Before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, malaria has been a life threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through anopheles mosquitoes leading to the loss of lives, including children, on daily basis.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate Malaria day, Abimbola Bamgbose takes a look at ways to reduce malaria to zero level, especially at the rural areas.
President Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with Christians on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebration.
The President’s felicitation is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina,
He recalls that a year ago, celebrations were somewhat subdued, as the nation battled the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Buhari praises Christians for their resilience and understanding throughout the lockdown period, but urges them to celebrate this year’s Easter cautiously.
The statement says he appreciates the sacrifices of doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers, who have made the difference in saving lives and ensuring the reduction of the spread of the virus.
President Buhari expresses gratitude to Nigerians, who have religiously adhered to various interventions to curb the spread of Covid-19.
As Christians celebrate Easter, the President says it is an opportunity to renew hope and faith, show love and appreciation to one another and not to despair, no matter the challenges of the period.
The President says the government will continue to ensure that the weak, the poor and the underprivileged are not abandoned.
He explains that the government has reached out with palliative care, even amid dwindling resources; the government has tried its utmost to provide support to families and businesses affected by the effect of the pandemic.
The President commends law enforcement and military personnel, who continue to confront evil-minded individuals through the darkest of nights to keep us safe.
He says he is convinced that the new resolve within the security personnel to make sure that insecurity in the country becomes part of our history will come to pass.
The President advises Nigerians not to allow the antics of a few mischief mongers to fragment the unity and faith that the vast majority of citizens of the country cherish and believe in.
In the spirit of Easter, the spirit of Faith, the spirit of Belief, and the spirit of Hope, the President says Nigerians are better and stronger as one nation under God.
Abdullah Bello
Private schools in Oyo State have called on both the State and Federal Governments to put in place more palliatives to mitigate the harsh effects of COVID-19 pandemic on their income.
Chairman’, Association of Model Islamic Schools, AMIS, Oyo State Chapter, Alhaji Lawal Abass stated this in Ibadan at a news conference to herald the annual conference of the Association holding at Islamic Centre, University of Ibadan Central Mosque.
He said majority of proprietors of private schools had not benefited from government’s incentives as some schools were yet to come out of the loss incurred during the early days of COVID-19 pandemic, which destroyed the academic activities.
“We have a lot of requests from government. We lost a term of almost 4 months, many teachers could not get full salaries as some did not get any at all. Expectedly, government should have come to our aid to alleviate our sufferings”.
Alhaji Abass said the state government needed to extend the 35 percent deduction from the annual payment till next year to enable those who had paid earlier to benefit as majority of schools had effected payments before the announcement.
“The biting effects of COVID-19 started last year March and most schools normally paid between January and February and government asked that the duration of the payment should not exceed November. We are now appealing to the government to look at those that had paid but had not enjoyed the incentives and give them more time to also benefit”.
The AMIS Chairman explained that the quantity of the foodstuffs provided by the State government for teachers as palliative was so small that it would be extremely difficult to go round the teachers .
“A month ago, some foodstuffs were given for distribution to teachers but the quantity was small and if the foods were to be shared among all teachers in private schools, each would not have up to a cup of the foodstuff”.
Alhaji Abass said schools were looking inwards as directed by the State government to beef up security to enhance safety of teachers and students.
“We are ensuring our schools are enclosed so that we know anyone that comes in and goes out. We also have the phone numbers of security agents in case of emergencies and above all, we are praying that kidnapping and other criminal acts in schools in some part of Northern States will not spread to this part of the country”.
He noted that few schools benefitted from the survival fund of N90,000 for ten teachers introduced by the Federal Government and such gesture should be extended to other schools.
Also speaking, Chairman, Ibadan City Conference Planning Committee for Oyo AMIS Annual Conference, Barrister Akinwale Akinlabi said the programme which will hold between 2nd and 4th April would have in attendance 465 registered delegates comprising 349 school owners, 47 head teachers and 69 teachers.
“Highlights of the Ibadan City 2021 Conference include 13 sessions featuring 17 distinguished speakers. Out of the 13 sessions, 12 are plenary and the remaining one is the opening session.
Barrister Akinlabi explained that 17 speakers would do justice to the theme of the Conference “Vision, Creativity and Transformation: Moving our Schools from Good to Great” and they ncluded Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Professor Afeez Oladosu, eminent personalities and seasoned professionals.
He said one of the hallmarks of the conference would be the conferment of merit awards of meritorious contributions to Muslim education on the wife of Oyo State Deputy Governor, Professor Amudalat Olaniyan, Engr Idris Adeoye of HMF Construction and CEO, Vanguard Pharmacy, Pharmacist Taofeeq Odukoya.
Also, in attendance at the News conference is the incoming Chairman, AMIS, Oyo State, Alhaji Tohir Ahmad.
Ridwan Fasasi
Eid-ul adha also known as eidul-kabir is an important festival celebrated every year in Islam on the tenth day of the month of dhūl-hijjah, which is the twelfth and the last month in the Islamic calendar.
The day is celebrated exactly two months and ten days after the eidul-fitr which marks the end of Ramadan fast.
Eidul-adha is a festival to commemorate the willingness of prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God. But before he could sacrifice his son, almighty Allah provided a ram instead.
By taking part in the celebration, Muslims will be portraying their obedience to almighty Allah in emulation of what prophet Ibrahim did.
In commemorating eidul-adha, Muslim faithful gather as a congregation to offer Eid prayer, which consists of two rakats with seven takbir in the first raka’ah and five takbirs in the second, which is then followed by the khutbah, or sermon, by the imam.
After the congregational prayer observed either in a mosque or open field, the imam slaughters the animal for the festival, after which individuals then follow suit.
It is important to note that either the flesh or the blood of the slaughtered animals does not reach the almighty Allah but what reaches him is the piety behind the sacrifice as exhibited by prophet Ibrahim and obedience as demonstrated by his son, Ismail.
It is also obligatory to share the meat of the sacrificed animal in three equivalent parts, one for family, another for relatives and the rest for friends as well as poor people.
In fact, scholars have agreed that after the sharing of the meat and there are still some remaining, such should be given out, as a lot of people are having financial challenges which is made worse by coronavirus pandemic, which is responsible for their inability to get animal for the sacrifice.
This year’s eidul-kabir celebration no doubt comes with a caution due to the ravaging covid-19 pandemic. Although there are strict regulations in some states that Eid prayers should not be observed, Muslim faithful should ensure that all the measures to prevent the spread of the virus are followed to the letter.
And where the condition of such Eid ground is not in conformity with COVID-19 protocols, praying at homes like the way it was done during eidul-fitri is advisable.
The advice of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar that Eid prayer should be observed in jumat mosques should be adhered to, to prevent population explosion, which may be recorded in Eid prayer grounds.
It is therefore advisable for mosques to organize the congregation prayers in such a way that there would be physical distancing among the devotees, and where it is possible the prayer group could be broken down into smaller groups instead of having a very large crowd in a single place.
Security operatives and other government’s taskforce should be vigilant and should not hesitate to enforce compliance of Muslim faithful to COVID-19 protocols like washing of hands with soap under running water, using of face masks and maintaining social distancing.
Every Eid is indeed a period of interaction, merry making and visitation but due to the situation across the world, the best is to celebrate only with one’s immediate family while preventive measures at the same time is put into consideration so as to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
It behoves every individual attending the congregation prayer to protect themselves and their loved ones during the prayer and throughout the celebration.
Above all, if Saudi Arabia, which is the cradle of Islam could limit participation in this year’s hajj to ten thousand from over two millions and strictly for residents so as to contain the spread of coronavirus, no sacrifice could be too much for individual Muslims to take to secure their health, that of the family and the communities as more Eids would come but only the living will celebrate.
Oluwayemisi Dada
Retirees in the six Southwest states under the umbrella the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, (NUP), has advised the Federal Government to allow students to write this year’s WAEC exams despite the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
The Union, which made the plea this in Akure, during its Southwest Council meeting attended by zonal officers, State Chairmen and State Secretary, urged Federal and State governments to put in place preventive measures that would allow Primary 6, JSS and SSS 3 students to write their exams.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria after the meeting, the Zonal Public Relations Officer of NUP, Chief Olusegun Abatan, also called on the Federal Government to issue circular on the implementation of pension increment in line with the 2018 minimum wage for workers.
The NUP leaders, who commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for approving 33% pension increase recently, pleaded with him to device means of offsetting accumulated gratuities of pensioners in Ondo State.
The Southwest pensioners issued 21 days ultimatum to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu and other states in the zone to settle all outstanding entitlements of pensioners in the state or face mass protests by members.
Leke Adegbite
64 new cases of COVID-19 reported:
34-Lagos
15-FCT
11-Borno
2-Taraba
2-Gombe
As at 11:20pm 27th April- 1337 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 255
Deaths: 40
@NCDCgov
Over one thousand less privileged residents of Ibadan have received food items as palliatives to cushion the effect of economic challenges occasioned by Coronavirus pandemic.
The palliative, which was sponsored by Youth Christian Circle of the Saint James Cathedral Oke Bola, Ibadan included rice, beans, garri and other food items.
As early as seven o’clock in the morning, hundreds of people had stormed the premises of Cathedral of Saint James, the great to secure the tally to enable them to receive the palliative.
Speaking on the gesture, President ,Youth Christian Circle , Otunba Reuben Famuyibo, said it was part of the activities of the church society to give back to the down trodden.
Otunba Famuyibo said the palliative was not only for the church but also extended to other people and places including orphanages.
Provost, Cathedral of Saint James the great, Oke Bola, the very Reverend David Olagbaju noted that the gesture was laudable urging other societies to emulate them.
In a message through the Chief of Staff, Bisi Ilaka, Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde commended Youth Christian Circle for assisting the less privileged during the challenging situation.
Engineer Seyi Makinde on the occasion called on other well-meaning Nigerians to use their resources to uplift others.
Some of the beneficiaries who cut across religions, tribes and status appreciated the group for bringing laughter to their homes.
One of the beneficiaries, an octogenarian said the prevailing corona virus pandemic was the consequence of human action hence the need for all to embrace piety.
It took the intervention of security agencies to control the crowd.
Dayo Adelowo
Ogun state government has commenced free COVID-19 screening test across the state as part of efforts to flatten the curve of the virus.
In a statement in Abeokuta, The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said that the exercise would be held in all towns, villages and hamlets across the twenty local government areas of the state.
Governor Abiodun urged the residents of the state especially those with symptoms of COVID 19 to make good use of the exercise and be tested for free by trained health personnel.
He explained that health workers and scientists would work on rotational basis in all centers designated for the exercise to ascertain COVID-19 status of the residents of the state.
The Governor explained that the step was part of efforts of his administration to detect and treat people that were already infected with COVID 19 towards preventing community transmission of the pandemic.
Bolanle Adesida
Oyo state government has said that it rejected the 1,800 bags of rice meant as Covid-19 palliatives by the Nigerian Customs Service because they were truly bad and unfit for consumption.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicates that any claims to the contrary was a disservice to humanity and an attempt at endangering the lives of the people in the state.
The statement explains that members of the Food Security Sub-Committee of the Oyo State Covid-19 Task Force, after its meeting to review the palliative discovered that the bags of rice were not fit for human consumption as they had been infested with weevils that freely move about on every bags kept at the storehouse in the Secretariat, Ibadan.
It reiterates that the state government neither intended to dramatize nor politicize the development on the rice
According to the statement, the Executive Adviser to the governor on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande, who addressed the media on the issue clearly stated that if Customs could muster other bags of rice in good condition, the state would readily receive such.
The statement, however, notes that the immediate reaction from Customs, Oyo-Osun Command was a bit comforting that the bad bags of rice must have been picked from the wrong store and expressed readiness to immediately send in 600 bags to replace the bad ones.
The statement says the state’s team that went for the inspection of the 600 bags returned with another sad verdict that at least 30 percent of the 600 bags promised as replacement were also infested with weevils.
It says the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, which commented on the matter, was merely dabbling in what it knows nothing about.
Nigeria Custom Service however in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer Oyo-Osun Area Command, Abdullahi Abiola says NCS, as responsible government agency could not turn round and be associated with giving anything that will negatively affect the people.
It would be recalled that Nigeria Custom Service through Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and in line with Federal government directive had given 1,800 bags of rice to Oyo state government as palliative to the vulnerable in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
Iyabo Adebisi
91 new cases of COVID-19 reported:
43-Lagos
8-Sokoto
6-Taraba
5-Kaduna
5-Gombe
3-Ondo
3-FCT
3-Edo
3-Oyo
3-Rivers
3-Bauchi
2-Osun
1-Akwa Ibom
1-Bayelsa
1-Ebonyi
1-Kebbi
As at 11:50pm 26th April- 1273 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. Discharged: 239 Deaths: 40
114 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported:
80 in Lagos
21 in Gombe
5 in FCT
2 in Zamfara
2 in Edo
1 in Ogun
1 in Oyo
1 in Kaduna
1 in Sokoto
As at 11:30 pm 24th April there are 1095 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 208
Deaths: 32
As at 11:30 pm 24th April:
Lagos-657
FCT-138
Kano-73
Ogun-35
Gombe-30
Katsina-21
Osun-20
Edo-19
Oyo-18
Borno-12
Kwara-11
Akwa Ibom-11
Kaduna-10
Bauchi-8
Delta-6
Ekiti-4
Ondo-3
Rivers-3
Jigawa-2
Enugu-2
Niger-2
Abia-2
Zamfara-2
Sokoto-2
Benue-1
Anambra-1
Adamawa-1
Plateau-1
@NCDCgov
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Oyo State Chapter, shared palliatives with her pastor members all over the state on Thursday 23rd April, 2020.
The commodities comprising of Rice, Beans and other edibles were channelled through the Provincial Chairmen to their respective local governments for onward distribution to pastors during this National lockdown which came about as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The chairman, PFN, Oyo State, Reverend Samson Ajetomobi said it was a gesture conceived through the leading of God and the leadership of PFN is very grateful to those that made it happen.
Reverend Ajetomobi encouraged other leaders to find a way of helping and sharing with their other pastors at all levels as God helps them.
It would be recalled that the Oyo State PFN had earlier donated Personal Protective Equipment, PPE and N95 respirators to the Oyo State Task Force on Covid-19 as her contribution to stem the spread of Coronavirus disease in the state.
Niyi Dahunsi
108 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported;
78 in Lagos
14 in FCT
5 in Ogun
4 in Gombe
3 Borno
2 in Akwa Ibom
1 in Kwara
1 in Plateau
As at 11:30 pm 23rd April there are 981 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 197
Deaths: 31
As at 11:30 pm 23rd April, cases by state:
Lagos-582
FCT-133
Kano-73
Ogun-29
Katsina-21
Osun-20
Oyo-17
Edo-17
Borno-12
Kwara-11
Akwa Ibom-11
Kaduna-9
Gombe-9
Bauchi-8
Delta-6
Ekiti-4
Ondo-3
Rivers-3
Jigawa-2
Enugu-2
Niger-2
Abia-2
Benue-1
Anambra-1
Sokoto-1
Adamawa-1
Plateau-1
@NCDCgov
91 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported;
74 in Lagos
5 in Katsina
4 in Ogun
2 in Delta
2 in Edo
1 in Kwara
1 in Oyo
1 in FCT
1 in Adamawa
As at 11:25 pm 22nd April there are 873 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 197
Deaths: 28
As at 11:25 pm 22nd April, breakdown of cases by state:
Lagos-504
FCT-119
Kano-73
Ogun-24
Katsina-21
Osun-20
Oyo-17
Edo-17
Kwara-10
Kaduna-9
Akwa Ibom-9
Borno-9
Bauchi-8
Delta-6
Gombe-5
Ekiti-4
Ondo-3
Rivers-3
Jigawa-2
Enugu-2
Niger-2
Abia-2
Benue-1
Anambra-1
Sokoto-1
Adamawa-1
NCDCgov
117 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;
59 in Lagos
29 in FCT
14 in Kano
6 in Borno
4 in Katsina
3 in Ogun
1 in Rivers
1 in Bauchi
As at 11:25 pm 21st April there are 782 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 197
Deaths: 25
117 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported:
59 in Lagos
29 in FCT
14 in Kano
6 in Borno
4 in Katsina
3 in Ogun
1 in Rivers
1 in Bauchi
As at 11:25 pm 21st April there are 782 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 197
Deaths: 25
As at 11:25 pm 21st April, breakdown of cases by states:
Lagos-430
FCT-118
Kano-73
Osun-20
Ogun-20
Oyo-16
Katsina-16
Edo-15
Kwara-9
Kaduna-9
Akwa Ibom-9
Borno-9
Bauchi-8
Gombe-5
Delta-4
Ekiti-4
Ondo-3
Rivers-3
Jigawa-2
Enugu-2
Niger-2
Abia-2
Benue-1
Anambra-1
Sokoto-1
@NCDCgov
Federal Ministry of humanitarian, Disasters Management and Social Development, has donated six thousand bags of Rice to Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states as part of Covid-19 economic stimulus package.
The donation was as a result of a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Nigeria Customs Service to release 150 truckload of rice seized from smugglers.
Presenting the rice consignments to the representatives of the affected states in Ibadan, the Comptroller of Customs for Oyo/Osun Area Command, Helen Ngozi, said Customs was releasing three truckloads of rice each to the affected states as parts of palliatives to cushion the effect of Covid-19.
The Oyo State Co-ordinator of State Operation Co-coordinating Unit (SOCU), Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), Mrs Olaide Lasisi who coordinated the distribution of the Rice Consignment ensure that they were in good condition and fit for human consumption.
The Executive Adviser to the governor Seyi Makinde on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande appreciated the Federal Government and promised that the State would ensure the palliatives reach the most vulnerable in the society.
Also speaking, The Ekiti state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Bode Olaonipekun gave an assurance that the State has put in a place a standard that would ensure that those really in need are reached directly.
Ekiti states collected 1,800 Bags of rice each, while Ondo State received 600 Bags.
Nafiu Busari
Oyo state government has commenced training for one hundred tailors to produce one million facemasks as one of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
The training was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Health, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria, President, Association of Tailors, Oyo State Chapter, Mr Ojewale Oloyede, lauded the state government for the initiative.
Mr Ojewale said the association selected the participants across the thirty- three local government, based on the principle of fairness and equity.
The Association’s President gave an assurance that the association would deliver the project according to standard and specification.
It would be recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde while mandating the use of facemask last week had expressed the readiness of his administration to produce one million facemask for the residents of Oyo state.
Iyabo Adebisi
Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu has ordered the immediate release of two hundred and forty nine inmates from five Correctional centers across the state.
The Chief Judge in a statement made available in Abeokuta said the release of the inmates was based on the Federal government’s decision to decongest Correctional centers to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Justice Dipeolu disclosed that those released were men and women with minor cases of stealing, burglary, assault among others.
She explained that forty eight inmates were freed in Ijebu-Ode, forty one in Sagamu, seven in Ago Iwoye farm settlement, fifty four were released in Ibara, thirty two in New Oba Prison, while sixty seven inmates were released at Ilaro Correctional centers.
The Chief Judge hinted that the decongestion would improve social distancing measures which would reduce the spread of the virus at the Correctional centers.
She advised the released inmates to go back to the society and be useful for the entire nation and refrain from criminal acts.
Justice Dipeolu added that those being considered where those having little years to complete their jail terms, old ages, those that have not meet up with fines, those that have spent 50 percent of their jail terms and those on medical related matters.
She further explained that some inmates awaiting trial, ought not to remain in custody, where matters for which they were charged for was not murder or armed robbery were also considered.
Justice Dipeolu said that cases discovered that the prosecution were moving at slow pace or not heard at all, were also pardoned.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, in a reaction, hinted that the federal government’s directive to decongest the centers, led to granting the unconditional pardon and clemency to the convicts serving various terms in the Correctional centers across the state.
He said, the governor approved the exercise in line with federal government’s directive to decongest the prisons, following the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus disease, currently ravaging the entire world.
The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, NAGGMDP, has called for the expansion and easy access to Covid-19 testing across the country.
In a statement in Osogbo, the Chairman, Osun State branch of the association, Dr Olufemi Oroge also advocated more government active roles in the quarantine of patients to contain the pandemic.
He stressed the need for the frontline responders in the pandemic to be adequately protected and motivated, while the security and dignity of all health workers must be given top priority in the current situation.
Commending the Osun State government for its feat against Coronavirus infection so far, Dr Oroge advised health workers to always stay safe by observing standard and transmission-based precautions where necessary.
Tina Mosadomi
Thirty-eight new cases of COVID-19 have been reported:
23 in Kano
5 in Gombe
3 in Kaduna
2 in Borno
2 in Abia
1 in FCT
1 in Sokoto
1 in Ekiti
As at 11:10 pm 20th April there are 665 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 188
Deaths: 22
As at 11:10pm 20th April, breakdown of cases by states:
Lagos-376
FCT-89
Kano-59
Osun-20
Oyo-16
Edo-15
Ogun-12
Kwara-9
Katsina-12
Bauchi-7
Kaduna-9
Akwa Ibom-9
Delta-4
Ekiti-4
Ondo-3
Enugu-2
Rivers-2
Niger-2
Benue-1
Anambra-1
Borno-3
Jigawa-2
Abia-2
Gombe-5
Sokoto-1
@NCDCgov
Despite the order given by health officials and the government, on ways to prevent the community spread of covid-19 among residents, some market men and women have in Ogunpa, Dugbe, and Aleshinloye in Ibadan failed to comply.
Radio Nigeria observed that, the marketers expressed mixed feelings on the preventive measure orders.
One of them, Mrs Sakirat Aboderin said, though there was social distancing among the traders, other measures were not strictly complied with.
Others who spoke with Radio Nigeria lamented low patronage, urging the government to intensify efforts on containing the spread of covid-19.
Oyo state government had earlier directed that all markets in the state should be closed down due to the corona virus pandemic.
Taiwo Akinola
Lockdowns are part of comprehensive emergency preparedness adopted to protect and secure the people from a threat.
They are considered best practices in response to saving lives.
With the extension of lockdown on Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, what are the social economic and psychological impact on the citizens, as well as the way out?
Residents in lbadan expressed mixed feelings, some said the lockdown extension by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 13th of April 2020, was expected, others believed that there should be adequate palliative measures in place.
Similarly, two residents of Lagos, Mr Babatunde Odanye and Mrs Eve Okiemute who described the situation as unpalatable said they had to bear the discomfort than to be infected with Covid-19.
Mrs Okiemute who described the situation as tiring, also lamented the incessant threats and attacks by men of the underworld in her area, saying many of them have not been able to sleep for the past couple of days.
An Abeokuta resident, Pastor Seye Idowu, who acknowledged that the lockdown was for a specific purpose, expressed disappointment that people still found ways to move around, this he said could jeopardize its whole essence.
Different strokes for different folks, an Abuja resident who craved anonymity said the lockdown extension had given her the opportunity to pursue other projects online thereby opening up another source of income for her.
“There is this thing called disruption, whether you like it or not by the end of COVID-19 there is going to be a lot of changes and people need to use this opportunity to learn and relearn.”
Speaking on the psychological impact of lockdown on the people, a professor of Psychology at the University of Ibadan, Benjamin Olley said without adequate measures in place to cushion its effect, there could be psychological trauma, fear, anxiety, hopelessness and uncertainty.
“People will begin to loose hope in the future, they will loose confidence in the system and begin to react psychologically, social issues give rise to economic issues and in turn to political issues and that is how it starts”.
As a way out, Professor Olley urged people to be less greedy and for the rich to be more humanistic.
In the words of Pope Francis, “love is the essence of life”, it is only when people realize and imbibe this that the world could be a better place for all in spite of COVID-19.
Anthonia Akanji
Oyo State Governor and Chairman of the State’s COVID-19 Task Force, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has said that another two confirmed patients of the novel Coronavirus disease have been discharged.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicates that the governor stated this while giving a COVID-19 case update on Sunday.
The governor noted that the development has brought the number of active cases in the state to six.
According to the governor, the state has, so far, discharged nine COVID-19.
He urged residents of the state to continue to follow the guidelines released by the state task force towards preventing the spread of the virus.
While addressing the media after a meeting of the state’s Task Force on COVID-19 last week the governor stated that the distribution of the palliatives would begin this week.
Iyabo Adebisi
Eighty-six new cases of COVID-19 have been reported;
70 in Lagos
7 in FCT
3 in Katsina
3 in Akwa Ibom
1 in Jigawa
1 in Bauchi
1 in Borno
As at 11:50 pm 19th April there are 627 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 170
Deaths: 21
As at 11:50 pm 19th April, the breakdown of cases by state is:
Lagos- 376
FCT- 88
Kano- 36
Osun- 20
Oyo- 16
Edo- 15
Ogun- 12
Kwara- 9
Katsina- 12
Bauchi- 7
Kaduna- 6
Akwa Ibom- 9
Delta- 4
Ekiti- 3
Ondo- 3
Enugu- 2
Rivers-2
Niger- 2
Benue- 1
Anambra- 1
Borno- 1
Jigawa- 2
@NCDCgov
