TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lockdown

  • Biafra Day: Cities, towns, offices deserted as Imo observe complete lockdown

    Biafra Day: Cities, towns, offices deserted as Imo observe complete lockdown

    The sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) to mark the May 30 Biafra Day took  complete effect in Imo state today.

    The lockdown in Imo happened despite government’s assurance of adequate security by the police.

    Findings show that various government institutions were under lock and key.

    Schools, shops and other public outlets were also closed down.

    A visit to some government establishments showed no activity going on as the places looked vacated except for some security personnel seen moving around the premises.

    Imo  State Secretariat, House Of Assembly Complex, the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Extension of the State Secretariat and Government House Roundabout were under lock and key.

    The youths in some communities  were seen playing football on some major roads within Owerri, and some other places in Imo.

    However, skeletal movement of persons and vehicles was observed within the capital.

    It would be recalled that the State Police Command had before now urged residents of the state to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about their legitimate businesses, stressing that security agencies are ready to maintain law and order.

     

  • Zoo put into lockdown after five lions escape

    Zoo put into lockdown after five lions escape

    An Australian zoo has been placed on lockdown on Wednesday after five lions escaped from their enclosure.

    Sydney’s Taronga Zoo said five lions, one adult, and four cubs were found in a small area beside their exhibit, with a 1.8-metre tall fence separating them from the rest of the zoo.

    “The zoo has strict safety protocols in place for such an incident and immediate action was taken.

    “We regularly conduct drills to ensure we are prepared,’’ the zoo said in a statement.

    “All persons on site were moved to safe zones.

    “Four of the lions calmly returned to their dens, and one cub was safely tranquilised, but now awake and well.’’

    A full review was underway to confirm how the animals were able to leave their enclosure, Taronga Zoo said.

    “All Zoo staff acted swiftly, and procedures and processes were followed as they should have been.

    “As a result, the situation is under control within minutes.’’

  • Banditry: Zamfara Govt announces total ”lockdown” in 3 LGAs

    Banditry: Zamfara Govt announces total ”lockdown” in 3 LGAs

    The Zamfara Government, on Friday, announced a total lockdown in Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi Local Government Areas (LGAs) following the resurgence of bandit attacks on communities.

    The lockdown is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara on Friday in Gusau.

    ”The government announces a lockdown in nine major towns to stop the spate of the attacks on such communities in the affected areas.

    ”Theese are Yarkofoji, Birnin Tudu, Rini, Gora Namaye, Janbako, Faru, Kaya, Boko and Mada towns.

    ”Government also announced the closing down of markets in Danjibga and Bagega as well as
    Colony to Lambar Boko Road, Bakura to Lambar Damri Road and Mayanchi- Daki Takwas to Gummi Road.

    ”Others are the Daki Takwas to Zuru Road, Kucheri- Bawaganga – Wanke Road, Magami to Dangulbi Road and Gusau to Magami Road.

    ‘The measures were taken to facilitate the efforts of security operatives in flushing out criminal elements in those areas,” the government said.

    Gov. Bello Matawalle also ordered the immediate suspension of all APC meetings and activities as part of his government concern and sympathy to the affected people and communities.

    “Stakeholders invited for the Friday APC Stakeholders’ Meeting are hereby advised to hold on for a new date for the meeting.

    “Furthermore, government has suspended all political activities in the state till further notice.

    “Political meetings and gatherings at individual residences are also banned with immediate effect,” Dosara added.

    The state government said the decision is without prejudice to anyone, is intended to arrest the situation before it went out of control.

    “Government is saddened and worried about the re-surgence of the activities of bandits and the recent killings of some innocent people in Gusau, Tsafe, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka Bungudu, Maru, Maradun and Kaura Namoda local government areas.

    “Government is also touched by the killings of some of our gallant security operatives who lost their lives in our defense.

    “Government therefore, condoled with the families of the victims of the bandits’ attacks and prayed for the repose of the departed souls”.

    The state government directed security operatives to deal with those found violating the orders.

  • Govt. may reimpose lockdown in Rivers – Wike

    Govt. may reimpose lockdown in Rivers – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday threatened to re-imposed the suspended COVID-19 lockdown measures if residents fail to comply with COVID-19 protocols.

    Wike said this in a broadcast in Port Harcourt.

    He said that daily figures released from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed that both the transmission and death rates in the past two weeks had consistently been on the increase due to non compliance by the residents.

    He said that it remained the desire of the state government to keep the state open and allow citizens to go about their social, religious and economic activities unimpeded

    He, however, warned that government might be compelled to imposed lockdown if the residents continued to disregard the protocols.

    “We may be constrained to re-impose the suspended COVID-19 lockdown measures across the state if the transmission of the disease continues to increase beyond tolerable limits,” he stated.

    He observed that the state might face a serious health disaster of profound consequences if residents and visitors continued to behave as if the pandemic no longer existed or was impotent in Rivers.

    “Accordingly, I wish to remind residents of the subsisting protocols on regular washing of hands and use of alcohol-based sanitizer; maintaining social distancing; wearing of face masks at all public places.

    He included transport vehicles and “going for immediate testing and treatment whenever you notice any of the symptoms”.

    The Governor appealed to all residents to protect themselves and their loved ones by taking the vaccine at the designated health centres in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State as they became available.

    He said that it had been proved that vaccinations were saving lives across the world.

    “Those refusing to take the vaccines for no certified medical reasons should know that they are endangering the rest of the citizens.

    “I also appeal to religious leaders and churches to convince and encourage their followers to please go out and take the vaccines and comply with the covid-19 protocols,” he appealed.

    Wike also reiterated that the ongoing demolition of shanties was borne out of the compelling need to safeguard lives and property across the State.

    According to him, the objective, which is gradually being achieved, is to deny criminals such places that they have used as sanctuaries and hideouts to embark on their criminal activities.

    “We, therefore, refuse to be blackmailed by those unpatriotic elements who are trying to stir false ethnic, religious or tribal sentiments around our patriotic commitment to advance the safety and security of residents.

    “We refuse to be intimidated by such baseless pranks, rather, we will not rest until we clear the State of all shanties wherever they are located, restore sanity to our environment; achieve a better sense of comfort and security for everyone.” Wike added.

  • COVID-19: We are not yet at stage to impose total lockdown-FG

    COVID-19: We are not yet at stage to impose total lockdown-FG

    Nigeria is presently battling the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic after the emergence of the Delta variant.

    On Wednesday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 790 COVID-19 cases across 12 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) – the highest single-day count in over six months.

    As a result of the increase in the number of infections, many Nigerians are worried that a lockdown may be imminent.

    Speaking on the development, Osagie Ehanire said Nigeria has not reached a threat level that will warrant imposing a lockdown, adding that lockdown poses a great threat to business activities.

    The minister of health said most countries that are threatened by COVID-19 infections no longer impose general lockdown but a precision lockdown, where certain areas are shut down.

     

    “We are not at a level yet where we are feeling that threat to do any lockdown but I tell you many countries are not doing generalised lockdown but precision lockdown,” he said.

    “As I speak to you now, there are several countries who are on one kind of lockdown or the other, at least if my recollection is correct, six or seven countries are on one form of lockdown or the other. We do not have that on the table right now.”

     

  • FG rules out fresh lockdown despite surge in COVID-19 cases, deaths

    FG rules out fresh lockdown despite surge in COVID-19 cases, deaths

    The Federal Government on Thursday said it was not considering a lockdown despite rising cases of COVID-19 infections across the country.

    Speaking at the weekly ministerial briefing organized at the State House in Abuja, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the number of cases were not threatening enough, yet, for a lockdown to be considered.

    On Wednesday Nigeria had recorded 790 cases of new COVID-19 infections, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    The figure was the highest in about six months.

    A recent surge in infections has been partly attributed to the Delta variant, which is believed to be more contagious and deadlier.

    Nigeria is expected to step up its Covid vaccination program after receiving over four million doses of the Moderna vaccine from the US government last week.

    Only about one percent of the population has been vaccinated, so far.

    The second phase of the national vaccination programme is expected to kick-off next Monday.

    Minister Ehanire also said on Thursday Nigeria is not only relying on donated vaccines from other entities.

    The countries has benefitted from vaccines donated by COVAX and the US.

    According to Ehanire, Nigeria has procured nearly 40 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine through the African Union.

    He also assured those who have taken the first shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine of the availability of second doses by the end of August when 3.9 million doses of the vaccine type is expected to arrive the country.

    On the current strike action by resident doctors across the country, Minister Ehanire said the Federal government would implement a ‘no work, no pay’ rule.

    He said the doctors, under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors, should obliterate the option of strike as a tool to resolve their issues.

    Minister Ehanire said the doctors should consider other options in the interest of the country, particularly at a time the country is in a war situation.

    Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, has earlier threatened that the Federal Government would replace the striking doctors.

    The doctors are striking over unpaid benefits, among other issues.

     

  • COVID-19: Fresh lockdown imminent as FG speaks on introducing stringent measures

    COVID-19: Fresh lockdown imminent as FG speaks on introducing stringent measures

    The Chairman Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), Mr Boss Mustapha, says government will not hesitate to introduce stringent measures to protect vulnerable citizens in the country against the COVID-19 virus

    Mustapha, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the disclosure during the PSC briefing on Monday in Abuja.

    According to him, nothing is off the table. Let me say very categorically, nothing is off the table when it comes to protecting the lives of the people of this country.

    “We will not hesitate in taking measures that will be considered quite stringent. All the countries of the world are applying different measures.

    “Countries that were adjudged to have successfully dealt with COVID-19 suddenly realised that they had to impose certain measures to ensure that they continue to balance lives and livelihood.

    “And like I said, nothing is off the table. We’ll continue to study the situation.

    “We’ve always been guided by science and facts and the experiences of other jurisdictions before we take informed decisions.

    “We will continue to do that. Because it is very, very important the COVID-19 virus is novel, we will continue to understand the way it operates.

    “The mutation and all manners of things, everybody is on a learning curve. Nobody has the full story until we get to such a situation where we are comfortable about the variant in the country,” he said.

    Mustapha pointed out that it was not only the Delta variant that was in the country but there were other variants, adding that Dr Chikwe would address at an appropriate time.

    According to the SGF, So we’re dealing with a different variants and we will not hesitate to impose any kind of processes or protocols that will help protect the people of this country.

    “So far, so good. We’ve tried as much as possible, in spite of the weaknesses in our health infrastructure, with the support of friends of Nigeria, donor partners, and and the resilience of our people being able to get to where we are, I believe we’ll continue to do that,”.

    Also Speaking, Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, confirmed that with 32 cases of Delta Variant of the disease now in the country, the country was officially in a third wave of the pandemic.

    Ihekweazu said that 80 per cent of the test conducted in Akwa Ibom state had been confirmed to be Delta variant of the deadly coronavirus.

    This, he said, put the state among the eight states of Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano, Akwa-Ibom Plateau, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as states of concern.

    He noted that this came after weeks of steady decline in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

    On the third wave, the NCDC boss said, “you know, there’s no scientific definition of when the third wave starts or stops. So but we are seeing an increasing cases.

  • Threat of lockdown in South-east is war against Igbo, VON DG cautions IPOB

    Threat of lockdown in South-east is war against Igbo, VON DG cautions IPOB

    The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has counselled the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against threatening a lockdown in the South-east zone every Monday.

    Mr Okechukwu gave the advice in a statement on Sunday in Enugu.

    IPOB, in a statement on Friday through its Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, had stated that the Monday lockdown was to be tagged: “Ghost Monday.”

    The statement said “Ghost Monday,” which would affect all economic activities including schools and marketplaces, would continue every Monday until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released.

    Mr Okechukwu, however, urged the South East Zone to consider the immense infrastructural development being undertaken by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the zone.

    “Let me for the umpteenth time appeal to my brothers in IPOB to sheath their sword, for to lockdown the South-East is simply waging atrocious war against Ndigbo.

    “Accordingly, it will be very big error for IPOB to lockdown the South-East and think they are tough, strategic and will achieve any meaningful result, capital NO.

    “IPOB should not cut off Ndigbo’s nose to spite Buhari’s face, for Buhari is compensating with infrastructure.

    “Appointments are transient, and infrastructure is permanent. The Standard Gauge Railroads which will soon cover the entire South-East will demonstrate the efficacy of infrastructure. IPOB, hold on please,” he said.

    He also expressed support for Ohaneze Ndigbo’s position that the rule of law should prevail in the trial of Kanu, the leader of the proscribed IPOB.

    “Hence, IPOB should be aware that to lock down South-East is nothing but to punish Ndigbo; to degrade against Ndigbo, South-East economy, to starve Ndigbo and akin to the obnoxious civil war doctrine of hunger as the best weapon.

    “My brothers of IPOB clan, put on your thinking cap and be pragmatic, introspect and remember our brothers and sisters who are living in all the towns and villages nationwide, doing well and investing happily and prospering with other ethnic nationalities,” he said.

  • COVID-19 Third Wave: Osinbajo-led NEC speaks on fresh lockdown

    COVID-19 Third Wave: Osinbajo-led NEC speaks on fresh lockdown

    The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday assured that there was no indication of an imminent lockdown, as the nation braces up for COVID-19’s third wave.

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, stated this in a briefing to State House correspondents after the virtual NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Sanwo-Olu said the vice president had assured that NEC would convene an emergency meeting on the COVID-19 third wave, whenever the need arose.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned of the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant, alongside the inconsistent use of proven public health measures which, it said, was driving increases in both case numbers and deaths.

    “We will be reviewing on a weekly basis, like every two to three days, what the trends are; the chairman of the council has also mentioned to us that if there is a need for an emergency meeting, he will call one.

    “But, assurances were given by the NCDC and the Presidential Task Force, working with relevant states like Lagos, to be tracking and monitoring what is happening almost on daily basis.

    “So, we do not think that we are there; we do not have any indication that we will get there; so we are preparing ourselves to ensure that as much as possible, we can very quickly flatten the curve’’, Sanwo-Olu said.

    The governor added that Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, NCDC, had provided a global insight of what had been happening in the past one month, with Nigeria having 168, 552 cases reported as at July 15, and 1,993 active cases.

    States had discharged over 140, 000 people, while only 2,124 deaths were recorded so far, the governor quoted the NCDC as saying, in addition to the fact that the positivity rates had gone up, in spite of the low number of cases in the country.

    Sanwo-Olu said Ihekweazu informed NEC that Lagos State had the highest burden of 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the cases in the country, having recorded increases in the number of cases since 10 weeks ago.

    “In the last two weeks, we have seen an increase from a positivity average of about 1.5 per cent to positivity average nationally of about 3.5 per cent; Lagos has seen a positivity of 5.5 per cent in the last two weeks; so Lagos, Rivers and Kwara from the report have seen increases in positivity rates.

    “It is important for us to know that the Delta variant, which is the new variant, is also in our country and has also been identified in a total of 103 countries globally.

    “The Delta variant is 60 per cent more transmissible than the Alfa variant; so, we are watching all the trends and the NCDC and Lagos will be working collaboratively,’’ Sanwo-Olu said.

    Meanwhile, Hajia Umar Farouk, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, had confirmed making a presentation to the council on Flood Risk Management Plan, 2021.

  • BBNaija reunion: Lockdown housemates were threatened by my personality – Prince

    BBNaija reunion: Lockdown housemates were threatened by my personality – Prince

    Former BBNaija housemate, Prince, has averred that he felt housemates were threatened by him in the house.

    He made this known on Wednesday night during the BBNaija reunion show.

    According to him, he was just being competitive but there were side talks about him in the house which made him uncomfortable.
    He mentioned Neo, Vee as the housemates who mostly had a problem with his competitive nature and saw him as a threat.

    He noted that contrary to popular opinion, his reaction to when he failed a task was not a strategy but he just didn’t like to see himself fail.

    “I felt offended that the housemates during competitions conspired against me sometimes.

    “I feel they were threatened by me in the house.

    “I don’t care right now if they still see me as a threat though,” Prince said.