Heritage Update

On the sad occasion of the demise of Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff, the President has directed on three things. First, that this tribute (below) be issued in recognition of the enormous sacrifices and contributions made by the deceased to the success of his politics and administration and to the overall development of the nation. Second, the President wishes to direct strict observance of the social distancing rules as prescribed by the National Center for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Health; and other safe hygiene practices as advised by relevant local authorities. In this regard, the President will not be available for condolence visitors but urges, in place of that prayers be offered for the repose of soul of the departed Chief of Staff. Third, the President wishes to convey his deep appreciation to foreign leaders and all Nigerians, from whom a stream of messages have been reaching him over this irreparable loss. May Allah accept his soul. Garba Shehu Senior ...

A rights activist and lawyer, Edward Brisibe, has reacted to the private funeral given to the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, stating that the action by the presidency has shown that “some persons are more Nigerian than others.” The lawyer while reacting to the death of Mallam Kyari who he described as a national statesman, said the presidency has indeed lost a key figure of its inner cycle who died in active service and “indeed it will be a big shoe to fill by anyone.” Condemning the ceremony that trailed the burial of the late Chief of Staff, Edward in a statement, Saturday, accused the federal government of contradicting itself in its social distancing order and claims that COVID-19 corpses can’t be claimed by family members for burial. Edward in a statement, Saturday, said: “First I want to use this medium in joining the federal government to mourn the death of a man that has played a key role in this administration as well as the famili...

The Media Centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja was on Friday morning engulfed by fire , THE PUNCH has learnt. Details later …

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said that COVID-19 tests in all approved testing centres in Lagos State are carried out free of charge. Abayomi stated this today while reacting to an online report which alleged that patients pay 30,000 Naira for COVID19 test at Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) approved centres in Lagos, noting that no designated testing centre in the State is allowed to collect money for the COVID-19 tests. “I want to state unequivocally that there is no designated COVID-19 testing centre in Lagos that collects or is allowed to collect money for the test. COVID-19 tests at the designated testing centres are free of charge,” Abayomi affirmed. The Commissioner maintained that the State Ministry of Health is not aware of any health worker at any of the testing centres that collects money for the COVID-19 test, urging residents to be wary of misleading reports targeted at discrediting front-line health workers who are committed t...

  Oyo, stae governor Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, kicked off a rapid testing initiative for COVID-19 in the State, declaring that the outcome of the exercise would help contain the spread of the virus. Governor Makinde, who declared open the COVID-19 Drive-Through/Walk-Through Testing, an initiative that is expected to test 2,000 samples within two weeks, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, said the rapid testing initiative aligned to his administration’s commitment to test at least 10,000 residents within a short time. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that the State was scaling up testing in alignment with expert opinions that the best way to contain and control the spread of the novel Coronavirus is by ensuring mass testing. Governor Makinde appreciated the Citizen for Citizen, a non-governmental organisation headed by the chairman of First Bank Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, ...

Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, introduced a bumper scheme to cushion the effect of the ongoing lockdown of the State on its residents. The new palliatives were rolled out by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu less than 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari, in a nationwide broadcast on Monday night, extended the cessation of movement in Lagos, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Sanwo-Olu announced the social intervention programmes during a briefing that followed Security Council meeting held at the State House in Marina, on Tuesday. The new scheme came on the heels of the commencement of the second part of Food Stimulus Packages being distributed to 250,000 vulnerable residents since the lockdown directive came into effect. The Governor disclosed that the State Government was moved by the need to support and ameliorate the inconvenience being experienced by vulnerable people as occasioned by the extended lockdown. The Government is opening food kitchens in al...

..as govt begins fund disbursement to Public Workfare, Special Grant Transfer beneficiaries The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has ordered the express payment of stipends due to 25,907 vulnerable citizens in the state as part of palliative measures to cushion impacts of the state-wide lockdown. Oyetola also directed the immediate distribution of Debit Cards linked to the accounts of the beneficiaries in a bid to ensure transparency, accountability and seamless process. The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Lawal Azeez Olayemi made these disclosures while fielding questions from journalists in Ile-Ife, during the distribution of the Debit Cards to the beneficiaries. Opeyemi, who described the scheme as one of the best social intervention programmes in the country, disclosed that the governor had approved the payment of N20,000 each to 15,289 elderly citizens and people living with disabilities captured under the Special Grant Transfer (SGT) scheme. He added that ...

*COVID-19: ENLISTMENT OF YOUTHS FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S SPECIAL PUBLIC WORKS (SPW) PROGRAMME* Greetings from the state leadership, and happy Easter to all Christian Faithfuls. 2. In view of the announcement made by the Federal Government on the above subject matter, via the Minister of Finances, Budget, and National Planning, Hon. Zainab Ahmed, on April 6, 2020, I have the directive of the State Executive Council to inform you of a window of opportunities for our youths to benefit from the recruitment of 774,000 persons across the nation. 3. The recruitment of Officials for the SPW Programmes has no requirement for formal education or technical skills, as enlisted persons are to be engaged in community works to cushion the effects of Covid-19 pandemic. 4. To ensure the enlistment of interested young persons in Ogun State, the leadership of the Youths hereby call for submission of names from the Coordinators of the twenty (20) Local Governments. 5. Each Coordinator is...

www.facebook.com  ADDRESS BY H.E. MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE EXTENSION OF COVID- 19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN AT THE STATE HOUSE, ABUJA MONDAY, 13TH APRIL, 2020 1. Fellow Nigerians 2. In my addresson Sunday, 29th March, 2020, I asked the residents of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory to stay at home for an initial period of fourteen days starting from the Monday, 30th March 2020. 3. Many State Governments also introduced similar restrictions. 4. As your democratically elected leaders, we madethis very difficult decision knowing fully well it will severely disrupt your livelihoods and bring undue hardship to you, your loved ones and your communities. 5. However, suchsacrifices are needed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our country. They were necessary to save lives. 6. Our objective was, and still remains, to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and to provide space, time and resources for an aggressive a...