Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 29th March 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 29/03/20
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BREAKING: Nigeria Records Eight New Confirmed Cases Of Coronavirus
The Nigeria Center For Disease Control has confirmed eight new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The new cases brings the total confirmed number in the country to 89.
A tweet by the NCDC reads, “Eight new cases of #COVID19 has been reported in Nigeria, seven in Lagos and one in Benue State.
“As at 4:00pm March 28, there are 89 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria with one death.”8 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria, 7 in Lagos and 1 in Benue State.As at 04:00 pm 28th March there are 89 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria with 1 death. pic.twitter.com/kbL7yIMiLs— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 28, 2020
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Group Tells Nigerians To Report Cases Of Domestic Violence While Observing Stay-at-home Order
Women at Risk International Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on reducing the prevalence of gender-based violence in Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to report any case of domestic or gender-based violence that may occur during the period of stay-at-home order by the government.
WARIF expressed fear that as the number of Coronavirus cases continue to increase across Nigeria and with stringent measures being put in place for individuals to quarantine and self-isolate, people might be at risk of being harmed by their abusers during the period.
Founder of WARIF, Dr Kemi Da-Silva Ibru, urged all affected adults and caregivers of young children to make use of its 24-hour confidential help line to report any case of sexual abuse.
Ibru said, “As borders close down in many countries, and governments institute mandatory lock downs and families are sequestered; children and women at risk will be locked in and quarantined with their abusers in very volatile home environments, we envisage an increase in the cases of domestic and sexual violence as abusers now see this as an opportunity to cause harm to these groups.
“We urge all individuals at risk to please make use of our 24 hours helpline 0809 210 0009 or send messages to our social media platforms on @Warif_ng.”
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Coronavirus: Ensure To Give Account For Donations To Lagos, ADP Tells Governor Sanwo-Olu
The Action Democratic Party has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos to be accountable on funds received by the state to tackle the outbreak of Coronavirus.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, in a statement on Saturday, said the public was already asking questions on where the donations and grants running into several billions were going.
He said, “As a public officer, it is important that while updates are being given to Nigerians on the efforts so far, the way and manner funds donated are used since they do not require legislative approvals before spending, should also be made known to the public.
“This has therefore necessitated the need to open a public account where citizens can access such information.
“The Lagos State Government plans to give succour and palliatives to residents is commendable but the governor should not allow those who may want to politicise it and won’t allow it get to those who genuinely need them due to stay at home order.”
Adelaja stated that while it was commendable to donate to Lagos State to contain the spread of the virus, private organisations and individuals should not forget that other states need help, too.
Commenting on the allegation against the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control not testing enough Nigerians, Adelaja said it should be investigated because if not it will underscore the entire efforts of private individuals, corporate organisations and government.
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E2%80%99s-removal-alabi-azeez Babalakin Obsessed With The Vice-Chancellor’s Removal By Alabi Azeez
As expected, the Vice Chancellor’s response on the barrage of lies that Babalakin tried to peddle about the suspension of the 51st convocation of the university, elicited anger and rage from a faceless and dishonest ‘Concerned Stakeholders’ and a group of delinquent non-academic staff making scrupulous releases requesting for the Vice Chancellor to proceed on leave, because, for them Babalakin has an intimidating resumé and commands national respect.
A cursory look at the individuals issuing these publications will tell exactly why they have taken such an undistinguished position. Interestingly, they could not use the SSANU platform which they have tried tirelessly in the pass to desecrate. The team is led by Mr Adetomiwa Adekola, who was impeached as SSANU Chairman on account of his financial recklessness and dubious land scheme he purchased for SSANU members. He is assisted by a rag tag, Mr Babatunde Oseni, who the SSANU electoral committee disqualified from contesting election into any SSANU executive position on account of his terrible records of service in the university.
What sort of stakeholders are these? Whose interest do they actually represent? Certainly not the interest of any known group in the university, but that of their paymaster who is hell bent on destroying the university.
Their position is not only laughable but also pedestrian and lacking in any form of logical reasoning. How can anyone contemplate the exit of a Vice-Chancellor who has achieved so much in two years, even under the worst of conditions? Maybe these fellows need a reminding that it was the selflessness and ingenuity of Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe that brought the University of Lagos to number one in Nigeria and eighth in Africa. The university during his Vice Chancellorship has attracted about N8bn in research grants. He created the much needed atmosphere for students to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Under Prof Ogundipe’s watchful eyes, the students and staff have won several international laurels and have become globally relevant. The renaissance of the research culture in the university is largely attributed to the Vice-Chancellor’s zeal to make UNILAG a research-based university. His tenure has given the University more international visibility and global respect. It is not surprising that even Mr Adekola and his cohorts rightly referred to the Vice Chancellor as a “scholar and administrator of repute.” This is particularly so because he singlehandedly won a lot of research grants as a scholar; and to the admiration of many, he has held various key administrative position in his over 30years in the services of the university. On the flip side we have a Pro Chancellor who has done everything in the last three years to give the university bad image and publicity.
Think for one minute, if Prof Ogundipe is the problem, why was Mr Babalakin also at logger heads with Prof Bello? If there is anything we should do at this material time, it is to praise the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ogundipe, who in two years turned the fortune of the university around. Calling for him to take leave is pathetic and signs of the failings of the Pro Chancellor.
On the part of the Registrar, his Council Resolution Part 2 is a very interesting revelation. The reasons are not farfetched. He made a fair but failed attempt to divert the minds of the public away from the issue that made the university a subject of ridicule in the last three weeks – The suspension of the 51st convocation of the university. Mr Babalakin’s grand intention was to show the university management how powerful and highly connected he is by cancelling the convocation at the detriment of over 13,000 graduating students and then turned around to blame the Vice Chancellor and NUC. But the ploy failed woefully. The public saw clearly what went down, at least the letter from the Ministry of Education puts it pretty clear that the event was suspended at the instance of Mr Babalakin who claimed the ceremonies did not receive Council’s blessings.
The alumni and stakeholders who were tired of Babalakin’s repressive leadership style took to the social media to express their dissatisfactions and frustrations. The #saveMyUnilag trended for days on Twitter and Facebook. For many, it was crystal clear what the agenda was – a show of power. As Simon Kolawole succinctly puts it in his write-up, Babalakin the Bully, “…Babalakin he has gone too far by his latest power show which has forced Unilag to suspend its convocation…his ego fight at the expense of the graduating students and their families is ungodly.”
Secondly, the Resolution threw up a host of issues which he claimed was discussed at the Council meeting. One of such was the ‘Greek gift’ of 40 Hectares of land at Ogudu being proposed by the Pro Chancellor. First question to ask, is this not the same piece of land in dispute with the state government for many years? Little wonder the property has no title documents or survey. This is aptly validated by the Registrar’s statement that “it was resolved that steps be taken to retrieve the title documents and that Council should be updated” Haba! Now that he could not get contracts from Unilag, Babalakin has resulted to swindling Unilag staff of their meagre salary? It is important to urge Unilag staff to be vigilant and “shine their eyes” on this land matter o!!! Don’t forget the issue of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway contract given to him, he did not do the job, yet collected huge sum of money to even accept to let go of the contract. Not even the road in Ondo State.
Nigeria is yet to know when Babalakin will fully handover MM2 to government as we are not sure if he will not again change the end of concession date as he did previously. Besides, even if they come up with fake papers for the land, the purported land is located in a swampy environment and a professor who earns the highest salary in the university will struggle to put up a foundation for any building there.
Pages 3-6 of the resolution was largely on financial matters. This Council led by Babalakin should be ashamed of its conducts! Throughout last year, the University was on a standstill over allegations that a sum over N4bn was misappropriated, embezzled, squandered, lavished and stolen by the university management. In fact, the song on Babalakin’s lips was “catch am, catch am, thief, thief, thief, catch am, catch am, robber, robber.”
The same Council, led by same Babalakin, in less than a year, is now publishing a resolution that money is no longer missing, albeit, the University Managements (past and present) have saved far too long and too much to the tune of N9bn in the TSA account of the university! Then the Council goes on to propose a lavish spending of the savings meant for the DLI building, School of Foundation Studies building, College of Medicine and School of Postgraduate Studies building. How can you make money saved for more than five years for capital projects available for spending?
Babalakin is definitely set out to destroy the 25-year strategic plan that the Vice Chancellor swore to up hold, in one sweep! Babalakin has not facilitated any building to the university and yet he wants to share the money saved in the university development account by more than three Vice Chancellors to construct educational edifices for the great citadel of learning. Our dear Pro Chancellor needs to take a cue from what his counterpart in Obafemi Awolowo University is doing.
As any right discerning person can already see, Babalakin is trying hard to play the welfare game to divide and rule the staff of the university, further entrenching the acrimony, bad blood, discord and division that he already created in in the university. He is also struggling hard to divert attention away from the convocation issue. This is the biggest shame of leadership.
It is distasteful that the UNILAG Council matter has suddenly become a gutter matter that any individual can pick up on the streets of Lagos. Let us advise Council to stop wasting resources in printing resolutions. The next Council meeting should hold at the Main Bowl of the Sports Centre where all members of the university community, alumni and press can witness the plenary.
For many of us who are watching gleefully, the management of the university must be praised, in spite of all the grandstanding and unnecessary brinkmanship, the university rose to first in Nigeria and eighth in Africa.
No body and no lies can change what we already know, Babalakin cancelled the University of Lagos 51st convocation four days to the event.
On a lighter note or perhaps as a matter of national importance, the Pro Chancellor, Mr Babalakin was alleged to be in London on 11th March for Justice Oguntade’s birthday, he subsequently denied traveling to London but confirmed he was in Germany on medical trip. Whether London or Germany, since hi
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Coronavirus: FCT Officials Shut Down Wedding Over Violation Of Public Gathering Ban
A team of Federal Capital Territory officials on Saturday stormed a wedding in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, and shut down the ceremony.
Like in many cities across the country, a ban had been placed on public gathering in Abuja in a bid to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.
Announcing the incident on its Twitter page, the FCT management said, “The FCT Enforcement Team which includes security and law enforcement agents has shut down a wedding ceremony happening at Wuse Zone 6.
“The FCTA will not tolerate any kind of gathering as we continue to urge residents to abide strictly by the laid down guidelines.”
At the moment, Nigeria has 81 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and one recorded death.
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Taraba Governor Bans Movement In And Out Of State
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has banned movement in and out of the state, SaharaReporters can confirm.
A statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, said that the ban takes effect from Sunday, March 29, 2020.
He said, “The decision to close the state’s land borders was taken as part of continued efforts by the government to protect the state from the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus.
“The Commissioner of Police and the Commandant of National Security and Civil Defence Corps have been directed to ensure strict compliance.”
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WHO Ranks Nigeria Sixth African Country With Highest Coronavirus Cases
The World Health Organisation has ranked Nigeria among six African countries with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.
Confirmed cases rose to 82 on Saturday with one recorded death so far.
The pandemic has infected over 400,000 people around the world and killed more than 25,000 persons.
In Africa, South Africa has recorded 927 cases and two deaths; Algeria 305 cases and 1 deaths, Burkina Faso 146 and three deaths, Ghana 132 and three deaths, and Senegal 105 with no death ranks first, second, third, fourth and fifth on the log.
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BREAKING: Benue State Confirms First Case Of Coronavirus
Benue State has recorded its first case of Coronavirus.
This was announced by the state governor, Samuel Ortom, during a media briefing in Makurdi, the capital, on Saturday.
According to Ortom, the case is a recent returnee from the United Kingdom.
The state recently opened two isolation centres at the University Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre Apir.
With this development, Nigeria now has 82 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and one recorded death.
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Coronavirus: Kwara Group Calls For Palliatives For Poor Residents
Elites Network for Sustainable Development, a Kwara-based civil society organisation, has urged Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, to provide palliatives for poor people in the state.
The government has ordered residents to stay at home as part of efforts in curbing the spread of the pandemic in the country.
ENetSuD, in a letter jointly signed by its Coordinator, Dr Alagbonsi Abdullateef; and Secretary, Mahmud Usman Baba; noted that notwithstanding the laudable lockdown order, majority of Kwarans in the informal sector would be severely affected.
ENetSuD said the government should consider and approve the spending of one-month Internally Generated Revenue of the state for the provision of food items to people in the informal sector across Kwara.
It said, “Most of the people in this sector possibly cannot feed themselves and their family members without accessing their shops and rendering their daily services.
“The latest statement from the State Technical Committee on COVID-19 dated 27th March 2020 that the KWSG is considering palliatives for the poorest of the poor at this critical COVID-19 pandemic period.
“Thus, ENetSuD further suggested the following possible ways the government may wish to consider for the implementation of the proposed palliative measures: the measures should be mainly foodstuffs and agricultural items that will serve the purpose of feeding, but not hand-sanitisers or face masks.
“This is based on the fact that the lockdown order has already significantly prevented physical contacts of people as they are now unavoidably staying at home, and all households can efficiently practice hand washing with soap.
“The measures should only be for Kwara residents in the informal sector who are the most affected by this pandemic-induced lockdown.”
ENetSuD added that the measures should exclude the civil servants in the formal sector since the government had graciously continued to pay their salaries even during the period, which would remove hardship.
It also suggested that the government works with artisans, market and community associations to altruistically identify their members with a genuine need for the palliative, adding that the process should be transparent to the public.
It added, “We urge the government to strictly supervise the exercise collaboratively so that the impact could be truly felt by the people really in need of the measures.
“Distribution of items of this nature is best done by independent bodies, especially reputable nongovernmental organisations.”
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EXCLUSIVE: Two Nurses, One Doctor Infected With Coronavirus In Abuja Hospital
Two nurses and a doctor have been confirmed to have tested positive for Coronavirus at a hospital in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The health workers, who are staff of a government hospital in Abuja, were part of medical personnel that attended to an infected person brought into the hospital.
A senior medical worker at the hospital told SaharaReporters that, “The patient was rushed to the hospital and as our job demands, we have to save life first and that was what we did.
“The person was attended to and stabilised by the medical team.
“A test was soon conducted and the result came out positive.
“The hospital thereafter asked all those who attended to the patient to undergo tests to determine their status and at the end of the day, the three tested positive for the virus.
“They are currently in isolation at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.”
Speaking further, the senior health worker lamented the lack of quality Personal Protective Equipment for them, adding that government must invest in the protection of health workers at the frontline of the battle against the virus.He said, “The unfortunate thing is that the government is not providing us with what to work with. It is sad that our PPE are not up to the world standard and can be penetrated by viruses.
“Some of us (health workers) have to use our personal funds to purchase gloves as we do not trust the ones government supplied.
“Nigerians should please remember us in their prayers and government should provide us with what we really need to work.”
Nigeria currently has 81 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and one recorded death.
According to the diplomatic community, infections could rise to more than 10,000 in the coming weeks as there are at least 5,000 persons, who had come in contact with infected persons in Nigeria already.
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