Economy

Worship Centers, Markets, Resume Full Operations in Osun

By Web News 671

Osun State government has ordered the reopening of markets and places of worship in the state.

In a new guideline easing the lockdown induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the state government said all markets are now allowed to commence full operations, while worship centres that were restricted to once-a-week meetings can now commence their weekly services, subject to compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, the Osun State government said the new guideline takes immediate effect. 

The statement notes that government appraised the current status of the state in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to relax some of its lockdown measures following some emerging positive indices. 

It urges citizens to continue to wear nose masks in public places, and also ensure regular use of hand sanitizer especially at the end of every exchange.

Worship centres are also enjoined to observe regular precautionary measures of wearing of face masks, hand washing, temperature screening and avoidance of physical contact in public places.

Adenitan Akinola

Politics

Lockdown: Ogun Govt Eases Movement Ban

By Web News 781

The weekly restriction of movement in Ogun State has been shifted to Weekends only. 

Governor Dapo Abiodun who made the announcement in Abeokuta said the government would enforce total lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays while there would be free movement across the state every week day, between 6am and 8pm.

Governor Abiodun who explained that the new arrangement would take effect from Monday 1st of June 2020, emphasised that inter-state movement ban, wearing of face masks and other existing guidelines to combat the virus remained sacrosanct. 

Governor Dapo Abiodun talking about the ease of the movement ban

Governor Abiodun pointed out that further relaxation of the lock down was not an indication that the curve of COVID 19 pandemic had been flattened and encouraged people who could work from home to continue to do so.

The Governor also disclosed that his administration was collaborating with religious leaders to work out the guidelines for the reopening of places of worship in the state.

Bolanle Adesida

Religion

Eid-el-Fitr: Ogun Govt Enforces Strict Lockdown

By Web News 717

In a bid to control the spread of COVID-19 in Ogun state, Muslim faithful were unable to gather at the Eid ground yesterday to perform the usual two Rakah prayer.

The roads in Abeokuta the Ogun state capital were deserted with the presence of security men and women enforcing the lockdown.

Only few vehicles on essential duties were seen on the roads while residents stayed in their various houses.

It is also expected that the residents perform their religious activities individually as part of the measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

Wale Oluokun

Lifestyle

Ogun Ends Current Phase of Ease of Lockdown on May 31

By Web News 705

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that the present phase of the ease of lockdown in the state would end on the 31st of May.

Governnor Abiodun, who made this known while briefing newsmen in his Okemosan Abeokuta office, said that the second phase of easing lockdown, which would be accompanied with a further ease of the lockdown and expansion of window for lockdown relaxation, would commence on June 1st.

Governor Abiodun, who pointed out that window for lockdown relaxation for next week are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, also said that ninety seven COVID-19 patients had been discharged in the state.

While maintaining that  community transmission of the virus was on the increase, the governor announced that  Nigeria  Centre for Disease Control had certified Molecular Laboratory in Sagamu towards boosting testing capacity from 450 to 600 per day, adding that his administration had  accredited some private health care facilities for the management of COVID-19.

Governor Abiodun, who pointed out that the state government had embarked on renovation of some primary health care centres, said that over 200 personnel drawn from primary health care centres and community development associations had been trained to manage asymptomatic positive cases of COVID-19 in their localities.

He also congratulated Muslims for the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and urged them to observe Eld-el-fitri prayer in their respective homes.

Bolanle Adesida

Lifestyle

Ogun Govt. Extends Lockdown by a Week

By Web News 713

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that his administration decided to retain the lockdown of the state for additional one week in view of the evidence of the community transmission of Covid-19 and poor compliance with the lockdown order.

Governor Abiodun, who made this known while briefing newsmen in his Okemosan, Abeokuta Office, emphasized that the state government would not tolerate any form of sabotage in its  efforts  to flatten the curve of the virus.

He explained that the feedback from the public opinion poll conducted online also supported the extension of the lockdown, and said that out of 6,000 respondents 53% supported the continuation of the lockdown, 43% called for review while 4% undecided.

Governor Abiodun, who pointed out that his administration was constrained to extend the lockdown till Sunday 24th May, while the window for lockdown relaxation is Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 7 am and 5 pm, expressed optimism that there would be positive developments that would enhance further ease of the lockdown.

While lamenting that in spite of several warnings and the concerted efforts of the security agencies, some residents of the state were flouting the measures put in place to flatten the curve of Covid-19, Governor Abiodun maintained that his administration would continue to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown order.

The governor said that his administration was interfacing with the leaders of various nonindigenous groups in the state towards educating their people on the prevailing laws and its consequences.

Bolanle Adesida

Crime

Ogun Police Arrests 108 People for Breaching Lockdown Order

By Web News 994

One hundred and eight persons have been arrested and prosecuted in Abeokuta for violating the lockdown order at the Ogun State Mobile Magistrate Court.

The offenders arrested by security agents within Abeokuta metropolis were tried for non-use of face mask and unlawful movement in line with measures to contain COVID-19 in Ogun state.

The Mobile Magistrate Court presided over by Mr. David Ogogo sentenced forty persons to community service, forty-one persons paid fine while twenty seven others were released.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kenneth Ebrimson while addressing newsmen at Obantoko area of Abeokuta expressed displeasure at the level of compliance with the lockdown order of both the Federal and state government.

He noted that all the efforts being made to ensure the containment of COVID-19 pandemic must be observed with all seriousness.

The Commissioner of Police stressed that security agencies will have zero tolerance to violation of rules and regulations guiding the containment of the Coronavirus across Ogun state.

Mr. Ebrimson told the security officers to give access to only the permits duly signed by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government and the Commissioner of Police.

Wale Oluokun

News Analysis

Covid-19: The Need for Increased Proactive Actions by State Governments

By Web News 806

After weeks of total lockdown in some states including Lagos and Ogun, as well as Abuja, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Government decided to relax the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states, including Abuja for two weeks.

Residents of the affected cities did not hesitate to commence their daily activities on the first day of the relaxation, though restrictions on interstate travels, schools, religious and large gatherings remain.

Relaxing the lockdown and ensuring strict adherence to “Stay Safe” regulations, places a great task on the people and governments in observing and enforcing the regulations.

Or what can we say about commercial drivers who overload their buses despite several warnings for them to observe social distancing while carrying passengers.

The markets still witness large turnout of people without facemasks, shoving one another.

This also defeats the social distancing regulation.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest nationwide broadcast, said the easing of the lockdown was to strike a balance between protecting public health and preserving livelihoods.

No doubt, the threat from the virus is far from being over, with over four thousand cases now recorded in Nigeria.

Now is the time for state governors to exercise their powers at enforcing the “Stay Safe” regulations.

For instance, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state directed the demolition of a hotel that violated the lockdown order, while areas that flouted Covid-19 regulations were subjected to an indefinite lockdown.

The governor also constituted a task force to ensure compliance with the interstate travel protocols.

Also, state governors should be more vigilant, as many drivers conveying food items from the northern part of the country also smuggled passengers into some states.

Many state governments have come up with modalities to concerning the partial or total lockdown which included ban of commercial motorcyclists, fewer passengers in buses and taxis, hand-washing and sanitising at motor parks, controlled access to markets, allotting time-frame and schedules for business operations.

However, compliance by citizens and the ability of state officials to enforce the protocols are not forthcoming.

Despite the ban on interstate travels for those not on essential duties, many people not in this category still move from one state to another.

There is need for states to intensify public enlightenment campaigns, for people to know more about the dangers in violating the “Stay Safe” regulations.

The partial lockdown does not mean the nation has seen the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 In fact, the number of confirmed cases is increasing and if people fail to abide by all the regulations, there might be an explosion.

Now is the time for active testing and contact tracing measures, therefore state governors should set up the much-needed molecular laboratory test centres.

The Federal Government cannot alone provide the centres; therefore states should be actively involved.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, has hinted collecting samples for testing is the responsibility of state governments.

Lagos and Ogun states were the first states in the South that did not wait for the Federal Government before setting up testing centres, though some states have equally set up these centres.

Other governors should set up these centres now, while state health authorities should also stand on the front lines to ensure a collaborative response to the pandemic.

Countries hardest hit by the coronavirus have begun taking tentative steps towards easing lockdown, and as the country continues its fight against Covid-19, Nigerians should adhere strictly to guidelines issued by relevant agencies.

These guidelines include regular hand-washing, physical-distancing, wearing of face masks, taking body temperature in public places and avoiding non-essential travels, as it is widely believe that health is wealth.

Olaolu Fawole

Education

FUNAAB Announces Resumption of Administrative Activities

By Web News 1239

Management of the Federal University of Agriculture, FUNAAB, Abeokuta has directed the resumption of administrative activities and re-opening of offices at the University with effect from Monday 11th May, 2020. 

The Management, through a statement by the University’s Registrar, Dr Bola Adekola pointed said the decision was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on gradual resumption of work, following the relaxation of lockdown and restriction of movements. 

The statement indicated that the university management had during a meeting chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Felix Kolawole Salako, also reviewed the President’s directive in line with the weeklong extension of the lockdown period by the Ogun State Government. 

It explained that the university would be opened for work between 9am and 2pm every working day until further notice and directed all Heads of various Departments and Units to make flexible work arrangements for their staff to come to offices on rotational basis while ensuring regular flow of official activities in every office. 

The management disclosed that all university buildings had been fumigated during the lockdown and advised members of staff to adhere to the safety guidelines on the use of face masks in public places, regular washing of hands, use of sanitizers and physical distancing. 

Meanwhile, the two labour unions in the University have expressed satisfaction over the arrangement that staff attendance would be regulated subject to the individual member’s obligations or as required by the Heads of Departments and Units. 

This was contained in separate letters to the institution’s Vice Chancellor, by the Chairman Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Comrade Rotimi Fasunwon and the Chairman, National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, Comrade Olurinde Joseph. 

The unions said they recognized the peculiarities of the Federal University of Agriculture which could not afford to shutdown totally but to work towards boosting the nation’s efforts for increased food production through Agricultural research, farming, livestock and cropping aside training and extension services. 

The workers bodies also implored the management to extend its fumigation exercise to the Mawuko, Abeokuta campus of the university and supply personal protective kits like face masks, hands sanitizer and gloves to members of staff on duty while providing hand wash utensils and digitized thermometers at every section of the university campus. 

They appealed to the management not to relent on efforts at protecting every member of the university community against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases and dissociated themselves from the purported plans against the gradual resumption of administrative activities in the institution.

Oluremi Olugbenro

Security

Lockdown: Security agents will search the interior of vehicles – Ekiti Govt.

By Web News 655

Henceforth security agents will search the interiors of all vehicles conveying food items, beverages constriction materials, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and medical materials coming in and going out of Ekiti State.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi said security personnel were empowered to scrutinize the goods being brought into the state in a bid to look out for persons who might be hiding to enter illegally.

Otunba Egbeyemi urged the people of the state to be more security conscious in their various localities and report strange faces or movements they notice in their areas to security agents for prompt action.

The Deputy Governor noted that most of the COVID-19 cases recorded in Ekiti State were caused by non-residents who sneaked into the state in violation of the orders of the government and appropriate authorities.

He reiterated the determination of the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administration to protect all residents from being infected with the Coronavirus, hence the need to block all illegal entries into the state.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Government has frowned at the noncompliance p to social distancing by people to prevent the spread of Covid 19.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mojisola Yahaya-Kolade made this known during a press briefing in Ado Ekiti.

Dr Yahaya-Kolade, who stressed that social distancing from each other was part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 among the people in the communities, said that failure to comply would compel the Government to impose another total lockdown in the state.

The commissioner said that anyone whose temperature exceeded thirty eight degree Celsius would require the attention of the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control NCDC to know the health condition.

Speaking on security, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Gbenga Agbeyo said that the Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID-19 would be monitoring the activities in the banking institutions, okada riders, and commercial drivers, among others to ensure that people comply with government’s directives.

He said that henceforth, anyone caught flouting government’s order would be prosecuted, irrespective of status.

Oriola Afolabi

Transportation

Inter-State Lockdown: Transporters of Essential Goods Bemoan Challenges

By Web News 844

As part of measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 among states, the Federal government placed a ban on inter-state movement with an exception for those on essential services and vehicles conveying essential items including food, water, petroleum products and beverages.

Despite the restriction, these category of road users face serious challenge daily in moving the products from one location to the other.

Scenes from the border lockdown checkpoint

Radio Nigeria correspondent, Adenitan Akinola who witnessed this scenario at the boundary of Osun and Ondo states presents his account.

Adenitan Akinola

Lifestyle

Osun Residents Bare Minds on Lockdown

By Web News 1324 Post a comment

As the two weeks of the second lockdown imposed by the Osun State government ends today, residents of the state await Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s broadcast with a call for a relaxation of the restriction order.

Radio Nigeria correspondent, Adenitan Akinola spoke with a cross-section of the people as presented in this report.

News

Covid-19: Consumer Complain over Hike in Prices

By Web News 1058

Consumers in Ibadan have lamented the hike in prices of consumable commodities which they attributed to the interstate lockdown and other measures initiated by the government.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria in Ibadan two of the consumers, Mrs Mary Adubi and Mr. Bayo Adekunle explained that, the amount earlier expended on food items had increased.

They appealed to the government at all levels to proffer lasting solution to the Corona virus pandemic and ensure equitable distribution of palliatives.

On his part, a baker in Ibadan, Mr. Anthony Awoyode said prices of baking ingredients had increased drastically, thereby forcing bakers to reduce the size of bread for sale.

Mr. Awoyode however urged government to improve on economic activities so as to recover from setbacks caused by Covid-19.

Taiwo Akinola

Lifestyle

Business Owners Seek Quick End to Lockdown

By Web News 1780

Some stakeholders have reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement of the partial easing of the lockdown in some states due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of them, a Professor of Virology at the University of Ibadan, David Olaleye said the directives of social distancing and lockdown would go a long way at reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Professor Olaleye noted that though, the virus is dangerous but adhering strictly to the regulations would reduce the rate of contraction.

On its part, an Economist, Mr Ebenezer Adegoke opined that since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the lockdown, the global economy has been affected negatively, including that of Nigeria.

Some business owners in Ibadan who said staying at home has not been easy financially noted that, if the lockdown was removed, their businesses would resume immediately to reduce the hunger.

They, therefore, called on the state Government to reduce the lockdown and curfew period to reduce their suffering.

Rasheedah Makinde

Economy

Ramadan: Markets Deserted in Ogun Amidst Lockdown

By Web News 812

Roads and market stalls in Abeokuta the Ogun state capital are deserted with few persons on essential duties moving while the markets are empty following the lockdown been observed twenty-four hours to the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

However, some dignitaries including former governor Ibikunle Amosun have started another round of empowerment to assist Muslims and other residents to cope with the harsh economic situation caused by the lockdown to combat COVID-19.

Correspondent Wale Oluokun has the details.

Wale Oluokun

News

Ondo CP Charges Officers on Professionalism

By Web News 846

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Undie Adie, has warned officers of the command who are posted on patrol to ensure citizens maintain strict compliance with the dusk to dawn curfew, to be exceptionally professional in the discharge of their duties. 

Mr Adie in a statement signed by the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, said the warning became imperative as a result of the avalanche of complaints at his disposal. 

According to him, Nigerians are already carrying the burden of grief of the lockdown and curfew, it will be unprofessional for overzealous security agents to treat them unjustly.

The Police Commissioner noted that the command would never take it kindly with any officer who violates the human rights of any citizen of Ondo State, especially those on essential duties while the curfew lasted. 

Mr Adie also advised the good people of the state to obey the order of restrictions on movement by the government during this period, while pleading with those on essential duties to always carefully identify themselves when accosted by law-enforcement officers and avoid professional arrogance.

Leke Adegbite

Lifestyle

Lockdown: Kolanut Merchant Feeds 1,000 in Ilesa

By Web News 734

A prosperous eighty-three-year-old kolanut seller, Madam Fehintola Onifade on Sunday distributed bags of 5kg rice, Garri and cows to 1000 residents of Irojo and Anaye areas of Ilesa, Osun state to cushion the effect of lockdown on the people.      

Madam Onifade who was reluctant to speak with journalists, told our correspondent who is a family friend that she was touched by the lamentations of some needy when the lockdown was relaxed for two days to enable residents most of whom had no wherewithal to stock their houses for the second phase of the curfew.

Some of the packages being readied for distribution

She said she was able to prevail on her children who are businessmen to help her feed 1000 people stressing that they will spend more on reception and entertainment of their guests at a social function.

She prayed God to have mercy on mankind and heal the world of Covid-19.

Our man who monitored distribution of the palliatives reports that all the beneficiaries prayed for longevity of life for the donor and prosperity for her children.

Isaac Haastrup

Politics

Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Wife Distributes Food Items to Women

By Web News 2945

Wife of the Governor of Ogun state, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun has distributed food items worth millions of Naira to some women and widows in Sagamu area of the state.

Speaking at Sagamu town Hall, Mrs. Bamidele explained that the gesture was part of the efforts of government to cushion the effect of the fourteen days lockdown order.

The wife of the Ogun state governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Funmi Efuwape advised women in the state to comply with the governments’ directives of staying at home and maintain personal hygiene in a bid to contain the spread of covid-19.

Mrs. Bamidele said the gesture would be extended to other parts of the state, pointing out that the welfare of women and widows in the state remained important.

 Olusegun Folarin