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In a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Edo State, the state government has reduced the number of persons allowed in any public gathering from 50 to 20.

Other measures taken by the state government in the face of continuous spread of the virus in the country include the closure of markets with only sellers of food items, medicines and other vital commodities allowed to operate.

Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed the new measures during the inauguration of the Edo State COVID-19 Response Committee at Government House, Benin City, the state capital.

He said, “We are reducing the number of persons allowed to gather in public places from 50 to 20 persons. 

"Also, only markets where essential commodities like foodstuffs are sold should remain open for now.

“The state government is working with the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for mass production of hand sanitisers in drums that would be distributed to local government areas, palaces, markets and other government agencies for use in public places.”

 

He directed transport unions to intensify sensitisation among members on the need to implement social distancing by reducing the number of passengers on their vehicles.

The governor while tasking security agencies in the state on the enforcement of the new measures, disclosed that the state government would partner with Nigeria Medical Association to intensify public health services.

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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In a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Edo State, the state government has reduced the number of persons allowed in any public gathering from 50 to 20.

Other measures taken by the state government in the face of continuous spread of the virus in the country include the closure of markets with only sellers of food items, medicines and other vital commodities allowed to operate.

Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed the new measures during the inauguration of the Edo State COVID-19 Response Committee at Government House, Benin City, the state capital.

He said, “We are reducing the number of persons allowed to gather in public places from 50 to 20 persons. 

"Also, only markets where essential commodities like foodstuffs are sold should remain open for now.

“The state government is working with the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for mass production of hand sanitisers in drums that would be distributed to local government areas, palaces, markets and other government agencies for use in public places.”

 

He directed transport unions to intensify sensitisation among members on the need to implement social distancing by reducing the number of passengers on their vehicles.

The governor while tasking security agencies in the state on the enforcement of the new measures, disclosed that the state government would partner with Nigeria Medical Association to intensify public health services.

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed “grief and sorrow’’ over loss of soldiers ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists in Gorgi Village, Borno State.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari while commiserating with families of the slain soldiers, said, “Sacrifices of our gallant patriots cannot be quantified, and their sacrifices cannot go in vain.’’

The President said the death of every soldier causes deep pains because he knows what it means to be a soldier, and fully understands the extreme risks associated with the profession.

According to the statement, Buhari appealed to the military “not to allow the incident to affect their morale’’. 

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has dispatched a team to assess the situation and report back to the government.

More than 50 military personnel including top commanders were killed during the ambush, which took place on Saturday. 
 

Boko Haram Military Politics Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed “grief and sorrow’’ over loss of soldiers ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists in Gorgi Village, Borno State.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari while commiserating with families of the slain soldiers, said, “Sacrifices of our gallant patriots cannot be quantified, and their sacrifices cannot go in vain.’’

The President said the death of every soldier causes deep pains because he knows what it means to be a soldier, and fully understands the extreme risks associated with the profession.

According to the statement, Buhari appealed to the military “not to allow the incident to affect their morale’’. 

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has dispatched a team to assess the situation and report back to the government.

More than 50 military personnel including top commanders were killed during the ambush, which took place on Saturday. 
 

Boko Haram Military Politics Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/36KInLS

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed “grief and sorrow’’ over loss of soldiers ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists in Gorgi Village, Borno State.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari while commiserating with families of the slain soldiers, said, “Sacrifices of our gallant patriots cannot be quantified, and their sacrifices cannot go in vain.’’

The President said the death of every soldier causes deep pains because he knows what it means to be a soldier, and fully understands the extreme risks associated with the profession.

According to the statement, Buhari appealed to the military “not to allow the incident to affect their morale’’. 

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has dispatched a team to assess the situation and report back to the government.

More than 50 military personnel including top commanders were killed during the ambush, which took place on Saturday. 
 

Boko Haram Military Politics Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Nigeria's Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, is currently in self-isolation in compliance with a directive from the Nigerian Center for Disease Control.

The development is coming after President Muhammadu Buhari's Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, said the VP was continuing to work from home where he is isolated.

He said, "VP Osinbajo yesterday at the office conducted his meetings via video conferencing while observing social distancing. 
"Today, he continues his work from the home office as he is in self-isolation in accordance with NCDC protocols." 

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Nigeria's Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, is currently in self-isolation in compliance with a directive from the Nigerian Center for Disease Control.

The development is coming after President Muhammadu Buhari's Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, said the VP was continuing to work from home where he is isolated.

He said, "VP Osinbajo yesterday at the office conducted his meetings via video conferencing while observing social distancing. 
"Today, he continues his work from the home office as he is in self-isolation in accordance with NCDC protocols." 

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is currently in self-isolation to erase any possibility of him contracting Coronavirus, SaharaReporters can report. 

Also, the governor on Tuesday cancelled all official engagements for 14 days. 

It was reliably gathered from top government sources that fears that Akeredolu may have contracted the pandemic became rife after the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. 

"The governor (Akeredolu) was in Abuja last week and even met with President Muhammadu Buhari alongside other APC governors in the wake of the dreaded Coronavirus. 

"So, he has to take precaution and when the governor of Bauchi tested positive, he has to tactically isolate himself because no one can say if there was close contact during their meeting in Abuja," a source said. 

However, in a statement on Tuesday night, spokesperson for the Ondo State Government, Donald Ojogo, confirmed that the governor had directed the immediate cancellation of all official engagements to his office. 

According to him, the governor had also ordered the immediate closure of all markets and malls across the state in order to stem the spread of Coronavirus. 

"Under this fresh directive which is for a period of seven days in the first instance, only the sale of life-saving and sustaining items like food, water and medicals shall be allowed.

"Similarly, Governor Akeredolu reiterates that the suspension of political gatherings and meetings is still in force. 

"The governor seeks the cooperation and understanding of all residents in the state to keep Ondo safe from COVID-19," the statement reads. 

Already, Governor Akeredolu has activated the Infectious Disease Hospital along Igbotoro Road in Akure in order to attend to both suspected and confirmed cases in the state.
 

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is currently in self-isolation to erase any possibility of him contracting Coronavirus, SaharaReporters can report. 

Also, the governor on Tuesday cancelled all official engagements for 14 days. 

It was reliably gathered from top government sources that fears that Akeredolu may have contracted the pandemic became rife after the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. 

"The governor (Akeredolu) was in Abuja last week and even met with President Muhammadu Buhari alongside other APC governors in the wake of the dreaded Coronavirus. 

"So, he has to take precaution and when the governor of Bauchi tested positive, he has to tactically isolate himself because no one can say if there was close contact during their meeting in Abuja," a source said. 

However, in a statement on Tuesday night, spokesperson for the Ondo State Government, Donald Ojogo, confirmed that the governor had directed the immediate cancellation of all official engagements to his office. 

According to him, the governor had also ordered the immediate closure of all markets and malls across the state in order to stem the spread of Coronavirus. 

"Under this fresh directive which is for a period of seven days in the first instance, only the sale of life-saving and sustaining items like food, water and medicals shall be allowed.

"Similarly, Governor Akeredolu reiterates that the suspension of political gatherings and meetings is still in force. 

"The governor seeks the cooperation and understanding of all residents in the state to keep Ondo safe from COVID-19," the statement reads. 

Already, Governor Akeredolu has activated the Infectious Disease Hospital along Igbotoro Road in Akure in order to attend to both suspected and confirmed cases in the state.
 

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Adamu Usman Yusuf, has disclosed that  the contract leading to the trial of a former Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Tuoyo Omatsuli, was genuine. 

He told Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos that the authenticity of the contract was confirmed by the NDDC in its response to an enquiry sent to it by the anti-graft agency. 

Yusuf made the disclosure while testifying in the on-going trial of Omatsuli and three others over alleged N3.6bn fraud. 

The EFCC investigator had earlier in his examination-in-chief told the court that investigations by his team revealed that about N12bn was paid to a firm known as Starline Consultancy Services, which was engaged by the NDDC to recover three per cent statutory allocation from oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta. 

He said a document received from the NDDC revealed that Starline was paid 10 per cent of the money recovered as its commission. 

However, while being cross-examined by Omatsuli's lawyer, Prof Amuda Kannike (SAN), the witness was asked to throw more light on the contents of the NDDC's document on the contract that led to the charge filed against Omatsuli.

Responding, the witness said, "NDDC's response to our request for the award of contract to Starline Consultancy Services said that the contract was genuine. 

"The House Committee on NDDC also played a crucial role by performing their oversight function in the execution of the contract."

Further hearing in the trial has been adjourned until June 8, 2020. 

The anti-graft agency had on Monday re-arraigned Omatsuli alongside Don Parker Properties Ltd, Francis Momoh and Building Associates Ltd before Justice Saidu on a 52-count amended charge of alleged N3.6bn fraud. 

In the charge, Omatsuli was said to have procured the third and fourth accused (Momoh and Building Associates) to utilise a total sum of N3.6bn paid by Starline Consultancy Services Ltd into an account operated by fourth accused.

The prosecution said that they ought to have known that the said sums formed part of the proceeds of their unlawful activities including corruption and gratification.

The offences, which were allegedly committed between August 2014 and September 2015, were said to have  contravened the provisions of Sections 15(1), 15(2), 15(3) and 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended by Act No 1 of 2012.
 

Corruption News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Adamu Usman Yusuf, has disclosed that  the contract leading to the trial of a former Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Tuoyo Omatsuli, was genuine. 

He told Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos that the authenticity of the contract was confirmed by the NDDC in its response to an enquiry sent to it by the anti-graft agency. 

Yusuf made the disclosure while testifying in the on-going trial of Omatsuli and three others over alleged N3.6bn fraud. 

The EFCC investigator had earlier in his examination-in-chief told the court that investigations by his team revealed that about N12bn was paid to a firm known as Starline Consultancy Services, which was engaged by the NDDC to recover three per cent statutory allocation from oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta. 

He said a document received from the NDDC revealed that Starline was paid 10 per cent of the money recovered as its commission. 

However, while being cross-examined by Omatsuli's lawyer, Prof Amuda Kannike (SAN), the witness was asked to throw more light on the contents of the NDDC's document on the contract that led to the charge filed against Omatsuli.

Responding, the witness said, "NDDC's response to our request for the award of contract to Starline Consultancy Services said that the contract was genuine. 

"The House Committee on NDDC also played a crucial role by performing their oversight function in the execution of the contract."

Further hearing in the trial has been adjourned until June 8, 2020. 

The anti-graft agency had on Monday re-arraigned Omatsuli alongside Don Parker Properties Ltd, Francis Momoh and Building Associates Ltd before Justice Saidu on a 52-count amended charge of alleged N3.6bn fraud. 

In the charge, Omatsuli was said to have procured the third and fourth accused (Momoh and Building Associates) to utilise a total sum of N3.6bn paid by Starline Consultancy Services Ltd into an account operated by fourth accused.

The prosecution said that they ought to have known that the said sums formed part of the proceeds of their unlawful activities including corruption and gratification.

The offences, which were allegedly committed between August 2014 and September 2015, were said to have  contravened the provisions of Sections 15(1), 15(2), 15(3) and 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended by Act No 1 of 2012.
 

Corruption News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Stocks rally around the world as America agrees a near-$2tn economic package to support its economy.