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Tag: Oyo

  • COVID-19: Cases in Oyo increase to 73 as 4 persons tested positive

    COVID-19: Cases in Oyo increase to 73 as 4 persons tested positive

    Four persons have again tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Oyo State, according to the latest figures released by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

    In the figures released on Wednesday night, the four cases in Oyo were among the 185 newly recorded in 22 states.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov Seyi Makinde, in his tweeter handle monitored in Ibadan, announced that the new figure had brought the number of cases recorded in Oyo to 73.

    Makinde urged people who have come in contact with a COVID-19 case, people with COVID-19 symptoms, cough, fever, tiredness, body ache and shortness of breath and those with respiratory disease symptoms, to come forward and register for test.

    He also called on healthcare workers who had been in contact with the high-risk groups, above to join in registering for the ongoing drive-through/walk-through testing at Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan.

    The governor further urged residents to call emergency operations centre if travellers from other states were seen in their communities.

    According to him, the numbers to call are 08095394000, 08095863000, 08078288999 and 08078288800.

  • COVID-19 lockdown: FG reacts to accusations of releasing spoilt palliative rice to states

    COVID-19 lockdown: FG reacts to accusations of releasing spoilt palliative rice to states

    The Federal Government has said the bags of rice distributed to Oyo and other Southwestern states were inspected and certified fit for human consumption by the National Agency for Food Drugs and Administration Control (NAFDAC).

    The reaction came, following allegations that the rice distributed by the Federal Government to Oyo State to cushion the effect of the lockdown was unfit for human consumption.

    Oyo State had alleged at the weekend that the bags of rice were infested with weevils.

    The state also said plans were in place to return the 1800 bags of rice.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja during the daily Presidential Task Force briefing, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, said the news that the rice the Federal Government distributed to the Southwest was unfit, was “fake news”.

    The minister also noted that she spoke with the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi, to ascertain the true position of the rice delivered and he confirmed that the rice was in good condition.

    Farouq said: “As you may recall, we mentioned here that we distributed the rice relief to the states. The rice was handed over to us by the Nigerian Customs Service and it was assessed by NAFDAC who issued a clearance before the goods were released for onward distribution to the states.

    “So, as far as we are concerned, the rice was certified fit for human consumption.

    “We had an issue in Oyo, which was officially reported this morning, but two or three days ago, we saw news flying around that all the rice we took to the Southwestern part of the country were bad and that Lagos had taken its delivery to the lagoon and other states have rejected theirs.

    “I want to say very categorically that it is fake news. It is not true. This afternoon, I spoke with the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi and he assured me that the one he received in Ekiti and other states are in good condition.”

    The minister, however, noted that the process of storage of grains might affect its colouration or make it damp.

    “Let us be very clear on this issue of rice. We all know that even in our houses, if we keep foodstuffs in damp places especially grains of that nature, it is bound to have some colouration, but it does not mean that it is not fit for human consumption.

    “The states are very happy that the Federal Government has come to support them and it is going a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the targeted beneficiaries.”

    On diversion of payment meant for N-Power enrollees to procure palliatives for COVID-19, she said: “I know that we all know that it is practically impossible for anybody, be it a minister or a chief executive in this country to divert funds that have been appropriated and that are in a particular budget line for another budget line for the single reasons that we are operating the TSA.

  • Oyo ensures safety of indigene put up for sale in Lebanon

    Oyo ensures safety of indigene put up for sale in Lebanon

    The Oyo State Government has pledged to ensure the safe return of an indigene of the state identified as Peace Ufuoma Busari who was recently put up for sale on the internet in Lebanon for $1000.

    The government’s pledge was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan by Mrs Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Diaspora to Gov. Seyi Makinde.

    Sarumi-Aliyu said the state was liaising with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to facilitate the lady’s safe return home.

    The governor’s aide, who said that the victim was yet to be located, called on citizens of Oyo State who might know her, especially her family members, to call cell phone number 07025512891.

    Sarumi-Aliyu commended NIDCOM for the role it had been playing in the matter.

    “We will continue to liaise and collaborate with Mrs Abike Dabiri and work with the Federal Government to ensure our citizen is returned home safely.

    “We also call on the citizens of Oyo State who may know this lady, especially her family, to please contact the SSA on Diaspora to the Governor of Oyo State so we can work with the family to understand how the lady left the country,” she said.

    Sarumi-Aliyu said the state government would not tolerate the trafficking of its indigenes to foreign countries.

    “We, however, need the full cooperation of those leaving the country so that we may be there to assist them if the need arises.

    “We want to be able to guarantee the safety of our citizens leaving the country henceforth.

    “The Oyo State Government wants to know the whereabouts of Peace Ufuoma Busari and my discussion with the DG NIDCOM indicated that her commission has been able to secure a promise from the Lebanese mission to find her and hand her over to us.

    “We want to advise the Lebanese government to kindly fast-track the process of locating Peace Ufuoma Busari and handing her over to us,” Sarumi-Aliyu stated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Dabiri-Erewa had taken up the case of Busari after one Wael Jerros had put her up for sale for $1000 in Lebanon.

    The Lebanese government had described the act as inhuman and had immediately launched a manhunt for Jerros.

    He was eventually arrested on April 21 and would be prosecuted for human trafficking.

  • BREAKING: Oyo records second COVID-19 death

    BREAKING: Oyo records second COVID-19 death

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has confirmed the second COVID-19-related death in the state.

    Makinde gave the confirmation via a post on his Twitter handle early Monday.

    He said, sadly, “one of the new COVID-19 cases announced yesterday, passed away this morning. This brings the number of COVID-19 related deaths in the state to two.“

    “So, there are currently eight active cases in Oyo State” he added.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria recorded 91 new cases of COVID-19, with the total confirmed cases currently at 1273.

  • ‘Double wahala’ in South-West over handling of Buhari’s expired palliative rice, Covid-19 pressures

    ‘Double wahala’ in South-West over handling of Buhari’s expired palliative rice, Covid-19 pressures

    Like the immortal lyrics of Afro legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, ‘double wahala for dead body and the owner of dead body’, some South West governors were at the weekend faced with double jeopardy of handling the burden that comes with supposed expired palliative rice sent to the region by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government while still struggling to contain pressures of curtailing spread of deadly Covid-19.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru (TNG) had earlier reported that Oyo State Government would return bags of rice received from the Federal Government, after discovering it is in bad condition.

    In the same vein, Ondo State Government has rejected some of the expired bags of rice from the 1,800 bags sent to the state by the Federal Government, while Osun State government claimed that the FG’s palliative rice is presently undergoing quality control checks in the state.

    Speaking to newsmen, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Osun State Governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan, acknowledged receiving the rice from the FG but added that it was undergoing “quality control” checks.

    Reports reaching TNG is that some of the states in South West governed by All Progressives Congress (APC) have refused to open up on the worrisome state of the FG’s expired palliative rice due to their political affiliation with the Buhari-led government.

    Meanwhile, Lagos and Ogun state have commenced distribution of the rice to their people. In Lagos, one Iyabo Johnson raised an allegation on Twitter that she got an expired rice from the government, but the report has since been refuted by Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu.

    The story in Ondo is similar to that of Oyo:

    Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has ordered the return of some bags of rice sent to the state by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management as they were found to have expired.

    Speaking on the development, the Secretary of the state palliative committee, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, confirmed that some of the bags of rice had expired and were no longer fit for consumption.

    According to him, the bad rice will be separated from the good ones and the good ones will be taken to the laboratory to ascertain if they were fit for human consumption.

    He said, “We discovered that some of the bags have expired and not good for consumption at all, so we are separating them from the ones that are still manageable for consumption. After this, we will still take the ones that appear good to the laboratory to test if they are fit for consumption.”

    It was gathered that when it was discovered that some of the rice had expired, the governor reportedly ordered that they should be rejected.

    Akeredolu, who officially received the palliative items at the Government House ground, Alagbaka from the state coordinating unit of the Youths Empowerment and Social Support Operations, last week, was said to have expressed displeasure over the development.

    Kalejaiye said, “They brought many bags of rice, we just carried out a random check on them to discover the ones that are not good. What we are trying to do is to separate those ones that appeared bad from those ones that appeared good then we will carry out laboratory tests on them to ascertain whether they are safe for consumption before giving them out to our people.

    “Some are expired, it is even written on the bags but some are not expired but it seemed they were not properly stored, and those ones are not properly stored would not be good to be given to our people without carrying out the laboratory test.

    “We will separate the extremely bad ones from the rest and we will carry out the laboratory test on those ones that appear good, to ascertain how safe they are for consumption. But the extremely bad ones, we don’t even need to do a test on them, we will return them.

    “We will meet tomorrow (today) to decide when to return them, you know we can’t do it without the consent of Mr Governor.”

  • Covid-19 relief: Customs faults rejection of 1,800 bags of rice by Oyo government

    Covid-19 relief: Customs faults rejection of 1,800 bags of rice by Oyo government

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Oyo/Osun Area Command, has declared that the Oyo State government is not being fair to the Customs service over the rejection of 1,800 bags of rice it gave to the state.

    Public Relations Officer of the command, Abdullah Lagos, made this declaration while speaking with DAILY POST Saturday evening.

    Lagos, while reacting to the rejection of 1,800 bags of rice by the Oyo State government, said that something fishy was going on.

    Recalls that the federal government of Nigeria had ordered Oyo/Osun Customs Area Command to donate some bags of rice to four states in the South West region.

    The command on Monday donated 1,800 bags of rice to Oyo state government, 1,800 bags to Osun, 1,800 bags to Ekiti and 800 bags to Ondo State.

    But, Oyo State government on Friday rejected the rice, claiming that they were not suitable for human consumption.

    However, Customs, while reacting, said that Oyo State government was not fair to the command.

    Lagos who spoke on behalf of the command, said, “We gave1,800 to Oyo, 1,800 to Osun, 800 to Ondo and 1,800 to Ekiti. We did not choose for them. Why is it that it is only Oyo State that is rejecting the rice.

    “Oyo State came, and they inspected the rice on Monday. They came to collect the rice on Tuesday; they didn’t complain. We had to wait for them. Other states came before Oyo, and we told them that since Oyo is our host, they had to get their own first. We waited for them and they chose. Nobody chose for them. How can you say that all the 1,800 bags of rice are not good?

    “It is not only Oyo State that collected the rice. Why is it that they are the only state saying that the rice is not good?

    “How can we give the public expired rice? We have a special place that we keep rice. And since Tuesday, they did not complain and on Friday, you did not call us and you called a press conference. That is too bad.

    “We suspect foul play. They came to inspect the rice on Monday. They came to collect on Tuesday. We did not choose for them, they chose.

    “Journalists were there. They are not being fair to us.”

  • COVID-19 Lockdown: Why we are returning FG’s 1,800 bags of palliative rice – Oyo Government

    COVID-19 Lockdown: Why we are returning FG’s 1,800 bags of palliative rice – Oyo Government

    The Oyo State Government on Friday said it will be returning the 1,800 bags of rice delivered to it as part of palliative measures to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown amongst its residents by the Federal Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that three trailer loads of rice containing 1,800 bags sent to the State were said to have been infested with weavel and unfit for human consumption.

    Oyo, which took delivery of the rice donated through the Nigeria Customs Service on Monday, said it would be expecting another round of replacement for the bad rice.

    The Government spoke after conducting newsmen round the warehouse where the items donated were stored.

    The Government team, which received the items were: Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agricbusiness, Dr Debo Akande, Commissioners Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle (Agric), Chief Bayo Lawal (Special Duties), Mr Seun Fakorede (Youth and Sports), Mrs Faosat Sanni (Women Affairs and Social Inclusion) and Mrs Funmilayo Orisadeyi (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters).

    According to Akande, only the 1,800 bags of rice received from the Federal Government were found to be infested after a random testing, inspection and re-inspection were conducted on them.

    He however assured the situation will by no means alter the planned arrangement of the State Government to give palliatives to residents, assuring that all the other items are in good conditions and safe custody.

    But he did not give a particular timeframe the distribution of the palliatives will start.

    Akande said: “We received these items from the Federal Government via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and we brought them to the warehouse and it is in the process of further inspection that we discovered that almost all the rice has been infested with weavels and some other materials and on that basis we formed a committee to re-inspect it again and so that can be definitely sure of what we have received.

    “We think this is not definitely in the position for consumption for human being at this point in time and at such the materials cannot be distributed as parts o palliatives within the state.

    “We don’t want to start providing solution to a problem and then start creating another problem. We have inspected it and done a random selection and we have seen that similar things applies across board.

    “And we have been instructed and we are following suit the instructions of the committee as been agreed upon. You will find here with me almost all the commissioners in the committee that are applicable.

    “We have agreed to return all these back to the source and if there is any replacement of good quality that could be sent to us, we will be glad enough to receive it.

    “The situation will not delay in anyway the planned distribution of the state government. We all know that a good number of food items have been received by the Food Security Committee of the Task Force and this has been itemised weekly even before we received this particular item from the source where we received it.

    “We have received good number of productS here and we have added it together along with the ones the state government is putting his funding to support what has been donated by the good citizens of the state.

    “And that would be distributed in the next couples of days precisely, because what we have done is to ensure that we put a robust system in place for distribution and that we have finalise with.”

    When asked if all the 1,800 bags of rice from the FG would be returned, Akande said: “We are returning everything because we have checked all and in fact, we assume initially that it was just some part of it that was infested but we came today with about six commissioners from different ministries who came along with myself and we have checked and we have realised that it was not just some but quiet a lot of them that have been infested.”

    He added that apart from the ones supplied by the FG through the Customs, no other ones were infested.

  • Monarch’s wife, daughter kidnapped in Oyo

    Monarch’s wife, daughter kidnapped in Oyo

    Olori Funbi Ojo, the wife of Oba Olusanjo Ojo, the Baba-Aso of Igboole in Igboora area of Oyo State, was on Monday evening kidnapped alongside her daughter by unknown gunmen.

    According to reports, the monarch is the Matron of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH) health centre.

    Eyewitness account said that the duo was kidnapped by the gunmen around Keji Abra farm, Igbole area of Igboora, around 8:15 p.m on Monday night.

    It was gathered that the monarch’s wife and daughter, a trained nurse and also a serving corps member, were kidnapped while returning from the college where she worked. READ

    However, her son who drove the bullet-ridden vehicle was lucky as he escaped being captured by the suspected kidnappers.

    Another source who confirmed the incident said the victims were abducted close to the palace.

    “There is a case of kidnapping in Igboora yesterday around 8:15 p.m. which involved the wife of the Baba Aso of Igbole.

    The Olori also doubles as the matron of OYSCATECH health centre,” the source added. Meanwhile, the family is yet to be contacted by the kidnappers as vigilante groups within and around the town have started combing the bush to rescue the victims.

    Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, confirmed the incident, saying that efforts have been intensified by police operatives to rescue the victim from their abductors.

  • Covid-19: Oyo Gov. Makinde shares own secret cure of Coronavirus

    Covid-19: Oyo Gov. Makinde shares own secret cure of Coronavirus

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday revealed the types of food and supplements that he consumed to boost his immunity against Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, while in isolation.

    Makinde, who said that there are local solutions to boost immunity, urged people not to fret about the Coronavirus.

    Recall Makinde on Sunday announced the result of his second test which came out negative. But, many people have been wondering how a test conducted about a week ago which was positive, later came out to be negative few days after.

    Makinde, who spoke during a live phone in radio program on Fresh FM Ibadan, which was monitored by our correspondent, noted that the blackseed oil given to him by the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Muideeen Olatunji, which he mixed with honey, helped him to boost his immunity and kill the Coronavirus.

    Makinde said, “My very good friend and brother, Dr Muyideen Olatunji, he is the one in charge of the Primary Healthcare for Oyo State. He came to me and said, look, I am going to send to you this blackseed oil, it boosts immunity, so I mixed it with honey and took one teaspoon in the morning and one in the evening. So, there are local solutions to boost immunity.

    “So, our people should not fret. They shouldn’t fret. Just as I have been able to get the virus out of my system, so will it be for majority of our people.”

    He declared that he is currently free of Coronavirus.

    “Well, I am okay. Just as I posted on my social media handles yesterday night, I can confirm that I have taken two COVID-19 tests. On Thursday, April the 2nd they took a test. They took a sample which was sent to the first lab at Ede where the first sample was taken to, the one that tested positive. So, that came back negative and then, from our own diagnostic centre here, at the virology laboratory in the University of Ibadan, they took another sample yesterday, morning, April 5th and by late yesterday night, the result returned negative.

    “So, I am feeling okay. I am eager to jump out now and start getting around again to get the work that Oyo State people gave to me, to get the work done. That is correct. I am completely free of the virus, so I should be jumping around shortly”.

    Makinde while speaking further, said, “I don’t think I am in a position to advise COVID-19 patients, as such. That is for the health practitioners to do and you know every case is different. COVID-19 affects each person in a different way.

    “I’ve been watching a lot on TV while in isolation; the same virus will get into somebody and that individual, just like me, may show no symptoms, they may not even know that they have the virus and the same virus will get into someone else and that fellow will get really dog sick to the extent that they will need a ventilator. And everything in between, you know, from not being symptomatic up to being extremely sick and everything in between. So, the way it affects people is kind of different.

    “But my prayer is that whoever has the virus, I pray that they get through this period with minimal damage to their health.

    “I mean, I was asymptomatic throughout. So, without the test, I would not even have known that I had COVID-19. So, this is the more reason we are advising social distancing at this time, as there may be people with the virus who are also not showing any symptoms.

    “It’s also the reason we pushed for a testing centre in Ibadan so we can test more people who may have come in contact with COVID-19 cases. And my aspiration, which I already discussed with the Task Force team, and the EOC [Emergency Operations Centre], is that we must set a target to test close to 10,000 people in Oyo State”.

  • Gov Makinde to resume work today

    Gov Makinde to resume work today

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says he has tested negative for the coronavirus in a second test and promised to resume work on Monday.

    Makinde confirmed this on Sunday night through his twitter handle after he received the result of his second test.

    The governor had on March 30 through his twitter handle confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19.

    The governor had since confirming he was positive for COVID-19 went into isolation after which his second test result on Sunday confirmed him negative for the virus.

    Makinde in his tweet thanked the people of the state for their prayers during the period.

    “I am deeply moved by your prayers and support throughout this period. I am so thankful.

    ” This evening, I received my second negative test result for COVID-19.

    “I especially thank Prof. Temitope Alonge who acted in my stead as Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force,” he said in his tweet.