Southwestblog

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said that the government spends up to N1m daily on each COVID-19 patient in Severe condition. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Abayomi said the state may experience the peak of Coronavirus by August. According to Abayomi, the government spends averagely about N100,000 daily to treat a mild patient while it costs about N500,000 to N1,000,000 to treat a patient with a serious case. He said, “To treat mild to moderate case patients in our isolation centre is somewhere in the region of N100,000 per day. “That gives you an idea of the amount of money the government is spending on COVID-19 isolation facilities and COVID-19 care. “If you require high care or intensive care, that amount can go up to anything from N500,000 to even a million naira per day, depending on the complications of the case. “Do you need ventilation, dialysis, intravenous antibiotics; every case is different, so it is difficult to calculate exactly how

Oyo Set To Arrest, Prosecute People Without Facemask In Public Oyo state govt to begin arrest and prosecution of residents for failure to comply to use of facemask in public Residents of Oyo state who refuse to comply with the COVID-19 protocol of compulsory use of face mask in public places may be arrested and prosecuted from next month. A coordinator of enforcement from the state COVID-19 emergency operation centre and risk communication pillar, Mrs Kunmi Oladipo made this known today during an enforcement mission to Bodija market in Ibadan Mrs Oladipo explained that the state has recorded low level of compliance to the wearing of face mask in public places particularly markets hence the need to reemphasize the importance of the directives and ensure the people duly comply as the battle against coronavirus is still ongoing She also noted that the enforcement team would within one month sensitize, persuade and ensure compliance but if there was no appreciable improvement, the team mig

The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Daniel Pondei, has fainted while being questioned by the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission . He fainted while he was being asked about the spending of the commission since he took over. Lawmakers investigating corruption allegations in the NDDC had on Friday summoned Pondei and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to appear before them today (Monday) as the country sought to understand how budgetary allocations to the agency had been spent. This is not the first time an appearance by the NDDC MD before the lawmakers will come to a halt under dramatic circumstances. The NDDC boss had walked out on the lawmakers on Thursday, last week, after accusing the Chairman of the Committee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, of being an interested party in the investigation. He said as long as Tunji-Ojo presided over the investigation, the Commission would not get a fair hearin

Oyo State Police Command on Friday arrested no fewer than three (3) persons in connection with the killing of five residents of Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State . Among those who were killed were an 18-year old teenager, Barakat Bello, a pregnant woman, Azeezat Shomuyiwa, 21-year-old student, Grace Oshiagwu, Olusayo Fagbemi and a five-year-old boy, identified as Mujeeb. Another 45-year-old woman, Adeola Bamidele and her daughter, Dolapo Bamidele, were also attacked in a failed attempted murder in June. But, the Police has arrested three persons in connection with the killings and the attacks com missioner of Police, Mr. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, while parading the suspects at a press briefing in Ibadan on Friday, gave the names of the suspects as Sunday Sodipe, Adedokun Yinusa and Shehu Usman. Exhibits recovered from the suspects included one hand shovel, one techno mobile phone, one I phone Xmax and one Itel Phone. “The assailants troubling the settled water at Akinyele local

Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has taken a swipe at Nigeria's Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, accusing him of always interfering with the agency's investigations and working with others to strip it of its statutory powers. Magu in a 44-page document titled “RD: Alleged Case Of Conspiracy Enrichment Abuse Of Public Office And Other Infractions” written to the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential panel investigating allegations of corruption against him, said that the complaints against him were fabricated and targeted at tarnishing his image and the credibility of the EFCC. The 58-year-old, who was  released on Wednesday  after 10 days in detention following  his arrest  by a combined team of Department of State Services and policemen in Abuja on July 6 to answer questions from the panel, said that the entire saga was a well-orchestrated plot by his traducers to rubbish him for exposing corruptio

Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has opened up on the allegations that he gave N4 billion to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Magu described the claim as false and a calculated attempt to tarnish Osinbajo’s hard-earned reputation The suspended EFCC boss, who was freed from detention on Wednesday, equally denied giving the sum of N28 million to Femi Falana SAN, a human rights lawyer. Magu spoke in a petition signed by his lawyer, Wahab Kunle Shittu and addressed to the Chairman of the Presidential Investigations Panel, Justice Isa Ayo Salami. “Our client strongly denies this falsehood against the respected Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Our client has never given the sum of N4 billion or any sum at all to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON, Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria as wrongly reported.” “This allegation is complete falsehood designed to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the Vice President.

President Muhammadu Buhari has given minister of state for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, the go-ahead to continue with the plan of recruiting 774,000 Nigerians under the Extended Special Public Works progamme (SPW) despite protest by the National Assembly . The minister, who confirmed the development to journalists in Abuja yesterday, said he has the fresh instruction of Mr President to proceed with the recruitment exercise. In his words: “I have fresh instructions to proceed with the program as directed by him and to continue to supervise the program in accordance with the law. I stress it, in accordance with the law.” Meanwhile, when LEADERSHIP reached out to the Senate spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, for a reaction to the development, he declined comment, saying he cannot exchange words with the junior minister of Labour and Employment in order not to disrespect the president. It is, however, expected that the Senate might formally react before the end of today through th

Despite the federal government’s stance on 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the Oyo state has said that the students would continue their preparation for the examination.  The state commissioner for education, science and technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said that Governor Seyi Makinde-led government is still assessing the situation.  The commissioner, however, noted that the state’s schools remained open with students in SSS3 continuing preparation for WASSCE. The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, had on Wednesday, July 8, noted that the secondary school students preparing for their final examinations would not be able to return to school any time soon because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking with journalists in his office, on Thursday, July 9, on the latest federal government’s position, Olaleye said that the state was also watching out for the reaction of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to the development. While acknowledging that WA

   Oyo state government has directed all applicants who applied for the Teaching Service Commission jobs to visit the website and upload the details of their credentials and personal data.   Mrs.  Grace Olabisi Oderinde, Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Post Primary Schools Service Commission (TESCOM) state this in a released post on social media on Thursday.  The exercise is for those who have obtained and submitted application forms in the on-going recruitment exercise. They are expected to do so between Monday, 13th and Saturday 18th July, 2020 for further processing of their applications. “Please note that ONLY applicants who have already filled and submitted the application forms are eligible for this exercise. “We hereby enjoin all applicants to take note of this development, as failure to comply will lead to forfeiture of such application,” the announcement reads.

   Federal Government has declared that secondary school students in Nigeria won’t participate in the forthcoming West African Examination Council(WAEC) examinations. The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the week’s virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. He also announced that there is no date for school resumption yet. He stated that he would prefer Nigerian students lose an academic year to expose them to dangers.

A total of 280 COVID-19 patients have been discharged in the last 24 hours, bringing Nigeria’s total number of recoveries to 12,108 . Fifteen patients were also confirmed to have died of COVID-19 complications across the country on Tuesday. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the figures on Tuesday night, adding that 503 new infections were recorded in 20 states and the federal capital territory (FCT). With 79 deaths in the past week, a total of 669 people have now died of COVID-19 complications across the country. Lagos with 153 cases, Ondo with 73 and Edo with 46, topped the list of new infections confirmed on July 7. A total of 29,879 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now been recorded in all states and the FCT. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has finalised plans to work with China in order to facilitate better understanding of the source of the coronavirus. Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, made this known at a press briefin

Adisa Logun, chief of staff to Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara state, has died of COVID-19 complications. Rafiu Ajakaye, chief press secretary to the governor, broke the news on Tuesday night. He said Logun died hours after the result of his coronavirus test was released. “With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, we wish to announce the passing of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kwara State Aminu Adisa Logun (mni),” Ajakaye said in a statement. “Logun, an industrialist, a public intellectual, and an elder statesman, died Tuesday evening of complications from COVID-19. He died only a few hours after the test of his result returned positive. “The entire government and the people of Kwara State have lost an outstanding public servant who diligently served the state at various times, including as Chief of Staff to the Governor from June 7, 2019 until he returned to his Lord. “The Governor has declared a seven-day mourning in honour of the late Chief of Staff

Oyo State government gave the University College Hospital, UCH, five million naira to support its fight against COVID-19 to ensure the hospital management does not keep demanding for support from the government on a daily basis. This was revealed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Taiwo Adisa while speaking on Ibadan-based radio station Fresh FM on Friday. Adisa, who gave the explanation in a bid to bring to fore the governments side of the ongoing exchange of words with the UCH, also revealed that the government also supported the hospital with N25 million worth of materials. The commissioner for Finance announced that the state government has supported the UCH to the tune of N118 . But the UCH management said there is distinction between the institution, the Department of Virology and the College of Medicine. “Based on that classification, we have further clarified that the State has supported the Department of Virology to the tune of N86.9 million. That Departmen

A Nigerian social influencer, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, 37, a.k.a. “Ray Hushpuppi” and “Hush,” made his initial U.S. court appearance yesterday in Chicago, where he is facing criminal charges on allegations that he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other scams, including schemes targeting a U.S. law firm, a foreign bank and an English Premier League soccer club. This is contained in a statement yesterday by the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, which states that he was expected to be transferred to Los Angeles in the coming weeks. Hushpuppi arrived in Chicago Thursday evening after being extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he was arrested last month by UAE law enforcement officials. FBI special agents earlier this week obtained custody of Abbas and brought him to the United States to face a charge of conspiring to engage in money laundering that is alleged in a

The online portal for the recruitment of the third batch of N-Power enrolees has witnessed over 3million applications in a week. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development commenced the enrolment process of the third batch of the N-Power beneficiaries on 26th June 2020. A week after the portal was opened for application, the ministry said over 3million applications have been received. The Government said 400,000 applicants will be absorbed into the third batch of its N-Power National Social Investment Scheme (NSIP). The update on the application exercise is contained in a statement in Abuja on Friday by the Deputy Director Information of the ministry, Rhoda Iliya. The statement reads: “Enrolment of beneficiaries for N-power Batch C commenced on Friday June 26th2020 and has received over 3 Million applications since the portal opened. “The application process will be concluded as soon as possible to provide additional Nigerian youths access

Justice Segun Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court on Wednesday granted the prayers of the owners of Assets Oil and Gas, Ojoo, Ibadan to restrain the government from demolishing its business complex. The judge had on June 20, adjourned ruling on the matter after hearing arguments of the parties in the suit. At the resumed session on the matter, the Court granted an injunction restraining Oyo state governor; first defendant and others from acts of trespass, demolition and forceful take over of Assets Oil and Gas Limited filling station. The claimant, Assets Oil and Gas Limited filling station had approached the court to seek an injunction against the defendants who had sealed-up the property and take over the land. Among the defendants are the Oyo State Governor; the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development. The claimant said that the defendant had on December 13, 2019 with some personnel from the stat

The Federal Government has announced a new pump price for premium motor spirit (PMS). The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has announced that the new pump price of petrol is between N140.80-N143.80 per litre. Nigerians might witness another hike in retail price for petrol as the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has recommended an upward review from N121.50. The agency recommended that a litre of petrol should now be sold between N140.80 and N143.80. The Cable reports that the agency in a statement wrote:  “After a review of the prevailing market fundamentals in the month of June and considering marketers’ realistic operating costs, as much as practicable, we wish to advise a new PMS pump price band of N140.80 – N143.80/litre for the month of July 2020.”

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the legislature is the most misunderstood arm of Government. Lawan stated this in his remarks sequel to a motion considered on International Day of Parliamentarism, sponsored by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP – Anambra South). According to the Senate President, the development poses a challenge which requires Parliamentarians to educate and enlighten citizens on the functions and roles of the parliament.  He added that the National Assembly in its bid to ensure the prudent application of public funds, will continue to oversight the Executive arm of Government, as well as provide legislative interventions to foster good governance where necessary.  “Here in Nigeria, like indeed anywhere else, democracy is largely defined by the presence of parliament, and parliamentarians are expected to undertake those three fundamental pillars of their mandate, that is representation, oversight and ensuring that we always legislate on good governance.  “I