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Chief of Staff to Governor Lalong tests positive to COVID-19
The Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Governor, Noel Donjur, has tested positive for COVID-19. This followed the test that was conducted for members of the State Executive Council on 1st July, 2020 in compliance with the directive of Governor Simon Lalong.
A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dan Manjang, said the outcome of the tests indicate that all other members of the State Executive Council tested negative except the Chief of Staff.
It said health officials have commenced treatment for him at one of the isolation centres in Jos the state capital, while members of his family and other contacts are being traced and tested.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff called on members of the public to pray for him and has also encouraged people to submit to COVID-19 testing, saying that it is very important in unveiling cases and thereby leading to appropriate treatment.
Other personal aides of the governor, permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals as well as other senior civil servants also undergone the test on Thursday and are currently awaiting the results.
Governor Lalong in the meantime has admonished citizens of the state to adhere strictly to the guidelines issued to curtail the virus
July 3, 2020
Bayelsa State Govt. To Set Up COVID-19 Testing Laboratory
A Modern Biosafety cabinet to set up a COVID-19 Testing Laboratory will be procured to accelerate testing in Bayelsa State.
This is coming in the wake of a sudden surge in confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the State – a development Governor Douye Diri and members of the CoVID-19 Task Force are worried about.
Gov. Diri also commended health workers in the State with an assurance to approve pending applications of request to aid them in the discharge of their duties in a period of global public health crisis.
July 3, 2020
Sen. Gyang mourns Plateau LG chairman
Sen. Istifanus Gyang (PDP-Plateau) has described the death of Mr Ezekiel Mandyau, Management Committee Chairman, Barkin-Ladi local government council of Plateau as shocking and devastating.
Gyang in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media and Protocol Mr Musa Ashoms, expressed sadness over Manfyau’s demise.
“Death has robbed the Barkin Ladi Community, the state and indeed Nigeria of a thorough bred gentleman, likeable and friendly, a peace promoter and bridge builder.
“His service and good intentions while serving as management committee chairman of Barkin Ladi local council will linger as part of his memorial profile,” he said.
The Senator on behalf of the people of Plateau North, commiserated with the deceased wife and immediate family, Barkin Ladi local council and the state at large over his death.
July 3, 2020
FG disburses Conditional Cash transfer in Osun
he Federal Government has began the distribution of Conditional Cash Transfer with the aim of alleviating poverty and eliminating hunger in the country.
The scheme which started in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari led administration was designed to empower citizens, particularly the less-privileged and the downtrodden.
TVC News Correspondent Rafiu Hammed reports that conditional cash transfer scheme started in 2016.
Osun was chosen as was one of the pilot states due to the successes the State Government made in its social investment programmes.
The scheme was designed to support the aged, the less-privileged, the needy and most especially those who could not raise capital to begin small and medium scale enterprises.
Their bio-metric data had earlier been captured in the social register of the state which qualify them to benefit from the fund.
Over 700 beneficiary of the gesture converged on Orolu Local Government to receive their money.
The exercise also took place at Alekuwodo area in Olorunda Local Government. They are appreciative of the federal and the state Government to sustaining the scheme.
They were urged to use the money to form cooperatives and engage in productive businesses.
July 3, 2020
Nigeria records 626 new COVID-19 cases as total hits to 27,110
Nigeria on Thursday recorded 626 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections to 27,110.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) made this known on its official twitter handle.
The NCDC also said Nigeria reported 13 deaths, bringing the total to 616 deaths in 35 states and the FCT
The health agency said that no new state reported a case in the last 24 hours.
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The NCDC said that Lagos State  reported the highest number of cases with 193 new cases while FCT reported 85 new infections.
Others are: Oyo-41, Edo-38, Kwara-34, Abia-31, Ogun-29, Ondo-28, Rivers-26, Osun-21, Akwa Ibom-18, Delta-18, Enugu-15, Kaduna-13, Plateau-11, Borno-8, Bauchi-7, Adamawa-5, Gombe-4 and Sokoto-1.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the Director-General NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed that a team is enroute Cross River to begin COVID-19 testing.
He stressed that testing was the only  pathway into understanding.
The DG said by the end of next week, all states  would have capacity to test for COVID-19 with only four states away.
On the two million test target, Ihekweazu said that achieving the goal was a collective responsibility.
He said the target was birthed after the Africa CDC in consultation with all African countries  agreed to test one percent of its  population.
“This is a not a target for NCDC, PTF, Ministry of Health alone, it’s a target for every Nigerian.
“It is either we achieve it or we come back here to say the same thing and we will be on this journey and more people will die.
“This target is but an abstract or an accademic, it’s something that we need to push ourselves to achieve
July 3, 2020
Coronavirus: US buys up almost entire world supply of COVID-19 drug remdesivir
American officials have bought up all of the remdesivir available for July and 90% of stocks for August and September.
The US has effectively secured the world’s supply of one of only two drugs proven to help treat coronavirus.
Remdesivir, which has previously been used to fight Ebola but has now been found to reduce recovery times among Covid-19 patients, is exclusively manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences.
This means remdesivir will not be available for use on patients in the UK and Europe until October, Dr Andrew Hill, a senior visiting research fellow at Liverpool University, told Sky News.
He said: “This deal that’s been struck by America means that people with COVID-19 in the UK can’t get access to these treatments that would get them out of hospital quickly and might improve their chances of survival.
UK patients took part in the clinical trials that showed that the drug worked, Dr Hill said. “A lot of drugs haven’t worked, so I think the people in Britain deserve something in return from the United States,” he said.
July 3, 2020
Nasarawa: NUJ gets New Leadership
By Abel Leonard.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Nasarawa statechapter has elected new officials to pilot its affairs for the next three years.
Declaring the results on Thursday, in Lafia, the assistant national secretary of the NUJ Bengal Daniel, said Salihu Mohammed Alkali of Precious FM chapel polled 140 votes to beat his rival, Suleiman Abubakar of correspondent chapel, who polled 48 votes.
While Sunday John of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was elected secretary having polled 102 votes to beat Marmara Onyapa of Federated chapel who polled 84 votes.
Vice chairman, treasurer, assistant secretary, financial secretary and auditor were elected unopposed.
Speaking shortly after the election Salihu Alkali promised to improve the well-being of working journalists in the state.
He described his victory as the beginning of a new dawn in Nasarawa state chapter adding that efforts would be made to unite all members in the overall interest of the NUJ, just as he promised to carry everybody along irrespective of the chapel you belong.
End.
July 3, 2020
BREAKING: Buhari suspends NSITF boss, others for misconduct
Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday suspended the managing director/chief executive officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Adebayo Somefun indefinitely.
Nigeria’s labour and employment ministry in a statement stated that 11 other officials of NSITF were also asked to proceed on suspension.
The ministry said their suspension was due to violation of the Financial Regulations and Procurement Act, and other acts of gross misconduct.
Details later.
July 2, 2020
Ondo govt mourns Health Commissioner, declares Friday as work free day
Ondo state government has declared Friday a work free day to mourn the commissioner for Health, Wahab Adegbenro.
Dr Adegbenro died on Thursday after a brief illness.
A statement issued by the state commissioner for information, Donald Ojogo, described the death of Adegbenro as a big loss.
Until his death, Adegbenro, a two-time Health Commissioner in the State, equally doubled as Chairman, Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee Against COVID-19.
The statement read: “Dr Adegbenro was at the forefront of the State’s battles against the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did he signpost commitment and diligence; he, indeed, was immeasurable in his inspiration clearly defining himself as an embodiment of selflessness, hardwork and inexorable professionalism.”
“Accordingly, the Ondo State Government has directed that all flags in the State must fly at half mast for 7days from today Thursday, 2nd of July, 2020.”
July 2, 2020
BREAKING: Kano State lifts total lockdown
Kano State governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has announced the ease of total lockdown in the state.
Ganduje, who made the declaration at a press briefing on Thursday, also directed civil servants from Level 12 and above to return to work beginning from Monday, 5th July.
Ganduje equally declared that commercial tricycles would henceforth be restricted to carry only two passenger.
Details soon.
July 2, 2020