NAIJA TODAY NEWS ..... Relaying the latest

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said he does not know the location of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari, in Lagos. Kyari, who tested positive for coronavirus last week, in a statement on Sunday, said he would be in Lagos on Monday for “further tests and observations”. Abayomi said, “I’m not aware of the Chief of Staff’s itinerary, so I don’t know where he is, we chat on WhatsApp but I cannot tell where he is from our chat. “We are exchanging information but I haven’t asked him for his location. He seems well and happy and we are exchanging information on strategic issues. It has been a long time we talked about his health, I presume he has made a full recovery.” The Commissioner said most of the patients at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba were suffering mild to moderate symptoms of the illness. “Most of our patients are experiencing a very mild to moderate degree of illness; in fact, we don’t have anybody that requires ve...

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has suspended the proposed tariff increase slated for tomorrow. The regulatory agency stated on its Twitter account on Tuesday that according to Order 198/2020: “There shall be no increase in tariff of end-use customers onApril 1, 2020. Performance Improvement Plan will form the basis for future tariff re

A socio-political group, Oyo Kajola Group (OKG), said on Tuesday that despite testing positive to Coronavirus, it was sure Governor Seyi Makinde would continue to do everything possible to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the state. The group hailed the governor for immediately making the result of his test open and saddling a former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge, with the responsibility of leading the Oyo State Covid-19 Task Force. According to the group, the business of governance in the state will not slow down even as Makinde remains in isolation. The OKG in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Mr. Adebayo Ayandele, maintained that contrary to insinuations that the Oyo State government “is not prepared” to fight the Covid-19 scourge in the state, Governor Makinde has done everything a proactive leader should do to contain the spread of the disease. It added that the narrative that Governor Makinde contr...

Being an exclusive phone interview between  Governor Seyi Makinde  and Mayor Isaac Brown of Fresh FM 105.9 Ibadan,March 31, 2020 on 'Dende Oro' anchored by Abolade Salami. Makinde spoke extensively on how he contracted the deadly virus, emergence of Ex CMD of UCH, Professor Alonge as new head of Oyo COVID-19 Taskforce among other issues...EXCERPT Qst.  How are you feeling? Ans.  Well, I am okay… feeling okay. Like I posted on my wall yesterday, you all know that I took the test for COVID-19, as I promised and everybody knows what the result was. Qst  Can you confirm to us again. There are those who probably were unable to even access your page yesterday. Ans  Well, the result came out positive. So, I have the virus. I delayed it because I promised that we have to get the diagnostic centre in Ibadan going and once we get it going, I’ll be the first to get tested through that facility. So, the medical team came to my house, where I have b...

Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who on Monday, tested positive to Covid-19, contacted the disease at a zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, has said that his boss did not contact the disease at the much-talked about PDP unification rally. The governor's spokesman, who spoke to Silverbird Television on Tuesday, explained that there was no known incident of Covid-19 as of the time the rally was held. He said: “The issue of the governor being said to have contacted Covid-19 at the March 18 PDP southwest Zonal Unification Rally doesn’t come to play, because there was no known incident of the virus in Oyo State at that time. Also, the governor didn’t have any symptom(s) as of that time. “At the time that the rally was held, there was no known case of the Covid-19 and after the rally, Governor Makinde actually p...

Around 4:00pm yesterday the sad news of the test result of His Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde broke out drawing several reactions from students of the prestigious institution of Technology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso. The news which was released by the official twitter handle of the Governor @seyiamakinde reads: “I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is POSITIVE. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate. I have designated Prof Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully. Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe.” A renown student leader and the erstwhile SUG president Comr. Abiodun Oluwaseun Laurel reacted and posted on his status which reads; Humanity is strongly behind you in this trying time,you will see this through and lead us to the promise land...

A member of the Oyo State House of House Assembly,  representing Akinyele constituency 1 , Hon. Ayotunde Fatokun, has distributed hand sanitizers to his constituents to curtail the spread of the deadly corona virus in Oyo State. Fielding questions from newsmen, the lawmaker explained that the gesture  was borne out of his quest to ensure the comfort of his constituents during the period of stay at home directive that was issued  by the Oyo State government, which is  meant to prevent the larger  outbreak of coronavirus in the pace setter  State. The Chairman Parliamentary Council,  said there will be distribution of more essentials to make this period comfortable for his constituents. In his statement, 'I have always been alive to my responsibilities and I am even prepared to overreach myself at this time of global pandemic to meet the basic needs of my constituents. Honourable Fatokun assured his constituents that he would always ...

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to retrace his steps and include Oyo State and other states with confirmed cases of Covid-19 in whatever measures being taken by the Federal Government to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus in the country. A three-term member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ajibola Muraina, who gave this advice on Monday, warned the Federal Government not to play politics with the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, wondering why the President failed to mention Oyo, which has the third highest incidence of Covid-19 in the country after Lagos and Abuja, in his state broadcast or extend any of the measures put in place to check the spread of the disease. The lawmaker stated that the exemption of Oyo State and a few other states where there have been confirmed cases of Covid-19 from the measures being taken to address the situation could mean harm for their fights against the virus. He noted that though Governor Seyi Makinde has been do...

The Nigerian Government has confirmed the second death from coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, announced this on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Details later

The Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Oyo State Council has cautioned security agencies in the state to respect journalists as essential service providers as the dusk to dawn curfew declared by State Government began. This is contained in a statement jointly signed its Chairman, Mr Ademola Babalola and Secretary, Mr Sola Oladapo. The NUJ in the statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Ibadan, said that journalists are major stakeholders in the efforts to curtail the spread of corona virus(COVID-19). The union called on heads of security agencies in the state to caution their officers from harassing journalists in the discharge of their duties during the period of the curfew. It also called on media organisations to provide kits and sanitisers to their crews and ensure only experienced reporters are made to handle critical report at the period. The NUJ urged members to maintain social distancing at their live interview programmes, while handwashing ba...

The immediate past chief medical director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Professor Temitope Alonge, has hailed the Oyo State government’s readiness to combat the pandemic coronavirus in the state. Alonge, while speaking with Tribune Online, on Sunday at the Oyo State Infectious Disease Isolation Centre, Olodo formerly Ajimobi maternal and paediatric centre, said he has gotten the mandate from the Oyo State government to assist the state’s Ministry of Health in setting up the Infectious Disease Isolation Centre. He noted that the Oyo State government under the leadership of Seyi Makinde is leaving no stone unturned in its fight against coronavirus in the state, noting that it would be unfair to say the government is not ready to curb the spread of the pandemic disease. “It is not true that the government is doing nothing to fight coronavirus. “It is not fair on the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde who is the chairperson ...

Lagos State Government on Monday discharged five coronavirus patients at Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba Mainland Hospital. This brings to eight the total number of discharged patients from the Centre. The patients who had been quarantined at the isolation centre for weeks looked stable and unruffled. Although, the discharged patients preferred annonimity, they expressed joy and satisfaction over the treatments they received.   While thanking the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support and proactiveness, they pleaded that the workers at the Centre should be given life insurance. While speaking to the press, one of the patients said, I came in here on the 15th and after the test showed positive, I was asked to come back the next day.So i was admitted here. “Initially, there were hitches but it later turned out fine. The health workers did fine, all our challenges were attended to. I’m a living witness together with my other colleagues.”...

The Diagnostic Centre at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has been certified by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and is now functional. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who made this known on his twitter handle, said the development would improve turnaround time for testing of the COVID-19. He also stated that the dusk to dawn curfew between 7 pm and 6 am took effect from Sunday, adding that there should be “no gathering of more than ten people anywhere in Oyo State.” According to him, all markets will also be closed except those selling perishable food items. “Also, inter-state transportation into and out of the state has been suspended from Sunday, March 29, except vehicles carrying food items, medical, pharmaceuticals and petroleum products. ”All measures will be reviewed on a weekly basis, ” he tweeted. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the number of confirmed cases in Oyo had risen to seven on Sunday. [NAN]

ADDRESS BY H.E. MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE COVID- 19 PANDEMIC SUNDAY 29TH MARCH, 2020. 1. Fellow Nigerians,   2. From the first signs that Coronavirus, or COVID-19 was turning into an epidemic and was officially declared a world-wide emergency, the Federal Government started planning preventive, containment and curative measures in the event the disease hits Nigeria. 3. The whole instruments of government are now mobilized to confront what has now become both a health emergency and an economic crisis.   4. Nigeria, unfortunately, confirmed its first case on 27th February 2020. Since then, we have seen the number of confirmed cases rise slowly. 5. By the morning of March 29th, 2020, the total confirmed cases within Nigeria had risen to ninety-seven. 6. Regrettably, we also had our first fatality, a former employee of PPMC, who died on 23rd March 2020. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in ...

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State council on Sunday appealed to the Federal Government to save the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and provide it with enough funding to cater for the ravaging Coronavirus otherwise known as Covid-19.  The Union also frowned at recent development at the foremost teaching hospital in Nigeria, with confirmed four cases from its board and management. In a release/tweet released by the CMD of the Hospital, Prof. Abiodun Otegbayo, he explained how he contracted the virus and tested positive for Covid-19.  The hospital management also confirmed that the Provost college of Medicine and his deputy also tested positive. The fourth is the chairman of the board who had allegedly tested positive for the virus. The NUJ in a press statement by its Chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola  and Secretary,  Sola Oladapo wondered why due diligence was not done to ascertain the condition of all attendees at the me...

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council has warned members to stop all physical interviews to prevent being infected by corona virus (COVID-19). This is contained in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Ademola Babalola and Secretary, Mr Sola Oladapo, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan. The union warned members to be cautious in performing their roles as essential service providers, saying the extent at which the virus was spreading is very alarming. "Truly, our services are very essential at this period when the world is ravaged by Corona Virus (COVID-19). The public look on to us for information on this global pandemics. "Our job leaves us more exposed to the ravaging virus. The rate at which this virus is spreading has become very alarming and it is no respecta of anyone. "As journalists, we must be very careful of how we carry out our duties without being infected," it said. It commended members...

With a view to contributing its own part towards the curtailment of corona virus pandemic ravaging Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole, The Socio-Cultural Organisation in Ibadan, Omo Ajorosun Club has donated herbal blend hand sanitizers to Oyo State Government. The presentation of herbal blend hand sanitizers was unveiled by the President of the club, Mogaji Ismail Bioku while handing over the items to the State's Commissioner for Health, Dr B.V.A. Bello at the Secretariat on Saturday, 28th March. Bioku disclosed that the presentation of  herbal blend hand sanitizers was in line with the readiness and preparedness of the club to support the state government wholeheartedly and collectively on how the pandemic ravaging the state and Nigeria as a whole would be nipped in the bud. He said that the club presented the hand sanitizers to the government, so as to curtail the further spread of the pandemic and ultimately ensure the state is free of the deadly and contagious d...

University College Hospital (UCH),Ibadan the capital of Oyo State has appealed to general public for donation on curtailment of corona virus pandemic ravaging Nigeria and the world at large. Message of appeal was contained in a letter personally issued and signed by the Chief Medical Director, UCH, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbeye on Saturday, 28th March and made available to Naija Today News. According to the letter,"as part of the plans to scale-up our ability to respond creditably to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hospital has commenced plans to upgrade its initial 4-bed isolation to an18-bed facility. "This is due to the highly infectious nature of the organism and requests coming in multiple numbers and in order to ensure that cross infection is limited as much as possible". "To this end, we hereby solicit for funds to achieve the following: pipeline oxygen with at least 20 patient points with humidifier, ventilators, personal protective equipment (Appare...

In view of the outbreak of Coronavirus which poses huge risk to the whole world, the Federation of Muslim Women's Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN , Oyo State chapter has  reminded Nigerians, and indeed the whole world, of the need to go back to Allah sincerely in prayers for an end to the pandemic. The Amirah of FOMWAN in Oyo State, Alhaja Dr B.B Oloso gave the charge in a statement issued in Ibadan on the dreaded and deadly  virus which has held the entire world by the jugular. Alhaja Oloso in the statement issued by the state Media Officer of the Association, Alh Oyetunji Oyekunle noted that everyone at this critical moment must return to Allah, the Creator, in devotion, veneration and genuine repentance for an end to Coronavirus which has continued to claim lives of people across the globe. " Whatever problem or issue a Muslim is facing, he returns to Allāh for respite and His Messenger for guidance.  There is nothing that happens in the life of a Musl...

The Governor of Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has said that his ongoing isolation was premised on an adherence to advice that all governors who attended the National Executive Council(NEC) Meeting and came in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Makinde made the disclosure on Saturday, 28th March in a live tweet chat to the good people of Oyo State. In his words, "thank you for joining me. Let me start by explaining why I had to postpone my quarterly media chat. Governors who attended the NEC meeting came in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. So, we were all advised to self-isolate and test. I have been in self-isolation since then". "Once our testing centres in Ibadan are certified, I will be the first to test.So, this tweetchat is a way to still communicate with the people of Oyo State. I also had a phone-in conversation with Mayor Isaac Brown of Fresh FM, at 10 AM, this morning". "We are working on palliatives. We want to set it ...

…says Testing Centre set to come on stream in state *Compliance with shutdown measures, best way to protect state Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, informed residents of the state that his government is already working on palliatives to ease the pressure on the people following the partial shutdown of activities as part of the precautionary measures to curtail the spread of Covid-19. The governor, however, added that the state would need to work on accurate data and design that would ensure the palliatives get into the hands of those who truly need them. According to him, it was important that the palliatives to be put in place get to those with genuine needs for them and that they are not cornered by middlemen. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde stated these during a phone-in interview programme on Ibadan-based Fresh 105.9 FM, as well as and a one-hour Tweetchat via his Twit...

After suffering symptoms similar to COVID-19, it became clear I needed special medical attention beyond the care I was getting while self-isolating at home. On the morning of Friday, 20 March 2020, my wife took me to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. There I was quarantined at the Infectious Diseases Ward. Samples were immediately taken from my body for testing for COVID-19. When the result came on Monday 23 March, I tested negative. “The ward was not in the best of condition when I arrived, but within hours of my presence, the hospital management ensure I got the conducive environment required for the care of a patient in distress. The speed with which air conditioners were installed and light restored to the building shows our can-do spirit. “I was attended to by hard working doctors, nurses and cleaners who proved that no matter the challenges, we can rise above the obstacles on our road to quality healthcare. They are the champions of a new Nigeria. I celebrat...