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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)...

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 continui...

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 a...

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 furt...

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 o...

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...

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 ea...