Bank branches operating in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT will be opening from Monday, May 4, the presidential task force on COVID-19 has said - The banking halls will be open to customers between 8am and 2pm - Recall that President Buhari had earlier directed that the lockdown in the states be relaxed, starting from May 4 The presidential task force on COVID-19 has said bank branches operating in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be open to customers, starting from Monday, May 4. Sani Aliyu, the national coordinator of the presidential task force, said banking halls would be open to customers between 8am and 2pm, The Cable reports. Ottagistreel notes that the task force's statement followed President Muhammadu Buhari's directive which relaxed the lockdown in the two states and Abuja, starting from May 4. The president, however, replaced the lockdown with 8pm to 6am curfew with compulsory use of face masks, observance of social distancing and other recommended preventive measures. He also imposed a fresh total lockdown in Kano state. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump of the United States on Tuesday, April 28, called President Buhari to express solidarity with Nigeria over the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, at a briefing in Abuja said the US president promised to send across ventilators to Nigeria. President Buhari's aide on digital media, Tolu Ogulesi, also disclosed that the conversation between both leaders focused on Nigeria’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. He said the telephone call occurred at the request of President Trump. In another report, President Trump has suggested that the United States could seek damages from China over the COVID-19 outbreak. The US president reportedly made the suggestion on Monday morning, April 27 at a press briefing. Trump said his administration was conducting serious investigations into Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The US president noted that his administration believes that China could have stopped COVID-19 from spreading globally .
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has donated fumigation drones to the Ogun state government - The Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who received the donated equipment, thanked the traditional ruler for the gesture - Abiodun commended the Ooni for supporting efforts of the Ogun state government to contain the spread of COVID-19 The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Wednesday, April 29, donated fumigation drones to the Ogun state government. The traditional leader was received by the Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who thanked the traditional ruler for the gesture. The Ogun state governor said the motorised fumigators are state of the art machines Source: UGC The governor commended the traditional ruler for supporting efforts of the Ogun state government to contain the spread of COVID-19. Abiodun said he was impressed that the drones were locally made. He disclosed that the state was embarking on palliatives to many citizens residing in the state. The governor stated that his administration was planning to provide palliatives to 20,000 youths across 20 local governments in the state. PDP sabotaging COVID-19 intervention efforts in Nigeria, says Nabena In another news report, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, gave the Lagos government three locally made motorized fumigators in the fight against the pandemic in the state. Added to those is a large drone sprinkler that could be used for wide aerial fumigation. He did the formal presentation of the donations to the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. During the presentation, the monarch said that he was inspired to give because of the great ways world leaders have been dealing with the deadly virus, VON reports. The Ooni of Ife also said that the locally made pieces of equipment are eco-friendly because of how their materials were sourced. Oba Enitan added that Lagos being the epicenter of the virus in Nigeria needs all the support it can get. COVID-19: Oba of Benin sends important message to Edo state governor The governor, on the other hand, commended the king for his support. Sanwo-Olu said that to beat the virus, everybody would have to come together and deal with the deadly disease collectively. Meanwhile, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, has said that he will devote the rest of his life to charity and service to humanity. According to a statement to Ottagistreel, the Yoruba leader will be celebrating his birthday on Thursday, April 30, a day he said he would also dedicate to God. He said that those from the southwest would start seeing the positive results of his initiatives that would create values for them. He added that in nation-building, the interest of the people must be placed before other things, stressing the need for justice and social equality .
The Ogun State Government, Tuesday donated additional patrol vehicles and motorcycles through the State Security Trust Fund (OGSTF) to security agencies operating within the State.
Given out were 69 pick-up vans for the State Police Command, the QRS received 10, TRACE got 10 while the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps took delivery of two vans.
The State Government also donated five operational vehicles to the Nigerian Army, two to the NSCDC, two to the Department of State Services (DSS), one to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and five additional ones to the Police.
Also the services were given branded motorcycles to navigate peculiar terrains and neighbourhoods.
All the vehicles donated were equipped with information and communication gadget for intelligence gathering and to reach out to officers on outpost and assignments. The gadgets include, but not limited to sirens, telecoms equipment and crash helmets.
The distribution of these operational vehicles followed the procumbent of 100 patrol vans and 200 motorbikes by the State Government in September, 2019 for security agencies in the State to improve their patrol and response strength.
Governor Dapo Abiodun stated that this was in a bid to further empower all security agencies, who daily ensure the security of lives and property across the State, especially as the State battles the COVID-19 contagion.
All these, he said, are geared towards curbing crimes in the State, as there is no place for anything that would threaten the peace and safety of individuals and business across the State.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday says it has inaugurated two new laboratories in Lagos and Ogun states.
The agency says the two new laboratories were established by 54gene, an African genomics company that collaborates with health and research institutions in African countries to conduct research to generate primary data and biospecimen.
The company worked in collaboration with the two state governments and the NCDC, the agency added.
NCDC had tweeted, “We are pleased to announce the inclusion of two new laboratories in Lagos & Ogun, established by @weare54gene in collaboration with the state governments & NCDC.
“This brings the number of laboratories in our molecular lab network to 17 & expands national testing capacity.”
According to statement of purpose on its website, 54gene says it aims to build genetic data sets that make landmark discoveries a reality.
The genomic company notes that Africans house the most genetically diverse DNA, in comparison to all other world populations combined.
“In gathering insights from the African genome, we could power medical breakthroughs and discoveries that will change the entire landscape of healthcare, globally,” it boasts.
Presently, 54gene says, most genomic data used for development research is from Europe, United Kingdom and North America, with African genomic data only accounting for less than three per cent.
“We exist to close this gap by increasing access to highly curated genomic data from African populations,” it added.
Last Thursday, NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Iheakweazu, said at a platform hosted by the World Health Organisation and the World Economic Forum that Nigeria had only done 10,000 tests so far, a number considered small when weighed against South Africa and Ghana which had conducted 130,000 and 70,000 tests respectively then.
On Saturday, the agency said it had activated two new COVID-19 testing laboratories located at the Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Recall that on April 15, the agency also activated two laboratories at the DNA Laboratory, a private-sector laboratory in Kaduna; and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri.
Other COVID-19 testing laboratories are located at the Influenza Laboratory, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano; and the National Veterinary Research Institute, Plateau State.
Others are in Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Edo, and Ebonyi states, as well as the the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
54gene had, via its Twitter handle @weare54gene, said, “We are pleased to announce that we have received approval to join the NCDC accredited testing network for COVID-19 in Lagos and Ogun states, with Kano state coming soon.
“This is in line with our belief that the expansion of testing services across the country is a critical step in abating the pandemic.
“We thank the @NCDCgov and @Chikwe_I for their support as we deepen our ongoing work with the Federal agency.”
Described as “the first of its kind” in the country, the mobile lab operates from a 40-feet container
“The store would have been shut down by the ministry of health if it was included in the virus case.”
Nigeria’s leading indigenous chain store, Justrite Stores in Ota, Ogun State, is currently battling to flatten growing rumour about its facilities contracting coronavirus following reports of a confirmed COVID-19 case at a neighbouring private hospital, Medicare Clinics, situated few meters away from the popular mall.
The management of the mall had in a statement urged the public, particularly its patrons, to discard the rumour which it termed ‘fictitious tales’.
A report which emerged and prominently circulated on social media over the weekend had warned customers to stay away from the chain store along Idiroko road after a COVID-19 patient had allegedly surfaced from a nearby hospital.
Inside Justrite Super Store
Citizens were also urged to avoid visiting the hospital, Medicare Clinics, Strong Tower Super Market and the Ogun State General Hospital, Onipanu, also in Ota to avoid being infected with the deadly virus.
The Chief Medical Director of Ace Medicare Clinics, Dr. Kukoyi, also confirmed to Ottagistreel, a community-based news platform, that the hospital accidentally treated a patient whose ailment was not disclosed when he approached the hospital. It was later revealed after the hospital attended to him that he had symptoms relating to that of COVID-19.
“There was a case of a patient who came around and did not disclose his true medical condition. We attended to him, but because we were fully prepared for any eventuality at this peculiar time, we acted with precaution.
“We suspected he was having something more than what he complained about because he exhibited some symptoms of COVID-19. So we placed the patient in our isolation room.
“We acted fast enough by calling the State Epidemiologist in Abeokuta, who arrived with his team promptly. Samples were taken and it turned out days ago that the man was COVID-19 positive. The State Ministry of Health had to evacuate the patient.
Ace Medicare Clinics
“Thereafter, we did the needful, fumigating and disinfecting the facility. The doctor who had direct contact with the patient has been quarantined. We didn’t leave any stone unturned,” the veteran medical expert was quoted saying.
But in a swift reaction to its involvement in the coronavirus narratives, the management of the famous chain store urged its numerous patrons and the general public to disregard such story adding that “there’s no truth in the rumour that any of the patients had anything to do with JustRite.”
According to a statement seen by newsheadline247, the store would have been shut down by the ministry of health if it was included in the virus case.
The statement titled facts and fictionsreads, “There is no truth in the rumour that any of the patients had anything to do with Justrite. If Justrite was included, the Ministry of Health would have shut down the store for fumigation, etc.”
It further stated that “Justrite is not a hospital and also not part of the Medicare Clinics. The mall is directly opposite Medicare and the distance is at 100 meters or more.”
The management, in the statement, also emphasized it has along taken measures to ensure the safety of staff and well being of staff and customers well ahead of government directives.
It claimed it has further put in place process of checking the temperatures of customers before gaining entrance to the store, staff grouping to ensure social and physical distancing, sanitizing customers, wearing of masks by staffs and customers, and disinfecting shopping materials which include shopping baskets and trolleys.
State Government as parts of its humanitarian supports to cushion the effect of hunger amid lockdown.
However, of the 36 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ogun State,3 have emerged from Ado-Odo/Ota LGA, the commercial nerve of the state.
The President, in a broadcast on Monday evening, said the decision was informed by socio-economic impacts of the lockdown on Nigerians.
He however said the relaxation of the lockdown will take effect from Monday, May 4
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday extended the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the country’s capital city Abuja by a week.
“The lockdown in the FCT, Lagos & Ogun States shall subsist remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Saturday, 2nd May 2020 at 9 am,” Buhari said in his national broadcast.
The president after the expiration of the lockdowm, there will be a national “curfew from 8 pm to 6 am.”
“This means all movements are will be prohibited during this period except essential services,” he said.
He added that some selected businesses and offices will be allowed to open between 9 am to 6 pm daily, while there will be strict mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene.
“Furthermore, the restrictions of on social and religious gathers shall remain in place,” Buhari said.
“State Governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.
A farmer in Ogun State, Mr. Kolese Womiloju, 45, of Gbagba Elewure village in Odeda Local Government Area and his son, Taiwo Womiloju, 25, have been arrested by the police for hacking one Abubakar Sidi Usman, a 32-year-old herder, to death.
The father and son were said to have first attacked the herder with a mystic ring laced with charm on April 22, which immobilised him and while he remained unconscious, they used cutlass to inflict many lethal cuts on him. The herdsman died in the process.
The suspects afterwards dragged the body of the herder to an abandoned well near the scene of the attack and dumped them there. It was learnt that the farmer and son had earlier warned the herdsman to pull his herd of cattle out of their area and desist from further grazing on their land but the victim, allegedly, failed to heed to the warning laws
In the ensuing argument, the suspects allegedly struck him with a charming ring and rendered him unconscious before finishing him.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who made this known yesterday in a statement, said the suspects were arrested by operatives from the Odeda Divisional Police Headquarters.
He stated: “The suspects were arrested following a report by one Usman Bello who reported at Odeda divisional headquarters that the deceased who was his younger brother and has a cattle settlement at Gbagba Elewure village has gone missing. Upon his report, a search party was organised for hilaws
“Later in the evening, the deceased body was found in an abandoned well. The DPO Odeda division, CSP Ajayi Williams, led his detectives to the scene where the victim was seen with a deep matchet cut all over his body.
“Having confirmed that the deceased was murdered in cold blood, the DPO and his men commenced an intelligence-based investigation into the case which led to the arrest of the father and his son who also live in the same village with the victim. On interrogation, they both confessed to the killing of the deceased because they saw him grazing his cows around their farm.
Abimbola said the Police Commissioner, Kenneth Ebrimson, had already directed that the suspects be transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for thorough investigation and prosecution.
Ebrimson also warned that those who are in the habit of taking laws into their own hands will not find it easy with the command because jungle justice has no place in our laws.
The Ogun State government has completed the construction of world-class isolation and treatment centres equipped with special Intensive Care Units (ICUs) at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu and in Ikenne-Remo respectively.
The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who spoke at a press briefing at the weekend on the activities of the state government to curb further spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the state, said the state had now completed the ICU floor of the intended 250-bed hospital in Abeokuta, which has 18 available beds of which eight are high dependency and 10 ICU.
“In addition, we are finalising the renovation of the 75-bed Infectious Disease Hospital at Iberekodo, Abeokuta,” he said.
Abiodun, while congratulating the Moslems on the commencement of the sacred Ramadan fast, noted that this year’s Ramadan becomes peculiar and different from many in the past because of the need to avoid congregational prayers.
“This is because of the expediency of observing the rule of social distancing as necessitated by the prevailing situation across the globe,” he said.
He said that the state had also completed the installation of testing booths, which are already being deployed across the state, particularly around the vulnerable areas.
These, according to him, include communities at the border with Lagos State, and the international border communities.
He said: “I want to report that this has significantly boosted our effort to test individuals.
“A major feature of this testing booth, the first in sub-Sahara Africa, is that it protects the health officials carrying out the tests from being infected,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the governor enjoined all to continue to take cognisance of the health safety and recommendations issued earlier, saying: “It is important that we do not allow continued surge in cases and the attendant risk of continued community transmission.
“We will once again encourage our people to adhere to all health safety measures put in place to flatten the curve in the country, in general, and in Ogun State in particular through social distancing, washing of hands with soaps and use of alcohol-based sanitiser where there is no water.
“We have always encouraged the use of face-masks but let me add that with the reality facing us, the use of face-masks in public places by all individuals in Ogun State is now compulsory as from Friday, May 1, 2020.
“We will also begin to distribute face-masks to those who cannot afford to buy in addition to other materials to our vulnerable groups across the state.”
However, to further flatten the curve of Coronavirus spread in the state, the government yesterday disclosed that it would begin community testing of suspected patients in the 20 local councils of the state.
Abiodun, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kunle Somorin in Abeokuta, urged everyone who falls within the national Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) case definition, especially those with symptoms, to come forward and be tested for free.
This, according to him, will reduce the continued possibility of community transmission.
The President of Gbenga Akinwande Foundation, Engr. Gbenga Akinwande has commended Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on the measures taken so far in curtailing the COVID-19 pandemic in Ogun State. Akinwande said the governor has shown leadership and great humanitarian gesture by the way he has been governing the state and catered for the populace with various social and economic reliefs’ packages.
He said: “You know, competent leaders are known during crises. Governor Dapo Abiodun has demonstrated that he is a competent and capable leader with the way he has governed the state since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the state.”
Although, the philanthropist still appealed to Governor Abiodun to send more reliefs items, particularly food stuffs to Yewa land because, according to him, many communities in the area have not seen any relief item from the state government.
Meanwhile, Akinwande through his Foundation, has set up a food bank in Ayetoro to enable indigenes and residents of Ayetoro, the headquarters of Yewa North Local Government Area have access to various food items and other relief materials during the lockdown. The relief items are being distributed to the people through the Foundation,
The food bank has been in operation at Ayetoro since April 3, 2020 providing food items to residents of the town.
The philanthropist said his foundation is putting everything in place to open another food bank at Imeko, the headquarters of Imeko/Afon LGA before the end of the week.
He appealed to the people to observe social distancing rule, maintain regular hands and respiratory hygiene’s measures in order to prevent the spread of COVID – 19 pandemic in the country.
The UK-based promoter of sports talents, education and community development urged other well-meaning individuals, philanthropists and corporate organisations to ”remember the indigent, less privileged, widows and the aged during these trying times and support the government to reach out to these vulnerable people in the society
The Police in Ogun State have arrested a herbalist, Lajuwon Ogunleye and his wife Adetutu Apalaya, for conspiracy and murder of their seven-year -old son, Pelumi Apalaya, for ritual purpose.
Also arrested along with the couple is one Fatai Sefiu in connection with the ritual killing of the boy.
The suspects were arrested on April 22 following an information received by the police at Abigi Divisional Headquarters that the seven year old boy who didn’t show any sign of illness, suddenly slumped and died.
This it was learnt, arouse the suspicion of some people around that the boy might have been used for ritual.
Upon their suspicion, the people started monitoring the herbalist who incidentally happened to be the step father of the deceased boy and his wife, who is the mother of the boy.
Unknown to them, they were monitored to the bush where they took the corpse for burial in company of the third suspect who happened to be a friend of the herbalist.
It was discovered that the boy was buried in an upright position after the suspects had harvested some body parts from the corpse.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this in a release, said upon confirmation of their suspicion, the people quickly alerted the police.
Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) added that the Divisional Police Officer for Abigi Division, Tarkighir Joseph led detectives to the bush in Iwopin area of Ijebu waterside where the suspects were rounded up.
He stated: “The suspects led policemen to where the victim was buried and it was discovered that the deceased was buried in standing position.
” On interrogation, the second suspect, Fatai Sefiu, told the detectives that the boy was actually used for ritual by the stepfather in connivance with the deceased boy’s mother. He stated further that the couple have reached a conclusion before he was coopted into the business.
“The mother of the victim Adetutu Apalaya who first denied having knowledge of her husband plan to use her son for ritual was dumbfounded when asked whether or not she followed them to the bush where her son was buried and the mode of burial of the boy.”
According to the Police Spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, has given directive for the transfer of the case to homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department(SCIID) for further investigation and prosecution
The launch of what is believed to be Nigeria’s first COVID-19 mobile testing booth held yesterday in Ota, Ogun State.
The booth was designed by Dr Ola Brown, founder of the Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Group; a Health care company that offers air ambulance, medical equipment supply, hospital construction, diagnostics and retail pharmacy services through its various investments.
The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, her Excellent Eng Noimot Salako Oyedeleand Dr Tomi Coker, Honourable Commissioner for Health were in Ota to flag off the opening of the Drive-in Testing Centre.
Speaking on the rationale for choosing Ota as the location of the Drive-in Centre, her Excellency Eng Noimot Salako Oyedele said “Ota was chosen for the project as it is an area of Ogun State that borders Lagos and is therefore deemed to be higher risk. We are committed to the wellbeing of citizens in Ogun and that is why we worked closely with Dr Ola Brown and her team to develop this innovative project.”
Personal protective equipment has been a major expense during the CoVId19 epidemic for developed and developing countries alike. The mobile testing booth not only reduces the need for as much PPE, it also potentially saves millions of naira per day. It reduces the risk of healthcare worker infections by providing a barrier between the potentially infected patient and the healthcare worker taking the sample.
The mobile testing booth is a timely invention as the country has recorded COVID-19 infections in at least 40 medical personnel.
The heavy-duty gloves used to take the samples are sprayed with disinfectant between samples further preventing cross-infection. Dr Ola Brown said in her remarks that “its important that we avoid the situation that occurred in Europe where according to some statistics nearly 10% of healthcare workers contracted the virus. In Nigeria, we need every single healthcare worker health and disease-free if we want to stand a chance to win this war; we have far fewer healthcare worke
The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu has ordered the immediate release of 249 inmates from the five Correctional Centres across the State.
Speaking during a visit to various centers in the State, Dipeolu said the release of the inmates was based on the federal government’s decision to decongest Correctional Centres, as parts of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, noting that those released were men and women with cases ranging from stealing, burglary, assault to bodily harm and other minor cases.
She noted that the decongestion would improve social distancing measures, thereby reducing the spread of the virus at the Correctional Centres, urging the released inmates to go back to the society and be useful for the entire nation and refrain from sinful acts.
Justice Dipeolu said the release was imperative, to prevent the inmates from contacting COVID-19 virus, noting that, those considered were those having few years to complete their jail terms, old ages, those with the option of fine, those that have spent 50 percent of their jail terms and those on medical-related matters.
She explained that some inmates awaiting trial, ought not to remain in custody, were matters for which they were charged for was not murder or armed robbery were also considered, adding that, where it was discovered that the prosecution of the cases was moving at a slow pace or not heard at all for one reason or the other were also pardoned.
48 inmates were freed in Ijebu-Ode, 41 in Sagamu, 7 in Ago farm settlement, near Ijebu-Ode, 54 were released in Ibara, 32 in New Oba Prison, while 67 inmates were released at Ilaro Correctional Centres respectively.
While addressing journalists, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, said the federal government had so far released 2,600 inmates in various prisons across the country to curb the spread of coronavirus.
He added that, with the federal government’s directive, which the Governor in his determination to decongest the Centres, has granted unconditional pardon and clemency to 249 convicts serving various terms in the Correctional Centres across the state.
He said, “the Governor did this in line with federal government’s directive to decongest the prisons, following the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus disease, which currently ravaging the entire world, so that it won’t escalate in the country”.
Adeniran maintained that the idea of social distancing, which was being preached in the country, as well as in the state may not be attained if the Correctional Centres were not decongested.
“The social distancing will not be attained because of the way the inmates are arranged at these Correctional Centres, and I urged that the convicts pardoned be accepted by their relatives, villages and families”, Adeniran said
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) after their two-day monitoring of COVID-19 intervention of the Ogun State government commended the efforts of Prince Dapo Abiodun saying the state deserves commendation for its efforts at flattening the curve of coronavirus spread.
Both organisations said they were impressed with the quality of facilities on the ground, the human capital and the willingness of the Dapo Abiodun’s government to go an extra mile at ensuring that the State does not become a safe haven the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director-General, NCDC, Dr Chike Ihekweazu, after inspecting the first state fully funded molecular laboratory at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and the 128-bed COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre at Ikenne, the 250-bed specialist hospital at Oke Mosan as well as the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, lauded the leadership of the State in giving directions to other states on how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
The NCDC boss said that the Centre for Disease Control is proud of what the state has been able to do and promised to work with the State Government in its quest to battle the Coronavirus pandemic.
He added that the Centre believes the State deserves to benefit from some of the most stringent support that the Centre could offer.
“I think what I have seen in Ogun today and over the past few weeks in my engagement with the Commissioner (Dr. Tomi Coker) is a willingness to go the extra mile. For us, the job is half done, so on behalf of the National Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation, we are committed to supporting you. You have been on this journey longer than any other state in the country, so you deserve some of the most stringent support that we have,” he said.
Dr Ihekweazu also noted that it was a bit difficult to put a stop to social gathering because the country is a social country, urged the State Government to communicate with the people in a way that they would take ownership and responsibility for the changes in the lifestyle they will have to adopt.
“We are a social people, a social country. We love interactions, being close to each other, hugging each other, celebrating each other, our weddings, our social events, football…all these are things that define who we are and giving up on all of that for longer periods of time will come with some pain. That is really where your leadership skills will be so needed. Yourself and other leaders in the State should do more to communicate with the people in a way that they would take ownership and responsibility for the changes in the lifestyle they will have to adopt,” he said.
In her remarks, the Country Director, World Health Organisation, Dr Fiona Braka applauded the State Government for having the capacity that could take in more patients, adding that the WHO is impressed with the State Government.
“We are so much impressed and would like to congratulate Your Excellency and your team that has been working very hard. We could not join you for the launching of those isolation facilities…thank you for the invitation. But we are here to see what you have done. We leave with a positive note that there is capacity in Ogun State to take more patients, so congratulations, Ogun State,” she said.
In his remarks, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun disclosed that the State is fully set to tackle the pandemic while adding that the State is set to begin the process of giving face masks to its people as soon as it receives the first batch of a million pieces.
Abiodun disclosed that the State has invested billions of naira in terms of setting up isolation centres, sensitisation, manpower development, surveillance, procuring equipment and other logistics and especially to purchase food items distributed across the state to mitigate the effects if the lockdown on its citizens.
He added that the molecular laboratories and what the WHO and NCDC team found in the State “were through self-help”. He said the state has procured equipment for a drive through testing in the local communities to ensure no stone is left unturned to curb the spread of the disease.
However, Gov Abiodun called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of his administration, so that more could be achieved.
Governor Abiodun said the lockdown has not been total in Ogun State because of the peculiar situation of the state with weaker capacity of citizens’ disposable income. Many of the residents, he said, are largely living on daily income unlike those in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have had to manage the delicate balance between the people’s welfare and public safety. So far, we are on top to ensure community transmission input under control”.
The governor while appreciating donors towards the COVID-19 challenge said the Federal Government Task Force need to pay more attention to Ogun as the Gateway State, nationally and internationally, to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic
The Ogun Government said it had commenced virtual learning platform in partnership with an accredited Microsoft Education Global training partner in the state.
Mrs Ronke Soyombo, Special Adviser to Gov. Dapo Abiodun on Primary, Secondary and Technical Education, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday.
Soyombo said that the platform was aimed at ensuring that learners in the state were not affected academically during the compulsory lockdown due to the COVID -19 pandemic.
She said the initiative which would be implemented by the Ministry of Education Science and Technology would cut across all private, government-owned primary and secondary schools in the state on core subjects in the academic curriculum.
“Other subjects will follow up in subsequent phases.
“The remote learning remained a virtual learning community that provided collaboration, blended learning ecosystem, shared practices, virtual meetings among the core independent constituents – Teachers, Education Leaders and Students.
“The platform will provide the needed avenue to generate contents and learning resources from teachers and education providers to support learning and professional development for teachers and education leaders in the state.“
Accordingly, it will stimulate automation and information processing, assessments and feedback on digital literacy, with information transfer at the fastest speed.
“While keeping the learners informed with their counterparts in other countries, especially those in terminal classes as they prepare for their certificate examination,’’ Soyombo said.
According to her, there was an interactive session which was done on an online virtual platform and was joined by the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Sidi Osho and State House of Assembly Committee members on education
Ogun State government on Friday declared that any resident of the state caught without wearing facemask will be arrested and quarantined for 14 days beginning from 1st of May, 2020.
The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun made the declaration while addressing newsmen at his private residence in Iperu Remo, Ikenne local government area of the state on the efforts of his administration at curtailing further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
The governor disclosed that arrest and compulsory quarantine of facemasks violators became an in view of the fact that the total number of detected COVID-19 cases in Ogun has risen from the previous 12 to 29 victims as at Thursday 23rd April, 2020.
“We have all seen the astronomical rise in the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in our country in the last one week. This therefore means that we must all continue to take cognizance of the health safety and recommendations we have issued earlier”.
“We have always encouraged the use of face mask but let me add that with the reality facing us, the use of face mask in public by all individuals in Ogun State is now compulsory as from Friday, 1st May 2020”.
“We will also begin to distribute face masks to those who cannot afford to buy, in addition to other materials to our vulnerable groups across the State”.
“It is important that we do not allow a continued surge in cases and the attendance risk of continued community transmission”.
“We will once again encourage our people to adhere to all health safety measures put in place to flatten the curve in the country, in general, and in Ogun State in particular through social distancing; washing of hands with soaps and use of alcohol base sanitizer where there is no water.”
On the window of relaxation during the lockdown, the governor said, “let me say that we appreciate the continued patience, cooperation and perseverance of our people in the past days of the lockdown”.
“As we enter another week of the lockdown, we appreciate the fact that we must continue to strike a delicate balance between the health safety and economic well-being of our people. We will continue to have a window of break on Monday, 27th April, 2020 from 7.00am to 2.00pm and other days as may be reviewed and communicated in due course”.
Speaking on the distribution of palliative measure to the indigents and the poor in the state, Abiodun said, the state has commenced the second phase of distribution of palliatives/stimulus for the Covi-19 lockdown.
“The second phase is expected to cover over 80,000 households, that is over 400,000 individuals. If we add this to the first phase which covers over 100,000 households, it means that at the end of this second phase, we will have covered almost 200,000 households, and almost 1 Million individuals”.
“Let me also reassure our people that we have learnt some lessons from the first phase of the distribution. This second phase, therefore, will reflect the lessons learnt in better organization, improved process of distribution, and delivery to the vulnerable groups, aged and indigent”.
“Let me state clearly that we will not tolerate any diversion or subversion by any individual or group. Such an act will be viewed as a crime against the State and visited with the full wrath of the law”.
The governor said the state is “already working on the review of allowances to our frontline healthcare officers. We believe this will further encourage and motivate them in their dedication and commitment to duty at this crucial time
As part of efforts to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in their community, Freeman Estate Loburo, Community Development Association (CDA) in Mowe, Ogun State has requested a makeshift market from the state government.
The CDA also said it distributed food items to vulnerable people within the community to enable them cope during the extended lockdown period inposed by the federal government.
According to CDA, beneficiaries included widows and the elderly, as they remain the focus in the community-sponsored palliative measures.
Speaking at the donation exercise, the Chairman of the CDA, Dr. Olayemi Olufemi, said the lack of the market has caused them hardship.
“There is no government make shift market except the Mowe market that people are allow to visit every other day of partial lockdown. How do we buy from there when we can not earn income due to the lock down?” he querry.
“As a CDA we realised that what Ogun State government distributed was not enough to meet the need of our people. Hence we resulted into buying few bags of rice and some crates of eggs to ameliorate the suffering of our people.
“The peculiarities of vulnerable are similar everywhere but in my community, we have those that can hardly fend for themselves. Some are old and pensioners, while others have lost their breadwinners with children to feed. We have another category that depends on others to survive and small small petty daily surviving which is now hampered by the total lockdown.
“The food items given were just a pack of 2.5kg of rice, garri and beans, with three sachets each of ground nut oil and tomato paste with five maggi cubes in a packed Baggco bag. This we considered not sufficient for even a family let alone a while community,” he explained.
On how they ensured only the less privileged receives the items, he stated that “the lists of intended recipients were generated and they included all households based on communal Security payment schedules. We further divided our CDA into zones to decentralise the distribution and we equally focused on all widows and elderly people, as the most vulnerable.
“They were called out at intervals to maintain social distancing and avoid unnecessary gathering that may contravene the state laws. We also adopted the option of dropping the food items at the footsteps of some selected elders and widows.
This was done to complement government efforts which were not enough to support families in their community.”
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