BIGDREAM

The Lagos State Ministry of Health said Thursday that four new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the state. This brings to 12 the total number of coronavirus cases in Nigeria, although one of the victims has fully recovered. The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, addressed journalists on the new cases on Thursday at the state secretariat. He said the latest patients have been admitted for treatment at the Lagos State bio-security and infectious disease hospital, Yaba, Lagos. He said 19 tests were performed on suspected cases and contacts of the five cases announced on Wednesday, out of which four turned positive. The first of the new positive cases is that of a woman who had contact with one of the earlier positive cases who returned from the UK. The second is that of a Nigerian female who returned from France via a Turkish airline (TK 1830) on March 14. “The third new confirmed case is a Nigerian male in his 50s who had never travelled anywhere, b

Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have started leaving the FCT Orientation Camp In Kubwa, Abuja. Their departure on Wednesday morning follows the suspension of the exercise as a precautionary measure to avoid cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). See Photos Below:

The Lagos State Government has ordered that all public and private schools in the state be shut from Monday, March 23, 2020. The decision was taken as part of the preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus. According to a statement posted on the official twitter page of Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, he said, “the move becomes necessary to prevent our children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic” Eight  coronavirus  cases have been detected in Nigeria, majority of them in people who arrived Nigeria via Lagos. Lagos is also Nigeria’s main treatment centre for the disease. “The Incident Command Centre, headed by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the Incident Commander, will continue to trace all contacts of the identified cases and encourage anyone who has information about suspected cases to report to the nearest hospital or call the emergency telephone numbers 08023169485, 08033565

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, made the decision known late Wednesday in Abuja. Speaking with journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja late Wednesday, Mrs Ahmed said the Federal Executive Council approved different measures put in place to address the effects of the virus on the nation’s economy. According to Mrs Ahmed, the government has resolved to stop recruitment, except for essential services such as security and health services. It has also resolved to strictly restore and comply with the Civil Service Retirement Regulations, she added. “The other policy matters that have been discussed for implementation is for the administration to stop recruitment, except for essential services such as security and health services and to also restore and comply by the Civil Service Retirement Regulations,” she explained. “We’ve been asked also to review the modalities for the implement

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, said the delay in the implementation of flight restrictions is to enable airlines put safety measures in place. According to him, 24 hours notice to all airlines is necessary to ensure they know when to position their flights, for safety and security reasons. “There is what is called NOTAM – Notice To All Airmen. If you want to issue a kind of restrictions like this you give notice more than 24 hours to all airmen so that they will know when to position their flights and for safety and security reasons. “For instance if an aircraft has taken off now you cannot ask it to go back mid air,” Mr Mohammed said at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting. The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. Flight restrictions The federal government on Wednesday announced the restrictions of entry into the country for travellers from 13 high-risk Covid-19 countries. The countries are Ch

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria has cancelled its annual camping programme over coronavirus fears. The programme takes place annually in April. A statement by the Amir (President) of the MSSN in Lagos State, Saheed Ashafa, said that the cancellation was in-line with the federal government’s directive cautioning against large gatherings. While regretting the inconveniences that may be created through the cancellation, Mr Ashafa urged parents to productively engage their wards during the break. He said, “The leadership of MSSN in Lagos State has been observing with keen interest the development across the globe as regards the pandemic coronavirus. “We had prepared alongside other stakeholders to hold a hitch-free Islamic Vacation Course with necessary precautions being worked on. However, with the prevailing situation worldwide and unveiling development in Nigeria, the leadership after due consultation hereby cancels this year’s April IVC. “We regret all inconveni

resident Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a reduction in the pump price of petrol, an official has said. The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, announced this in a statement. Mr Buhai did not, however, fix a new price of petrol but only asked the appropriate agency, PPPRA, to do so. The current official price of petrol is N145 per litre. The PPPRA is yet to announce a new price with an official telling PREMIUM TIMES that the president’s directive has not been formally communicated to them. Mr Sylva said the president’s directive is because of the drop in the international oil price. PREMIUM TIMES has reported the drop in international oil price from over $50 a barrel over a month ago to about $30 a barrel. Read Mr Sylva’s full statement below. Reduction in the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) The drop in crude oil prices has lowered the expected open market price of imported petrol below the official pump price of N145 per liter. Therefore, Mr.