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COVID-19: Nigeria Records 1,435 New Infections, 15 More Deaths

Published

4 years ago

January 18, 2021

Eric

Nigeria on Sunday recorded one if its highest daily fatality toll from COVID-19 with 15 people dying from the disease

A total of 1,435 have died from the disease in Nigeria, the country’s infectious disease agency, NCDC, announced Sunday night.

A total of 110,387 infections have now been reported across the nation with 1,444 new cases found in 21 states on Sunday.

This is coming barely a day after the global coronavirus death toll surpassed two million.

As countries begin to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine, experts anticipate there will be a reduction in mortality but there have been more deaths especially in countries where the second wave of the virus is spreading unrestrained.

Last Friday, Nigeria announced its deadliest day of the pandemic with 23 lives lost.

Last week, which is the third week of the new year, the country recorded 70 deaths, the weekly highest in the new year. The country also recorded 50 and 48 deaths in the first and second week of 2021 respectively.

In the past four weeks, there have been over 200 fatalities as a result of COVID-19 complications in Nigeria.

The rise in mortality shows that the second wave of the pandemic is deadlier than the first as more patients are symptomatic and require breathing support.

Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, the epicentre of the pandemic, had said the use of oxygen by COVID-19 patients in isolation centres across the state is on the increase this January.

The professor of medicine disclosed that the new strain ravaging the state and the country at large is deadlier than the previous variant.

“The reason for rise in fatalities is not far-fetched. When there are is a sharp rise in new cases, there will definitely be more deaths,” said Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the NCDC.

Active cases in the country rose sharply from about 3,000 about two months ago to over 20,000 due to a rise in new infections.

Of the over 110,000 cases so far, 89,317 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.

Specifics

The 1,598 new cases were reported from the following 21 states: Lagos-901 Plateau-136 Kaduna-57 FCT-54 Ebonyi-53 Akwa Ibom-52 Nasarawa-32 Osun-29 Ogun-28 Imo-16 Oyo-16 Edo-15 Kano-14 Rivers-10 Ekiti-7 Borno-6 Abia-5 Benue-4 Yobe-4 Kebbi-3 Anambra-2.

Lagos again led with 901 new cases on Sunday, more than half of the daily total. The commercial city is Nigeria’s coronavirus epicentre with a total of over 40,000 confirmed cases and over 270 deaths.

The Minister of State for Health, Mr Mamora, warned Nigerians against complacency in containing the COVID-19 pandemic as the much-awaited vaccines may not arrive the country as soon as expected.

The government said it is expecting to start receiving vaccines for the disease by the end of the month and that the vaccines will be administered in four phases.

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I Stand by PDP Constitution, Resolution of Party’s Governors’ Forum – Gov Adeleke

Published

22 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Eric

Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has clarified his position on the raging leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he stands by the relevant provisions of the PDP Constitution, according to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

The statement also quoted the governor as saying that he stand by the resolution of the Party, “which I am an integral part.”

“I stand by the Constitution of our great party which clearly spelt out the succession procedure in case of the exit of an elected chairman.

“I also stand by the resolution of the PDP Governors’ Forum of which I am an integral part.

“Our party must adhere to its Constitution at this critical time and at all times. That is the way to build a responsible political party.

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NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results

Published

1 day ago

September 19, 2024

Eric

The National Examinations Council has released the results of the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination, with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.

The Registrar of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, made this known while briefing journalists at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger State.

Prof. Wushishi disclosed that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, comprising 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.

The NECO boss provided a further breakdown of the results: “The number of candidates that sat for the exam is 1,367,736, comprising 702,112 males and 665,624 females.

“The number of candidates with five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, is 828,284, representing 60.55%.

“The number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, is 1,147,597, representing 83.90%.”

Regarding examination malpractice, Wushishi noted that this year’s figures showed a significant reduction compared to last year.

He stated: “The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437, compared to 12,030 in 2023, indicating a reduction of 30.1%.”

The registrar, however, revealed that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.

“During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination, 40 schools were found to have engaged in whole-school (mass) cheating in 17 states. They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied. One school in Ekiti has been recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and one Science subject.

“Similarly, 21 supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness, and negligence in 12 states.”

He urged candidates who sat for the examination to visit the NECO website to access their results.

“At this juncture, I wish to formally declare that the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results are hereby released to the public. By this release, candidates can now access their results on the NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” Wushishi said.

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Yahaya Bello Not in Our Custody, Still a Wanted Man, Says EFCC

Published

2 days ago

September 18, 2024

Eric

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified that the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is not in its custody.

The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the former governor remains wanted “for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges”.

“Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.

“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” Oyewale said.

The EFCC, by the Wednesday statement, puts a lie to the claim of Bello’s aide that his principal had honoured the invitation from the anti-graft agency.

The Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, had earlier claimed that the former governor honoured EFCC invitation “after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies”.

Michael, however, did not provide further details or photo of the ex-governor’s visit to the EFCC.

Earlier in April, the EFCC declared Bello wanted for alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2 billion.

The EFCC had stormed Bello’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja and attempt to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his successor in office, Usman Ododo.

The matter has been in court but the former governor has not appeared before the trial judge despite many adjournments.

Bello served as the governor of Kogi State from January 27, 2016 to January 27, 2024, when he handed over to Ododo, his fellow party man in the All Progressives Congress (APC).