COVID-19 : Millions of children may go into child labour

Millions of children risk going into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis that has affected the world globally, UNICEF and International Labour Organisation has said. 

ILO Director-Genera, Guy Ryder, and UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said this in Abuja at a ceremony to mark the 2020 World Day against Child Labour.

The theme of this year’s anniversary is, “COVID-19, Protect Children from Child Labour Now More than Ever.”

Mr Ryder said that a joint ILO-UNICEF new report, entitled: “COVID-19 and Child Labour: A Time of Crisis, a Time to Act” had been released.

He said the report focused on the impact of COVID-19 on child labour and the elimination of child labour by 2021.

The ILO chief said the report looked at some of the main ways through which the pandemic was likely to affect progress towards the eradication of child labour.

According to the ILO chief, the report shows how the pandemic can lead to rise in child labour after 20 years of progress made to minimise child labour.

He said child labour decreased by millions (about 94 million) since 2000, adding that the gain was now at risk due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Ryder said the global estimates in 2017 showed that millions of children (about 152 million) were in child labour worldwide.

“Children already in child labour may be working longer hours or under worsening conditions."

Burundi : Court puts President-elect in charge

The Constitutional Court of Burundi has disclosed that the country’s president-elect would take charge following the death of the sitting president, Pierre Nkurunziza this week.

At a press conference, the court said that Evariste Ndayishimiye, who won the presidential election in May, was due to take over in August but would be sworn in as soon as possible.

A date for the ceremony has not yet been given. Mr Nkurunziza, who had ruled Burundi since 2005, died suddenly on Tuesday of cardiac arrest at the age of 55.

COVID-19 : Buhari reiterates confidence in Task Force

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his confidence in the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to provide guidance and leadership in tackling the pandemic nationwide.

He praised health workers and other essential services staff who have been a part of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

During his Democracy Day speech, the President praised those who have been working effortlessly towards containing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

He said that their dedication “is a testament of the courage and resilience of Nigerians as a people and as a great nation and that he was using “this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your service to the nation.”

He also added that he receives regular briefing from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. The president noted that the national response relies on Science, Data and Experience in taking decisions and explained that it was the data that informed his approval for the ease of lockdown phase to ensure a balance between lives and livelihoods.

“I am confident that the steps being taken by the Presidential Task Force would result in flattening the COVID-19 curve. I, therefore, implore all Nigerians to abide by the approved guidelines and protocols. There is hope for us all if we take individual and collective responsibility,” he said.

Mr Buhari, while sympathising with Nigerians who have lost their loved ones to the virus, acknowledged that many Nigerians have been going through difficult times because of the outbreak.

He said most of the stringent measures introduced at every level of government to contain the virus, was aimed at saving lives.

The president said the overall objective of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 is to ensure that the pandemic does not overwhelm our health systems, while ensuring that we maintain an effective Case Management System to help in containing the spread of the virus.

“There is no doubt that this pandemic has affected the global economy and all known socio-economic systems. It has also brought grief and pain to families that have lost their loved ones. Like many Nigerians, I feel the grief and pain, not only as your President, but also as someone who has lost a close member of my staff and some relatives and friends, he said.

Mr Buhari said the impact of the pandemic has disrupted the nation’s economic system and to ensure it is functioning, while still addressing the spread, the federal government put in place a number of various non-pharmaceutical measures to slow down the spread of the virus, in addition to a progressive re-opening of the economy.

He said the government is determined to turn the COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nation-wide public health care system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak.

The president said part of the strategy is to create jobs in reducing the effect of COVID-19 on the youth, which is why he directed the employment of 774, 000 Nigerians.

“These youth will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn. Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme has commenced.

Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19.”

Oluwo of Iwo set to distribute pepper spray to women

Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo has said that he is set to distribute pepper spray to the female residents in his town.

He said that the effort is geared towards curbing incessant rape attacks as the pepper spray would be used as self-defence against rapists.

According to a statement confirmed by the monarch’s press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, the distribution is scheduled to come up on Monday, June 15. The statement read in part,

“Interested females across the three locals of Iwo, Ayedire and Ola Oluwa are enjoined to converge at Oluwo’s palace on Monday by 10 am. There will be a brief enlightenment and training on its usage and protection against sexual assault”.

COVID-19 : Lagos records over 1000 recoveries

The total number of recoveries from the coronavirus disease has risen to 1,047 in Lagos State. This was after discharging 22 patients today.

The Lagos State Ministry of Health gave the update on its Twitter handle on Friday, saying the patients were discharged after they tested negative to the infection.

“22 fully recovered COVID-19 Lagos patients; 6 females & 16 males were discharged from our Isolation facilities to reunite with the society.

The patients; 9 from Onikan, 2 from Gbagada, 1 from Agidingbi, 6 from Lekki, 1 from FCC and 3 from LUTH Isolation Centres were discharged after testing negative to COVID-19.

With this, the number of COVID-19 cases successfully managed & discharged in Lagos has risen to 1047,” the ministry wrote.

Lagos recorded 354 new cases on Thursday as the total confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria rose to 14,554.

Lagos has 6,611 confirmed cases, 1,047 recoveries and 67 deaths.

The total number of active cases in the state and the number of patients at the isolation centres in the state were not disclosed as of the time of this report.

Residents were urged to continue practising physical distancing, good personal hygiene and use of face masks in public places.

WHO - Despite COVID-19, nursing mothers should breastfeed

WHO has directed that a mother should breastfeed her new-born baby even if she has a suspected or confirmed case of the new coronavirus.

“Based on the available evidence, WHO’s advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of COVID-19,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing.

“Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants, unless the mother is too unwell,” he said.

Mr Tedros noted that evidence suggests children are at lower risk for catching the coronavirus than adults, but are at high risk of coming down with diseases and other conditions that breastfeeding helps prevent.

Bisola Aiyeola celebrates daughter's 11th birthday

Bisola Aiyeola has taken to her Instagram page to celebrate her daughter who turned 11 years old today.

The actress wore matching clothes with her daughter in the adorable pictures she shared.

Bisola is a former housemate of Big Brother Naija reality TV show. She was the first runner up of the season she participated in.

See photos of the birthday celebration below 

Lagos : Gas tank detaches from moving truck, falls off bridge

Tragedy was averted in Lagos State  as a gas tank got detached from a moving truck and fell off the bridge in Ijora area of the state.

It was really an accident that could have claimed lives. It took place along the area known as Ijora under bridge this afternoon, June 12.

A gas tank attached to a truck detached itself and fell off the bridge. Thankfully, no one was under the bridge when it landed.

Men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA have since arrived at the scene to manage the traffic resulting from the accident. Efforts are being made to remove the gas tank from the road.

Chioma Uzodimma shows off her babies at six months

Chioma Uzodimma, the first lady of Imo State has shared a picture of herself with her twin babies. 

We gathered that they turned six months old today, 12th June, 2020.

At the age of 30, Chioma is unarguably the youngest first lady in Nigeria.

Mompha blasts haters inviting FBI to his IG page

Instagram big boy, Mompha has blasted people who are tagging FBI and Interpol to pay a visit to his Instagram page.

This is coming in the wake of the arrest of his rival, Hushpuppi. It is no longer news that Mompha and Hushpuppi don't see eye to eye, although we do not know the reason for the bad blood between them.

It can be recalled that Hushpuppi was all over the place, prancing at the news of Mompha's arrest by the DSS. Revenge couldn't be any sweeter as Mompha is savouring the state of things for Hushpuppi now.

However, some people are not happy and have been tagging the foreign agencies, FBI and Interpol to investigate him also.