WHO Begins Clinical Trial Of Coronavirus Vaccine In Nigeria

The World Health Organization (WHO) has begun a clinical trial of available drugs/vaccines for COVID-19 in Nigeria.
This was confirmed by the Country Representative of the WHO, Fiona Braka, while speaking during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday.

Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Ogun, Kaduna and Sokoto states had recently signed up to participate in the solidarity trial.

“The solidarity trial is a large multi-country effort that is going on across several countries globally. We are picking up on that trial in Nigeria. Some states have started while some are yet to start.

“These are not new drugs that we are trying but drugs that we already have available but are simply being repurposed for the intention of determining their effect on Coronavirus.

“We will keep you updated on what the timeline for the vaccine will look like. But we are still early in the process in collection of the data,”

Braka said.

Nigeria now has over 6,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.

On Monday night, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced 216 new cases, bringing the tally to 6,175.

Of that number, Lagos has the highest number with 2,624, Kano has 842 and Abuja 422.

Kaduna Poly Lecturer Reportedly Dies While Helping Girlfriend (Read Full Details)

This is sad! A senior lecturer of the federal polytechnic Kaduna, has lost his life while helping his girlfriend.

Mr. Sunday Odeagbo, from Benue state died on Saturday, 16th May 2020. According to reports,

He was called for help by his girlfriend who owns a beer palour at a popular market called ‘kasuwa Ndole’ in Kaduna state.

After dropping the lady’s goods at an unidentified location, the lecturer noticed he had a flat tire.

He parked his Benz by the roadside near learners junction Ungwa mai goro, off Narayi kaduna to get the services of a vulcanizer.

After alighting from the car, he reportedly fell down, attracting the attention of passersby who came to his aid.

He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by the doctors.

The cause of his death is suspected to be heart failure.

One of his friends and colleague in the institution revealed he had issues relating to heart problem in the past but he didn’t know if he followed it up or not.

His body was deposited at St. Gerald’s hospital mortuary by his family members who were contacted on phone.

May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

PDP Rejects Curfew Extension Announced By The Presidency

The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday said it had noted the alleged assumption of Presidential powers by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha who announced an additional two weeks for the partial lifting of the COVID-19 induced total lockdown imposed on Nigerians.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement, in Abuja, on Monday. He said there was nowhere within the laws of Nigeria that the powers to broadcast presidential executive orders such as the declaration of curfews and restriction of movements vested in the Office of the SGF.

He said the action of the SGF has brought serious confusion in the polity regarding the legality or otherwise of the directives contained in the SGF’s announcement.

Ologbondiyan said:

“Such powers are vested in the person and office of Mr. President and not exercisable by proxy, directly or indirectly; which makes the action of the SGF a recipe for serious constitutional crisis in our country.

“Our nation is a state governed by dictates of the law, particularly in the exercise of powers vested in statutory offices, especially that of the President.

“The PDP holds that the announcement by the SGF is, therefore, another manifestation of abuse of our statutory offices arising from the abdication of responsibilities by President Buhari since the last five years, which had also become more pronounced in this fight against COVID-19.”

Dons say COVID-19 fraudulent, caution against use of nose mask

Professor of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Cyril Otoohhiaus, has described the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a scam orchestrated by the Western world to generate trillions of dollars at the detriment of Africans and other parts of the world.

The lecturer at Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, stated this yesterday at the Government House, Lokoja, while delivering lecture on the pandemic at the instance of Governor Yahaya Bello.

According to him, coronavirus is not a living thing as claimed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).He said the virus was created in the laboratory to achieve a specific purpose.

“The virus is not a living thing as wrongly claimed by WHO. Viruses are made by man to achieve specific purpose; that is why the organisation cannot provide answers to virtually all questions concerning coronavirus posed to it.

“COVID-19 is not a natural virus; that is why even WHO is not specific in the symptoms the pandemic exhibits in human body,” the academic stated.

Professor Josiah Adjene of the same university, who also delivered lecture at the occasion, cautioned Nigerians against persistent use of face masks.

According to him, the continuous use of the mask reduces the quantity of oxygen required by the body, posing future health challenges to the body.

The professor of Neuronatomy and Cell Biology pointed out that the acclaimed symptoms of COVID-19 had been living with Africans, saying “there is no new thing in the pandemic that can distract African.”

He advised Kogi government to invest vigorously in agriculture to enable it feed the nation in the next two years when food would be scarce due to the lockdown.

In his remarks, Governor Yahaya Bello lamented that the country was under siege over COVID-19, stressing that the situation was really affecting Kogi even without a case.

“It is no longer news that we are under siege in Nigeria over COVID-19. Kogi is under siege, even as we don’t have a reported case; we are on lockdown not by our design or by our wish,” he stated.

The governor noted that his decision to invite academics that specialise in the field of virus and diseases was borne out of his desire to enlighten the people of the state on COVID-19 and how best they could handle it to avoid spread.

“I am the Executive Governor of Kogi State and it is incumbent on me to create avenue for my people to be enlightened, to really know what COVID-19 is all about,” Bello said.

Matthijs de Ligt: Juventus reject Barcelona’s £66m offer for Netherland’s defender

- Matthijs de Ligt is a major target for Spanish giants Barcelona - The La Liga side have offered £66million for the Juventus defender - De Ligt has reportedly settled in Turin alongside his girlfriend Anneke Molenaar Juventus fans will now heave a sigh of relief after the club reportedly turned down Barcelona’s £66million offer for sensational defender Matthijs de Ligt. Reports have it that the player has already settled well in Turin with his girlfriend with a hope to remain at the club for some time. Barcelona have been eyeing the 20-year-old for a long time and narrowly missed out on the player last summer who left Dutch side Ajax to Juventus for the same £66million. 

Army general, Islamic cleric arrested for flouting lockdown order in Kaduna

An army general was arrested in Kaduna state for flouting the lockdown order issued by the state government over the Coronavirus pandemic. 

 

The state's commissioner of justice, Aisha Dikko made the announcement on Monday May 18.

She said the army officer who was in full uniform and driving in from Abuja with three other passengers who had no face masks, was tried and convicted for not complying with the stay at home order and wearing face masks. 

Dikko said; 

“The general identified himself and said he was coming from Abuja and on a official duty. 

“However, the court tried and convicted the other three passengers, for not complying with the stay at home order and wearing face masks.”

It was further gathered that Yusuf Rigachukun, an Islamic cleric and his son were also arrested for flouting the state COVID-19 lockdown order. The Islamic cleric who was arrested at Kaduna State University (KASU) junction without face mask, reportedly gave an excuse of leaving his house because he was invited by the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC) for a radio programme.

The Commissioner added; 

“Rigachukun and his son were however both charged for not wearing facemasks and were fined N5000 each. 

"In addition, the court asked the cleric to perform community service, by informing the public on how to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Dikko who warned residents against violating the COVID-19 lockdown order, further revealed that 75 culprits have been convicted out of the 105 people who violated the ban on inter-state travel.

216 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria as confirmed cases rise to 6175

Two Hundred and Sixteen new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Nigeria on Monday, May 18.

 

According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC, 74 of the new cases were confirmed in Lagos, 33 in Kano, 19 in Oyo, 17 in Kano, 13 in Edo, 10 in Zamfara, 8 each in Ogun and Gombe, 7 each in Bauchi and Kwara, 4 in the FCT, 3 each in Kaduna and Enugu and 2 in Rivers.

The total number of cases now stands at 6175. The number of discharged patients stands at 1644 while number of confirmed deaths is 194.