NIGERIA LATEST NEWS BLOG

Sunday, 31 May 2020

Nigeria records highest coronavirus cases in 24hrs as NCDC confirms 553

Nigeria witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases on Saturday, recording more than 500 new single-day infections for the first time.

The new cases were confirmed by the specialist agency, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Twitter.

Lagos, the most hit State by the coronavirus pandemic, recorded 378 new cases, while FCT had 52.

This takes the country’s total infections to 9,855, out of which 2856 have been discharged with 273 losing their lives.

Saturday, 30 May 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari loses nephew, Ibrahim Dauda, says he is devastated

President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Alhaji Ibrahim Dauda is dead. Ibrahim Duada died in Daura, Katsina State, following a prolonged illness.

Disclosing this in a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said the death has robbed the family and the Daura community one of its finest gentlemen.

“I am deeply touched and devastated by the passing of yet another family member, a man who had demonstrated amazing kindness and honesty in all his dealings,” the President said.

He prayed God to forgive the soul of the deceased and reward his great and noble deeds with paradise.

The deceased is survived by a number of children, including Dauda Ibrahim, a Chief Administrative Officer in State House, Abuja. (Vanguard)

COVID-19: EKITI STATE CASE UPDATE

EKITI COVID-19 UPDATE

As at 3:00 pm on May 30, there are two (2) active cases of #COVID19 in Ekiti State.

Discharged: 16

Active: 2

Deaths: 2

Click here for live updates: www.covid19.ekitistate.gov.ng

#CoronaUpdate

Buhari taking Nigeria to the next level of irreversible change- Lai Muhammed

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, says President Muhammadu Buhari is taking the country to the next level of irreversible change.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the first anniversary of the second term of Buhari on Thursday, Mohammed said the president got reelected because of his performance.

The minister said under Buhari’s leadership, Nigeria is going to join the comity of great countries.

“President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on the strength of his promise of change. Nigerians are satisfied with his performance, especially in the cardinal areas of fighting corruption, tackling insecurity and revamping the economy, overwhelmingly re-elected the President in 2019,” he said.

“One year later, the president is taking Nigeria to the Next Level of irreversible change for the better.

“With the bold and courageous leadership provided by President Buhari, Nigeria is marching surely and steadily to join the comity of great nations. Change is never easy, and the birth of a new nation comes with pain.

“We thank Nigerians for their support and perseverance, and hereby reassure them of the administration’s unrelenting commitment to making life more meaningful for the citizenry.”

Mohammed said the decision to expend a $1.2 billion loan on agriculture would revolutionise the sector.

“I want to inform Nigerians that the stage is set for the implementation of the greatest agricultural revolution in the history of Nigeria,” he said.

The minister said before the country recorded its first COVID-19 case, the federal government had taken measures to protect Nigerians.

“One month before the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in Nigeria, the Federal Government had already announced it was strengthening surveillance at the nation’s gateway international airports to prevent the spread of the virus,” he said.

“By 31 January 2020, the Federal Government had set up a Coronavirus Preparedness Group to mitigate the impact of the virus if it eventually spreads to the country.

“To put things in perspective, Nigeria’s current power generation capacity is more than 13,000 megawatts, but only an average of 3,400
megawatts reliably reach consumers. In essence, the current amount of power that reaches consumers will more than double by the end of next year.” (The Cable)

Court sentences Pastor to death for murder

AN Ondo State High Court has sentenced one Pastor Kolawole Samson to death by hanging for the murder of Ayo Olaniyi in Okeigbo council area of the state four years ago.

Delivering judgement, the trial judge, Justice Ademola Bola held that Pastor Kolawole was guilty of inflicting injury on the deceased’s head with a cutlass at Gberinlegi Village, via Okeigbo, which later led to his death at the hospital.

The state Attorney General and Justice Commissioner represented by two government counsel Mr Olusegun Akeredolu and Mrs Omotola Ologun, had told the court that the accused had on 3rd of March, 2016, inflicted deep cut injury on the head of the deceased.

They said that the injury was inflicted on him when he went to hunt for frogs with three other friends at a fish pond owned by the convict. According to them the offence was contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Ondo State (2006).

The accused person claimed he was not guilty of the offence. However, in his judgement yesterday, Justice Ademola Bola ruled that all evidence adduced before the court during the trial in the last four years, showed that the accused was guilty of killing the deceased person.

Justice Bola thereafter ruled that Samson Kolawole should die by hanging

Meanwhile, in another development, two men have been sentenced to seven days community service by an Akure Magistrate court for violating the state government order on COVID-19 pandemic.

They are Shadrach Adi 35, and Bidemi Samuel, 26.

The accused persons were arraigned on one count charge of disobeying the order of the state government.

Police prosecutor, S. Kolawole said they committed the offence on May 27 at about 9: 50pm at Ayede Ogbese.

They both pleaded guilty and the trial Magistrate, O. Bukola sentenced them to two hours community service per day for seven days to serve as deterrence to others in the state.

Five others charged with them who pleaded not guilty were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 each with one surety in like sum. The matter was adjourned till June 5, this year for hearing. (Vanguard)