Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Alpha Maidawa

COVID-19: NCWS advises Nigerians to observe proper hygiene
The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), on Saturday advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene to curtail the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
Its National President, Mrs Gloria Shoda, gave the advice in a statement in Abuja as the virus continued to ravage the world.
She also advised Nigerians to maintained social distance as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
She said that maintaining social distance had become imperative as part of measures to curtail further spread of the virus in the country.
According to her, “maintaining distance and avoiding gathering are some of the ways to stem the spread of the virus.
“Maintaining distance from friends and family members and avoiding social gathering does not mean any negative feeling but to prevent the spread of the virus,”she said.
Shoda said that the information from affected countries and experts showed that personal and environmental hygiene alone were not enough to prevent the virus.
Shoda said that the effort to curb further spread of the Coronavirus had become everybody’s business.
She said People, especially from states that already have suspected and confirmed cases of the virus should avoid handshake, hugging, and large gathering at the moment in their interests.
” We should all learn to improve on our personal and environmental hygiene.
“I am also calling on women who are wives and mother to ensure their families abide by the rules to stay alive.
”We should ensure that our family members wash hands as many times as possible and followed strick the rules as recommended by the WHO , ” she said.
She urged the public to report any person exhibiting symptoms suspected to be of COVID-19 to the nearest response teams set up by the government for prompt action.(NAN)
March 21, 2020
FG lauds Ayade’s agro-industrial revolution in C/River
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Sabo Nanono, has commended the agro-industrialisation initiative of Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River.
Nanono gave the commendation on Saturday in Calabar while being conducted round the industrial park by Gov. Ayade for on the spot assessment of the industries built under his administration.
The Minister visited the ultra modern Rice Mill, Ogoja, Cocoa Processing Factory, Ikom, Rice Seeds and Seedlings Factory, the Feed Mill Company, the Calachika Frozen Factory, the Noodles Factory and the Garment Factory.
The Minister described the state’s investment as impressive, adding that agro-industrialisation is an alternative means of revenue generation and employment for youths.
“I am very pleased to see that what will be processed in the Frozen Chicken Factory will be consumed locally and internationally.
“This is very important for us as a country because the consumption of chicken in Nigeria is very high. We need more of this factory across the country.
“It is a great effort and something that will reduce the over dependency on imported chicken where we spend alot of foreign exchange on.
“With this kind of factory, we can internalise our production for chicken and safe alot of foreign exchange because I know that they are alot of poultry farms in the country for eggs and meat”, he said.
Nanono called on other governors to emulate Ayade’s agricultural drive, adding that even without oil, he has done alot in the agricultural sector to move the nation agricultural sector forward.
“It is a reality that I have seen today. The Cross River governor knows the important of agriculture for food sufficiency and revenue generation”, he said.
On the vitaminise rice seedlings, the Minister lauded Ayade for the technological approach deployed in processing the seedlings.
He commended him for also setting up the Cocoa Processing Factory in Ikom local government area of the state and rice mill in Ogoja local government area.
He assured that the Federal Government will support the state with the necessary facilities to promote and enhance agricultural produce in the state.
Speaking, Ayade said his desire to invest massively on agriculture was to create a value chain for food production, employment and exportation to generate revenue.
“We have created a value chain for young men and women to go into maize and soya beans cultivation because that is what we need to put into the feed mill that will feed the birds before the birds will come for slaughter and processed as frozen chicken.
“We are asking young people now to go to the farm and start massive cultivation of soya beans and maize that would be used for feeding this chicken for domestic and external consumption.
“It is in view of this agricultural drive that we have invited President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the state and lunch the Green Money initiative”, the governor added. (NAN)
March 21, 2020
COVID 19: Rangers players get 10 days break – Official
Management of Rangers International FC has approved a Ten days break for its players following the suspension of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Club’s Spokesperson, Norbert Okolie disclosed this in a statement to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday.
According to him, the club’s General Manager, Davison Owumi announced the Ten days break to the players on Friday, at their Camp located at Nkponkiti Independence Layout, Enugu.
Owumi urged the players to be conscious of the health situations around them during the break.
” This break is necessitated by the suspension order from the NFF on all football activities in the country.
” The management in its wisdom wants you (players) to be with your various families in this challenging health period.
” It is our belief that you will maintain a high level of discipline and return after the break, stronger to challenge for a top finish in the season, ” Owumi said.
The club Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf also advised the players to maintain high level of fitness during the break.
Yusuf told the players that, they could be called up earlier than expected should the league organisers cut short the suspension of the league.
” This is an emergency break but I hope we will be professional enough in our conducts so that we can maintain a high level of fitness when we return, ” Yusuf said.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) suspended all football activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the world. (NAN)
March 21, 2020
COVID-19: Plateau United FC embarks on one-week break
The management of Plateau United Footbal Club of Jos has proceeded on a one week break following the suspension of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) by the League Management Company (LMC) over the ravaging scourge of Coronavirus that has assumed a global pandemic.
Mr Albert Dakup, Media Officer of the club announced this in a statement on Friday in Jos.
LMC had on Wednesday, March 18, suspended all matches in the ongoing NPFL over the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
Dakup quoted the club’s General Manager, Mr Pius Henwan, as saying that the recess became necessary to give the team the deserved rest from the rigorous campaign that began since July 2019, while health authorities try to find ways to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let me appeal to our players to stay away from crowd and avoid training as directed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), being a deliberate measures to halt the spread of the virus.
“No player should travel during this period of recess without proper permission from the management. Any player who violates the order will be properly sanctioned,” he warned.
The media officer said Henwan praised the players for recording an unprecedented 10 match unbeaten run in the club history and advised them to remain focus until it wins the league. (NAN)
March 21, 2020
Okunomo, Ondo governorship aspirant, canvasses single term for governors, others
Mr Banji Okunomo, a governorship aspirant under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo state, says four-year single term is enough for governors and other political office holders to perform.
Okunomo stated this on Friday while addressing newsmen on his ambition to contest the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state.
According to him, the idea of second term gives room for corruption and non-performance, calling for review of the nation’s constitution to accommodate single term for governors and other elected positions.
He said that single term for the governors and others would fast rack democratic development and bring desired results, thereby making the populace to enjoy dividends of democracy.
The governorship aspirant said that the constitution should not give non-performing governors the latitude of second term.
“I’m saying it that we should be very careful with the issue of second term in the affairs of governance,’’ he said.
Okunomo implored the electorate to take their destiny in their hands by ensuring that they elected credible individuals who would provide good governance rather than those who would not care for their welfare.
On his political ambition, he said that the welfare and economic development of the state would be his priority, if he emerged as the PDP candidate and eventually won the governorship election.
He said that the resources of the state would be channeled towards improving the living standard of people of the state.
According to him, Ondo state is blessed with bitumen and other resources, adding that they would be tapped to industrialise the state, thereby generating employment opportunities for youths and other unemployed indigenes of the state.
The aspirant expressed optimism that he would emerge as the PDP standard bearer during the party’s primaries that would come up in May, claiming that he had the support of majority of party members. (NAN)
March 21, 2020
Oshiohmole presents APC Dep. Chairman to Buhari
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiohmole on Friday officially presented the new National Deputy Chairman (South), Abiola Ajimobi to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the presentation, Oshiohmole described the event as mere formality as the president was very much familiar with Ajimobi since he was governor of Oyo State for eight years.
Oshiohmole revealed that Buhari was delighted to have received Ajimobi whom he described as a `complete gentleman’.
According to him, the president expressed the hope that the former governor of Oyo state will bring on board a wealth of experience that will help to reinforce the quality of leadership of the APC.
“I came essentially to present the former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi whom the South West has nominated to fill the void arising from the vacancy of the Deputy National Chairman, South, created by the appointment of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
“Of course, Mr President already knows him, he hosted us a couple of times when he was governor of Oyo State and played a pioneering role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), obviously, he is not a stranger to the President, it’s just a way of formality that I have to present him.
“Mr President was delighted that someone with his background – a complete gentleman, he has been in the oil industry, a senator and a two-term governor.
“So, he will bring on board a wealth of experience that will help to reinforce the quality of leadership of the All Progressives Congress,’’ he said.
The APC Chairman stated that he used the opportunity of the event to commend Buhari for his administration pro-masses policies and programmes.
He cited the recent slashing of pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as fuel from N145 to N125 per litre as one of such positive decisions of the government.
He said: “But I also appreciate the fact that a couple of decisions the President has taken this week that in my view are profound but I don’t think they have attracted the kind of commendations.
“For example, the decision of Mr President to reduce the price of petroleum products – PMS, AGO and other products because of the sharp drop in the price of crude oil.
“In another word, not just passing the burden of oil price when they go up but also passing the benefit when they go down.
“So, I commend the President for passing the benefit to the Nigerian people for approving the drop in the oil price so that Nigerians can really benefit from both the negative and positive side of the drop -which is that the cost of PMS has dropped.
“We will also have some reduction in the cost of transportation because we expect people to pass it down particularly at this time when because of the Coronavirus there are couple of economic activities that are affected.’’
Oshiohmole also appreciated the prompt proactive steps taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by making funds available to support businesses that had been affected by the Coronavirus.
“Everywhere around the world governments are rising to the occasion and I am happy that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari has also taken a bold step to not only protecting Nigerians by stopping foreign airlines from flying into the country particularly from the high-risk countries with the pandemic along with other measures which will help to curtail it.
“These are challenging times and our president is showing leadership just as we expect of him, putting Nigeria first, supporting businesses and passing not just the burden of the drop in oil price, but the benefit of that drop.
“Having been active in this politics of oil pricing, this is the first time a Nigerian President without a strike, without protest, without editorials, without commentators, by his own conviction he says this drop in the price of crude must be reflected in a drop in the price of PMS.
“For us, as party leaders, we think he deserves commendation,’’ he said. (NAN)
March 21, 2020
Buhari wants private sector partnership for education, health development
President Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the need for private sector partnership in the development of the education and health sectors, if Nigeria must develop.
He said though Nigeria was challenged from all fronts, it needed urgent intervention in education and health sectors.
Buhari made the statement during Sir Emeka Offor 2020 National Books/Education Materials and Medical Equipment Distribution Programme held at Oraifite, Anambra on Friday.
Respresented by the Minister of state for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the president noted that the nation required partnership with privileged Nigerians and corporate bodies to tackle development problems.
He said that government was pleased with the efforts of Chief Emeka Offor in tackling problems faced by Nigerians.
“Emeka Offor does not only take care of the poorest of the poor, help people irrespective of their tribes and religion across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
He described Offor as a `huge asset’ to Nigeria and Africa, noting that government was encouraged by his kind gesture.
Sir Emeka Offor Foundation listed a total of 319 educational institutions and seven libraries across Nigeria to benefit from 1.460 million textbooks for distribution in year 2020 programme.
The educational institutions, comprising 80 Universities, 22 Polytechnics, 37 Colleges of Education, 7 Public libraries and 180 primary and secondary schools.
Sir Emeka Offor, founder of the foundation said that his foundation and Books for Africa USA had spent more than $30 million dollars on education materials distributed to schools and libraries in Nigeria and 18 other African nations in the past nine years.
Offor said the gesture was aimed at eradicating illiteracy and improving the reading culture of the people.
He also said the aim was intended to provide a knowledge warehouse for the children and future generations of Africa as well as to support government at all levels in improving educational infrastructure for effective teaching and learning.
He said the foundation would distribute medical equipment in100 containers of 40feet size to designated hospitals and health institutions in this year’s programme.
The founder disclosed that 14 out of the 100 containers had arrived, and promised that all health institutions listed would get their consignments.
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, commended Offor for his immense contributions to the educational and health sectors of the country.
He described the gesture as worth emulating, while calling on government to support the foundation.
Gov Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, who also spoke said he was challenged by Offor’s open heart to help people irrespective of where they came from.
He said his state needed support in the areas of education and health due to the consequences of the activities of Boko Haram.
Prof. Anthony Ivwuegbe, Chief Medical Director, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, who represented the Minister of health said education and health were two critical sectors that required more attention.
He said Nigerians must work with government to ensure its growth.
Prof. Augustine Uwakwe of Gregory University, Uturu one of the universities that benefitted from the gesture thanked Offor and called on other privileged Nigerians to emulate him. (NAN)
March 21, 2020
Kano residents applaud school closure over Coronavirus
Residents in Kano have commended the state government for the closure of schools to prevent spread of Coronavirus in the state.
A cross section of the residents, who spoke with NAN on Saturday, said the act was commendable as it aimed at protecting children in schools and guard against spread of the disease.
Adamu Garba, a civil servant, said that the attention accorded to the pandemic would protect the people and the state safer.
“That is how responsible government should act because prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Malam Idi Saidu, a trader, noted that the development indicated state government’s commitment to contain the pandemic and protect public health.
Saidu enjoined parents and guardians to encourage their children to remain at home and observe high standards of personal hygiene.
Mrs Amina Bala, urged the governments to adopt proactive measures to enhance access to sanitisers, face mask and hand washing facilities at public places.
‎She advised the people to report suspicious cases to health authorities for prompt response.
Kano State Government had ordered for the closure schools and constituted a Task Force committee to contain the pandemic. (NAN )
March 21, 2020
Italy’s Covid-19 death toll up by nearly 20% to 4,032
Italy’s death toll from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on Friday rose to 4,032, in a 18.4-per-cent increase from Thursday.
In its daily bulletin, the Italian Civil Protection Agency also reports that the total number of contagions is up by almost 15 per cent to 47,021.
Recoveries are up by 15.5 per cent to 5,129, while the number of intensive care patients, a closely watched figure given the shortage of hospital beds, has risen by around 6 per cent, to 2,655.
Lombardy, which surrounds Milan, remained the region worst hit by the outbreak, with more than 22,000 cases and 2,549 deaths. Lazio, the region that include Rome, reports 1,008 cases and 43 deaths.(dpa/NAN)
March 21, 2020
COVID-19: LASG to teach 8 subjects via broadcast, social media during school closure
The Lagos State Government says it will be teaching students eight subjects, through the television and radio, as school activities are suspended due to the coronavirus disease.
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo said in a statement on Saturday, that the programmes would ensure that students were engaged during the period of school closure.
Adefisayo said that the programmes would have teachers who specialised in core subjects as Mathematics, English language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Literature in English and Financial Accounting take the various topics.
She explained that the teachings would be recorded and circulated on various social media platforms for easy accessibility by students.
According to her, the tutorial programmes are targeted at the students preparing for their West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and other examinations.
She advised parents against allowing their wards to patronise private tutorial centres during the period of school closure, so as to curb the spread of coronavirus.
”Parents should ensure that their wards stay at home during this period and tune their radio or television sets to listen and watch Lagos sponsored teaching programmes,” the commissioner said.
Adefisayo urged students to observe basic hygiene such as avoiding body contact, large gatherings, close contact with a sick person or persons, regular hand washing, use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
She further urged the children to keep a distance of at least five feet from anyone coughing and sneezing.
She said that any suspected case of Coronavirus should be isolated and reported immediately by calling the designated hotline: 0800CORONA.
According to her, this is not a period to panic as the government is not relenting in its efforts to contain the pandemic. (NAN)
March 21, 2020