Author: The Gazelle News

The Lagos State Government will from the next academic session enforce the entry age of 12 years for pupils seeking admission into junior secondary school (JSS1) to check the registration of under-aged kids. Also, a fine of N50,000 for first offenders, N100,000 for second offenders as well as warning letters to close the school in case of further violation. In a circular to Concerned Parents, dated March 17th, 2020, their state government said the new policy will be enforced in public and private schools to enhance compliance in the 2021 academic session. The circular signed by Mrs. A.A. Adebowale on…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos  Lagos State Government has earned a remarkable commendation for its response strategy deployed to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman of Presidential Taskforce for the Control of the Coronavirus, Mr. Boss Mustapha, hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his resoluteness in driving the efforts towards flattening the curve of COVID-19 outbreak in the nation. He said the roles being played by Lagos to curtail the coronavirus outbreak had raised the hope for other states in winning the fight against the ravaging pandemic.…

By Ademola Akanni, Abuja Top staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Salihu Umar is free of COVID-19, The Gazelle News.com can report. Weeks ago, Umar announced on his verified Twitter handle, @necessary_cho that he had tested positive to the dreaded virus and was being taken into the Gwagwalada Infectious Disease Centre. The cheering news came on Tuesday, 7 April, 2020 and Umar was elated as he announced again on his Twitter handle that he had tested negative twice to the virus hence his discharge from the Centre. The Gazelle News.com also reports that Salihu was not the only…

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that $150 million be withdrawn from the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, disclosed the approval while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, 6 April, 2020. Ahmed said the withdrawal would be made from the NSIA stabilisation fund to augment disbursements by the federation accounts allocation committee to the three tiers of government for June 2020. “Monthly federation accounts disbursements to the federal governments and the state government are ideally projected to have been N888 billion. Due to the significant drop in crude oil prices, FAAC monthly…

Video: https://youtu.be/vD-xLYG7nq0 While it may appear to be an arduous task for his peers and even some acclaimed inventors, Mr. Usman Dalhatu, a 200-level student of Mechanical Engineering at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, in Kaduna State, has designed and produced a manual ventilator, to be used in treating coronavirus patients. Dalhatu, who just clocked 20, told PRNigeria that he decided to fabricate the manual ventilator as part of effort to assist the Federal Government (FG) contain the pandemic, whose cases has been on the raise in the country. The young inventor, who hails from Gombe State, revealed that it…

By Wale Joseph, Lagos The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has applauded the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on his outstanding achievements within the first six months of his tenure in office. Recounting the giant strides of the Minister, the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, commended the Minister on his visionary leadership which has helped in repositioning Nigerian sports. These include the, “Adoption Campaign” which has paved the way for corporate sector engagement in providing support to Nigerian athletes, teams and sports facilities maintenance. “The…

As it commences the second round of distribution in the first phase of the Lagos State Emergency Food Response packages to 20 Local Governments Authorities (LGAs)and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), the Lagos State Government says the focus will be on those living with disabilities, the vulnerable in the informal sector and the elderly who had earlier received text messages from the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA). The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, who disclosed this today while reviewing the activities of the Committee on the COVID-19 Emergency Food Response, explained that the State Government…

By Adisa Omogbolahan, Ilorin  The Kwara State Government has imposed a total lockdown on Offa town in Offa Local Government Area of the state, The Gazelle News.com reports.  According to statement by the state Deputy Governor and Chairman, Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Kayode Alabi, the lockdown became imperative following the confirmation of two Coronavirus cases in the town.  “This is meant to contain community transmission of the virus and save people’s lives,” the statement said.  According to the Deputy Governor, the total lockdown of the ancient town starts from 6pm on Wednesday, 8 April, 2020 and will be…

By Ademola Akanni, Abuja The Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread in Nigeria, with Delta and Katsina reporting their maiden confirmed cases each. The Gazelle News.com reports that 16 new cases were confirmed as at 9.30pm on Tuesday, 7 April, 2020 on the verified Twitter handle of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Out of the 16 new cases, 10 were reported in Lagos, two each in Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, and one each in Delta and Katsina. This brings the total confirmed cases in Nigeria to 254. Lagos remains the epicentre of the scourge…

By Sofiyyah Abdur Rasak, Lagos The Olowu of Kuta, His Royal Highness Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, Tegbosun iii, has urged Nigerians to show patriotism towards the military in order to defeat the Boko Haram. Olowu in a statement issued by his Media Office said the Chadian Army was able to record such a feat against the Boko Haram because of the total support it enjoyed from the populace. The monarch while reacting to the recent counter attack by the Chadian Army that killed scores of the insurgents and put them to flight, said it was because the whole country…

Students Under the aegis of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has urged government across all levels to play significant roles with more public enlightenment in order to win the heart of the masses in the country. The  charge is coming admidst the current lockdown as directed by president Muhammadu Buhari to contain the continuous spread of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria as most citizens within the grassroot levels still disregard the order claiming the pandemic virus only affecting  the rich. Recall that while some youths took to the streets to play football, others resumed normal activities as soon as it…

The Lagos State Government says it will hold the Easter edition of the Emergency Neighbourhood Food Markets on April 9 for residents of the state. This is essentially to address the problem associated with the restriction and promotion of social distancing in the fight against the spread of COVID -19. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, made the discloure on Tuesday, 7 April, 2020. He said the neighbourhood food markets would hold in 27 selected public schools within 14 Local Government Areas of the state. Lawal said the Easter edition was sequel to the flag-off of the emergency…

By Adisa Omogbolahan, Ilorin Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday, 6 April, 2020, said the state’s rapid response team (RRT) has identified at least 75 persons who have had contact with persons who tested positive for COVID-19 in the state. AbdulRazaq told a news briefing in Ilorin that he has also signed a regulation, dated April 6, to give legal backing to the government’s measures to contain the pandemic in Kwara State — and said the highlight of the law includes “sanctions against anyone caught endangering public safety in whatever form or seeking to unfairly profit from our…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos Lagos State Government has earned a remarkable commendation for its response strategy deployed to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman of Presidential Taskforce for the Control of the Coronavirus, Mr. Boss Mustapha, hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his resoluteness in driving the efforts towards flattening the curve of COVID-19 outbreak in the nation. He said the roles being played by Lagos to curtail the coronavirus outbreak had raised the hope for other states in winning the fight against the ravaging pandemic.…

The Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force has said that confirmation tests for two suspected cases of the disease have come out positive. It stated that one of the two new cases was a 28-year-old woman who returned to Nigeria from the United Arab Emirate on March 22, 2020 while the other was a 42-year-old contact of an earlier confirmed case. The task force made these known in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa. The statement read: “The COVID-19 confirmation test for two suspected cases came back positive today. One of…

The leadership of the National Assembly has faulted the way the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government is being implemented and called for an enabling legislation in line with global best practices. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila made their reservations about the scheme at a meeting held on Tuesday with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq and some top officials of the Ministry. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy…

Towards strengthening the capacity of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and other relevant agencies in the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Nigerian Postal Services has said it’s making available its facilities across the country. NIPOST said with the presence of a post office in about 1,400 locations across Nigeria, the courier and logistics company stands at a very vantage position to handle distribution of materials towards fighting the pandemic. These are in addition to its mobility infrastructure across the country. A statement released on Tuesday by the General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Franklin Alao, quoted the…

By Blessing Williams, Lagos A member of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Honourable Sylvester Ogunkelu has donated food items worth several millions of naira to his constitutes, The Gazelle News.com reports. Hon. Ogunkelu representing Epe State Constituency 2 in the Assembly, distributed the items to all the wards in his Constituency. Speaking to The Gazelle News.com on reason for the donation, the lawmaker who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversea and Investment, said the donation was part of his personal support to cushion the negative effect of the Coronavirus-induced lockdown on his constituents. “I know…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Gombe Zonal Office, on April 6, 2020, secured the conviction of one Prince Musa, who impersonated Senator Bulus Amos, representing Gombe South Senatorial District and used his name to defraud several prominent persons by soliciting for various sums of money. He was arraigned before Justice J.A. Awak of the Gombe State High Court on a four-count charge bordering on cheating following his arrest in Jos, Plateau State. The Senator had petitioned the EFCC alleging that an impostor was using his name to swindle innocent citizens, including a professor who was swindled of…

By Timothy Alao, Osogbo The Osun State Government says it would, tomorrow, Wednesday 8, April, begin the distribution of food and relief materials to residents of the state tomorrow, as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the state-wide lockdown. The government noted that plans had also been concluded to ensure that the palliative measures reach people across the nooks and crannies of the state. The Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji disclosed this on Tuesday, 7 April, 2020, in Osogbo while fielding questions from journalists shortly after he received a truck ladden with variety of…