The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Buhari’s bodyguard dies

    Source: Pulse News NG

    Lawal Mato, one of president Muhammadu Buhari’s personal bodyguards, has died on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

    The president’s media aide, Bashir Ahmad, announced on Tuesday that Mato, a warrant officer, struggled with diabetes.

    The deceased had served the president for a long time before his death, Ahmad said.

    “Mr. Mato had been working with the President for many years before he won the 2015 elections,” the presidential aide tweeted.

    Buhari described the deceased as “very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duty with diligence and focus”.

    Mato’s death comes days after the president also lost his long-time friend and chief of staff, Abba Kyari, to the coronavirus disease.

    Kyari died in Lagos last week, almost a month after he was diagnosed with the disease that has infected over 2.5 million people across the world.

  • BREAKING: Abba Kyari buried in Abuja

    Source: The Punch News

    The remains of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, have been laid to rest in Abuja.

    The body of Kyari, who died on Friday after testing positive for the coronavirus, was interred at the Gudu Cemetery, Abuja.

    The remains arrived at the cemetery about 11.10 am in a white casket.

    The remains were lowered into the grave at about 11.20 am.

    His interment took place shortly after an Islamic prayer was made for him at the Defence House, Maitama, Abuja.

    Top government officials participated in the burial rites which were conducted under the supervision of the officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

  • Abba Kyari’s death saddening, says Ekweremadu

    Former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, (PDP Enugu-West) has described the death of Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, as a heavy loss to the Presidency and the nation.

    Ekweremadu, on his Twitter handle, @iamekweremadu, expressed deep sadness and condolences to Kyari’s immediate family, President Buhari and the entire Presidency.

    He also prayed to God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal repose.

    “I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing on of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari.

    “It is a heavy loss to The Presidency and the nation, which he gave his all.

    “My heartfelt condolences go to his family, the Presidency and the entire nation.

    “May his soul rest in peace. Amen,’’ Ekweremadu prayed.

    (NAN)

  • Ayade Distibutes Stimulus Package To Vulnerable C’Riverians  -Approves N30,000 monthly salary for new 8000 employees.

     

    Cross River state governor, Sen Ben Ayade on Wednesday distributed stimulus package to vulnerable persons as well as citizens who cannot fend for themselves due to age or incapacitation across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Speaking at CROSPIL in Calabar during the distribution of the stimulus package, Ayade declared that he had already approved N30,000 as monthly stipend for beneficiaries of the automatic employment given to 8000 youths between the ages of 18 to 35 in the state starting from Tuesday next week.

    He said, “Distributing food is not the real palliatives ,the real palliative is in giving people jobs .Palliative which is temporal is for poor and vulnerable who cannot fend for themselves.

    “We are starting the real palliative on Tuesday. Whether you are a gardener or cleaner, whatever you can do, we will give a job but we can only pay you 30,000 if you know you need it and want to earn that amount please put down your names and phone numbers; you will be contacted.

    “The food will be shared through our traditional rulers to all the 18 LGAs: We want it to get to the grassroots; this is not about political party. It is about governance; we will also give to churches and various religious organisations to distribute because they know the people well.

    “This is a time to show humanity. Humanity does not know colour or ethnicity. We need to stop spreading fear about the pandemic. What we need is to show the people love especially at this critical time. Fear and hunger is killing people even more than the pandemic.

    “We want to thank President Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria for granting us clearance to deliver our rice seedlings to states.

    “We have built industries and made serious investment. Federal government support is key. We need more of their support so that we can achieve more growth and development in our economy and even more”.

  • WHO Secretary General validates Ayade’s position on social distancing

    Source: CRS News Bulletin

    World Health Organization (WHO) Secretary General, Tedros Adhananom Ghenreyesus has re-echoed Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State’s stance to the effect that social distancing is not practicable under certain conditions.

    He, like Ayade, was also of the view that social distancing is at best, an alternative preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus as other public health measures are equally effective.

    Governor Ayade, a professor of Microbiology had stirred the hornet’s nest recently when he declared the observance of social distancing unnecessary where a population is properly protected with appropriate nose masks, which he has made compulsory in his state.

    He said observing social distancing presupposes normal atmospheric conditions, which is far from reality given that variables such as wind speed and wind direction are outside anyone’s control.

    Dr. Ghebreyesus in a series of tweets Monday, validated the governor’s positions on the matter.

    According to him, “many poor people, migrants and refugees live in over-crowded conditions with few resources and little access to health care. Physical distancing is very difficult in such situations. So, other public health measures must be put in place.”

    He concluded by saying that “while COVID19 accelerates very fast, it decelerates much more slowly. This is especially concerning for countries with large poor population, where #StayatHome orders and other restrictions used in some high income countries may not be practicable.”

  • Federal Government orders provision of two months free power supply

    By: Damaris Onyendi – Calabar

    The Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria has directed all the 11 discos to give two months free power supply to all her citizens with Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission establishing monitoring committee. Please report any long blackout, faults or anyone or groups that visits within this period to disconnect light in your area to the Following Numbers.

    ABUJA(AEDC) 08052158644.

    BENIN(BEDC) 08036275127.

    EKO(EKEDC) 08036275127.

    IKEJA(IKDC) 08074403007.

    ENUGUN(EEDC) 08039221710.

    IBADAN(IBEC) 08052158644.

    JOS(JEDC) 08052158644.

    KADUNA(KAEDCO) 08036275127.

    KANO(KEDCO) 08036275127.

    PORT(PHEDC) 08074403007.

    YOLA(YEDC) 08039221710.

    NUMBERS for sms message or whatsapp for all distribution areas 09090022887, 07064019522.

    E-mail-: complaints@nerc.gov.ng situationroom@nerc.gov.ng

  • Ayade ranks top 4th governor in handling the spread of coronavirus

    By Damaris Onyendi

    Senator Ben Ayade has been noticed for his relentless effort in handling the COVID-19 crisis.

    The Cross River State governor ranked 4th in a top 5 list of governors able to curb the spread of the pandemic created by Ripples Nigeria.

    The COVID-19 health crisis has shown Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State a firm character, cutting the picture of a leader who knows what he wants done and stands stubbornly with it, no matter how unpopular they may appear.

    In an effort to curb the spread of the virus to his state, Ayade made what was an unpopular decision at the time, to close all the state’s borders, air, sea and land!

    With this, the governor effectively shut out who ever was not in Cross River State at the time of the order.

    Ayade has been acting like a man on a mission and appears to be getting the required result of starving off the dreaded disease from the state.

    The decision to shut out 35 oil workers said to be NNPC partners, unless they submitted themselves to tests, speaks eloquently to this claim.

    For Ayade, the protection of citizens deserves both popular and unpopular action, and a stubborn resolve not to bend the rules, no matter who or what institution is involved.

  • Cross River State Government commences payment of YESSO allowance

    Source: Naija Voice

    Cross River State government with the assistance from the World Bank commences payment of Youth Employment and Social support Operations (YESSO) stipends to beneficiaries in Akamkpa local government area to cushion the effect of “stay at home” order occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

    YESSO programme, which run in partnership with the World Bank, offers community service engagement to the vulnerable in the society with a monthly payment of N30,000.

    Dr Inyang Asibong, the State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, who flagged of the exercise, said the aim was to assist the vulnerable during this period to meet desired needs.

    Asibong explained that the state government approved payment for beneficiaries who are engaged in community services such as sanitation, desilting of gutters, erosion control among others.

    The expressed assurance that all the beneficiaries under YESSO across the state will get their payment accordingly.

    While making payment to the beneficiaries, the Commissioner also donated face masks to them.

    Kudos to Gov. Benedict Ayade for the approval of this payment, especially during this critical period.

  • 56-year-old dies of coronavirus in Lagos

    Source: Punch News 

    A 56-year-old Nigerian man has died of coronavirus in Lagos State.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made this known on Tuesday.

    He said the patient had visited the United States.

    “A 56-year-old Nigerian who recently returned from the United States has died of coronavirus-related complications. This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to six,” the commissioner said.

    He added 61 patients have recovered and discharged in the state.

    Abayomi said, “13 new cases of COVID-19 infection confirmed. The total number of confirmed cases in Lagos is now 192. The total number of COVID-19 patients that have recovered and discharged is now 61.”

    While urging residents in the state to obey social distancing directive, he said, “I urge Lagos residents to remain on alert across communities and obey instructions aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 infection.”

  • Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases rises to 343 with 20 new cases.

    By: Damaris Onyendi – Calabar

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced on Monday, April 13, 2020, that Lagos has recorded 13 new cases. Nigeria’s commercial capital continues to be the epicentre of the outbreak in Nigeria with over half of all confirmed cases.

    Two new cases each were also recorded in Edo, Kano, and Ogun, and one case recorded in Ondo.

    Monday’s announcement also revealed that six new people have been released from medical care after recovery. All six were released in Lagos State, as announced earlier on Monday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The notice of the new cases came hours after President Muhammadu Buhari extended an initial 14-day lockdown of Lagos, Ogun, and the FCT by an additional 14 days.

    The president expressed concerns that despite the nation’s best efforts, coronavirus cases have doubled since the initial March 30 lockdown was implemented, especially in both Lagos and the FCT. He said the government’s efforts will continue to focus on both locations.

    Nigeria has recorded coronavirus cases in 19 states and the FCT, as of April 12.

    91 people have recovered from the virus and been discharged, but 10 people have died.