US: Why we are evacuating Americans from Nigeria

The United States embassy in Nigeria, on Tuesday, explained that it evacuated American citizens from Nigeria for their safety.

It made the clarifications in a Facebook post.



The message reads: “In times of emergency, the first priority of the U.S. Department of State is the safety of American citizens overseas. For that reason, throughout the world, we are working to ensure that Americans who want to return home are able to get home. We appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian government to keep everyone safe.

 It is also understandable that many Americans will want to return to be with their friends and family at this time, especially those who did not plan for an extended stay in Nigeria.

Please note that the U.S. Mission is still operating and plans to continue the important work of representing the American people here.


 We ask all Americans who remain to join us in abiding by the rules the Nigerian Government has put in place to keep us all healthy and safe. By working together, we will get through this crisis together.”

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Coronavirus | President Buhari declares curfew in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday announced stoppage of all intra and inter state movements in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja as a way of curbing the spread of coronavirus pandemic for i4 days.

While announcing the ban of movements in a national broadcast, the President said the decision was taken because majority of the 97 cases of coronavirus recorded in the country so far are from the two states. The President said Ogun State was included bacause of its proximity to Lagos. He said the decision was based on the recommendation of Federal Ministry of Health.

He added that the 14 days will be used to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases.

The President said, “I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March 2020. This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two States.

“All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes. Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period.

“As I mentioned earlier, as at this morning we had ninety-seven confirmed cases. Majority of these are in Lagos and Abuja. All the confirmed cases are getting the necessary medical care.

“Our agencies are currently working hard to identify cases and people these patients have been in contact with.

“The few confirmed cases outside Lagos and Abuja are linked to persons who have travelled from these centres.

“We are therefore working to ensure such inter state and intercity movements are restricted to prevent further spread,” the President said.




The President however said the order does not apply to hospitals and all related medical establishments as well as organizations in health care related manufacturing and distribution.

Also exempted are commercial establishments such as food processing, distribution and retail companies; petroleum distribution and retail entities, power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and private security companies are also exempted.

“Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored.

“Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted,” the President added.

He also said all seaports in Lagos shall remain operational in accordance with the guidelines I issued earlier while vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargoes from these Ports to other parts of the country will be screened thoroughly before departure by the Ports Health Authority.

But he also added that all vehicles conveying food and other essential humanitarian items into these locations from other parts of the country will also be screened thoroughly before they are allowed to enter these restricted areas.

To ensure compliance, the President directed Minister of Health to redeploy all Port Health Authority employees previously stationed in the Lagos and Abuja Airports to key roads that serve as entry and exit points to the restricted zones.

The President also said movement of all passenger aircraft, both commercial and private jets, are hereby suspended, but special permits will be issued on a needs basis.

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Coronavirus | Ogun announces closure of borders for two weeks

Ogun State Government has announced the closure of its borders with the neighbouring states and the international border with the Republic of Benin.

According to a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Ogun State Governor, Kunle Somorin, and made available to INDEPENDENT, “the closure will be effected at 12 Midnight on Sunday, 29th March, 2020. It will be in force for two weeks in the first instance.”

The statement read further: “With this restriction order, movement in and out of the state is thus banned as a further measure to contain the corona virus pandemic.

“The state is constrained to effect border closure in order to stem and flatten the curve of the spread of the dreaded corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic, not only in the state but in the country and in the West African sub-region.

“The position of Ogun State is peculiar. It not only shares an international border with the Republic of Benin, it does so with all other states in the South West (except Ekiti), including Lagos State, which has understandably recorded the highest number of infections in the country largely because it hosts the busiest air and sea ports and it’s the nation’s economic capital.




“The border closure will not only be beneficial to Ogun State but the national efforts to curtail and contain the virus. Lessons from other climes strongly indicate that closure of borders has the potential to drastically flatten the curve of spread whilst unrestricted movement portends grave dangers”, Governor Abidoun further explained.

The only exceptions to the interstate restrictions are vehicles conveying personnel involved in essential services such as security agencies, health workers, food and medical items and petroleum products.

The Statement enjoined citizens to fully cooperate with the security agencies who have been fully briefed and directed to effect the closure, noting that at this period of a global pandemic and national emergency all hands must be on deck to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

The border closure and other measures will be reviewed from time to time, in response to developments as they unfold, the statement concluded.

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Coronavirus | First Bank closes physical branches

First Bank of Nigeria on Friday announced the closure of its physical branches in the light of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the resultant lockdown in different states of the federation.

The bank made the announcement in a letter to its depositors on Friday entitled: ‘Physical branches closed, virtual branches open’.

“In light of COVID-19 and the lockdown being experienced in different states, be informed that we have made arrangements to ensure the availability of ATM services at our branches across the country.

“We, however, urge you to make use of our alternative channels for all transactions during these period.

“All our alternative channels will be available for you daily,” the bank said.

Newsmen report that the bank had recently announced measures it took to control the spread of the COVID–19.

In a statement, the bank’s Group Head, Folake Ani-Mumuney, assured stakeholders of business continuity management.

“Embedded in our corporate strategy is business continuity management that ensures delivery of products, services and initiatives to our stakeholders and enabling the economy in the long-term with minimal impact.

“Therefore, we have employed necessary measures to keep our employees, customers and the general public safe-guarded and sensitised on preventive steps to flatten the curve at the fastest possible rate.




“These include the deployment of temperature measuring tools, hand sanitisers and face masks and adopting social distancing including utilising virtual meetings,” she said.

She added that the bank had cancelled owned and partnered planned events in the interim, suspended staff travels and put measures in place to identify and communicate to staff arriving from affected countries to self-quarantine, following the established protocols by the World Health Organisation and the federal government.

“We implore all our customers to embrace cashless transactions across our self-service platforms such as *894# USSD banking services, FirstMobile, WhatsApp Banking.

“Others are First Online for needs such as fund transfer, bill payment, credit and internet data recharge and much more.

“In need of quick loans, these self-service platforms are also designed to meet immediate needs through our FirstAdvance service,” she said.

Mrs Ani-Mumuney said the bank was committed to protecting the health and safety of all its staff, customers and host communities.

She expressed optimism that, with collective efforts, Nigeria would soon win the fight against coronavirus.

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Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in the world ahead of Lionel Messi - Pele

Cristiano Ronaldo’s consistency puts him ahead of Lionel Messi as the world’s best player, according to Pele, but he doesn’t believe that either man is as good as he was in his prime.

Ronaldo and Messi continue to set the benchmark in terms of individual brilliance even as they approach the latter stages of their respective careers, with the former now plying his trade in Italy with Juventus and the latter still Barcelona’s talismanic performer.

The two men have shared 11 of the last 12 Ballon d’Or awards between them, with Messi edging one ahead of his rival after picking up a sixth Golden Ball back in December.

The Argentine has since helped Barca return to the Liga summit and reach the Champions League knockout stages, scoring 22 goals across all competitions.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has 25 to his name for Juventus, including 16 in his last 12 Serie A outings which have helped Maurizio Sarri’s side stay on track for an unprecedented ninth consecutive Scudetto.

Supporters and experts remain divided over which man deserves to be remembered as the greatest player of their generation, with Pele among those who feel Ronaldo has the edge due to his goalscoring prowess.



“Right now I think Cristiano Ronaldo is the most consistent player out there, but you can’t forget about Messi,” the Brazilian told YouTube channel Pilhado.


Pele’s place in football’s hall of fame has long been assured, due to the fact he helped Brazil win three World Cups at the height of his career.

His records and achievements have long been held up against a man who led Argentina to the famous trophy on two occasions, Diego Maradona.

However, Pele went on to omit Maradona from his list of the all-time greats, while putting himself at the top of the pile.

When asked he if was better than Ronaldo and Messi, the 79-year-old responded: “That’s a tough question to answer. I’ve been asked many times.

“We mustn’t forget Zico and Ronaldinho. People always talk about European players like [Franz] Beckenbauer and [Johan] Cruyff.

“It’s not my fault, but I think I was better than all of them. There will only be one Pele. There won’t be anyone else like me.”

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Oyo flags-off free medical mission

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde will, on Monday February 16th, 2020, kick off free medical mission in Oyo North Senatorial District.

The medical mission will include free surgical operations and other medical examinations.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello, revealed this in a statement signed on Friday, March 13, 2020.

He added that the free health mission was introduced by the present administration with the aim to improve the quality of healthcare among the residents of Oyo State.

“The free medical mission was introduced with the aim of improving the quality of healthcare services among the people and reducing medical quackery practices”, the statement read.




Dr. Bello also added that the mission will kick off at L.A Primary school, Agede, Kisi, in Irepo Local Government Area and will entail free medical activities such as checking of blood pressure, HIV test with free drugs, checking of Hermia, Lipoma, Sebaceous cyst and breast lumps.

The Statement further read that the occasion will enlighten the people on food hygiene, waste management and good sanitation.

Local Government Areas that will benefit from the first phase of the free medical mission include Irepo, Olorunsogo, Orelope, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo and Iwajowa.

Others are Kajola, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South and Oriire.

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Lagos taxi/cab operators unveil EkoCab mobile app

The Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association, popularly known as Yellow Taxi/Eko Cab, on Tuesday unveiled EkoCab Mobile App to promote transit system in the state.

The app, tagged “EkoApp: A New Approach to Lagos Transport” was launched in Ikeja at an event attended by stakeholders in the transport sector.

Mr Taiwo Omolekan, the General Secretary and incoming President of the association, said that the development was to ensure that it was not left behind in the technology-driven world.

Omolekan said that henceforth, commuters could download the app and book for a taxi (branded) or a cab (unbranded) in the comfort of their homes to commute around the state.

“With the advent of technologies, taxi business has moved from the traditional flagging down of taxi on the road to electronic ride hailing services, in which taxi drivers could be called from the comfort of one’s home for a ride to any part of the state.

” Therefore, the Yellow taxi, which is the pride of the Lagos State, is not ready to be left behind. This has prompted us to introduce our own taxi apps to the members of the public as EkoCab.

“You can call us from the comfort of your home and our good air-conditioning vehicles will be available to drop you at your destination at a minimal cost,” Omolekan said.

According to him, the Yello taxi is an institution that is well established all over the state with correct data-base of all members with sticker that is displayed on the front and back windscreen.

“It is very easy to know the location and the taxi park that each driver belongs for security purpose. We are the best alternative as the traditional taxi of the state

“Also, we have an edge over other taxi apps because we are very conversant with the road and know how to manoeuvre in case of gridlock, unlike others that depend on google maps for direction,” he said.

Omolekan urged Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to the aid of the association by providing loan to re-fleet vehicles like his predecessor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, did for the association.

The general secretary also urged the Lagos State Government to assist the association by instructing all housing estates, hotels and local airports to allow Yellow Taxi and Cab entrance to pick and drop commuters.

He said that without access to such places, the essence of the apps would be limited and defeated.

Omolekan said that e-taxi and cab services like Uber and Bolt would redefine the transit system by providing quality ride services at affordable fares.




In his address, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, the Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, who welcomed the operators to the digital world, said the launch was in line with Sanwo-Olu’s vision for efficient traffic management and transportation.

Oladeinde, who was represented by Mr Sewedo Whenu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, urged the operators to continue to obey traffic laws to reduce gridlock and road crashes to the barest minimum.

According to him, technology has reduced the world into a global village and there is the need to move all sectors of the economy, including transportation, to meet current global technological practices.

Oladeinde said: “As an emerging Smart City of the world with an estimated population of over 22 million people, we can no longer afford to live in the past.

” We must imbibe necessary technology that will change our ways of life, especially our transport system, so that we can be at par with other civilised climes that have made significant progress in digital mobility.

“The government has not relented in her commitment to providing suitable public transport system that is functional, effective and affordable with dedicated lanes expansion and development of other modes of transportation like the rail system and water transportation.

“The administration has continued to invest heavily in the transport sector because transportation has remained an integral part of the economic development anywhere in the world.”

He pledged government’s commitment to creating enabling environment that would attract more investors into public transportation.

Oladeinde, who urged operators to adhere to extant laws, assured that the government would continue to support the association to ensure the success of the initiative

On the journey so far, Mr Segun Cole, the EkoCab Chief Executive Officer, said that the association, after conceiving the idea, approached all relevant stakeholders, conducted training for drivers and carried out pilot programmes.

Cole, who noted that the App would provide the Ministry of Transportation a dashboard to monitor the operations, said that the operations would start on March 17.

In their goodwill messages, the representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Vehicle Inspection Services, Lagos State Drivers Institute among other agencies in the sector, urged the operators to heed traffic rules and regulations.

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NIMC chief arraigned for ‘raping’ two-year-old in his office

The Imo State Director, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Ikenna Unegbu, has been arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Owerri, the State capital, for allegedly defiling a two-year-old girl in his office.

The incident was said to have happened on February 5, 2020 in Unegbu’s office at the NIMC.

The complainant, who is also the mother of the victim, Chinonye Obioma, told the court that her little child was defiled on February 5, 2020 by the Director.

She explained that the Director had taken the child from her in the guise of consoling her after she (Obioma) scolded her (the child) for pouring water around the office.

“My daughter went into the office twice with biscuits and groundnuts, only to come out from the Director’s office the third time, crying,” she told the court, according to the newspaper.

Obioma further said that on her way home, she noticed abnormal movement and posture of her baby after she urinated.

“When I asked her what happened, she mentioned that Uncle Police (the suspect) removed her pant, and put his stick (penis) inside her bumbum.



“I went home in tears, seeing reddish, swollen vagina, remains of sperms, tissue paper gummed on her private parts.


“I called Oga Ikenna (suspect) to enquire what he did with my daughter, and he harshly denied knowledge of the incident.”

The child’s mother, who runs a photography stand within the commission, explained further that the next day on February 6, she took her baby to the Federal Medical Center, Owerri and Police Hospital to carry tests on her daughter.

She said the doctors confirmed through medical reports that the little girl’s hymen was broken.

She told the court that the medical reports showed that the baby sustained serious injury after her abuser had penetrated her.

The Magistrate, Her Worship Odionyenma, ruled that the suspect be granted bail for re-arraignment on March 19, 2020.

The judge further said that the constitution gives protection to both the complainant and the accused.

According to the judge, evidence would be properly studied to ensure justice was served.

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We need a new constitution in Nigeria - Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday, canvassed a new constitution for the country as against an amended one.

He also hailed the Southwest governors for what he called their courage in establishing the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) Operation Amotekun to check insecurity in the region.

Obasanjo who spoke at the first Annual Frederick Fasehun Memorial Lecture in Lagos said “nothing has united the people of the Southwest like Amotekun since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960.”

He stressed that a new political order and arrangement would strengthen Nigeria’s unity and make room for healthy and useful competition among its component parts.

Obasanjo recalled how Nigerians’ disenchantment with the current political structure started with the quest for “true federalism” during his tenure which has since changed to “restructuring”.

He feared that the next phase could turn out to be call for self-determination by one or more geo-political zones, which will not be easy to suppress.

He said he was one of those who underestimated the Biafran rebellion, saying it would not last three to six months, only to stretch to 30 months.

“If after more 10 years of fighting Boko Haram, the terrorist group is still waxing strong, let nobody out of self-delusion think that a war of self-determination by one or more geopolitical zones of Nigeria with the present disenchantment would be easily suppressed by the rest of what may remain of the country,” he said.

He said most of the assumptions in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) “have been found to be unrealistic and unrealisable in practice by any administration that wishes to put them in the rubbish bin.”




He added: “This is the situation today. Let us put our experiences to work and fashion out a political order and arrangement that will strengthen our togetherness while making room for healthy and useful competition within the one entity, Nigeria.”

The former president who spoke under the theme, “Working the Talk Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow”, said Nigeria does not need to go the way of the former Yugoslavia, Sudan or Rwanda and Somalia.

His words: “None of these countries knew the avoidable and divisive end from the beginning.

“Let us learn from the experience of others and of our founding fathers who resolved their political differences through dialogue and debate without resorting to violence and separation but accommodation, telling themselves hard truth, tolerance and give-and-take spirit.

“That was the foundation of Nigeria at independence and let it continue to be. If all we are interested in is power and not holding the country together harmoniously and wholesomely, we may hold the mirage of power and lose the nation or the country bequeathed to us by our founding fathers.

“The Nigerian Constitution does not give the National Assembly the power to write a new Constitution but the power to amend the existing one. What is required is a new constitution to meet the agitation and aspiration of all Nigerians and to allay all fears.

“The executive and the legislature need to work together to establish a Constituent Assembly. The exercise must not be compromised like the present Constitution; it must have full legitimacy of ‘We the people’.”

He said he would continue to fight for ‘one Nigeria’. Nevertheless, he said he is not prepared to be a second class citizen for the sake of ‘one Nigeria’ and that he would wish the same for his children.

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