Good morning! Welcome to TNG’s daily watch of happenings in Nigeria and around the globe as they develop. The lockdown in Nigeria took another twist on Thursday when a soldier gunned down a civilian in Delta State. Emman Ovuakporie, Regional Editor, TNG
Sad tale from Warri
The death of Warri boy caused by a yet to be identified soldier has generated a lot of heat among the youths in Delta State.
The Warri Boys Association has already made their position known and this could be a dangerous signal to the stay at home directive.
Lockdown: Cries of hunger
The cries of hunger across the land since the lockdown started in Nigeria has shown that truly it might be difficult to remain at home.
On Tuesday some Lagosians couldn’t stand hunger anymore they had to storm the streets demanding that Government should make provision for food and electricity.
Sanwo-Olu and family test negative
Governor Babajide Sanwaolu and his family tested negative. Good luck to the Lagos first family as it was rumoured that the governor could have been infected.
He was said to have been part of the top politicians that held a meeting with President Muhamnadu Buhari Chief of Staff , Abba Kyari who contracted Covid-19.
Deaths: France crosses 4000 mark
French health authorities reported 509 new deaths from the disease, taking the total to 4,032. But, after speeding up the previous two days, the rate of increase of deaths has decelerated in France, which is now in its third week of lockdown to try to slow the spread of the virus.
Speaking by videoconference in front of a parliament committee created to hold the government accountable for the way it handles the crisis, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the lockdown would likely be unwound gradually rather than in one go.
The government has ordered people to stay in their homes except for essential travel from March 17 until at least April 15.
“It is likely that we are not heading towards a general de-confinement in one go and for everyone,” Philippe said without indicating when the government might start to ease or completely lift the lockdown.
The daily government tally still only accounts for those dying in hospitals but authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes, which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities
CBN leads other banks, private sector on a rescue mission
Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has announced that the CBN, on behalf of the Bankers’ Committee, and in partnership with the private sector have come together to form the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19.
Under the plan, it was agreed that banks would contribute monies at four levels.
UBA, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank would each donate N500 million whilst banks such as Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, Sterling Bank, Union Bank and Stanbic Bank were expected to donate N250 million each.