with the president to inform him about efforts made to curb the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria. Ahead of the expiration of the second phase of the eased lockdown, President Muhammadu Buhari has again met with members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting, which was held inside the President’s official residence on Sunday, May 31, 2020, was meant to inform the president about efforts made so far to curtail the spread of the virus and to consider the next line of action. twitter.com Members of the team that met Buhari include Boss Mustapha, who doubles as the Chairman of the team and Secretary to the Government of the Federation; the committee’s coordinator, Sani Aliyu; Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire; and the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu. ridoola.blogspot.com.ng

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has denied rumours that it plans to sack over 120 workers from its workforce. PHED Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr John Onyi said this in a statement on Sunday in Port Harcourt. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) had alleged that PHED was planning to retrench over 120 staff on June 1. The union, however, appealed to governments of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states to urgently intervene and restrain the company from retrenching workers. Onyi, however, said rather than retrench workers, PHED management was seeking ways to promote workers’ welfare in spite of the current macroeconomic environment in the country. “We find this claim by SSAEAC surprising as PHED management is not aware of any such move to sack over 120 staff. “PHED management has repeatedly offered a hand of friendship as well as operates open-door-policy

Tinubu urged Buhari and his family to take solace in the good and deeply religious life Dauda lived. Bola Tinubu, National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his nephew, Alhaji Ibrahim Dauda. Tinubu, in a condolence message by his media adviser, Tunde Rahman , extended his condolences to the family of Dauda, Gov. Aminu Masar i, the Daura community and people of Katsina over the tragic loss. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dauda died in Daura, Katsina State, following a prolonged illness. APC leader said: “Mr President, please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences over the passing of your nephew, Alhaji Ibrahim Dauda. “My condolences also to the family left behind by Alhaji Ibrahim Dauda, to Governor Aminu Masari and the people of Daura Community. “Coming after the recent demise of another family member, this may be further dampening but we cannot question God,” he said. Tinubu

The police officer was said to have gone berserk and started shooting sporadically. A police Inspector, Monday Gabriel, has been arrested in Lagos for killing his colleague, Felix Okago. Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 31, 2020. Elkana said Gabriel, who was transferred from Abuja to a federal government facility in Ikoyi went berserk on Sunday evening and started shooting sporadically, leading to the death of Felix, who was on duty with him. The statement reads, “On 31/5/2020 at about 0430 hours, Area A Command received a distress call that one Inspector Monday Gabriel from No 21 Police Mobile Force Squadron Abuja, on Special duty in a Federal Government facility in Ikoyi Lagos, went berserk and started shooting sporadically,” he said. “One Sergeant Felix Okago who was on Special duty with the Inspector, died from the gunshot injuries while others escaped unhurt. “In an attempt to escape, he took a patrol van and hea

Obaseki says he has ordered the police to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable in her death. Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, says he has ordered men of the Nigeria Police Force in Edo to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-yr-old student of the University of Benin. The 100 level student was attacked by some men inside a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Benin city where she had visited to read. She was said to be in the church auditorium when the group attacked her, raped her, hit her head with a fire extinguisher cylinder and left her for dead. Uwa was killed by some men after she was raped in Benin. (Saharareporter). Three days after the attack, Uwaila died on Saturday, May 31, 2020, as a result of the injury she sustained. Her murder has sparked outrage on social media as Nigerians call on police and the government to bring the culprits to book using #JusticeforUwa. Reacting to her death, Govern

Former Commissioner of Health in Ogun State said almost N59 million has been donated to the Health Workers’ Fund. The N1 billion Health Workers Fund set up to support frontline health workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic has supported more than 60 frontline health workers since it launched in March. Dr. Olaokun Soyinka , Chairman, Governance Board of the Fund, disclosed this in a statement issued in Lagos over the weekend. The seasoned public health expert and former Commissioner of Health in Ogun State said almost N59 million has been donated to the Health Workers’ Fund by public spirited corporate organisations and individuals. “We are very proud of ours strides so far; and are excited by the opportunity to provide succor to frontline health workers in the country. More than 60 health care workers from different parts of the country have been paid tokens in appreciation of their service at this critical time. We want them to be motivated when they walk into COVID-19 Isolation c

Amnesty International says Nigeria government’s response to rape continues to be woefully inadequate. As Nigerians continue to demand Justice for Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-yr-old student, who was raped and killed in a Church in Benin, Amnesty International has joined Nigerians in condemning the tragedy. Uwa was reported to have visited the RCCG, Edo Province 10, Ikpoba Hill, Benin to read on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. She was said to be in the church auditorium when some men attacked her, raped her, hit her head with a fire extinguisher cylinder and left her for dead. Reacting to her death, the human rights agency in a statement on Sunday, May 31, 2020, condemned the killing of the lady. twitter.com The statement reads, “Amnesty International condemns the rape and brutal murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa; a 22-year-old 100-level student of the University of Benin, Edo State. Vera Uwaila was raped and killed inside a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Benin city. #JusticeForUwa #R

A delegation had been sent by the university’s management to commiserate with the bereaved family. The Management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), has decried the news of the rape and subsequent murder of one of its students, Miss Vera Omozuwa. The victim was a 100 level Microbiology student of the institution before her travail. Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Lilian Salami, in a statement through the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire , described the news as shocking. In the statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Benin, the VC said the actions were condemnable and should not be condoned by any society. She said the current COVID-19 pandemic was already hard on everyone and that compounding it with inflicting additional pain on any family was a wicked act. While commiserating with the bereaved family on the loss of their daughter, Salami prayed God to grant her soul peaceful rest. The vice chancellor urged students of the institution an

Some little known facts about Marc-André ter Stegen. From his Dutch roots and a striker-to-goalkeeper switch during his younger years to embracing the Barcelona city lifestyle, the Barça keeper is a bag of surprises. Here are five things you might now know about the Barcelona goalkeeper. 1. He actually started out as a striker Marc-André ter Stegen (La Liga) Ter Stegen grew up in Mönchengladbach in the west of Germany and was signed up for local side Borussia Mönchengladbach by his grandfather aged just four. But interestingly enough, he started out playing as a striker for his first youth teams before taking over from an injured goalkeeper as a 10-year-old. He never looked back and has played as a keeper, to great success, ever since! 2. The city lifestyle suits him Unlike with the vast majority of top-level professional footballers, it’s not unusual for people living in Barcelona to catch a glimpse of ter Stegen out and about. He lives in the city centre district of Gràcia

Manchester United and Shanghai Shenhua are close to agreeing on this new arrangement. Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo is set to renew his loan deal at Manchester United which will see him stay at the club until January 2021. Ighalo first joined United in January 2020 from Chinese Super League (CSL) side Shanghai Shenhua in a loan deal that was supposed to run out in May. Due to the complications brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Manchester United are looking to keep Ighalo until the end of the season and the first half of the next. According to Sky Sports , Manchester United are close to agreeing on a loan extension with Ighalo’s parent club Shenhua. Odion Ighalo has impressed at Manchester United and drawn inspiration at everyone at the club (Getty Images) ALSO READ : How has Odion Ighalo fared so far at Manchester United Shenhua wanted their player back in time for the new season and would only agree to extend Ighalo’s loan deal if Manchester United agreed on an obl

The monarch says lockdown extension is necessary to avert rapid spread of the deadly virus in rural communities. The Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers told the Federal Government on Sunday to extend the current lockdown as the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nigeria nears the 10,000 mark. Eze Samuel Ohiri made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, saying the lockdown extension was necessary to avert rapid spread of the deadly virus in rural communities. Nigeria has currently recorded 9,855 confirmed cases of the virus, 553 of which were recorded in the past 24 hours. Two hundred and seventy five deaths have also been recorded with 2,856 people discharged after recovering from the disease, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. On March 4, President Muhammadu Buhari announced a nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the virus and extended the lockdown on May 4. Ohiri, who is also the Chief

#JusticeforUwa has become a topic on social media as Nigerians call on the police and government to ensure the culprits are brought to book. Following the murder of Uwa Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin on Saturday, May 30, 2020, Nigerians have been demanding justice for the deceased. Uwa was reported to have visited the RCCG, Edo Province 10, Ikpoba Hill, Benin to read on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. She was said to be in the church auditorium when some men attacked her, raped her, hit her head with a fire extinguisher cylinder and left her for dead. According to The Punch, a security official at the church found her in a pool of blood and informed his superiors at the church. Uwa, who recently gained admission into UNIBEN was thereafter rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where she narrated her ordeal. She, however, died three days after as a result of the injuries she sustained. The case has been reported at the Oregbeni Police Station, Ben

96 patients have so far been discharged in Oyo State. Twenty-one COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the Oyo State Isolation Centre in the past three days after receiving their second negative test results. Gov. Seyi Makinde announced this through his official Twitter handle on Saturday night. Makinde said the figure raised the number of discharged cases so far to 96 in the state. He, however, stated that 30 new cases were recorded within three days from May 28 when their confirmation tests came back positive. According to his tweets, 10 cases recorded on May 28 were all from iSON Xperiences – a company located in the Dugbe area of Ibadan. “On May 29, 15 cases were confirmed and 10 of it were from the iSON Xperiences while five cases were recorded on May 30, five of which were also from iSON Xperiences.’’ The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five new cases confirmed in the state were among the 553 recorded in 15 states on Saturday. The total number of conf

Nigeria must look inwards and strive towards self-sufficiency, according to El-Rufai. Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai says when it comes to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Nigeria should learn to look after itself. “We are on our own. The rest of the world doesn’t care. Nobody cares about Africa. The rest of the world is becoming increasingly nationalistic,” El-Rufai said on Saturday, May 30, 2020, during his presentation at the first 'Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Colloquium.’ The virtual conference was put together to commemorate Aregbesola’s 63rd birthday. Aregbesola is Nigeria’s Interior Minister. He also served as governor of the southwest state of Osun for eight years. El-Rufai who recovered from coronavirus on April 22, added that it’s time for Nigeria to begin fixing its deplorable healthcare system and equip its decrepit hospitals. “As a state government, we are even trying to get test kits for COVID-19 because America and Europe are buying up everything. Nobod

The owner also says the club will only sell Osimhen for a fee close to the £72m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe last summer. Lille owner Gerard Lopez has confirmed that the French club has received multiple offers for their Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen who has impressed this season. Osimhen was Lille’s star performer in the season that just ended in France with 18 goals in all competition. Due to his performances, the 21-year-old has been linked to several big European clubs and reports of some offers have already emerged which Lille owner Lopez has already confirmed. Lopez also revealed that Lille rejected offers from an English and Spanish clubs in the January transfer window. “ There are multiple offers. We turned down one English and one Spanish offer this January transfer window ,” Lopez told Daily Mail . Osimhen was Lille's star performer last season with 18 goals in all competitions ALSO READ : Victor Osimhen makes Ligue 1 Team of the Season “ There is a wide arra

There's a star in Dunnie and everyone from Lagos to Gaddafi 's Libya knows that. On May 28, 2020, Nigerian singer-producer, Dunnie released her second body of work titled, 'Four EP.' With it came a refixed version of her dream-cum-producer tag from 'Oladunni, The Beatmaker' to the simple, yet more resonant, 'Legend o.' In 2018, she released the impressive debut, Seven EP. Four EP continues a creative trend of naming her bodies of work after their length. While Seven EP was more experimental, Dunnie dives head-first into the Afro-pop market with a timely offering of four beautiful dance tracks on Four EP. What came of it? Bliss. Her growth is apparent as she now has a beautiful sense of timing. She knows when to produce astute lyricism from when to produce vibes. ' Overdose ,' which seems like a lyrical continuation of, 'Foolish ' her dreamy 2018 single of amorous defiance is a self-produced pot of steamed vibes while ' Koro&#

By 16, Mochi became a popular hypeman in the region as, 'The Life of The Party.' However, music has always been his first love. As a new guard of pop stars emerge in the Nigerian music scene, an artiste, songwriter and performer who has shown his desire to be counted among this new wave is Benin City's Afropop singer, Emperor Mochi. Raised in the heavily cultural city, Emperor Mochi whose real name is Modungwo Chika Chukwubuike has been exposed to musical influences from a very young age. He started recording music in different studios in Benin City at the age of 13 with notable producers such as Tony Ross and Andre Vibez. By 16, Mochi became a popular hypeman in the region as, 'The Life of The Party.' However, music has always been Emperor Mochi's first love. Now 21, the singer has a deal with Benin City-based SquareHead Entertainment where he hopes to achieve his dreams. And over the years, he has released a few singles and covers including 'Money

A total of sixteen patients have now been discharged in Akwa Ibom state. Two more coronavirus patients receiving treatment in Akwa Ibom have been discharged after recovery. Dr Dominic Ukpong , the state Commissioner for Health while announcing the development on Saturday, May 30, 2020, said the discharged patients have been certified negative by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC). This brings the total of recovery and discharged cases in the state to 16. Ukpong also disclosed to journalists that the state governor, Udom Emmanuel has expended so much in health care delivery and emergency operation in Akwa Ibom, saying that accounts for the 100% recovery rate currently being experienced in the state. He said, “Yesterday, you saw the magnificent 300 — bed facility that the Governor put up at Ituk Mbang, and I told people that it is going to compliment the services provided in the earlier facilities provided at Ikot Ekpene and the one here at the Ibom Specialist Hospital.

The NFF have Gernot Rohr just where they want him. After a long-drawn negotiation, political manoeuvrings and public fallouts, Franco-German Gernot Rohr and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have agreed on a new contract to allow the coach to continue with the Super Eagles. In the end, both parties have put their grievances aside to continue a working relationship that has become so complicated . It wasn’t like this in the beginning. It now seems a distant memory when Rohr and the NFF had a fantastic working relationship without any squabble. The NFF had to stand firmly behind the Franco-German earlier on and the coach needed it. With a less than stellar coaching career, Rohr was not well welcomed by critics when he was first hired but the NFF stood by the decision. That decision has been rewarded with the stability and consistency the Franco-German has brought to the Super Eagles. Under Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagles have enjoyed some consistency and stability (Twitter/Super

Osimhen and Simon are looking to be the only second Nigerian player to win the award. France-based Nigerian players Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon are in the running to be named the Best African Player in Ligue 1 in the 2019/2020 season after impressive seasons with Lille and Nantes respectively. Moses Simon was impressive for Nantes in his debut season in France (Twitter/Nantes) The award called Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, is an award in an honour to the late Marc-Vivien Foé awarded to the best player who represents an African national football team in France’s top division. twitter.com Nominated for this year’s award are two Nigerian players who both finished as top goalscorers for their respective clubs. Osimhen scored 13 league goals and 18 in all competitions for Lille while Simon had five goals in Ligue 1 and eight goals in all competitions . The Nigeria internationals are looking to become the first Nigerian player to win the award since Vincent Enyeama who won it in 2014

Osimhen's impressive season with Lille has seen him among Ligue 1's elites. Victor Osimhen’s fantastic debut season in France has earned him a place in Ligue 1’s Team of the Season. Osimhen who joined Lille in the summer of 2019 and went on to become their first-choice striker, scored 13 Ligue 1 goals to become the joint fourth-highest goal scorer alongside Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar . The 21-year-old also managed four assists in the league before the season was suspended and then cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Victor Osimhen scored 13 league goals for Lille (Lille/Twitter) The Nigeria international made the Team of the Season alongside names like Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Renato Sanches (Lille), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Dimitri Payet ( Marseille ), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain), Islam Slimani ( Monaco ), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Wissam Ben Yedder (Moanco), Memphis Depay

It's not a surprise that Musa has some of the finest cars in his garage. Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa gave fans a sneak peek of his expensive car collection in a recent post on Instagram. Musa who is one of the richest Nigerian footballers showed off a collection of his car in a video shared on his Instagram. In the video, the forward is seen playing table tennis with friends with some of his cars seen behind. Some of the cars in the video include his 2019 GWagon worth N120M , a Range Rover Velar worth N40m and a Porsche Macan worth at least N30m. 🏓 Musa is one of the richest Nigerian footballers after several years plying his trade overseas. Now at Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, the forward is reported to be earning around N1.2b annually. With that earning, the 27-year can afford the most expensive cars around. ridoola.blogspot.com.ng

Chelsea are considering Chukwueze in the case they miss out on their top target Jadon Sancho. Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly stepping up the chase for Super Eagles star Samuel Chukwueze who plays for Villarreal in Spain. After getting Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, Chelsea have set their eyes on Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho as they look to bolster their frontline ahead of next season. The Blues, however, face huge competition for the signing of the £90million rated 21-year-old and have started looking at other options. With the future of the likes of Willian and Pedro still uncertain, Chelsea have made a forward a priority in the next transfer window. Although Samuel Chukwueze has not reached the level he was last season, there is no doubt about his talent (Twitter/Samuel Chukwueze) According to Goal , Villarreal star Chukwueze is Chelsea’s main option if they fail to get Sancho and have stepped up the chase to get him. Chukwueze has caught the eye since

A total of 273 coronavirus-deaths have now been recorded in Nigeria. Nigeria has recorded what would for now be regarded as its highest number of coronavirus cases in one day with 553 new cases announced on Saturday, May 31, 2020. The total of confirmed cases in the country has exceeded 9,800. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the new cases in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with Lagos recording the highest number of cases as usual. But for the first time, Lagos recorded a very high number of cases that showed that the virus is spreading fast in the state. According to the NCDC, 378 new cases were detected in Lagos on Saturday, followed by Abuja with 52 more cases. With this figure, the total of confirmed cases in Nigeria’s economic capital has now risen to 4,755. twitter.com Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi had earlier announced in Saturday that a total of 50 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in

The minister has promised a new era of passport procurement and renewal in the country. Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, has promised a new era of passport registration, retrieval and renewal for citizens. The minister made the promise during the ‘Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Colloquium 2020,’ which held on Saturday, May 30. The virtual conference which was live on Youtube, Facebook, Zoom and Twitter, had as its theme: ‘Government Unusual--Innovative economic solutions to unlock mass prosperity.’ Some of the seven panelists drawn from the public and private sectors were Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Kebbi Governor Abubakar Bagudu and Bismarck Rewane who is a member of President Buhari’s economic advisory council. “A new era will arrive in passport delivery in Nigeria,” Aregbesola vowed as he re-echoed a promise he made to one of the panelists, development economist and Country Director of DAI, Dr Joe Abah, who did a nice job of reminding him at the commencement of

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) says it has commenced mass production of face masks and hand sanitizers for use by students of the university. Dr Williams Wodi, the institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information, Publication and Public Relations, said in a statement on Saturday in Port Harcour. According to Wodi, the medical kits were produced by the university’s Department of Fine Arts and Design in the Faculty of Humanities, to assist in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. “The department produce customised face mask for staff and students of the institution to stem the rising cases of coronavirus pandemic in the society. “The face masks, made with high quality fabric, are designated with the logo of UNIPORT, to distinguish them from others in the market. “Similarly, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences has also produced customised hand sanitizers for the university community, ” he said. Wodi assured that UNIPORT had taken proactive step to assist government curb spre

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday said COVID-19 pandemic would not truncate Nigeria’s democracy and electoral process. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this in Abuja in his remarks at the commission’s first virtual meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). Yakubu said that like it did to every other national institution, the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted INEC activities. “For instance, further engagements with the National Assembly and stakeholders on electoral reform and the conduct of some off-season elections have to be suspended because of the global health emergency. “Happily, the PTF has issued guidelines on protective measures for the gradual restoration of normalcy nationwide. ”On that basis, the commission recently released its own policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The commission is convinced that electoral activities can resume, but in full compliance with the advisory issue

Considering Kogi's closeness to affected states, Melaye says it is illogical for the state to be coronavirus-free. Former senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has affirmed that there are coronavirus cases in Kogi State. On Wednesday, May 27, 2020, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed two cases of the virus in the state, but the state government rejected the results, saying the cases were fraudulent. A day after the NCDC report, the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo during an interview on Channels TV also described the results announced by the NCDC as a beautiful fraud. But Melaye in a statement on Saturday, May 30, 2020, said he knows one of the patients suffering from the in the state. He warned the state government against playing politics with lives of the people saying it “is illogical to think we will be free with our proximity to affected states”. He said, “ I want to announce that the Covid-19 case in Kogi is real and authent

197 deaths caused by Lassa fever have now been recorded in Nigeria since January. Two people died in Ondo and Benue as a result of Lassa fever infection between May 18, 2020, and May 24, 2020. According to the latest situation report published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday, May 29, the acute viral haemorrhagic illness, caused by rodents, has killed 197 people in 2020. Nine new cases were recorded in the week under review with five in Ondo, two in Edo, and one each in Benue and Ebonyi. Suspected cases in Aba, Bauchi, Delta, Imo, Plateau, and Taraba returned negative results. 1,015 cases have now been recorded in 27 Nigerian states, with at least one confirmed case across 128 local government areas across the country. One of the new cases recorded is a healthcare worker in Ondo State, according to the situation report. The NCDC declared in April that the emergency phase of the 2020 Lassa fever outbreak was over because its case count dropped below leve

The Kaduna governor says he has a lot of respect for the socialist Aregbesola. Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has confessed that he shamelessly copied some of the development programmes of Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State. Aregbesola served as Osun governor from 2010 to 2018 and assumed the role of Interior Minister in the President Muhammadu Buhari cabinet in 2019. "The basis of my friendship and relationship with Rauf is because l found out that he is a socialist with a good heart,” El-Rufai said during a virtual colloquium put together to honour Aregbesola on his 63rd birthday. The colloquium held on Saturday, May 30, 2020 and commenced at 11am. The first ever Aregbesola Colloquium held on May 30, 2020 “I got closer to him when l went to monitor his re-election in 2014 and saw quality school buildings, busy youths on roads sweeping and constructing drainage. I asked him and he said they were on a N10,000 stipend. "What many h

The governor said he's confident that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win overwhelmingly. Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised people who turned out to vote in the state Local Government Council elections on Saturday to leave the polling units as soon as they voted to guard against the spread of Covid-19. Ortom gave the advice on Saturday in Gbajimba, headquarters of Guma Local Government Area of the state after casting his vote at the LGEA Primary School polling unit, Gbajimba. “Vote and leave in order to give room for other electorate to also exercise their franchise. “The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) has directed that in order to guard against the spread of Covid-19 only 30 electorate will be allowed at the polling units at a time. “So, if you vote, you have to leave to allow others too to come and vote. “I have the confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win overwhelmingly because in most of the local government areas, the

Buhari says Baru worked very hard to initiate reforms in virtually all departments of the NNPC. President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with family and friends of the former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Kachalla Baru, who died on Friday, May 29, 2020. In a statement by Femi Adesina , his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the president praised Baru for his contribution to the oil sector and the NNPC, saying the former GMD ‘worked very hard to initiate reforms in virtually all departments of the of the corporation.’ The statement reads, “ President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with family, friends and professional colleagues of former Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Kachalla Baru. Former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru died on Friday, May 29, 2020, in an Abuja hospital after a brief illness. (Punch) The President also commiserates with the government

The funds raised from the concert will be dedicated to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of health care professionals across the continent. It’s been three months since the first case of Coronavirus was reported in Africa. Till date, we have seen an exponential increase in the number of cases even as the virus continues to spread and life as we know it has changed. At the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 are the brave health workers who continue to risk their lives in these trying times. On Sunday, May 31st, MultiChoice Africa in partnership with One Africa Global Foundation will broadcast a special COVID-19 Hope For Africa concert to help raise funds for these health workers and support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Here are five reasons you should tune in to this special broadcast: 1. It will help to raise funds to combat coronavirus: The funds raised from the concert will be dedicated to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of health care professionals

The new board will be in place for three years. President Muhammadu Buhari has reconstituted the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The president’s approval was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The new Board was reconstituted following the expiration of the term of the Board members appointed in 2016. Members of the new Board are Mohammed Lawal (North West), Tajudeen Umar (North East), Adamu Attah (North Central), Magnus Abe (South-South), Stephen Dike (South East), and Pius Akinyelure (South West). The new board will be in place for three years. However, the statement by Adesina did not state who will serve as the Chairman of the Board. ridoola.blogspot.com.ng

Obasanjo says the decision to lay off workers was taken due to the adverse effect of the coronavirus pandemic. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has sacked staff of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, in Ogun state. The sack was announced in a letter signed by Olanike Ogunleye , the Library’s Head of Human Resources, Administration and Procurement on Monday, May 25, 2020. In the letter, it was stated that the ‘difficult business decision’ was taken due to the adverse economic effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the organisation. A copy of Obasanjo's letter to his workers (Pulse) The letter reads, “As you are aware, the current COVID-19 pandemic has had a toll on all our business significantly. This has resulted in making some difficult business decisions. “Due to the situation, we regret to inform you that your employment will be on hold till further notice. The letter also informed the workers that they are not eligible for any payment during the per