Days after the explosion which occurred in Ondo State, the driver of the truck that conveyed the explosives, Mr Isiaka Yinusa, said he did not know that his vehicle carried explosive devices.

The explosion which occurred on Akure-Owo Expressway, at Ilu Abo town in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State in the early hour of Saturday, injured several people and destroyed about 70 buildings in the community.

READ ALSO, EXPLOSION ROCKS AKURE; HOUSES DESTROYED

Yinusa, along with  other people who were injured in the accident  were rushed to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure,  where he had since been receiving treatment.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operation, Mr Abdulmajid Ali, had said the IGP, Abubakar Adamu had set up a committee to unravel the cause of the explosion.

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Speaking on his hospital bed, the victim said he was hired to take a consignment to Auchi, Edo State, after the vehicle that was bringing the consignment from Ibadan became faulty in Osu, Osun State. He said he was oblivious of the contents of the consignment which, according to him, was being escorted by some policemen.

He added that on their way to Auchi, the truck developed a fault in Akure, the Ondo State capital. He said one of the police escorts advised that they should move the vehicle away from the highly populated area, when they could not rectify the fault.

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He said, “We got to Akure around 6pm and we took time to relax at Shasha market area where we planned to sleep and continue the journey the following day. So I slept inside the vehicle.

“As I was sleeping inside the truck, I heard a knock on the vehicle door by someone who informed me that smoke was coming out from under the vehicle.

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“We quickly moved. The policeman that led the team said we should move ahead. As we were moving on, the policemen in the escort said that I should stop. As we got down, I saw fire coming out from the vehicle. We brought out fire extinguishers to put it out.

“As we were doing that, suddenly the policemen shouted that everybody should run.  As I was running, I heard a bang and noticed something in my abdomen. That was all I knew and the next thing was that I woke up in the hospital.”

The driver is receiving care at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure, and is in stable condition. 

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I Didn't Know The Contents of My Truck - Ondo Driver 

Food Markets  to Open  10am to 2pm Every Day 

Following further reviews of the lockdown order, the Federal Government has relaxed the total lockdown it imposed on the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states to curb the spread of COVID-19. It then issues new guidelines concerning the lockdown. 

Following the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country, the President, Major-General Muhammadu  Buhari (retd.), on Sunday ordered the lockdown of the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states.

READ ALSO, LAGOS PREDICTS SURVIVAL OF MOST COVID-19 PATIENTS

However, the Federal Government reviewed the lockdown on Wednesday just as COVID-19 cases rose to 174 with 35 new cases. The Nigeria Centre for  Disease Control had on Tuesday put the total number of COVID-19 cases  in the country at 139.

The government, in the new guidelines it issued on Wednesday,  stated that markets selling food would open from 10am to 2pm every other day. Also, supermarkets and pharmacies are to open from 10am to 4pm every day, but must maintain a high level of hygiene.

The new guidelines also ban bus services during the lockdown. It adds that a mass gathering of more than 20 people is not allowed.

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The President ordered residents of the FCT and the two states to stay at home during the 14-day lockdown, which began in Lagos and Abuja at 11pm on Monday. He however, exempted health personnel, journalists, workers of telecommunication and power companies from the stay-at-home order.

The statement also read, “Borders linking the two states and the FCT to the rest of the country will be shut during the period of the lockdown, except for the transport of persons on essential duties, transport of food, fuel, manufactured goods or donated relief items. Security agencies are please invited to note these.”

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FG Reviews Lockdown as COVID-19 Cases Rise to 174

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association in Kano State has directed its members to ignore the directive on new price and sell the product at N125 per litre until their old stocks are exhausted. This was announced following the reduction of pump price of petrol from N125 per litre to N123.50 per litre. 

Chairman of IPMAN, Kano State, Alhaji Bashir Danmalam, who gave the directive while addressing a news conference in Kano on Wednesday, said members of the association would not comply with the new price regime until after they had sold all their old stocks.

READ ALSO, FG REDUCES PETROL PUMP PRICE TO N123.5 PER LITRE‌

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency had on Tuesday night announced the reduction of pump price from N125 per litre to 123.50 per litre.

However, according to Danmalam, the last time the Federal Government reduced the pump price of the product from N145 per litre to N125 per litre, its members nationwide lost over N5.5bn as a result of the sudden action.

“We called on government to compensate or support our members who incurred the huge losses due to the sudden reduction in fuel pump price but nothing was given to us.

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“But to our surprise, the private depots owners were paid; none of our members was supported to reduce the losses they incurred. This time round, we will not sell our products at the new price until the old stocks are exhausted.”

The chairman noted that IPMAN was the largest employer of labour besides the Federal Government, adding that members of the union would not continue to operate at a loss.

“Apart from the Federal Government, IPMAN is the largest employer of labour in the country and we cannot continue to support the government at this trying time while we are operating at a loss,” Danmalam said.

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He accused the management of the PPPRA of trying to sabotage the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure sustained fuel supply and distribution across the country through some policies that could plunge the sector into a serious crisis.

“Even though we are happy with the new development and the Federal Government should be commended for the gesture, the government should consider the fact that no sane marketer or businessman will continue operating their business at a loss.

“Before the last announcement, many of our members had already bought and loaded their vehicles with the product at old prices from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri and we spent five to seven days before reaching our destinations. So we are not going to sell the product at the new price until we sell the old stocks.”

He said the union would not hesitate to ask its members to withdraw their services should any filling station of their  members be closed for not selling at the new pump price of N123.50 per litre.

Ignore New Fuel Price, IPMAN to Marketers 

Following the comments of the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, that faulted the lockdown order of the Federal Government that Nigeria is not in a “war emergency”, the Presidency has reacted. It said the playwright had no specialty in medicine and should instead focus on writing a play on the pandemic after the emergency is over.

In a statement signed on Wednesday night by Garba Shehu, a media aide to the President, the presidency re-emphasised that the 14-day lockdown is in the interest of Nigerians. The president’s spokesman advised Nigerians to trust science and not fiction.

He said, “Professor Soyinka is not a medical professor. His qualifications are in English literature, and his prizes are for writing books and plays for theatres. Across the world, mandated lockdowns are in place to slow and defeat the spread of coronavirus.

READ ALSO, SOYINKA AND FALANA TACKLE BUHARI ON LOCKDOWN ORDER

“The Government’s primary duty in law and action is the defence of the people of Nigeria. We face a global pandemic. Nigeria is now affected. The scientific and medical guidance the world over is clear: the way to defeat the virus is to halt its spread through limitation of movement of people.

“Professor Soyinka has also declared, doubtless based on his specialism as a playwright, that: ‘We are not in a war emergency.’ However, eminent scientists say otherwise: “Dr Richard Hatchett, Head of the International Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (and former Director of the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) has said, ‘War is an appropriate analogy’.

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“Professor Anthony Fauci, Director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force has said of the battle against the pandemic: ‘It’s almost like the fog of war’.

“Perhaps, Wole Soyinka may write a play on the coronavirus pandemic, after this emergency is over. In the meantime, we ask the people of Nigeria to trust the words of our doctors and scientists – and not fiction writers – at this time of national crisis.”

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Coronavirus Lockdown: Write Plays on Pandemic Later, Presidency to Soyinka

The Federal Government on Tuesday night reduced the price of petrol by N1.50; from N125/litre to N123.5/litre.

The FG made the announcement of  the reduction through the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, after a whole day meeting with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector in Abuja.

Announcing the reduction, the Executive Secretary of the PMS pricing regulator, Abdulkadir Saidu, said, “PPPRA, in line with the government approval for a monthly review of Premium. 

READ ALSO, NO INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF FOR NOW- MINISTER OF POWER‌

“Motor Spirit pump price hereby announces guiding PMS pump price of N123.50 per litre.

“The guiding price which becomes effective 1st April 2020, shall apply at all retail outlets nationwide for the month of April 2020. PPPRA and other relevant regulatory agencies shall continue to monitor compliance to extant regulations for a sustainable downstream petroleum sector.”

It added, “Members of the public and all oil marketing companies are to be guided accordingly.”

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The spokesperson for PPPRA, Kimchi Apollo, had told our correspondent at 7.30pm that stakeholders had been meeting on the new price since Tuesday morning.

Officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, oil marketers and labour unions, among others, who constitute the petroleum products price modulation committee attended the meeting.

On March 19, 2020, a day after the Federal Government announced the pump price of N125/litre for petrol, the PPPRA declared that there was the possibility of a new price regime for the PMS beginning from April 1, 2020.

It explained that the N125/litre price might last till the end of March, as a new cost for petrol might be introduced on April 1.

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Saidu had told journalists that the PPPRA would be undertaking a review of the PMS price and would announce a new price for the product on April 1 (today) if there were changes in the parameters used in determining the N125/litre pump price.

FG REDUCES PETROL PUMP PRICE TO N123.5 PER LITRE‌

We Do Not Have Severe Cases- Commissioner for Health

The government of Lagos State has said that it expects most of its COVID-19 patients to survive, as no mortality has been recorded in the state . Prof. Akin Abayomi, the State Commissioner for Health, made this known at the COVID-19 media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos. He stated that COVID-19 mortality rate varies from country to country.

According to Abayomi, mortality rate in China was 2.5 per cent, Italy about five per cent, while in some parts of Europe, five out of 100 patients might die of the virus.

“Our survival in Lagos is still 100 per cent. We do not have severe cases among the patients. Most of the patients are experiencing a mild to moderate degree of the illness, no patient requires ventilation at the moment,” the commissioner said.

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Abayomi said the state has 81 cases with eight recoveries and no death, adding that 66 cases were due to transmission within Lagos and 15 cases were from an oil and gas vessel.

According to him, strategies deployed in Lagos have been effective. And he added that the state was seeing between six and 10 confirmed cases in a day.

“That is a very slow rate of increase compared to what we see in Europe and other countries where the increase is in hundreds and thousands,” he said.

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The commissioner said that the state has three molecular laboratories for COVID-19 test, thus was not under testing pressure

“Each of those facilities is testing up to 50 per day, so we have about 150 tests per day. We are increasing that capacity by the day, hopefully, we will be able to get to 200 and so on,” the commissioner said.

He said there was an ongoing training of medical personnel and volunteers, stressing that the various strategies, facilities and aggressive approaches would enable the state to contain the virus effectively.

The commissioner noted that the lockdown of the state was to minimise person to person transmission, adding that some people were secreting the virus, but were asymptomatic, thus posing a danger to the populace.

Abayomi stressed that if people continue to practice social distancing, the state would see a flattening of the virus curve, and invariably a slow down of the virus soon.

LAGOS PREDICTS SURVIVAL OF MOST COVID-19 PATIENTS

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has declared that there will be a 3-month delay in the implementation of the proposed electricity tariff in the country. This followed the backlash that greeted the regulator's earlier announcement that there would be an upward review of electricity tariff across the country effective April 1.

READ ALSO NERC TO INCREASE ELECTRICITY TARIFF FROM WEDNESDAY

Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the suspension in the implementation of the new tariff was one of the measures taken by the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to support Nigerians in this difficult time when COVID-19 is disrupting the nation’s economy.

Mamman explained that the suspension of the  new electricity tariff hike till June 30 was in line with President’ Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement, granting a moratorium for certain Federal Government’s funded facilities to the Nigerian public.

He said, “We must work together. I must specifically commend the Distribution Companies that have direct interface with the citizens. Many of the DisCos have announced that they will take measures to maintain power supply to citizens in this difficult time. I would like to implore that the DisCos uphold these commitments.”

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According to him, players in the industry are working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure payments to the generators and gas suppliers. He said that the payment to be done through the Payment Assurance Facility would be expedited to support power supply.

“I will also commend players in the NESI that have made commitments to ensuring stable power supply in this period. I would like to implore that the DISCOs uphold these commitments.  Key Emergency measures being taken to support the NESI (Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry) are as follows.

“Delay in tariff actions for 3-months to limit economic hardship on Nigerians in this difficult time.  Ongoing engagements with key players involved in the NESI to ensure sustainable power supply.

“We are working with the CBN to ensure payments to the generators and gas suppliers through the Payment Assurance Facility (PAF) are expedited to support power supply.

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“TCN is creating emergency measures to ensure staff will be available to monitor the grid and perform technical interventions. Based on feedback of Nigerians through the Public Hearings on Tariffs, the Ministry acknowledges the sentiment from consumers.

“Nigerians are willing to pay for services rendered by the DISCOs, but this willingness is conditioned on definite improvement in quality of supply and adequate metering. The Ministry is supportive of measures taken by NERC to transition to a “service reflective” tariff system in the NESI. The Ministry is engaging with NERC to ensure:

“The “service reflective” tariff is implemented with equity, DISCOs must present plans for improving service across their entire network. The enforcement of Order NERC/197/2020 regulating the Estimated Billing Methodology. This is to ensure that metering is accelerated, and customers protected from arbitrary billing.

“We agree with NERC that this approach is more equitable and will encourage investment in the sector. This will also transition the NESI to a contract based market with appropriate regulatory oversight as envisaged by the EPSRA (Electric Power Sector Reform Act). The Ministry also has a number of initiatives to support electricity access to the rural and underserved communities through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) focusing on Solar Home Systems and Solar Mini-Grids.

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“REA has support from the World Bank, African Development Bank, USAID, DFID and other key development partners to help accelerate power access. The Ministry is in discussions with the Central Bank of Nigeria on measures to help accelerate access to Solar Home Systems and Solar Mini-Grids.

“The Ministry will continue driving infrastructure investments with the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) and the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program (TREP) to support increased power supply.

“Metering is critical to ensuring sustainable and transparent revenue collection in the NESI. The Ministry is working with NERC to review the MAP (Meter Asset Provider) regulation to ensure it is fit for purpose with our evolving global factors.

FOR MORE BREAKING NIGERIAN NEWS, CLICK HERE 

“We are also working with the Ministry of Finance and Customs to ensure we have a regime for duties that aligns to our need for accelerated deployment of electricity components and tools. The sector must be sustainably managed without an endless intervention of funds by the Government. The Power Sector Recovery (PSRP) Financing Plan is being updated. The updates include: an alignment of available resources and setting of a firm timeline for the Government to exit its tariff support.

“The Financing Plan will be followed rigorously, especially at this time with tightening fiscal resources for the Government. We are continuing discussions with the World Bank on financing for the sector in alignment with the PSRP Financing Plan and hope to conclude the discussions soon. The Ministry will continue to engage with key NESI players in this difficult time to ensure sustainability of supply and improved outcomes for the Nigerian public.

NO INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF FOR NOW- MINISTER OF POWER‌

Nigerians' Rights Should Not Be Violated- NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has implored security agencies to refrain from applying any form of torture or punishment in the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown directives of the Federal Government.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, said this in a statement, on Tuesday, that the enforcement of the directives must be carried out without torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of Nigerians.

He emphasized, “An order from a superior officer or public authority cannot provide an excuse for any security personnel to perpetrate acts of torture or cruel treatment against innocent citizens."

Ojukwu called on the National Assembly and the Executive Arm of government to take immediate measures to operationalise the state of emergency provisions of Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution in the interest of public health and safety. He expressed the belief that the government will take measures that would stem the tide of the contagious disease to protect the right to health and life of the people.

He noted that the commission commended the efforts of the various health workers who have exhibited professional and patriotic zeal to contain the virus and ensure the safety of all Nigerians.

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“We also recognise the efforts of patriotic Nigerians and businesses who have risen to the challenge to contribute resources to fight the scourge, " Ojukwu said.

The Commission urged the Presidential and State Task Forces on COVID-19 to ensure accountability, transparency and inclusiveness, making sure that no one is left behind especially vulnerable groups like IDPs, refugees, persons with a disability, almajiris, orphaned children, the aged and single-headed households.

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The Commission noted in the statement that the Federal and State Governments have, in an attempt to control the spread of the pandemic, employed some restrictive measures including total lockdown in some cases.

“These measures are directed at public safety and health and therefore should not in any way be abused by those charged with the responsibility of enforcing the directives.

“We appeal to law enforcement agencies across the country to ensure that they carry out their lawful duties in this regard without undue violation of the rights of Nigerians, "the Commission stated.

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CORONAVIRUS: NHRC CAUTIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AGAINST TORTURE

Following President Buhari's speech that announced lockdown of Lagos, Ogun States, and the FCT; Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, have tackled the President's restriction of movement order saying Nigeria is not at war.

Prof Soyinka described the order as “unconstitutional and a political virus for the future”, and Falana said the order cannot be enforced without legal backing.

President Buhari on Sunday directed the restriction of all movements in Lagos, Ogun States, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11 pm on Monday, March 30, 2020.

READ ALSO, NERC TO INCREASE ELECTRICITY TARIFF FROM WEDNESDAY

However, Soyinka, in a statement entitled: ‘Between COVID-19 and constitutional encroachment’, called on legal practitioners to educate Nigerians on the restriction order.

The statement, which he signed off as “Wole Soyinka from Self-Quarantine, “ read: “Constitutional lawyers and our elected representatives should kindly step into this and educate us, mere lay minds. The worst development I can conceive of us is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the Corona pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis.

“This is a time for unity of purpose, not nitpicking dissensions. So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers.

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“We are not in a war emergency. Appropriately focused on measures for the saving lives, and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers.

“We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.

“A President, who has been conspicuously AWOL, the Rip van Winkle of Nigerian history, is now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and begun to issue orders.

“Who instigates these orders anyway? From where do they emerge? What happens when the conflict of the orders with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy – including even trial-and-error and hiccups – undertaken without let or leave of the centre.

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“So far, the anti-COVID19 measures have proceeded along the rails of decentralised thinking, multilateral collaboration and technical exchanges between states.

“The Centre is part of the entire process, and one expects this to be the norm, even without the epidemic’s frontal assault on the Presidency itself.

“Indeed, the Centre is expected to drive the overall effort, but in collaboration, with extraordinary budgeting and refurbishing of facilities. The universal imperative and urgency of this affliction should not become an opportunistic launch pad for a sneak recentralisation no matter how seemingly insignificant its appearance.

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“I urge governors and legislators to be especially watchful. No epidemic is ever cured with constitutional piracy. It only lays down new political viruses for the future.”

Mr Falana, on the other hand, said: “Following the national broadcast of President Buhari on the COVID-19 pandemic yesterday, some lawyers have questioned the constitutional validity of the restriction of locomotion of people in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states. No doubt, the President is empowered to adopt any measures deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease but such measures have to be spelled out in a regulation made according to section 305 of the Constitution or under the Quarantine Act. Otherwise, the presidential order on the restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police.

“Even though the civil rule was restored in the country 21 years ago the psyche of the political class has not been demilitarised. Hence, decisions taken by rulers are required to be obeyed “with immediate effect” without any legal backing.

SOYINKA AND FALANA TACKLE BUHARI ON LOCKDOWN ORDER

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has disclosed that Nigerians will from Wednesday, April 1, 2020, pay more for electricity. This was disclosed in its December 2019 Minor Review of Multi-Year Tariff Order 2015 and Minimum Remittance Order for the Year 2020.

The decision to increase tariff was not suspended despite the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ ALSO BREAKING: GOVERNOR MAKINDE TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS

NERC had disclosed in its December 2019 Minor Review of Multi-Year Tariff Order 2015 and Minimum Remittance Order for the Year 2020 that the order was issued to reflect the impact of changes in the minor review variables in the determination of cost-reflective tariffs and relevant tariff and market shortfalls for 2019 and 2020.

The commission said the order also determined the minimum remittances payable by the distribution companies in meeting their market obligations based on the allowed tariffs.

It said, “The Federal Government’s updated Power Sector Recovery Programme does not envisage an immediate increase in end-user tariffs until April 1, 2020, and a transition to full cost reflectivity by end of 2021.

“In the interim, the Federal Government has committed to funding the revenue gap arising from the difference between cost-reflective tariffs determined by the commission and the actual end-user tariffs payable by customers.”

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According to NERC, all Discos are obligated to settle their market invoices in full as adjusted and netted off by applicable tariff shortfall.

It said, “All FGN intervention from the financing plan of the PSRP for funding tariff shortfall shall be applied through NBET and the market operator to ensure 100 per cent settlement of invoices issued by market participants.

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“Effectively, this order places a freeze on the tariffs of the TCN and administrative charges until April 2020 at the rates applied in generating MO invoices for the period of January to October 2019.”

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NERC TO INCREASE ELECTRICITY TARIFF FROM WEDNESDAY 

Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has tested positive for Coronavirus.

He made this announcement  via his Twitter handle on Monday. The statement read, 

“I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is positive. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate,” he said.

READ ALSO, BUHARI LOCKS DOWN ABUJA, LAGOS, OGUN, AS CORONAVIRUS CASES HIT 111

The governor, urged residents of the state to comply with directives aimed at curbing coronavirus in the state. He added that  his deputy, Prof Temitope Alonge, would take over as the head of the COVID-19 Task Force.

“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,” he added.

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BREAKING: GOVERNOR MAKINDE TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS 

The Military has announced that one of the top Commanders of the Boko Haram terror group, Abu Usamah, has been killed by troops in Gorgi, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to a statement by the Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, Usamah was among the terrorists killed by troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole during a subsidiary Operation known as Ayiso Tamonuma.

He said that the  terrorist died of gunshot injuries, having sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter with troops.

READ ALSO NO MILITARY LOCKDOWN- NIGERIAN ARMY

According to the statement, “It would be recalled that on 22 March 2020, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, while conducting a Special clearance operation in a subsidiary Operation called Operation AYISO TAMONUMA, decimated some key Boko Haram elements in an encounter at Gorgi in Damboa LGA of Borno State.

“In our earlier Press Briefing, we reported over 100 Boko Haram insurgents neutralized while scores of them escaped with gunshot wounds. This was in addition to several equipment casualty suffered by the Boko Haram insurgents.

READ ALSO, AIR PEACE EVACUATES 274 ISRAELIS TO TEL-AVIV

“As an update to that report, it is gratifying to note that, own communication intercept confirmed by accurate intelligence revealed that a top Boko Haram Commander, *ABU USAMAH* was among those Boko Haram insurgents killed during that encounter.

“He had earlier sustained fatal gunshot wounds in the firefight that ensued during the encounter before his foot soldiers hurriedly evacuated him and withdrew. Nevertheless, Abu Usamah died in the process.

“His death has no doubt created a consequential vacuum in the Boko Haram leadership particularly as the gallant troops remain resilient and continue to rout the criminal elements from their last enclaves in the North East.”

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The statement added that, “In another development, troops of 159 Task Force Battalion, Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed in Forward Operating Base Kanama, Yunusari LGA of Yobe State, neutralized scores of the Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State’s West Africa Province insurgents who attempted to infiltrate their location on 27 March 2020.

“The terrorists were severely decimated by our gallant Ground troops supported by the Air Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE. They withdrew in disarray under superior fire power and were subsequently crushed by own troops.

“Furthermore, during the encounter several terrorists were neutralised while one Gun Truck and various arms and ammunition were captured by the troops. These include; one DSHK Gun, 2 AK 47 Rifles, 2 AK 47 Rifle magazines, one Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb, 273 rounds of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition, 101 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 15 jerrYcans of Premium Motor Spirit and a Boko Haram Terrorists flag.

“Meanwhile, the Military High Command has congratulated the gallant troops for their resilience, courage and dedication to the noble cause of defending our fatherland against the criminal elements. They were equally enjoined to continue to be steadfast and relentless against the enemies of our nation”.

BOKO HARAM COMMANDER, USAMAH, KILLED IN BORNO ENCOUNTER 

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.