With over 2.4 million total cases and over 170,000 deaths recorded globally, the Member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency Plateau State, Rep. Dachung Musa Bagos has called for rapid community testing for proper contact tracing and possible isolation of carriers of COVID-19, if any to avoid mass spread.
He said considering the daily exponential increase in the number of confirmed cases across the Country and the porous nature of the Border entry points in Plateau State which have allowed people from States with confirmed cases unhindered access to the State, t is important to carryout rapid community testing.
Hon. Bagos said though the State is yet to record any confirm case, it is pertinent to take proactive steps to prevent spread of the virus.
The Federal Lawmaker also lauded the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for the timely approval of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau State as a molecular testing centre.
He said the centre should be able to conduct rapid community testing in order to trace contacts in good time.
He Lauded the DG NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu for being proactive and displaying high level of responsibility, diligence, integrity, professionalism and above all patriotism in the discharge of his duties.
Rep. Bagos called on government at all levels to provide humanitarian interventions as palliatives to alleviate the, sufferings of the people saying economic, social and religious activities have been adversely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
He admonished the people to remain law abiding, exercise total adherence to preventive and safety measures put in place by health experts as well as full compliance to directives laid down by government to prevent the spread of the virus.
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The Nigerian Army killed at least 105 insurgents last week in counterterror operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), officials said Sunday.
Army spokesman Col. Sagir Musa told reporters that the terrorists were killed in northeastern Yobe state on the outskirts of Buni Gari village.
Musa said two soldiers were injured in the operations.
He added that a large amount of ammunition was seized.
Boko Haram launched a bloody insurgency in 2009 in northeastern Nigeria but it later spread to neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a military response.
ISWAP is a splinter group of Boko Haram.
More than 30,000 people have been killed and nearly 3 million displaced in a decade of Boko Haram’s terrorist activities in Nigeria, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Violence committed by Boko Haram has affected some 26 million people in the Lake Chad region and displaced 2.6 million others, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly appointed a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babagana Kingibe as Chief of Staff to replace Abba Kyari, according to The Times.
Former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari was buried on Saturday; after he died of the Coronavirus disease.
The late 67-year-old lawyer, businessman and politician served President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 till his death on Friday.
Groups, including some from the South East had also pleaded with the President to shift the position to the region following Kyari’s demise.
However, The Times authoritatively reported on Sunday that Kingibe, who has served the nation in different capacities as a diplomat; Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Internal Affairs from 1995 to 1997, Minister of Power and Steel from 1997 to 1998; and Secretary to the Government of the Federation from 2007 to 2008 has been appointed to fill the vacant position.
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Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, is dead.
The passing of Abba Kyari, who had previously tested positive to the dreaded COVID-19; was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media/Publicity, Femi Adesina. Equally important, the Presidency disclosed this in a brief statement released to the media on Saturday morning.
‘‘The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari. The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020. May God accept his soul. Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.’’
In addition, the development was communicated via a tweet posted on his verified handle on the micro-blogging site, Twitter.
‘‘Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.’’
Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.
Abba Kyari had travelled to Germany on Saturday, March 7th to meet with officials of Siemens in Munich; on the Nigerian electricity expansion programme. He returned exactly one week later on Saturday, March 14th, but did not show any symptoms. He was said to have been at a meeting on containing the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria all through Sunday; where he reportedly started to cough. Subsequently, he voluntarily submitted himself for testing and was informed of his status yesterday.
However, Kyari has gone into absolute isolation following the test result.
Subsequently, he had reportedly been flown into Lagos; where he was said to be undergoing treatment on the advice of his doctors. The top presidential aide, who was flown to Lagos in an air ambulance; was in high spirit and was not showing any symptoms associated with the virus.
Further, he disclosed that he had been working from home; expressing hope to return to work soon.
He had said: “I am writing to let you know that on medical advice; I will transfer to Lagos later today for additional tests and observation. This is a precautionary measure: I feel well, but last week, I tested positive for coronavirus; the pandemic that is sweeping the world. I have followed all the protocols government has announced to self-isolate and quarantine.
”I have made my own care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system; which faces so many pressures. Like many others that will test also positive, I have not experienced high fever or other symptoms associated with this new virus; and have been working from home. I hope to be back at my desk very soon.”
Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, passed on today. His death was announced in the wee hours of Saturday morning by the Presidency.
Specifically, the passing of the top presidential aide was confirmed by Special Adviser to the President on Media/Publicity, Femi Adesina. Equally important, the Presidency disclosed this in a brief statement released to the media on Saturday morning.
‘‘The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari. The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020. May God accept his soul. Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.’’
Meanwhile, 1st News reported that Abba Kyari had tested positive to the dreaded COVID-19 on March 23, 2020. However, he fought a losing battle against the pandemic.
In looking at the life and times of the deceased, here are the top 21 facts you probably did not know about him.
Abba Kyari was a Kanuri and hailed from Borno State in Nigeria’s North East
In 1980, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Warwick, UK
Abba Kyari also bagged a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Cambridge
A lawyer by training; he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983 after attending the Nigerian Law School
Abba Kyari holds a master’s degree in Law from the University of Cambridge obtained in 1984
Kyari worked for the law firm, Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo for some time after his return to Nigeria
He also had a stint in the media from 1988 to 1990, when he worked as Editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited, Kaduna
In 1990, he served as a Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State.
From 1990 to 1995, Kyari was the secretary to the board of African International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
Kyari was an executive director in charge of management services at the United Bank for Africa, and was later appointed the chief executive officer
Kyari was an executive director in charge of management services at the United Bank for Africa, and was later appointed the chief executive officer
He attended the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. Also, he participated in the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School, in 1992 and 1994, respectively
On the home front, he was married to the sister-in-law of Ibrahim Tahir. Tahir was a prominent sociologist, writer, and politician during the Second Republic
Abba Kyari had four children
He was first appointed Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2015
The deceased was a very influential figure throughout the period of his stewardship in Buhari’s cabinet
Signs of his growing influence further came to light in 2019 with Buhari’s re-election for a second term; when the President ordered his cabinet to channel all requests through Kyari’s office
In 2017, following a leaked memo, Kyari became embroiled in a public argument with the Head of Civil Service; Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita. She was later removed from office and arrested on corruption charges
In 2020, in another leaked memo, Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser; accused Kyari of meddling in matters of national security
He was honoured with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON); one of the two orders of merit in Nigeria
Abba Kyari died in a Lagos hospital on April 17, 2020, after testing positive for COVID-19.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared Caverton Helicopters persona non grata in the state. Consequently, Wike has ordered the shutdown of Caverton Helicopters offices in all the local governments in Rivers State.
He made this disclosure in a state broadcast on Wednesday.
Equally important, Wike accused the airline of endangering the lives of Rivers people by its suspicious operations.
1st News can report that the action of the governor arose over the decision of the airline to flout the total restriction on flights into Port Harcourt. As a matter of fact, Caverton had flown an undisclosed number of persons into Rivers State; prompting the arrest of the pilots.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has criticised the actions of the Rivers State Governor; which it claimed is an affront to President Muhammadu Buhari. Specifically, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika stated that the Air Force Commander in Port Harcourt, who invited Wike, to arrest the pilots and passengers on board the concerned flight; the Police Commissioner who accompanied Wike and the Military Commander; who all collaborated with the Governor; usurped Buhari’s authority.
Sirika said that necessary approvals were given to Caverton to fly. Also, she held that the aviation sector is on the exclusive list; noting that Wike had no right to enter the premises of Caverton.
The arrested pilots
“We appreciate the need to protect business interests and operations in the State. We will do whatever that is required to ensure that no business is unduly affected; especially by the measures we have taken to combat the Coronavirus,’’ Wike said.
“However, we shall not welcome businesses or companies that value their business activities or profit; more than or in clear disregard of the lives and health of our people. By its actions, Caverton Helicopters have clearly shown that Rivers lives do not matter to it. It is an enemy of Rivers people and is hereby declared persona non grata in Rivers State.
“With this declaration, Caverton Helicopters can only choose to operate in any part of Rivers State at its own risk; as Local Government Chairmen have been directed to close their offices and prevent their operations.”
In addition, the Rivers State Governor made references to ‘credible intelligence’ which he claimed; had indicted some enemies of the state to traffic infected COVID-19 patients into the state.
He held that the provocative actions of Caverton had happened in the midst of these reports.
“Their morbid intention is to create panic by pushing up the infection rate; and rubbish the robust measures we have since put in place to cut off the spread of the virus; and keep our state and our citizens safe and secure from the ravaging pandemic.
”As expected, and required by our laws, the crew and the passengers on board that ill-fated helicopter; were promptly arrested by the law enforcement personnel and are being prosecuted before our courts; in line with our COVID 19 Declarations and Containment Orders.
“Caverton Helicopters claimed to have gotten permits from some federal agencies to fly passengers into the State; which never bothered to take the State Government into confidence in issuing such permits; in violation of our laws and containment orders. While federal agencies reserve the right to issue flight permits to airline operators to fly into Rivers State; we insist that the State Government must equally be informed; and taken into confidence in the process.
“This the only way to avoid suspicion, conflicts of interests and unnecessary bickering between the State and Federal Governments; in our collective efforts to combat the spread of COVID 19 in the country.”
Wike described COVID-19 as a matter of life and death in Rivers State; noting that the state will resist any attempts to blackmail it in its efforts to keep its citizens safe.
“Since we triggered the law on Caverton Helicopters; we have seen and read all sorts of hilarious and frivolous comments, particularly on social media; questioning the propriety of our actions against the carrier and its passengers. At this time and under the present situation, nothing; I repeat; nothing, is more important to us than to safeguard the lives and well-being of our citizens no matter the cost; and we shall spare no efforts to achieve this singular most fundamental objective of our Government.”
