We won’t bow to pressure to declare COVID-19 case in Kogi – Yahaya Bello govt

Kogi State Government has reiterated its earlier resolve not to be pressured to announce a case of COVID-19.

The Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu, in a statement on Thursday, described as fake the news making the round that the state government is covering up an index case of the virus.

Dr Audu described the report as mischievous and politically inclined.

The statement reads “First and foremost, it is imperative that the public realise that there is no State Government that can deliberately put her people in harms way for whatever political reason, and the current administration has been scored high by local and international observers on Health. We have and will continue to put the health of our people as first priority.

“We are not new to Public Health Emergencies even if the COVID-19 pandemic is unarguably the most trying the world has ever witnessed. We have been in an annual fight against Lassa fever as the State is located in the Lassa fever belt, recording several cases with regrettable loses. We were first to establish a Biosafety Laboratory For Lassa fever in Nigeria and this year alone we have confirmed 30 cases of Lassa Fever that was duly announced. To accuse the state of a cover up of Covid-19 cases is mischievous and at best politically inclined.

"Is it not curious that I am the State Commissioner for Health, a member of the Governing board of FMC Lokoja, and also the incident manager for Covid-19 in the State, yet I have never been informed of the claimed cases in the report. There is also a representative of FMC Lokoja in the State’s Squadron against Covid-19 / Lassa fever and never for once was any such case raised in our meetings.

“Since the beginning of this pandemic we have held series of meetings with FMC Lokoja, and in this week alone we have had about 4 of such meetings. Such claims were never raised by the management of FMC. One then wonders the source and intent of the mischievous report. We are more inclined to believe that such fictitious claims being bandied about on the media are just meant to pressure the State into playing to the gallery of a narrative that ensures all States of Nigeria have Covid-19!

“We reiterate our earlier resolve not to be pressured to announce a case of Covid-19 where we have none, irrespective of Media propaganda from any quarters. We also remain resolute that getting a Covid-19 test result will not be a criterion for Kogites to access quality health care. We have learnt from previous experience in the management of Lassa fever that delay in giving appropriate Health care service under the guise of ‘waiting for test result’ can lead to fatal consequences!

"Hesitation by Health workers to give adequate Health care service resulted in the State having 40-50% Case Fatality Rate (CFR) in the management of Lassa fever, whereas cases managed at the State’s Specialist Hospital Lokoja received 100% recovery, hence our insistence that since it takes between 7 -10 days for suspected patients to get their Covid-19 test result, every patient must continue to receive adequate and health care services, while Health Care workers take all protective measures and patients that meet testing criteria will be tested.

“We remain committed to the WHO, Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC guidelines of who qualifies to be tested, and as at this moment, no case has been officially reported to the Kogi State, and media propaganda or devious intents from certain quarters will not push us to announce that we have a confirmed case in Kogi State.

“The lame notion that all the States surrounding Kogi State already have Covid-19 will not cause us to bat an eye lid, but rather increase us in conviction that if some other States gave in to pressure, we wouldn’t . We will continue to take samples from appropriate patients and members of the public in line with the laid down principles.

“Our Isolation centers are open for inspection from appropriate quarters and the insinuation by the said report needs not be given any attention. Kogi state had activated a rapid response team since 2017 long before any epidemic was suspected to occur.

Our success in investigating and curtailing alleged strange deaths in Okoloke Yagba west L.G.A in Kogi state in 2017 was well commended and applauded by National and international stakeholders. The so called strange disease which was later confirmed to be Yellow Fever was appropriately annihilated with collaboration from our ever dependable Health Development Partners.

“So much fake news has been peddled about Kogi State and we are no strangers to it. Recently it was said that 7 billion naira was expended in setting up a Marquee isolation center, an amount that is greater than the State’s monthly allocation, how ridiculous!

“KOGI STATE WILL NOT GIVE IN TO PRESSURE TO ANNOUNCE FICTITIOUS CASE OF COVID-19. We will only announce a real case of confirmed Covid-19 where it exists, and we advise our people to follow strictly the State Governments guidelines in the prevention of the disease, for as it stands, KOGI STATE IS OFFICIALLY COVID-19 FREE”.

Kemi Olunloyo To Bishop David Oyedepo: Go Sit Down “Church Is Not Necessary”

Contentious journalist, Kemi Olunloyo has respond Bishop David Oyedepo over his comment querying why markets are allowed to operate for six hours daily whereas churches are not allowed to operate at all.

Speaking via her official Twitter handle, the self-acclaimed investigative journalist stated that church is not necessary, God is the crucial entity.

She further added that markets are not stationary in contrast to churches.

She wrote:

“Oyedepo go sit down. We have learned from South Korea. A pastor and mega-church spread #COVID19 to one single country. Pastor bowing begging journalists. Markets are not stationary, everyone’s moving.

Church everyone is stationary, anyone could cough or sneeze.”

Church is NOT essential, God is necessary. I have worshipped online for three years. People can pay tithe online. We ain’t opening no damn church!”

Jealous Nasarawa pregnant woman kills husband

A 22 - year - old pregnant woman, Mrs Veronica Boniface, has reportedly stabbed her husband , Mohammed , to death over suspicion that he was making a phone call to his girlfriend.

The Commandant of the Nasarawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps , Mr Mahmud Fari , said in Lafia that the woman was arrested in the Obene area of the Keana Local Government Area of the state following an intelligence report.

According to him, medical examination conducted on the suspect indicated that she is in a good condition.

Fari said as soon as the command complete its findings, the suspect would be prosecuted in a competent court in the state.

He stated , “ The husband was rushed to hospital after she stabbed him with a knife after they quarrelled over a phone call that she suspected was with a lady.

“ We found out that she has a two- and- a - half - year - old baby , who is now in the custody of the relations of the husband .”

The suspect told PUNCH Metro that she regretted her action and pleaded for mercy.

Veronica , who was apprehended on Tuesday , noted that she was two months pregnant for her late husband.

The suspect blamed the devil for her action , adding that her intention was to frighten Mohammed to enable her retrieve the phone from him. (Punch)

Coronavirus: Nigeria records highest daily cases, four more deaths

Nigeria on Friday recorded 381 new cases of Coronavirus, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said.

This is the highest daily number of confirmed cases reported so far since the index case was reported in the country in February.

The newest update brings the total number of cases in the country to    3526.

Of the new cases, 183 was recorded in Lagos, 55 in Kano, 44 in Jigawa, 19 in Bauchi, 9 in Borno, 11 in Katsina. Other states were new cases were recorded include Kwara, Kaduna, Gombe, Ogun, Sokoto, Oyo, Rivers, Niger, Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Plateau state.

Also, Nigeria’s death toll from the disease increased from 103 on Thursday to 107.

BREAKING: Lagos announces discharge of 48 more COVID-19 patients

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo, on Thursday announced the discharge of 48 more COVID-19 patients from the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lekki, Onikan and from LUTH Isolation Centres.

Having fully recovered and tested negative to COVID-19 in two consecutive readings, the patients were discharged to reunite with their families.

Sanwo-Olu said the government and Lagosians will continue to celebrate and acknowledge the wins, as well as reflect on the losses.

He said “These will help us stay on course, prevent us from being distracted, help us stay focused as we face this pandemic head-on.

“Though we have been recording recovered patients, we need to also be careful, remain guarded, and show commitment and cooperation with authorities as we are all in this together. Our wins are your wins, our losses, your losses.

“Therefore, I’m pleased to announce to you the discharge of 48 more patients; 32 males and 16 females, all Nigerians who were discharged from our Yaba, Lekki, Onikan and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) isolation facilities to reunite with the society.

“The patients, 28 from the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, 6 from Lekki, 1 from Onikan and 13 from LUTH Isolation Centres were discharged having fully recovered and tested negative to #COVID19 in two consecutive readings.

With this new development, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases that have been successfully managed and discharged in Lagos stands at 406. (Vanguard Newspaper)

Infidelity: Jealous hubby docked for pouring hot water on wife in Osun

The police on Thursday arraigned a 27-year-old man, Akinde Adeniyi before Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife for allegedly pouring hot water on his wife, Deborah.

The Nations reports that the police arrested Adeniyi for bathing his wife with hot water while she was asleep for infidelity.

The prosecutor, Insp Ona Glory, told the court that Adeniyi committed the offence on April 14, 2020, around 12:30 am at Oke-Owu, area, Modakeke-Ife.

According to him, Adeniyi poured hot water mixed with pepper on Deborah, which caused her body harm.

He added that the offence contravened Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

Adeniyi pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

The counsel to the defendant, Mr. Pius Oyeboade, made an oral bail application for his client saying, the court should admit Adeniyi to bail in the most Liberal term and be assured that his client would not jump bail, but would provide reliable sureties.

Magistrate Joseph Owolawi granted the bail of the defendant in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned until June 4, for hearing. (The Nation)