Nigeria Records 681 New COVID-19 Cases As Death Toll Hits 387

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it has recorded 681 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

In a tweet on Thursday night, the NCDC said that the new cases had taken the total number of infections in the country to 14,544.

According to the figures released by NCDC, the new cases were recorded in Lagos-345, Rivers-51, Ogun-48, Gombe-47, Oyo-36, Imo-31, Delta-28, Kano-23, Bauchi-18, Edo-12, Katsina-12, Kaduna-9, Anambra-7, Jigawa-5, Kebbi-4, Ondo-4 and Nasarawa-1.

Also, as of Monday, 4,494 patients have been discharged while 387 deaths have been recorded.

Adetunmbi Felicitates With Bisi Fayemi At 57

Adetunmbi Felicitates With Bisi Fayemi At 57

I, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, and on behalf of myself and my family greet our indifactigable brilliant, energetic, humane, understanding friendly and focused Ist Lady, Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi as she marks her 57th birthday anniversary. 

It is a great privilege for us in Ekiti to have you as a consul to our governor. It goes to say in political pallance  of  'buy one, get two'. 

We thank God that Ekiti State didn't miss you both. Please, as the Senator representing Ekiti North, which is your Senatorial District, be rest assured that I will always be ready to give you the necessary and required support. 

God bless your day and beyond. May you continue to be in the Lord's presence. Happy birthday.

Signed:

Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Senator Representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, National Assembly, Abuja.

Ido/Osi Local Govt Chairman Celebrates Ekiti First Lady At 57

Ido/Osi Local Govt Chairman Celebrates Ekiti First Lady At 57

I, Hon. Ayodimeji 6 Adeola, on behalf of my family and entire people of Ido/Osi Local Government Area, wish to celebrate the wife of Ekiti State Governor and Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi on the conspicuous and auspicious occasion of her 57th year birthday.

It's a great pleasure to see the gorgeous woman with natural resplendent of beauty, adding another glorious year in good health and sound mind and it's no news that Erelu Bisi Fayemi has been a blessing to Ekiti State, Nigeria, Africa and the world in general. Her sterling qualities have been so distinguished that she has caught a niche for herself in the comity of great women, across the globe.

Her legendary acumen, oratorical prowess and heart of giving to the poor and her efforts to fight and stand for what is right have earned her the position of Mother-General and defender of humanity. We pray for you that God showers you with more wisdom, as you continue to impact the world.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi's temerity and organizational finesse have been the major cursory link to the force she commands both in governmental and non governmental services. She has been a crusader of feminism, defender of women and girls' rights to safety, advocate of peaceful and crimeless society; no wonder she's standing tall where women of candour and intellectual mien are called for honour.

Your support for every political office holder in Ekiti and beyond has been undauntedly indubitable. Your way of life is exemplary and I'm very optimistic it will be in the archive for generational references.

On this epochal celebration of your birthday, we thank God for gifting you to Ekiti to make us drink from the pool of your selfless and breathtaking philanthropy and distinct wisdom. May God Almighty continue to hold you close and watch over you for more impactful years to be celebrated on this planet earth.

Happy Birthday, Erelu of Isan Ekiti, Ochiora of Enugu, Iyalode of Ilafon Ekiti, Olu-Omo of Ilaramokin, Ajiseye of Ado Ekiti and Mother-General of the universe... Aseyi s'amodun oooo!!! 

Signed:

Hon. Ayodimeji Lawrence Adeola OLADELE, Executive Chairman, Ido/Osi Local Government.

Ekiti State Attracts $50 million Agriculture Investments

The Ekiti State Government’s drive to attract investment to the State has started to yield results, especially in agriculture, where various investors have finalized plans to site their production facilities in the State. 

The State recently issued a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to Stallion Group for a $10 million rice mill in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while Dangote Group is also finalizing plans to locate a $5 million mill within the same location, which is now being seen as the rice processing hub of the State.

 In the cassava value chain, FMS Farms is finalizing plans to set up a $10 million starch processing plant and farm in Ikole LGA, and has already commenced farming activities. In addition, Promise Point has also invested $15 million in its starch processing facility, within the same area, which has also been designated as part of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone. 

This is coming after the $5 million investment by Promasidor to renovate and operate the moribund Ikun Dairy Farm, and another $5 million investment by JMK Foods to build a rice mill in Ekiti State.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment, Trade and Innovations, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, the investments attracted to Ekiti are early results of the Government’s focus on building an enabling environment for business to thrive. 

Oyebode said many of these investors only have to deal with the Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA) to process their land titles and other requests. “By being responsive to their needs, and carrying out constant aftercare services even when they’re fully established, we are showing other investors that Ekiti is the place to be.”

 He stated that the State is developing two special economic zones for Agro-Industrial activities and the knowledge economy, adding  “apart from those investors who have already chosen Ekiti as a location to do business, we are seeing a lot of interest in the state.”

Oyebode said: “The recent reduction in Right of Way charges for telecommunication infrastructure was done to complement the planned Knowledge Zone; and to demonstrate a commitment to the digital economy. 

“The Knowledge Zone will be anchored around talent produced by universities in Ekiti and its neighbouring states; a well planned mini city with residential housing and offices; and reliable infrastructure, especially power and broadband. 

"The zone, when completed will be Nigeria’s first service based economic zone, attracting services like business process outsourcing, back office operations, data labelling, software development/engineering and startups focused on critical sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture and consumer markets. 

“The Agro Industrial Processing Zone will include access roads to farms, irrigation systems to ensure all season farming, storage infrastructure to reduce post harvest losses, and independent power to enable processors optimise their output. 

"Even in the early stages of the zone’s establishment, the State Government is in serious discussions with at least five large-scale processors keen to operate within the Zone.

“To ensure the gains of the current administration are institutionalized, the State’s Public-Private Partnership Law has been updated and is being reviewed by the House of Assembly, while a Mortgage and Foreclosure Bill have also been sent to the state House of Assembly for consideration. 

“When both bills are passed into law, Ekiti will have best in class laws to protect private investments, and the legal framework to support the long overdue mortgage activity in the State. 

“The Government is also embarking on a comprehensive Ease of Doing Business reform programme that seeks to ensure Ekiti is a top-5 state to do business by 2021.” Oyebode added.

Muslims Back Down On Mosques Reopening, Christians Differ In Lagos

Representatives from muslim community in Lagos have unanimously agreed to still put mosques under lock pending when health experts give clearance that the state is free of COVID-19 transmission and residents can return to normal life.

Although groups from Christian community differ to that position and their conclusion was that they will go ahead with directives of Lagos state government which permitted them to resume worship, assuring the government that members have been sensitized on protocols guiding worship centers in the state.

The muslims excuses against reopening of mosques after Lagos state government had approved return of religious gatherings, were that it would be wrong to endanger lives muslims even when the governments could not guarantee an end to the virus spread and that residents must take responsibility for their wellbeing.

The representatives stated that they could understand that the state government was pressured to approve reopening of religious houses but assured the government that muslims were ready to wait pending when the governments could categorically confirm that Lagos is coronavirus free.

At the meeting, sources said that the Chief Missioner of Ansar-ul-deen, Sheik Abdul-Rahman Ahmad, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos chapter, Alexandra Bamgbala and others were present at the stakeholders’ meeting.

Sources from the religious groups disclosed to The Guild that the representatives made their stance during a stakeholders meeting held with the commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi, earlier on Tuesday at the ministry, stated that the meeting was convened to clarify the government directive on religious houses reopening.

A staff of the ministry, who did not want his name mentioned, further hinted that the argument of the muslims was that the coast is not clear and that results of tests release daily by National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) indicates that the virus was still prevalent in the state.

 He said: “And due to that, the muslims said that they will like to remain close pending when the government can categorically state that the Lagos is free from coronavirus pandemic”.

Another staff present at the meeting further disclosed that when the commissioner sorted the view of the Christian faithful led by Bamgbala, they differed and stated that their members were already prepared to resume church services as earlier stated by the government and would like to abid by the earlier pronouncement.

One of the representatives present at the meeting further disclosed that Elegushi said that the government would enforce the guidelines to be released by Lagos State Safety Commission and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and that religious house found culpable of violating the law would be penalised.

The commissioner, after listening to the arguments from both ends, stated that the government would not compel any worshipper to perform what he feels does not conform to its faith, rather, it would always ensure freedom of religion as mentioned in fundamental human rights.

(The GuildNg)

Olu Jacobs: My husband is alive, says Joke Silva

Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva, has debunked rumours making the rounds on social media that her husband, Olu Jacobs has died.

Speaking with TheNEWS this evening, said her husband is alive, adding that the “family found the development so depressing that members had to speak out.”

On the other hand, she told this magazine that the family had been inundated with calls by well-wishers who wanted to find out the truth.

She added that the birthday of Olu Jacobs (who laughed off the rumour) is next month.