COVID-19 : Ogun state confirms 25 new cases

The Ogun State government has confirmed 25 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 178.

A statement on the official Twitter page of the state government on Wednesday said the 25 patients have been quarantined across the treatment and isolation centres in the state, as contact tracing continues.

“As at 20th May, 2020, the NCDC announced that 25 COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in Ogun State, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 178.

The 25 patients have been quarantined across the Treatment and Isolation Centres in the State, as contact tracing continues."

The State has now discharged a total of 69 patients who tested negative to the virus and are now back with their families.

Details of Infection:

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria currently has 6401 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 1734 persons discharged and 192 deaths as of Tuesday night.

The number of confirmed cases has continued to rise in Nigeria, despite the efforts of the government to bend the curve.

Lagos continues to top the chart with 2755 cases, followed by Kano – 842, FCT – 427, Katsina – 281,Borno – 227, Bauchi – 224, Jigawa – 205, Ogun – 178, Kaduna – 152 , Oyo – 143, Gombe- 136, Sokoto – 113, Edo – 119 and Zamfara – 84.

Price of crude oil rises to $34.65/barrel

The price of crude oil in the global market is rising gradually, as more countries and cities reopen their economies after coronavirus induced lockdown.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up 68 cents a barrel, or 2.1%, at $32.50 a barrel. The July contract, trading at vastly higher volumes, settled up 31 cents at $31.96 a barrel.

Brent crude, which is the benchmark for Nigeria’s oil, has settled at $34.65 a barrel, down 16 cents or 0.5%.

Oil prices have risen in the past three weeks as COVID-19 restrictions are eased and more people return to work.

It also helps that the global demand for crude is rising as a result.

The gradual spike contrasts with the bleakness of April when U.S. oil traded for as low as minus $37.63/barrel and Nigeria’s oil traded for $26/barrel.

By April 20, oil producers were practically paying buyers to take the commodity off them because there was nowhere to store the excess oil that was being pumped.

The gradual rise in the price of crude oil will be good news for Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, and most populous nation.

Nigeria has pegged its 2020 budget on an oil benchmark of $57/barrel. The collapse in the price of the product has led to slashing of salaries and salary delays across states.

Some state governors have also announced pay cuts for themselves and their political appointees as the nation's economy tanks.

"Covid-19 Presents Opportunity to Reset Africa" - Tony Elumelu

The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Elumelu, has stated that the Coronavirus Pandemic currently ravaging the world presents an opportunity to reset the African continent so that Africans can be empowered to become more productive and self reliant.

He said this today at the high-level Roundtable discussions made up of African leaders including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala, the Special Envoy of the African Union on Covid-19 and Tidjane Thiam who is also a Covid-19 Special Envoy responsible for mobilising international economic support for Africa.

During the session titled ‘Resilient World: An African call for a new world order’, Elumelu stated :

“I see this pandemic as an opportunity to reset Africa.’ Whilst pointing out that Africa as a continent has all it takes to emerge into a strong digital economy, the UBA Group Chairman advocated a martial plan that will galvanise the entire continent and make Africa less dependent on the ‘circularity of debt’ from developed nations, which according to him, has been a major setback for decades.

I feel that as we engage the rest of the world in providing relief, we need to look for a more fundamental solution to Africa’s challenges. I have often argued for a martial plan overtime. We need to mobilise everyone. If we have a martial plan that mobilises resources to address particular issues, then we can mitigate against this constant begging for assistance."

FAAN begins fumigation of Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has commenced fumigation of International Airports in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt ahead of reopening of flight operations in Nigeria. Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, made this known on Tuesday in a statement in Lagos.

Yakubu explained that the fumigation exercise was in line with the efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ravaging the world. She said though, it was not yet clear when the ban on flights would be lifted, the authority was taking the proactive steps.

“This is to ensure the safety of passengers and other airport users when the airports eventually reopen. . “In March this year, the authority embarked on a similar exercise of disinfection and fumigation of all the international airports,” she said.

FEC approves N623m for customs to buy computers

The federal executive council (FEC) has approved N623 million for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to purchase computers in all its zonal and area commands.

Speaking with reporters after the FEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said the money was approved after Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, presented a memo.

The minister said the N623 million would cover the cost to purchase 1,200 computers for the organisation.

“The minister of finance presented a memo for the award of contract for 1,200 units of coloured printers and desktop computers for human resources and accounting management systems across zones and area commands of the Nigeria Customs Service, which was approved. The sum of the contract was N623,700,000 for the 1,200 desktops and computers for the use of the customs service all over the country."

Gunmen demand N5m ransom for release of hostage

Yet-to-be identified gunmen have reportedly demanded N5m ransom for the release of a kidnapped businessman in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

The victim identified as Emeka was reportedly kidnapped at Umukalika off Obikabia junction in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the kidnappers who had demanded N17m, demanded N15m and later came down to N5m.

Sources told our reporter that the gunmen after kidnapping the businessman abandoned his car; a Red Toyota Avalon in front of a compound, near the popular Ndiolumbe market in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that people from the community including passersby wondering what could have caused the owners of the vehicle to abandon the car in the area alerted members of the community vigilante members.

Information has it that a family member of the victim disclosed that it was the abductors that told the family members where they abandoned the car.

The Omoba Divisional Police Station who arrived the scene on inspecting the car discovered that the abductors left the keys of the vehicle just as some life cartridges were seen inside the vehicle.

The recovered vehicle is said to be in the possession of the Omoba Police Station.

Man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend

Tishko Ahmed Shabaz has been accused of decapitating his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend in Sweden after regarding her as ‘Satan’ and an enemy of his idol Donald Trump.

According to a report by The Daily Mail, the accused started acting strangely and controlling his girlfriend Wilma Andersson before she disappeared last November.

After a series of investigations, Wilma’s severed head was found two weeks after she vanished and 23-year-old Shabaz has now been charged with her murder, which he denies.

Also, witnesses told investigators that Shabaz took control of Wilma’s life by checking her phone and deciding what clothes she would wear. It is claimed that he had a GPS tracking app installed in her phone so that he could track her every movement.

Speaking about his support for Trump, Shabaz is said to have venerated Trump and even tried to travel to the US to help his re-election campaign. However, he was stopped at Stockholm’s main airport because he did not have the required entry.

Wilma vanished on November 14 last year and police found a ‘body part’ two weeks later, which was later revealed to be her head.

Hundreds of volunteers had joined the search for Wilma after she was reported missing in Uddevalla on November 17, three days after she was last seen.

Shabaz is accused of decapitating Wilma when she went to collect her belongings before wrapping her head in foil and hiding it at his home.

Prosecutors claim that the police found the severed head wrapped in aluminium foil inside a bag in his apartment.

The ‘body part’ was found on November 28 in a grim discovery which was announced the following day, bringing the search to an end.

Shabaz was charged with the murder last week, and Swedish media says he was subsequently found unconscious in his cell and taken to hospital. His trial is due to start on May 26.

Lagos State doctors begin indefinite strike over police harassment

The Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos has directed its members to immediately proceed on an indefinite sit-at-home strike starting from 6.00p.m on Wednesday.

The NMA leaders said that their decision was as a result of the conflicting directives by the state government and law enforcement agents on the status of essential workers, including doctors and other health workers.

The doctors also said that their action was necessitated following incessant harassment of healthcare workers in Lagos by the security agents.

“The Lagos State Branch of the NMA has resolved that it is presently unsafe for its members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement.

We resolve that all doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos to proceed on a sit-at-home starting from 6.00p.m today, May 20, indefinitely.

Until such time when the state government and the Commissioner of Police, are clear on how they wish to operationalise the lockdown/restriction of ongoing lockdown/movement restrictions, (but) the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives on social and mainstream media to the effect that essential workers, including doctors and other health workers, are NOT exempted.”

Boko Haram terrorists killed in Yobe airstrike

The Defence Headquarters says that the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) on Monday, neutralised scores of Boko Haram terrorists on the outskirts of Dapchi Town in Yobe.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday, said the airstrike also destroyed two terrorists’ gun trucks in the attack.

Enenche said that the air operation was conducted following an attack by the terrorists in about five vehicles on Dapchi town. According to him, a Helicopter Gunship scrambled to engage the terrorists, scored direct hits on their vehicles, destroying two of them and killing the occupants.

“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has commended the Air Task Force for their professionalism. He also directed them to remain resolute towards eradicating the terrorists from the North East,” he said.

Oyo State Governor reveals company with high number of COVID-19 positive workers

The number of staff members of one company in Ibadan, Oyo State, who have tested positive for the coronavirus disease has increased to 63.

Governor Seyi Makinde named the company as iSON Xperiences, a customer service provider in Ibadan South West local government area of the state, in a statement on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

The governor had first announced on Saturday, May 16, that 30 staff members from the organisation tested positive. Eight more also tested positive for the disease from the same organisation on Sunday, May 17, while another 19 positive cases were recorded on Monday, May 18.

Makinde announced in Wednesday's update that an additional six members of staff from the organisation also tested positive on Tuesday, May 19.

"The company remains shut and will be decontaminated. The Emergency Operations Centre has continued intensive contact tracing to identify persons of interest linked to members of staff in the company", he said.

Oyo has recorded a total of 143 coronavirus cases.