TheNewsGuru

Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Bayelsa records 13 COVID-19 cases, 1 death

    Bayelsa records 13 COVID-19 cases, 1 death

    Bayelsa has recorded 13 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the state to 282.

    Dr Jones Stowe, the state Director of Public Health and member of COVID-19 Task Force who gave the update in a statement in Yenagoa, said the state also recorded one additional COVID-19 related death.

    Stowe explained that the new case brought the total number of COVID deaths in the state to 17.

    “On the total number of confirmed infections, we have 282 but right now, we have 124 active cases in our isolation centres at Niger-Delta University Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

    “On Wednesday, we recorded 13 new confirmed infections, one new fatality, total deaths now, 17. Four new persons were also discharged, making 141 discharged cases so far in the state.

    “All the positive cases are being reached and counselled for evacuation to our isolation facilities.

    “All their contacts are being line listed and adequately followed up including necessary environmental decontamination.

    “Samples have and are still being collected from their high -risk contacts while they have all been counselled on self-quarantine. Risk communication and community engagement are ongoing.

    “We should always adhere strictly to the recommended public health advisories to reduce the transmission of COVID- 19.

    “Maintain regular washing of hand with soap and water and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Use your facemask, avoid hand shake and crowd,” Stowe said.

  • Bayelsa govt. discovers 718 fake employment letters

    Bayelsa govt. discovers 718 fake employment letters

    …………..says no plans to sack genuine civil servants.

    Over seven hundred suspected fake appointment letters have been discovered in the Bayelsa State Civil Service.

    Already, some of the syndicates involved in the employment racketeering have been arrested.

    The Chairman of Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Peter Singabele, stated this after he received the report of the Committee on Verification of Appointment Letters inaugurated by the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission.

    The committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mightyman Aye Dikuro, was inaugurated in March, 2020.

    Dr. Singabele, noted that most of the syndicates operated with some officials at the Civil Service Commission and the State Treasury.

    According to the State Civil Service Commission Chairman, the syndicates are suspected to have collected money from unsuspecting applicants to facilitate their employment into the civil service, stating that fake letters of appointments were issued to them with which they allegedly enrolled as civil servants, thereby increasing the wage bill of the government.

    Dr. Singabele also said other syndicates, who are believed to be in the government circle were suspected to have fraudulently facilitated appointments into the State’s civil service using fake Governor’s letter head and signature.

    Dr. Singabele,said disciplinary actions would be taken after studying the recommendations of the committee according to the civil service rules of Nigeria.

    The Chairman has equally used the medium to assure all genuine civil servants not to panic over the fake stories making the rounds on different social media platforms that Governor Douye Diri was planning to sack Bayelsans employed by the previous administration, insisting that there are no plans to sack any genuine worker.

  • Bayelsa records spike in COVID-19 positive cases

    Bayelsa records spike in COVID-19 positive cases

    Bayelsa State has witnessed a spike in the number of samples returning positive to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    This is happening despite proactive and preventive measures taken by the State government to avert the spread of the disease.

    Seventeen (17) new cases were recorded on Friday 19 June, 2020 while Twenty-five (25) cases were confirmed on Wednesday, 17 June, 2020, bringing the total number of confirmed Covid-!9 cases in the state to 128.

    A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and

    Orientation, and Member Bayelsa State Taskforce on Covid-19, Mr. Freston Akpor noted that One (1) patient was discharged from the treatment centre at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri in line with NCDC protocol.

    Regrettably, Six (6) patients gave up the ghost due to complications arising from the Coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to nine (9).

    Currently, there are ninety (90) active cases of Covid-19 at treatment centres in the State.

    Mr. Freston Akpor stressed that Covid-19 is real and deadly.

    “More so, there is no vaccine or drug for the virus. Citizens are therefore enjoined to take responsibility by adhering strictly to public health advisories.

    “Citizens are advised to always wear facemask in public places, wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap under running water.

    “Citizen should also stay safe at home if there is no compelling reason to go out.

    “It is the responsibility of all to protect all of us from the pandemic. Please stay safe,” he stated.

  • Group alleges plot to create trouble between Sylva and NCDMB Secretary

    The Transparency in Petroleum Exploration and Development Initiative (TIPEDI) has dismissed as unfounded allegations of the demand or withdrawal of $20 million from the accounts of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the purpose of prosecuting the forthcoming Senate election in Bayelsa State.

    Firmly rebutting the allegation, the NGO in a statement affirmed that the allegation could easily be confirmed as spurious when cast against the background of the governance system enthroned by the management of the NCDMB.

    It further said that the operation of the Treasury Single Account under the present administration has made the withdrawal of such amount from a government agency as the NCDMB impractical.

    TIPEDI in the statement issued on its behalf by its executive director, operations, Mr. Igho Derek rather adduced political motif for the rumour which the organization said lacks logic.

    TIPEDI said the originators of the rumour were rather interested in knocking the head of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipire Sylva with that of the management of the NCDMB as led by Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote.

    Calling on those with interest in the Bayelsa Senate runoff elections to rather focus on selling their agenda instead of blackmail, the group said:

    “We believe that those who want to stand for elective offices must be ready and willing to canvass votes based on what they have to offer the people and not seek to distract the people through the introduction of extraneous issues that have nothing to do with with the welfare of the electorate.

    “We say this because it has become the favourite pastime of certain individuals in Bayelsa State to pick on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) under the leadership of Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote as their scapegoat whenever an election looms in the State.

    “Records show that in the recent past, it was the Presidential, National and State Assemblies and later Governorship elections that provided the platform for the vilification of Engr. Wabote and NCDMB. Now with the possible rerun elections to fill vacant Senatorial seats in the Bayelsa State, the fairytale merchants are back at work with the same old strategy.”

    Noting the claim in one online platform that Sylva supposedly asked Wabote to release the sum of $20 million for the APC campaigns and for the prosecution of the legal challenges against Governor Douyle Diri, the group said:

    “We of Transparency In Petroleum Exploration and Development Initiative, believe that from the nature, pattern and timing of this frivolous, irresponsible, fake and wicked allegation it is fairly easy to know what source it is coming from. Moreso, as records show that this is neither the 1st, 2nd or even 3rd time such an allegation is made against Engr. Simbi Wabote by these people.

    “However, from the depth and range of other issues brought into this latest allegation, it is easily discernible that those making the allegations not only seek to whip up negative public opinion against the Hon. Minister of State and his party, the All Progressives Congress APC but are also seeking to cause disharmony and bad blood between the duo of Chief Timipre Sylva and Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote. This we vigorously abhor. Both personalities are assets to the Oil and Gas industry, Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta region and indeed Nigeria.

    “We know of a fact that the kind of stringent corporate governance structure that has been put in place at the NCDMB by Engr. Wabote since assuming leadership of the Board makes it totally impossible for any such money to be taken out of the Board’s coffers without due process.

    “When people are consumed by an unbridled desire to undo others, they tend to conveniently ignore even manifestly obvious facts such as that all accounts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are domiciled with the Central Bank, under the TSA arrangement. Therefore, it will be fairly easy to trace such huge disbursements.

    “We in TIPEDI consider it a shame that out of desperation to win political contests, some people who otherwise ought to be reasonable have taken flight of reality and resorted to serially making allegations that simply beggars belief!

    “TIPEDI knows that Chief Sylva as Chairman of the board has always given positive direction to the NCDMB and will not go against his own principles or the governance structure he has helped to establish in the organization.”

  • Bayelsa records 3rd COVID-19 death

    Bayelsa records 3rd COVID-19 death

    The Bayelsa Task Force on COVID-19 has confirmed a third fatality in the fight against the coronavirus that is ravaging the world.

    Dr Inodu Apoku, Chairman of the task force, announced this in a statement on Friday in Yenagoa.

    Apoku said that the third death was from the nine new cases recorded by the state.

    The National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) had on Thursday announced that nine new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the state.

    Apoku, also Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health said that the nine newly confirmed cases “bring the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 30.

    “Four of out of these nine cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases while five are not epidemiologically linked to any of the previously confirmed cases.

    “Three of the cases are health care professionals.

    “One of these fresh unlinked cases was brought in critically ill and died few minutes after admission.

    “Following the history of the sickness, as was revealed by relatives, samples were collected for COVID-19 testing.

    “She died as COVID-19 suspected cases.

    “The test result returned positive, and as such, we have another COVID -19 related death making a total of three in the state.

    “All remaining eight new cases have since been evacuated for further treatment at our isolation facilities,’’ Apoku said.

    According to him, all their contacts are being listed and adequately followed up, including necessary environmental decontamination.

    “Samples have and are still being collected from their high-risk contacts while they have all been counselled on self-quarantine.’’

  • Bayelsa records 9 new cases of COVID-19, total confirmed number 21

    Bayelsa records 9 new cases of COVID-19, total confirmed number 21

    The Bayelsa State Committee on COVID-19 has recorded nine confirmed case among the 307 cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, bringing the number of case in the State to 21.

    The Co-chairman of the Bayelsa State Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Nathaniel Inodu, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Yenogoa.

    “Yesterday, the NCDC in its usual manner announced 307 new confirmed COVID -19 cases. Nine of these cases were samples from Bayelsa.

    “These results are coming from a backlog of 62 samples sent to the UPTH COVID -19 laboratory last week.

    “These nine newly confirmed cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 21. Six out of these nine cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases while three are not epidemiologically linked to any of the previous confirmed cases.

    “Two of these fresh unlinked cases are critically ill and were on admission in our public hospitals for other underlying illnesses (one had undergone sessions of dialysis).

    “The third unlinked case is a Health Care Professional.

    “All nine new cases have since been evacuated for further treatment at our isolation facilities. All their contacts are being line listed and adequately followed up including necessary environmental decontamination.

    “Samples have and are still being collected from their high risk contacts while they have all been counselled on self-quarantine. Risk communication and community engagement are ongoing.

    “We discharged three cases during the past week. One case was discharged on Saturday, and the two other cases (including the doctor) were discharged just yesterday after all their repeat tests returned negative.

    “This makes a total of nine cases that have been discharged from our Isolation facilities. Currently, we have eleven active cases of COVID -19 in the State.

    “All cases except the two cases who were previously on admission for other underlying illness are in stable clinical conditions,’’ he said.

    Inodu said the state recorded a death last week as the patient who was initially responding to treatment suddenly developed severe shortness of breath.

    “All attempts to salvage him proved abortive even with the intensive and delicate procedures that were administered by the attending medical personnel.

    “He has since been buried by the Bayelsa State COVID -19 Safe Burial team and witnessed by relatives, friends, and colleagues,” he said.

    The Co-chairman said that the State Government Quarantine Facility has since been admitting contacts who were unable to self-quarantine.

    Inodu said that they had been very cooperative while enjoying the luxury provided at this centre.

    He said that the State Public Emergency Operations Centre (the COVID -19 Situation Room/ War Room of the State response) and the State COVID -19 Task Force were and would remain on REPONSE mode; doing their best to contain and mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

    “We now use the UPTH Port Harcourt Reference COVID -19 Laboratory. In the past weeks, we have been sending an average of 25 samples daily to this facility.

    “Most of these samples are contacts of confirmed cases. Little wonder our positive figures seem to be on the increase. This is because of our robust surveillance activities and improved testing rates.

    “Permit me to seize this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all the health care workers particularly the frontlines who have been tireless in their resolve and commitment to the COVID -19 response in the State,” he stated.

  • Government seals Oyedepo’s church for breaching COVID-19 protocols

    One of the branches of Bishop David Oyedepo’s church in Bayelsa State was on Sunday sealed alongside five other churches in the State for breaching ”operational protocols” required to conduct services during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

    Recall that the State Government on May 7 relaxed its restriction on social gatherings and allowed churches to hold services with up to 50 worshipers.

    The relaxation was granted subject to compliance with strict conditions on the provision of handwashing facilities, wearing of face masks and observance of social distancing in the seating arrangements.

    Mr Freston Akpor, Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Information on Monday in Yenagoa, said the Security Sub-Committee of the State’s Task Force on COVID- 19 sealed the churches during its surveillance on Sunday.

    “The six churches were sealed for failure to comply with safety measures put in place by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic and protect the people of Bayelsa.

    “The affected churches are, Living Faith Church, Igbogene, Salvation Victory Centre, Igbogene, Shalom International Christian Centre, along Tombia-Amassoma road and Great Grace Distinguished Assembly, Okutukutu.

    “Others are Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Opolo and Hebrews International Church, Ayama road.

    “The churches will remain sealed until further notice to serve as deterrent to other churches.

    “The move will help in ensuring that other churches adhere to the protocols on hand washing, use of face masks and social distancing as measures to check the spread of the virus in the state,” Akpor told NAN.

    He said the security sub-committee of the task force on COVID-19, unsealed two churches earlier shutdown for violating safety measures on the pandemic.

    Akpor explained that the two churches , the Halleluya Deliverance Ministry International and Embassy Faith churches were unsealed after undertaken to comply with prescribed safety protocols.

  • COVID-19: Bayelsa Govt lifts ban on funerals to decongest mortuaries

    COVID-19: Bayelsa Govt lifts ban on funerals to decongest mortuaries

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa on Thursday lifted the ban on funerals with stringent COVID-19 protocols as a measure to decongest mortuaries in the state.

    Diri had in an Executive Order aimed at containing the spread of the Coronavirus, outlawed social activities like marriages, burials and social gatherings.

    Diri who announced the approval on Thursday during a meeting of the Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force which he chaired, directed the mortuaries to get an undertaking from residents to comply with the COVID-19 protocols.

    According to the governor, such burials must be conducted without attracting crowds and devoid of receptions, adding that those who insist on conducting burials the usual way should wait till the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

    “The approval is subject to obtaining of guarantees and undertaking from families willing to bury relatives to ensure strict compliance with protocols for COVID-19 prevention, avoiding crowd and observing social distancing.

    “Anyone who insists on conducting burials with overnight and daylight parties with ‘Owoigiri Dances’ should wait until the Coronovirus leaves us,” Diri said

    The approval was sequel to requests by public medical institutions in the state to the government to avert a crisis situation.

    Dr Alawode Kehinde, a Consultant Pathologist, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa had in an interview with NAN, appealed to the Bayelsa government to lift the restriction on burials as the mortuary was filled to capacity.

    Kehinde said that the hospital had written to Gov. Diri to relax the restriction on burials to allow people to evacuate corpses.

    According to him, if the request is granted, such burials will be done under strict compliance to social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention protocols.

    He said that the morgue could no longer admit new corpses in the past week, reached its full capacity following the executive order restraining burials to check the spread of the Coronavirus in the state.

    He also said that when heavy rains set in, it would be extremely difficult for burials given the swampy topography of the state.

    Kehinde, however, allayed the fears of mass burial of corpses in the FMC Morgue, adding that the hospital was aware of the present circumstances faced by the people as a result of COVID-19.

    He said for those who were supposed to have evacuated corpses but were unable to, due to the restraining order, might get a concessionary discount on payable fee.

  • COVID-19: Gov. Douye Diri extends total lockdown in Bayelsa

    COVID-19: Gov. Douye Diri extends total lockdown in Bayelsa

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has extended the stay-at-home order in the State by another one week, with effect from Monday, May 4, 2020.

    This is contained in statement by the acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, made available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Monday.

    Bayelsa also adopted the Presidential curfew directive of between 8 pm and 6 am for two weeks also beginning May 4.

    Alabrah, however, noted that the curfew directive and compulsory use of face masks in public was not given by Gov. Diri, contrary to some posts on the social media.

    “The curfew and compulsory use of face masks are in accordance with the presidential directive, which are also in force in the State.

    “Violators risk prosecution from the government,” he said.

  • COVID-19: Task force arrests 9 pastors in Bayelsa

    COVID-19: Task force arrests 9 pastors in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Task Force on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has arrested 9 pastors of different denominations in the State capital, Yenagoa for violating lockdown measures.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Mr. Freston Akpor, who is also a member of Bayelsa State Task Force on COVID-19 made this known on Sunday.

    He noted that the pastors were arrested for conducting Sunday worship activities in their various churches in violation of the Executive Order on COVID-19 signed into law by Governor Douye Diri.

    Those arrested include Pastors P. B Barima of the Methodist church, Obogoro, Timi Aaron, Believers Love World, Akenfa, Adaba Glory, Saint Paul Healing Church (Zion) and Chris Ezene of God’s Grace Salvation Ministry at Obogoro.

    Others are Plus B. James of Prophetic Grace Love Ministry, Opolo, Prophet Alfred Munemune of Halleluyah Deliverance Ministries International and Daniel Owi, Winners Chapel, Obogoro.

    Also arrested are Sardauna Oguta of All for Christ Zion Church at Akenfa 3 and Tony Justice Samugba of New Covenant Tabernacle Ministry also of Akenfa 3.

    Mr. Akpor stated that the pastors are currently being detained at the State C.I.D and would be charged to court for violating the Covid-19 order, which among other things banned all forms of worship activities in the state as part of efforts to contain the pandemic.