Following the declaration that Nigeria’s confirmed COVID-19 cases have surpassed 12,000 and the death toll hit 342 on Sunday, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said the country may just be starting to experience the full weight of the pandemic.

The PTF decried Nigerians' avoidance of being tested; a situation which was responsible for the low testing ratio to the population.

This was made known at the House of Representatives on Monday when members of the PTF appeared before a joint committee of the House to account for the funds allocated and donated to the fight the pandemic.

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Chairman of the PTF, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, expressed uncertainties over the pandemic, urging the lawmakers to help extend the campaign to the grass roots.

He said, “I must say that the virus is still very dangerous. We have not peaked; we have to meticulously plan. There is no timeline; that is why money is not being thrown at it just because it has been released.

“We don’t know how long this will take us. Even the budget that the National Coordinator mentioned is for a period of six months. We do not know how long it will take us. But by the grace of God, we shall overcome.

“There is no medicine or vaccine for this. The humanity is simply overwhelmed by it. Everything has been turned upside down. Today, we are all masked up. We never used to know it like this. Please, honourable members, there is a lot you can do for us; a lot of legislative actions that can be taken, looking into the future. We are dealing with it today; the next pandemic must not catch us unawares. We must prepare for it.”

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Earlier, the Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, while responding to a question on whether the PTF had projected a figure for cases to know when Nigeria has reached the peak of the pandemic, stated that the country was just getting into it.

He said, “We are still in the middle of a very, very bad outbreak. In fact, it is most likely that we are at the beginning of a very bad outbreak. This is the honest truth. And as we dig into the details of what we have done, I really crave your indulgence to please, bear in mind that we do this work together, because we really have a collective responsibility to our people.

Ihekweazu also dismissed the claims that the NCDC had spent millions on text messages to sensitise Nigerians.

“The SMS story was of course not true. We will never spend that amount. In fact, all the SMS everybody receives are free, courtesy of the large telcos in the country. We have not paid a dime for SMS. Right now, we have tested less than 100,000. In the country at the moment, we have capacity to test over 200,000.”

READ ALSO, We May Reopen Schools after Lifting Interstate Travel Ban – Min. of Education

The meeting, which was held primarily  to account for the funds allocated and donated to the fight the pandemic, strangely did not have the   Accountant-General of the Federation in attendance. This displeased the lawmakers, who berated the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, for not attending the hearing.

In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts and leader of the joint committees, Wole Oke, said, “The only person that is not here, that I am worried about, is the Accountant-General of the Federation, who is the chief accountant of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who should tell us the total sum that we have realised. The gentlemen here can only speak on what has been released to them.”

We are just about to feel the full weight of COVID-19 -FG

The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has hinted that schools may reopen in the country after the ban on interstate movement is lifted.

The minister stated this during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday.

He restated that the government has not published any date for school reopening, emphasizing that the ministry does not want to lead Nigerians into danger.

The Federal Government had in March shut all schools in the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nwajiuba said, “We want to open when it is safe to do so. We have heard about neighbouring countries that opened and shut. We have heard about cases spiking with children getting into school. Of all the things I will like to do, I will not like to experiment with your children.

“We want a situation where once we are sure it is safe, we can then take them back into school.

“I have just finished a meeting with the representatives of WAEC and NABTEB and I understand how that worries our parents at the moment and how anxious our children are to know what next.

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“As soon as those in charge of the blockade lift it; because there is no way we can open our schools if teachers can’t come. So, we are looking at some time after the interstate lockdown is lifted. Because we will need that kind of openness for the children to move.”

We May Reopen Schools after Lifting Interstate Travel Ban – Min. of Education 

The Presidency yesterday claimed that a top security agency in the country had uncovered a plot by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to ignite a war in Nigeria, “using false allegations of prosecution against Christians.”

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, did not name the security apparatus, but warned Nigerians to be wary of “divisive campaigns funded by foreigners.”

However, the presidency said its conclusion was based on “a very deep and wide investigation” by the agency working in collaboration with international partners.

It said the foreign associates had already informed the authorities that there were two interconnected campaigns being run concurrently by the IPOB in this regard.

The statement read: “Both are using the cover of Christianity and calling for a U.S. Special Envoy to be appointed to stop the ‘genocide’ of Christians in Nigeria. But the real purpose is to drive a wedge between the Nigerian government and its U.S. and UK/European allies.

“IPOB leadership of course self-proclaims as ‘Jewish’, a position not shared by the generality of the members.

READ ALSO, Taraba Crisis: CAN has forgotten us- Tiv Leaders

“For reasons of convenience, he (Nnamdi Kanu) claims to have an interest in the welfare of Christians ­– but this is a ruse: the case for independence, the leader believes, is strengthened by ‘proving’ the government of Nigeria is ‘autocratic’, engaged in a ‘silent slaughter’ of their own citizens along with religion and ethnic lines – and, that therefore, the only viable option for the unique religious and ethnic minority is a sovereign Biafra separate from Nigeria.”

It added: “Nigerians and the international community are advised to be wary of this divisive campaign, which available evidence shows is being funded with monthly spending of $85,000 since October 2019, with no records of the source of this largesse.”

Presidency Accuses IPOB of using Christianity to ignite war in Nigeria

You’ve not been fair, CAN was in Taraba on peace mission – CAN

Tiv chieftains have met in Abuja on the communal crisis that claimed lives in Taraba, where they alleged that the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, CAN, had not done much on their plight. However, Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the Northwest, Rev John Joseph Hayab, disagreed with the chieftains, saying the association had intervened in the conflict between Tiv and Jukun in recent times. Hayab said in an interview with the BBC Hausa on Monday that, “I think the person who made that allegation has forgotten. CAN leader Pam has visited the area, he must’ve forgotten.” 

Rev. Hayab explained that the CAN leader had within the period, visited the war torn area so as to broker peace. However, a Tiv chieftain in an interview with the BBC Hausa, insisted that CAN had, allegedly neglected them, even as their people were killed in the conflict. He alleged that CAN had intervened when people were involved in crisis associated with politics. 

READ ALSO, Dad will run for President in 2023- Atiku’s son

“But the association has not come to us. The conflict is claiming lives, go to Bali and other places. The authorities are not doing much to end the communal crisis,” he alleged. 

Reverend Hayab however, assured that the apex Christian body would soon meet where issues, including the crisis in Taraba would be discussed with a view to proffering a solution to the problem.
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Taraba Crisis: CAN has forgotten us- Tiv Leaders

Adamu Atiku-Abubakar, the son of former Vice President  Atiku Abubakar, has said his father will contest the presidency again in 2023.

Atiku’s son said this while presenting the scorecard of his ministry as the Commissioner for Works and Energy in Adamawa State as the administration of Governor Ahmadu Finitiri, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party clocked one year.

He said, “Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with my father contesting for the presidency. In 2023, my father will be aspiring to the number one office in the land because he has been an astute, strategic, master politician for almost four decades.”

He added that Fintiri’s administration had surpassed the expectations of many in the state who were surprised that given the tight liquidity constraints, Fintiri could still meet most of its campaign promises to the electorate.”

He said his coming late into politics was as a result of the advice from his father urging him to spend more time in the private sector to gain enough experience, which would be crucial for him in public life.

I am basically here to serve my people; if I am called by the people back home to run for the Senate, I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

READ ALSO, COVID-19 Patient Nabbed While Selling Wares in Ondo Market

Recall that Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), said the political career of Abubakar in Adamawa state is over. Lawal said this in an interview he granted Daily Sun newspaper, which was published on Sunday, February 2. According to Lawal, Atiku no longer has political relevance in his state. 

"In Adamawa, however, I think his (Atiku's) political career has fatigued or it is over," he said. Babachir Lawal also denied being Atiku's friend. The former SGF said the two of them did not move in the same circles and besides, Atiku was older and bigger in the society than he is. 

Dad will run for President in 2023- Atiku’s son

Patient escaped to Ondo from Imo despite ban on interstate travel

The popular Oja Oba market, Akure, Ondo state, witnessed some drama over the weekend, as a lady allegedly diagnosed with COVID-19 in Imo state was found selling second-hand wares popularly called Tokunbo. 

She was subsequently arrested by the state government task force on COVID-19. Speaking on the arrest, the Health Commissioner, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, said that the lady, after being diagnosed with the virus in lmo state escaped to Ondo State despite the interstate lockdown. 

Adegbenro explained that both Imo and Ondo governments mounted thorough surveillance on her and she was eventually located where she was selling second-hand wares at the Oja Oba market. The commissioner said that the contact tracing of the patient’s family, friends and neighbours had begun and urged all who had transacted business with the woman to report for diagnosis.

READ ALSO, Abia State Governor Tests Positive for COVID-19

He appealed to residents of Ondo state to stay at home unless they needed to go out noting that community transmission of the coronavirus had become a reality in the state. Meanwhile, over 160 persons, who might have come in contact with two new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state are currently being traced. The state has recorded four deaths and discharged 21 patients cases while eight patients are currently receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital.

COVID-19 Patient Nabbed While Selling Wares in Ondo Market

The governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu, has tested positive for coronavirus. Ikpeazu had gone into isolation before his result returned positive, and had directed the deputy governor to act on his behalf. 

The state’s commissioner for information, John Okiyi Kalu disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He said, “On Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the interministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test. On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020, the result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative. 

”On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive. As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols. He is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.”

Consequently, the Governor has directed his Deputy, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of duties. “We wish to urge all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19 serious as the disease is real but not a death sentence. Our state has the resources to manage patients back to good health.” As of today, June 8, Nigeria has recorded a total of 12,486 COVID-19 cases, discharged 3,959 and lost 354 persons to the dreaded virus.
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Abia State Governor Tests Positive for COVID-19 

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Friday said that the State may reopen religious centres across the state on June 19, saying that this depends on the outcome of proposal submitted by different religious leaders in the state. 

Abiodun, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the update and efforts of the state to combat COVID-19 pandemic at the Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, said a sub-committee has been put in place to look into the proposals submitted by the religious leaders for the reopening of the religious centres in Ogun state. 

Abiodun said, “We would engage the religious leaders to work out modalities for gradual lifting of restrictions on religious activities in the state”. “The engagement process has commenced. Indeed, we have invited and received written submissions from both the Christian Association of Nigeria and the League of Imams and Alfas on their suggestions on how the restrictions on places of worship can be relaxed. 

“Subsequent to the submissions, the representatives of the two religious bodies also jointly held meetings with high-level representatives of government to discuss the submissions. This is in line with our inclusive approach to governance”. 

“We believe that the approach will ensure that the final decisions that will be arrived at will enjoy the buy-in and ownership of the religious leaders who will in turn communicate these to their respective congregation. The governor added that “government appreciates the cooperation of the religious leaders over time in the fight against this common enemy, particularly, their submissions on relaxation of restrictions on religious activities, which are practical, similar and mutually reinforcing”. 

READ ALSO, Fulani Own Nigeria And Will Rule Forever- Miyetti Allah

“A sub-committee, inclusive of the religious leaders, will review the submissions, the discussions as well as expert opinions of medical scientists to harmonise all the views to arrive at a composite framework for final adoption of the committee in the next few days, on or before Friday, 12th June, 2020”. “The 12th June deadline for the completion of the guidelines, which will be unveiled to the public in my next address is to enable the gradual opening of religious activities to tentatively commence on Friday, 19th, June, 2020, subject to the review of preparedness by our churches and mosques to the new normal”.

“A taskforce comprising of the religious leaders, government and security agencies will be established to monitor and ensure compliance with the agreed guidelines for religious activities; any place of worship that violates the guidelines will be closed”.

Ogun May Reopen Religious Centres on June 19

"We will establish our own security outfit across Nigeria"

The National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, has said that the Fulani own Nigeria and will rule the country forever.

Abdullahi also revealed that his organisation had concluded arrangements to flag-off its own security outfit with about 5,000 to 100,000 vigilantes to be deployed across all the states of the country.

He said that Fulani don’t need permission from anyone to settle in any land of their choice because Nigeria belongs to them and they founded it.

The Fulani leader said that like Amotekun, where the States Houses of Assembly in the South West made laws to back it up, the Fulani security outfit won’t be needing the law to support it because every place the Fulani find themselves, “that is their own Assembly.”

Abdullahi stated this in an interview with the Sun, adding, “My organization, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, we are trying to set up our own security outfit.

“We are considering starting with 5000 personnel. While their own is Amotekun, our own name shall be unveiled soon. We have not decided on its name, maybe, it may be called, Miyetti Allah Vigilante.”

He explained that the Coronavirus has delayed the take off of the outfit because of the social distancing policy even though “nothing concerns Fulani man with Coronavirus.”

“We are meeting, anytime from now, we make our plans public. We will first start with 5,000 personnel,” he said, adding that, “It is going to be across the country because there is no any angle you cannot find the Fulani in this country.”

He said that even though personnel of this security outfit are meant to tackle rustlers and bandits with guns and other weapons, they (the new security outfit) will not bear arms but will use the same sticks they use to control cows, adding that “stick is enough to use for their defence.”

READ ALSO, LASU Student Arrested for Kissing 3-year-old in Viral Video

He insisted that the Fulani has the rights “to go and settle in any bush in this country without asking anybody for permission. It is not against the law in this country. Who would they go to take permission from, is it the animals in the bush?”

He said that no one can drive away the Fulani because they "produced Nigeria."

“They produced the first prime minister. If they produced the first president, another president, another president and so on, are they not the owner of the country?

“Fulani are ruling Nigeria and they must continue to rule the country forever. That is the truth.”

Fulani Own Nigeria And Will Rule Forever- Miyetti Allah

A 400 level Botany student of the Lagos State University, Adeyeye Oluwatosin Babatunde, has been arrested for kissing his three-year-old stepsister in a viral video on June 2.

The footage sparked outrage on social media and several people made calls for his arrest. The video was circulated amidst a nationwide outcry against rape, following a recent spate of rape and murder across the country.  On Wednesday, May 27, a 22 year old student, Vera Omozuma, was assaulted in a church in Benin and subsequently died as a result of injuries sustained during the attack.

Days later, another student, 18 year old Barakat Bello, was also raped and killed in her parents' residence in Ibadan. 

Following the outrage on social media over the video showing the three-year-old girl being violated, the police declared him wanted.

Adeyeye, who resides at Kajola Street, Shagamu, Ogun State, was picked up by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command in an interstate operation. Police spokesman in Lagos, Bala Elkana, confirmed the arrest.

According to Bala, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered detectives from the Gender Unit to analyse the video and apprehend the suspect. After tracking him, Adeyeye was arrested on June 5, 2020 at about 11 am. The suspect was arrested through the concerted efforts of well-meaning Nigerians and detectives from its gender unit.

The suspect has been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for prosecution. In a video shared by Mr Elkana, the suspect said it was not his first time kissing the child. He claimed that the incipient happened around 8 p.m. at their residence, while their father and neighbours were present.

“I was sitting outside with my sister, we were playing outside in public. My Daddy was sitting beside me, with my neighbours and we were playing.

The suspect recalled he recorded the act and posted it on his WhatsApp status because he felt it meant nothing important. He added that one of his contacts made the video go viral.

“I did a video with the girl, kissing her with no bad intentions. After I did the video, I uploaded on my WhatsApp status and a lady messaged me that I’m a rapist.

“I was like, this is not the first time of me posting this baby girl and you know her very well. She blocked me immediately, she recorded it and posted it on her WhatsApp status and social media,” the suspect narrated.

He further narrated that he did a video apologising to Nigerians for what he did.

“I am really sorry, I didn’t know it will be this bad, because of the relationship between me and my sister,” he said.

Meanwhile, the command urged citizens to continue to speak out against sexual and gender-based violence and help the police put an end to rape, child abuse and crime against women and children. The Police also released numbers to lodge complaints on rape, child abuse or domestic violence.

They are: 08175899289, 09062887858, 09062887856, 09062887849, 09062887841, 09062887870, 08023532283, 09062887864, 09062887861 and 09062887860.

LASU Student Arrested for Kissing 3-year-old in Viral Video 

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has issued guidelines for reopening of worship centres across the capital city.

Minister of FCT, Muhammed Bello in a meeting with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Abuja chapter and League of FCT Imams, said some protocols must be adhered to in worship centres.

Bello urged all to use the opportunity to pray fervently for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

”Worshippers must sanitize their hands before entry. Provision of temperature checks before entry. Use of facemasks is mandatory.

“Churches and mosques within FCT must reduce the capacity of their facility to allow for physical distancing.

They should also strongly discourage all close contacts including shaking hands, kissings, handing out materials, and sharing worship implements including prayer mats, musical organs, microphones etc

”Churches are to open from 5am and close by 8pm and each service shall be for a maximum of 1 hour with an interval of 30 mins in between services to allow time for disinfection;

”Mosques are to open 15 mins before Adhan and close 10 mins after prayers for the five prayers. The waiting period between Adhan and Iqamah should not be more than 10 minutes. Prayers are to be shortened to reduce the duration of contact between congregations;

 READ ALSO, Eight Policemen, Woman Killed in Kogi Bank Robbery

”For Friday prayers, mosques in the FCT are to open 20 minutes before prayers and close 20 minutes after prayers. Total time for Friday prayers including sermons should not exceed 1 hour.”

Bello further advised all residents of the FCT to take personal responsibility in ensuring strict compliance.

FCT Minister Releases Guideline for Religious Gatherings in Abuja

The armed robbers invaded the bank at about 4pm, shooting sporadically with stray bullets hitting several persons.

Eight policemen, including a divisional police officer (DPO) and a woman, were killed by an armed robbery gang in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State on Thursday. The incident, which reportedly occurred at 12 noon, spread panic to the whole community as everyone ran for their lives.

It was gathered that the large number of armed robbers stormed Isanlu community to rob an old generation bank branch in the town, but first attacked the police station in the town.

At the police station, the armed robbers reportedly used dynamite to bomb the station, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and seven others.

It was learnt that after they attacked the police station, the robbers moved to the old generation bank and opened fire and killed a woman who came to transact business in the bank.

While the robbery operation lasted, the people of Isanlu community ran for cover to avoid being caught by stray bullets.  Meanwhile, in a video of the incident that has gone viral on social media, the bodies of the slain policemen were seen laying on the ground around the police station, and the divisional police station was shattered by the explosion. 

An undisclosed amount of money was reportedly carted away by the bandits.

READ ALSO, Mr. President is not in charge of this nation – Wole Soyinka

The Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, Mr. William Ayah, a deputy superintendent of police, when contacted, said that the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ayuba Ede, had deployed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Isanlu.

He stated that the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of operations had also been deployed in the community. He said that investigation into the incident would commence immediately.

Eight Policemen, Woman Killed in Kogi Bank Robbery

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.