Month: June 2020

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Plateau State May Go For A Total Lockdown

A SPECIAL PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

The Plateau State Government views with grave concern the rise in the rate of infection of the Corona virus in the State following the ease of lockdown exercise. This essentially is due to the flagrant disregard to the laid down protocols as it affects this dreaded monster, by a sizeable population of the State!
Government views with dismay the non-compliance with regards to the wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand washing and the use of sanitizers.


Government has it on sound authority that some worship centres, markets, motor parks, commercial vehicles, tricycles (KEKE NAPEP) are at the forefront of this flagrant violation.
In view of the foregoing therefore, Government hereby states categorically that such unbecoming attitude stimulates government to contemplate severe measures to address and arrest the situation. This could include among many, a total lockdown of the State, for a longer period, and the indefinite sealing of such premises who refuse to adhere to the guidelines.


Government by this announcement therefore, would like to remind the public that there is an Executive Order duly signed by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Simon Bako Lalong, KSG, Executive Governor of Plateau State, to prosecute violators before the law.


Government hereby appeals to all law abiding citizens of the state to obey the COVID-19 protocols as spelt out by the State in order to curtail the disease and save lives.
Help Government to serve you better by taking personal responsibility for your health and safeguarding the lives of others.
ALWAYS THINK PLATEAU AND ACT PLATEAU.

Dan Manjang,
Hon. Commissioner,
Information and Communication,
Plateau State.
22/6/2020

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Twitter introduces ‘voice tweets’ because sometimes 280 characters aren’t enough

Twitter may have doubled tweet lengths for user rants and quips back in 2017, but sometimes even 280 characters isn’t enough to get your message across.

So now Twitter is making it easier to have your voice heard–literally–with the addition of voice tweets.

The feature, exclusive to iOS for now, allows you to affix a voice memo to your tweets much like voice clips in WhatsApp or other messaging services.

To use the feature, simply tap the Tweet compose button, then tap on the new sound wave button that shows up on the bottom left.

You can just tap the ‘Done’ button when you’re done yapping.

But of course, this wouldn’t be Twitter without some arbitrary (if welcome) numerical limitation, so individual voice clips are limited to 140 seconds.

That said, if you exceed the limit, Twitter automatically starts a new voice tweet and creates a new thread.

Voice tweets are displayed in your timeline with a large card much like a video tweet, except, you know, there’s no video.

The audio doesn’t auto-play; you have to tap on the image to get started.

Twitter says it hopes voice tweets will give users a human touch, noting that sometimes things can be left “unsaid or uninterpreted” with written tweets.

It’s a welcome move, allowing users to express themselves with more nuance than available in a short amount of text.

One would hope this could lead to more constructive conversations on the platform, but I also imagine it won’t be very long until people get into literal shouting matches over Twitter.

You win some, you lose some.

While audio tweets are accessible to users on all platforms, only a small group of iOS users can create them for now.

Twitter says it should be available to all iOS users “in the coming weeks,” but there’s no word on when it’ll arrive on other devices.

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Northern Governors Meet Over Insecurity

Worried by the challenge of insecurity in the country, the Northern Governors Forum met on Thursday 18th June 2020 to review the security situation in the Northern Region.
The meeting conducted via teleconferencing was presided over by Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong.
The Governors expressed concern over the level of insecurity in the region and took certain decisions to contain the situation.


They agreed to set up a standing Committee on security in the North which will foster synergy between security agencies in the enforcement of security measures in the region. The Committee to be headed by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has Governors of Zamfara and Gombe as members.


They also set up another Committee headed by Governor Simon Lalong on Consultation with Traditional, Religious and Community leaders in the North with a view to ensuring that there is wider involvement in tackling insecurity in the region. The Committee has Governors of Adamawa, Niger, and Sokoto as members.


Another decision reached by the Governors is the engagement of local vigilantes, hunters, and community watch groups in the security architecture of the region in order to foster intelligence gathering, rapid response and sustained surveillance.


The Northern Governors also called on the Federal Government to closely look into the Ecowas protocol on free movement of persons as it relates to the cross-border movement of herders from other countries into Nigeria, particularly the North.


While commending the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in tackling insecurity in the region so far, they called for increased synergy which will further enhance their operations and assist in putting an end to the activities of bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and other criminals.
They also agreed to adopt dialogue where necessary while pursuing military measures in dealing with the various security challenges in the region.


While sympathizing with victims of the various attacks and other forms of criminality in the region, the Northern Governors also appealed for calm by groups and those affected as both the Forum, individual State Governments and the Federal Government are working together to ensure that this ugly situation is brought under control immediately, as well as addressing the humanitarian needs of the victims.


The Governors also want the Federal Government to accelerate the Livestock Transformation Plan which will assist in creating jobs among farmers and herders in the region and the country at large.
They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to deal with the security situation in the country and the region.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR,
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of
Plateau State & Chairman, Northern Governors Forum.
18th June 2020.

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Craig B Announce Exit From BEDmusic Entertainment

Today Craig B officially resign as Beat Embassy Dynasty (BEDmusic) Entertainment record manager, below is his farewell message as he exit the record.

It was a vigorous journey of doggedness, highly burdensome serving as the manager of BED Music & on this note, i want to use this medium to thank the BED family, most especially to my BOSS & a brother “EL-MORE HODUS” for the privilege to serve as the manager of your brand BED Music Africa since 2017.

It has been an honour to serve as an artiste & a manager to the brand. I’ve served this company to the best of my ability, keeping up with the well-being of this brand since from inception to it’s current state. I’ve contributed my quoter immensely to the growth & unity of the brand. It was indeed a vigorous journey Sir.

To my fans, friends, well wishers & the entire BED family, it’s time to drop the mantle. On this note, I officially present my RESIGNATION to the brand. Am no more the manager of BED Music again. Please all business associates with me as BED Music manager should be cancel & send to the direct source that will be unveil as the new manager of the brand.

I remain indebted to you anytime, any day.

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COVID-19: 29 Health Workers in Plateau State Test Positive For Corona Virus

The Plateau State Government led by Governor Solomon Lalong has confirmed that no fewer than 29 health workers have tested positive for the dreaded COVID-19 disease in the state. This was confirmed on Wednesday at a press briefing in the state capital, Jos, by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar, who also informed that the state has thus far recorded 198 COVID-19 confirmed cases, with 114 patients discharged and five deaths.

He said; “COVID19 Update, the NCDC says Plateau has 168 confirmed cases but results released now confirms we have 198 cases. “17 staff of the hospital were confirmed with the virus, while all staff of the hospital have been quarantined.

“We decontaminated the hospital yesterday and have shut it down for public safety.

“We have also taken the 17 staff to the isolation centers for treatment,’’ Lar added. This came after days after a COVID-19 patient absconded from a Plateau State isolation centre.

This was disclosed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Williams Bassi, who said that efforts were ongoing to trace the fleeing patient and return him to the centre to complete his treatment.

He added that several people who had tested positive for the virus had refused to leave their homes to receive treatment at the isolation centres.

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#COVID19Plateau: Plateau State Decries Non-Adherence To COVID-19 Guidelines, To Commence Strict Enforcement

Plateau State Government has decried the lack of adherence to guidelines for COVID-19 by most individuals and some organisations following the suspension of the lockdown order by Governor Simon Lalong on 11th June, 2020.

The Government notes the flagrant disregard for the compulsory use of face masks by all citizens outside their homes where many go about without any.

There is also high disregard to social distancing requirement in public places such as markets, shops, hotels, social centres, restaurants, public transport and some places of worship.

Some others have chosen to ignore the provision of water, soap and sanitizers in entrances to such public places thereby constituting greater risk to the citizens.

In addition, some people have also organised large gatherings and social gatherings in contravention of the directive of the Governor.

All this has led to an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the State which as at Wednesday 17th June, 2020 stand at 180 persons.

Based on the above therefore, government hereby warns against non compliance to its directives. Monitoring teams have been put in place to monitor and enforce compliance. This takes immediate effect.

Anyone found to be violating the COVID-19 guidelines will be arrested and prosecuted while public places will be shut down and also prosecuted.

Government wishes to remind the citizens that COVID-19 is real and still without cure while community spread continues to be occurring.

All citizens must take personal responsibility for their health and the health of others.

Dan Manjang
Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communication.
17th June 2020.

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COVID-19: Rayfield Medical Center Suspend Services as Staff Contract Coronavirus from Patient who Absconded From Isolation Facility

The management of Rayfield Medical Services Limited Jos, Plateau State has announced its decision to suspend services at the medical facility for two weeks to fumigate the facility after some Staff of the Hospital contracted COVID-19 through a patient who absconded from an isolation facility in the State and was treated in the hospital for two days unknown to the staff/management of the hospital that the patient had tested positive for COVID-19 and absconded from an isolation facility.

This decision was made known in a statement by the management of the Medical Facility which reads:

“Dear esteemed clients, we bring you warm greetings from Rayfield Medical Services Ltd.

We would like to inform you of a recent case of COVID-19 admitted to the hospital. Patient had absconded from one of the state hospitals and came to us for treatment for an unrelated illness. Patient had denied any history of contact with a COVID-19 patient as well as any history of symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Patient was managed for two days in our facility before we discovered the true state of affairs from the state ministry of health.

Patient was immediately evacuated by the ministry of health officials to the isolation facility and the hospital fumigated. A screening of primary and secondary contacts revealed that a number of our staff were also positive for the virus. They are also being attended to by the state ministry of health officials.

In line with the state protocols, the hospital services have been suspended for two weeks and the entire facility closed for fumigation.
We hope to resume normal services to the general public immediately after the expiration of the mandatory two weeks.

We want to reassure our esteemed clients of the hospital’s commitment to excellent and quality healthcare services and the full adherence to all the safety protocols for the prevention of disease transmission in our facility.
Please accept the assurances of our warmest regards!
Thank you”

Management.

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Six Nigerians in ‘FBI Most Wanted List’ for $6m cyber fraud (Full names)

The United States of America (USA) on Tuesday, June 17, blacklisted and charged six Nigerian nationals; who blinked some $6 million from Americans by posing as either business executives or romantic partners online.

According to the Treasury Department, the six Nigerian men either targeted U.S. businesses; either by impersonating executives and requested wire transfers from legitimate corporate accounts; or they used dating sites to foster romantic relationships with Americans to request large sums of money; all under false pretences.

The six men blacklisted are Richard Uzuh, Micheal Olorunyomi, Alex Ogunshakin, Felix Okpoh, Nnamdi Benson, and Abiola Kayode.

Specifically, the Justice Department also announced the unsealing of scam indictments on Tuesday; charging the men with various wire fraud, fraud and identity theft crimes.

Further,it stated that the charges are punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment; as well as a fine up to $250,000.

Two others involved in the scheme — Adewale Aniyeloye and Onome Ijomone — earlier entered plea deals and were sentenced in the District of Nebraska to eight years in jail for wire fraud and five years in jail for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, respectively, prosecutors said.

The six men are believed to be in Nigeria and have been added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cyber’s Most Wanted list.

“We will continue coming after you, no matter where you are,” said Special Agent in Charge Kristi K. Johnson of the Omaha FBI field office.

According to the USA unsealed indictments, as early as 2015, Uzhu and Aniyeloye would send spoofed emails that appeared to come from legitimate business executives to company employees requesting wire transfers to bank accounts; some of which resided outside the United States, including in Nigeria.

“The business employees, thinking that the wire transfer requests were legitimate, would comply with the wire transfer request and wire the money to the location provided in the wiring instructions,” the indictments said.

Some 70 U.S. companies were defrauded by the men in this scheme, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.

In another scheme, Ijomone and Olorunyomi would develop romantic relationships with USA targets to scam them of their bank account information to funnel funds into their own accounts; or they would convince their victims to send them money via wire transfer.

According to the unsealed indictments, the men would create fake profiles on dating sites to pose as “individuals looking for love”; or as financial advisors to those fake accounts.

The men would develop relationships with their victims to obtain funds directly or, in some cases; they would direct their victims to their so-called financial advisor “who would further help convince the romance scam victim about the legitimacy of the proposed transactions,” the indictments said.

The pair scammed $480,000 from two victims, prosecutors said.

It was further revealed that the sanctions imposed by the Treasury under an executive order that targets malicious cyber-enabled crimes bars U.S citizens from doing business with them and freezes all of their assets in the USA.