Author: The Gazelle News

By Timothy Alao, Osogbo Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola has reiterated his administration’s determination to forestall community transmission of Coronavirus and rid the State of the pandemic. Oyetola stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists shortly after inspecting some health facilities in the State. He disclosed that the government had expended a lot on the procurement of modern equipment installed in the health facilities across the state. The governor, who attributed the success recorded so far in the management of COVID-19 in the State to his government’s proactiveness, said ‘the outbreak would have posed a…

As a measure to curb the spread of Coronavirus, the government of the State of Osun has announced the mandatory use of face masks in public places effective from tomorrow, Friday, April 24. The State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola who made this known in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan on Thursday in Osogbo, disclosed that the decision was part of the resolutions reached by the South West Governors at its virtual meeting last week. Oyetola noted that the South West states were the first to make wearing of masks mandatory, and that the regulation would…

By Dare Ojelade and Sanni Taofeek, Lagos Lagos State has reported two more deaths linked to the Coronavirus pandemic, The Gazelle News.com reports. The state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi stated this on Thursday, 23 April, 2020 on his official twitter handle. Professor Abayomi did not give details on the deceased but said the number of people who have died from the virus in the state has now risen to 18. Below is the full tweet from the Commissioner: #COVID19LAGOS update  as at 22nd of April, 2020 *️⃣74 new #COVID19 cases confirmed in Lagos on the 22nd of April,…

By Muiz Banire, SAN, PhD (@MBanire) In recent times, the National Assembly has not been perceived to be people-friendly at all. This is not unconnected with so many factors, ranging from the remuneration packages of the members to the cursory oversight being usually carried out on the executive and its activities. The peak of it was considered to be in the take-a-bow-and-go style of screening of the ministers, which was held sequel to their appointments. This is, however, not the concern of this piece. This piece arose out of recent steps taken by the National Assembly, particularly the Speaker of…

Kwara State Government will on April 27 begin a two-week virtual digital training for youths, an initiative that is a part of the Digital Kwara component of the state’s social investment programme (KWASSIP), a statement said on Thursday, 23 April, 2020.  The virtual training, which is the first phase of a programme that would benefit up to 30,000 young people over the next three years, targets at least 2,000 youths who would be tutored in basic digital skills and be given certificates. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye said in the statement that the training is free and was…

A woman, Nene Steve, has been arrested by the operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly killing her maid, Joy Aboel. The Madam of the house was accused of having beaten the maid to death and then went ahead to hang her in order to make it look like suicide. The incident occurred at 18, Ogundola Street, Bariga, Lagos. Speaking on the incident, Aboel’s elder brother, Philips Ejeh, said: “The deceased was an indigene of Benue State brought to Lagos through an agent. “She started working with her as maid…

By Sam Nda-Isaiah He was my friend in the true sense of the word, my confidante by the classical definition of the word, and the elder brother I didn’t have (for I am the first child of my parents). Those who knew both of us knew there was something very personal between Abba Kyari and me. Is it not really odd that I should be addressing Mallam Abba Kyari in the past tense? To say I didn’t see this coming is needless: only God sees all things and to Him we unconditionally submit. In spite of our age difference, he…

The Royal Court announced – just before – the Supreme Court decision in which it confirmed that all mosques will remain closed during the emergency period that includes the begginning of the month of Ramadan, and that in compliance with the procedures followed, the prayers of the group and Friday will remain suspended in order to preserve the lives of the people, and protect them from proliferation Corona Virus). The Supreme Court announced officially: the crescent of Ramadan will not be investigated by citizens, and it will be sufficient to investigate the astronomy and the blessed month of Ramadan, starting…

By Abdulwarees-Solanke Marhabaan bika Yaa Ramadan, welcome oh Ramadan, Yaa ayyu aladhiina aamanu, kutiba alaykum siyaawmu ( O you who believe, we have made fasting incumbent on you). These statements ought to be suffusing our airwaves already even before the sighting of the moon crescent to herald the breaking of Ramadan, the ninth month of hijrah calendar during which abled bodied muslims are enjoined fast as a compulsory worship. So, here comes the season of fasting, the glorious month of Ramadan, the month in which the gates of Jahannam, hellfire, are shut and that of Al-Jannah, paradise, are opened, the…

An Ilorin-based Non-Governmental Organisation, the Pious Muslim Women has congratulated all Nigerian Muslims on this year’s holy month of Ramadan. In a statement signed by the founder of the group, Dr Hamdalat Yusuf, the group noted that Ramadan is one of Allah’s special favours for humanity and for which humanity can hardly express sufficient appreciation. “We members of the Pious Muslim Women therefore enjoin Muslims worldwide to abide by the scripturally prescribed tenets of fasting during Ramadan so we can all reap the benefits” the group said as part of the group’s appreciation to Allah, it has therefore announced its decision to feed…

Governors of the 36 States of the federation on Wednesday, 22 April, 2020, “unanimously” agreed to the implementation of an inter-state lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 virus from State to State. The governors, operating under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), reached the agreement after receiving briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun States who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19. A communiqe issued by the NGF chairman and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, at the end of…

By Ademola Akanni, Abuja Lagos State continues to bear the brunt of coronavirus infection in Nigeria with number of reported cases in the state rising to 504 as at Wednesday, 22 April, 2020, The Gazelle News.com reports. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 91 new cases in the country as at 11.25pm on Wednesday with 74 of those reported in Lagos. It means the total number of coronavirus infection in Lagos has risen to 504 out of the 873 total in Nigeria. In the latest reported cases, five were reported in Katsina, four in Ogun, two each in…

The forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is aimed at restoring sanity and prudence in the management of the Commission, and will ensure the rapid development of the Niger Delta region. Speaking while handing over the preliminary report and documents of the verification exercise to the lead consultants of the audit, Olumuyiwa Basiru & Co., at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Acting Managing Director, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, disclosed that over 8,000 projects were captured throughout the nine states. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer said that the report, containing contract documents covering projects captured during the…

Donations into the Oyo State COVID-19 Endowment Fund continued to grow as renowned industrialist, Chief Bode Amoo, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Heritage Bank, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George and the mother of Governor Seyi Makinde, Chief (Mrs.) Abigail Makinde, have joined the list of donors to the state. The Fund, which now stands at about N290 million, was set up by the state government with a view to serving as an endowment fund for relief activities and other measures towards combating the novel Coronavirus in the state. A statement signed…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned “the blatant intimidation, harassment and attacks on journalists and media houses by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, and the illegal banning of the Correspondent of The Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and the Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, from entering Government house and Government facilities in the State for life.” The journalists and media houses have been reportedly banned over a report on the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state. Reacting, SERAP in a statement by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said: “This action is a blatant violation of the right to freedom…

Kwara State Government will on Friday begin budget review sessions involving heads of various ministries, a step designed to urgently rework the N162bn (2020) budget to align with the current global economic realities. The budget had, among other fundamentals, been predicated on $57 per barrel of oil but Nigeria’s Brent Crude now trades at around $20 as at Wednesday afternoon, owing in part to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The state Commissioner for Finance and Planning Mrs Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence said in a statement on Wednesday, 22 April, 2020, that the review sessions hold at her ministry and would be staggered…

The Oyo State Government has released a number and a service code for pre-COVID-19 screening in the state, urging residents to dial the code or the number and follow the procedure to determine whether or not they need to get tested for the novel Coronavirus. The platform for the service code and number, which were both donated by Interswitch, are: (service code) *723*19*6#; and (number) 014400028. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the number and service code platforms offer preliminary screening opportunities to determine who needs to get tested…

Guaranty Trust Bank plc has released its unaudited financial results for the period ended March 31, 2020 to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges. A review of the results shows positive performance across all financial indices, reaffirming the Bank’s position as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Nigeria. Profit before tax stood at ₦58.2billion, representing a growth of 2.1% over ₦57.0billion recorded in the corresponding period of March 2019. The Bank’s Loan Book grew by 8.0% from ₦1.502trillion as at December 2019 to ₦1.622trillion in March 2020, while customers’ deposit increased by 9.3% to ₦2.768trillion…

By Bolatito Adebola  In this COVID-19 era where movement is restricted in some major parts of the world – including Nigeria – with many banks and business reengineering efforts to improve the adaptability of their customers to electronic ways of carrying out business, Firstmonie Agents, an agent banking initiative from First Bank of Nigeria Limited is bridging the gaps and helping people to meet their needs of accessing the funds to buy food items and groceries as well as to send money to their loved ones. This is one of the many measures by the premier financial institution in Nigeria…

By Timothy Alao, Osogbo As the nation continues to record new cases of the deadly Coronavirus, Nigerians are now panicking the lockdown might continue as government warns of the need to stay at home as number of community infection continues to rise. Surprisingly, while some States like Kano and Edo have recorded more index cases and the number keeps rising in Lagos State, Osun State has proved an exception to the rule of rising curve of Covid19 incidents. The Gazelle News.com gathered that the state is now free of the deadly virus after discharging the last patient from its isolation…