allAfrica  

[Premium Times] As part of measures to ensure no new case of coronavirus (COVID-19) is imported into the country, the federal government has said all Chinese medical experts expected to arrive Nigeria will undergo a test for the dreaded ailment.

allAfrica  

[UN News] The World Health Organization (WHO) has teamed up with international advocacy organization Global Citizen, to launch 'One World Together At Home", a global television and streaming special, curated by superstar singer-songwriter Lady Gaga, to celebrate frontline health care workers around the globe in their unrelenting battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

allAfrica  

[The Conversation Africa] In Nigeria, 145 babies are born to every 1,000 girls aged 15-19 annually. Considering the population's age structure, the adolescent fertility rate implies 1.6 million births a year in that age group. Nigeria has over 23 million girls aged 10-19.

allAfrica  

[VOA] Addis Ababa -With the African Union now predicting the continent's economy will contract by 0.8 percent this year, African finance ministers are scheduled to meet via video conference on Thursday to discuss ways countries can mitigate a looming economic disaster.

Africanews  

There are two African countries that have not recorded a case of coronavirus as of April 7. 52 countries have officially recorded cases. The death toll is nearing 500 whiles recoveries are nearing 1000. Cases have also passed the 10,000 mark. The only region with virus-free countries being southern Africa where Comoros and Lesotho have yet to confirm cases. Sao Tome and Principe in Central Africa officially recorded cases on April 6. Becoming the 52nd African country and the final in Central Africa. Most impacted nations per region (as of April 7): The basic records are referenced from the African Union’s Africa Center for Disease Control, Africa CDC and the john Hopkins hospital LIVE portal, we also prioritize tallies from trusted national sources. Southern Africa = South Africa; 1,686 cases, 12 deaths, 95 recoveries East Africa = Mauritius; 244 cases, 7 deaths, 7 recoveries West Africa = Burkina Faso; 364 cases, 18 deaths, 108 recoveries Central Africa = Cameroon; 658 cases, 9 deaths, 17 recoveries North Africa = Algeria; 1,423 cases, 173 deaths, 90 recoveries As of April 2; Algeria toppled Egypt to become the most impacted North African country South Sudan confirmed index case on April 5, becoming 51st country to record an infection_* Sao Tome and Principe confirmed index cases on April 6, becoming 52nd country to record an infection_* The classifications are based on where the countries are located especially in the case of countries that belong to two different blocs. Experts have stressed that it is only a matter of time before these countries likely detect cases even though much of the continent is closing borders to combat spread and improve containment of confirmed cases. The virus-free duo are: 1. Lesotho 2. Comoros

allAfrica  

[VOA] Gaborone -Botswana's president has proposed extending a state of emergency in the southern African country to last six months. President Mokgweetsi Masisi says the measure is needed because people are not complying with restrictions on movement to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Critics worry the plan, if initiated, would put too much power in the hands of the president.

Africanews  

Jailed ex-Chadian leader Hissene Habre has been granted provisional release by prison authorities in Senegal where he is serving jail for atrocities committed during his presidency years back. Local portals including French outlet Dakaractu reported late Monday that after nearly 7 years in prison, Habré obtained the release permit which would last 60 days. His lawyers had requested provisional release, but the prison administration decided to grant him a 60-day release permit. Once that time has passed, Habré will return to prison, the report added. The Special African Court, CAE, a body created by Senegal and the African Union (AU), sentenced Habre in May 2016 to life behind bars, an unprecedented ruling for a former African leader by a neighbouring country. Later in July, the court further ruled that Habre should give up to 30,000 euros ($33,000) to each victim of abuses committed during his 1982-1990 rule, as well as to their relatives. Per computation, approximately 82 billion CFA francs or more than EUR 125 million will be paid to nearly 7,400 victims. He was toppled in a coup in 1990 and subsequently arrested in 2013 while on exile in Senegal and arraigned for crimes during his eight-year stay in power from 1982 to 1990. He was convicted of rape, sexual slavery and ordering killings and torture of thousands of political opponents.

Africanews  

Rwandan ministers and top officials have joined the growing trend of public officials donating their salaries to the fight against COVID-19. Cabinet ministers and others have agreed ti donate their April salaries to aid the countries fight against the pandemic A statement from the prime minister’s office confirmed that other officials who agreed to forgo their salaries are leaders of national institutions and top government officials. As of April 6, the country has 105 confirmed cases with four recoveries. It is East Africa’s third most impacted behind Mauritius and Kenya. A strictly enforced lockdown remains in place having been extended last week by the cabinet. The government has since last week been distributing food to citizens who had been relying on receiving pay every day. The incident where top officials donate their salaries to combat the pandemic is however not new on the continent, Nigerian lawmakers, Kenya’s top government officials and more recently Malawi’s cabinet have done same. Lawmakers in Nigeria weeks back agreed to forgo their salaries as contributions towards the COVID-19 fight. Kenya’s president and top government officials also took salary cuts for the same reason. Over in Malawi, President Peter Mutharika also announced taking a 10% salary cut along with his ministers. “The coronavirus attack has a huge negative impact on the economy and businesses everywhere. “There are many business people and industry players who are uncertain about the situation as it is unfolding. I know that everyone is worried,” he said. “Therefore, government will take measures to protect jobs and incomes, protect businesses and ensure continuity of the supply chain and the survival of the economy.” Amongst other measures, the president directed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to allow banks to offer a three-month moratorium on interest payments on loans to small- and medium-sized businesses. He also ordered the country’s Competition and Fair Trading Commission to put in place strict monitoring of price controls and punish anyone found increasing prices at the expense of Malawians.

Africanews  

The coronavirus pandemic has been confirmed in over 180 countries globally since it was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019. The World Health Organisation, WHO, has since declared it a pandemic due to its spread. All except three African countries have recorded cases as governments roll out measures to combat the spread. In this article, we will share the latest developments as authorities implement measures to contain the spread of the virus, especially on the African continent. Major stats as at April 6: Confirmed cases = 9,701 Number of deaths = 479 Recoveries = 947 Infected countries = 52 Virus-free countries = 2 (Lesotho, Comoros) SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa II Ghana records case spike African cases pass 10,000 mark Sao Tome and Principe records index case South Sudan records index case More Jack Ma donations announced Zimbabwe police reverse beer ban, AU leaders meet DRC locks down expats zone, Malawi index cases SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa I April 7: Ghana case spike, Sao Tome index case, cases pass 10,000 Cases in Ghana reached 287 as at Tuesday April 7, the health surveillance outfit reported in an update posted on its website. “Following measures for enhanced contact tracing and testing, Ghana has detected an increased number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. “As at 6th April 2020, 23:30 hr, a total of 287 cases of COVID-19 with five (5) deaths have been recorded. The regional distribution of the cases are as follows: Greater Accra Region has most cases (258) followed by the Ashanti Region (18), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1),” the update stated. Ghana is West Africa’s third most impacted country by the development. The country is ranked behind Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast with 364 and 323 cases respectively. Meanwhile, the continental tally has passed the 10,000 mark with close to 500 deaths and 1,000 deaths. South Africa is the continent’s most impacted with over 1,600 cases. Only two African countries are without cases – Lesotho and Comoros. Meanwhile Sao Tome on Monday became the 52nd African country to record first cases of COVID-19. The Prime Minister confirmed that four persons had tested positive. April 6: Sao Tome index case, Rwanda cabinet donates salary Sao Tome and Principe became the 52nd African country to record cases of the COVID-19. The island nation confirmed its first four cases on Monday, April 6. Prime Minister Jorge Bom Jesus disclosed that the confirmation came after test results returned from Gabon. The development leaves Lesotho and Comoros as Africa’s virus free countries as of April 6. The continent’s confirmed COVID-19 cases is heading towards 10,000, with over 400 deaths. Another 900+ patients have recovered. READ MORE: Sao Tome becomes 52nd infected African country Rwandan ministers and top officials have joined the growing trend of public officials donating their salaries to the fight against COVID-19. Cabinet ministers and others have agreed ti donate their April salaries to aid the countries fight against the pandemic A statement from the prime minister’s office confirmed that other officials who agreed to forgo their salaries are leaders of national institutions and top government officials. The country has 105 confirmed cases with four recoveries. It is East Africa’s third most impacted behind Mauritius and Kenya. A strictly enforced lockdown remains in place having been extended last week by the cabinet. The government has since last week been distributing food to citizens who had been relying on receiving pay every day. Lawmakers in Nigeria weeks back agreed to forgo their salaries as contributions towards the COVID-19 fight. Kenya’s president and top government officials also took salary cuts for the same reason. Over in Malawi, President Peter Mutharika also announced taking a 10% salary cut along with his ministers. “The coronavirus attack has a huge negative impact on the economy and businesses everywhere. “There are many business people and industry players who are uncertain about the situation as it is unfolding. I know that everyone is worried,” he said. “Therefore, government will take measures to protect jobs and incomes, protect businesses and ensure continuity of the supply chain and the survival of the economy.” Amongst other measures, the president directed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to allow banks to offer a three-month moratorium on interest payments on loans to small- and medium-sized businesses. He also ordered the country’s Competition and Fair Trading Commission to put in place strict monitoring of price controls and punish anyone found increasing prices at the expense of Malawians. April 5: South Sudan index case South Sudan has announced its first case of COVID-19, making it the 51st of Africa’s 54 countries to report the disease. A U.N. worker who arrived in the country from Netherlands on Feb. 28 is ill with the disease, confirmed First Vice President Riek Machar and the U.N. mission in South Sudan. The patient, a 29-year-old woman, first showed signs of the disease on April 2 and is recovering, said officials. South Sudan, with 11 million people, currently has four ventilators and wants to increase that number, said Machar, who emphasized that people should stay three to six feet apart from others. “The only vaccine is social distancing,” said Machar. The patient is under quarantine at U.N. premises and health workers are tracing the people who had been in contact with her, said David Shearer, head of the U.N. operations in South Sudan. He said he hoped the measures would contain the case. To prevent the spread of the virus in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir last week imposed a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for six weeks and closed borders, airports, schools, churches and mosques. AP report Meanwhile, Chinese e-commerce mogul Jack Ma has announced a new round of donation to Africa. Ma and his foundation is partnering with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed on this round too. “Our second donation to 54 countries in Africa is on the way. That includes 500 ventilators, 200K suits & face shields, 2K thermometers, 1M swabs & extraction kits and 500K gloves,” Ma posted on Twitter on Monday. Other partners include include Ethiopian Airlines which has been doing the continent-wide deliveries and the African Union’s Africa Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC) which is also headquartered in Addis Ababa. Our second donation to 54 countries in Africa is on the way. That includes 500 ventilators, 200K suits & face shields, 2K thermometers, 1M swabs & extraction kits and 500K gloves. Thank you AbiyAhmedAli flyethiopian AfricaCDC WFP for your partnership. Stay safe Africa!— Jack Ma (@JackMa) April 6, 2020 Meanwhile as of Monday April 6, Africa’s reported cases was nearing the 10,000 mark according to data from Africa CDC and the John Hopkins University. Major stats as at April 6 Confirmed cases = 9,393 Number of deaths = 445 Recoveries = 906 Infected countries = 51 Virus-free countries = 3 (Sao Tome and Principe, Lesotho, Comoros) READ MORE: Coronavirus statistics in Africa: Cases, deaths, recoveries April 4: Zimbabwe beer ban, AU leaders meet Reports surfaced on Friday that Zimbabwe police had issued a ban on sale of beer under lockdown rules to help contain the coronavirus pandemic. The move attracted lots of social media criticism. But late Fiday, state-run Heral newspaper reported that police had reversed the earlier statement banning alcohol sales saying supermarkets and registered bottle stores can now continue selling beer on condition it is consumed off the premises. In a statement, national police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned drinkers against gathering outside their homes. Cameroon’s tally ‘boomed’ on Friday when Health Minister Manaouda Malachie confirmed that 203 new cases had been recorded taking the national tally to 503 as of March 3. READ MORE: Cameroon records 203 new cases as COVID-19 tally hits 509 Meanwhile, African leaders have been holding virtual meetings to put together a continental response to the pandemic which has seen its statistics – cases, deaths, recoveries – growing in the last two weeks. Rwandan president Paul Kagame called it a “productive conference call chaired by AU Chair President Cyril Ramaphosa,” according to him, the discussions centered on the need to speak with a common voice and seek Africa’s best interest. “We discussed the need for Africa to stand together,speak with one voice and work through our institutions to mobilize resources and harmonize the support from international partners. Thank you to initiatives by African institutions such as African Development Bank and Africa Exim Bank for their support “The meeting stressed the urgency & need to materialize all commitments swiftly and flexibly. Through coordinated action, we can succeed in mitigating the health and economic impact of COVID-19 on our population. “The loss of and damage to life and economy globally and particularly in Africa is colossal….and so must be the amounts of energy and financial package(s) to bring things back to normal and beyond,” Kagame wrote on Twitter. Some African leaders who participated included Senegal’s Macky Sall, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, Mali’s Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, Egypt’s Abdel Fatteh Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat and WHO boss, Tedros Ghebereyesus were also part of the meeting. “We were joined later by President Emmanuel Macron, a good partner for Africa,” Kagame added. The Namibian president on Friday disclosed that he had held talks with his Chinese counterpart as part of efforts to strengthen Africa’s response to COVID-19. “I also expressed gratitude to President XI for China’s support and care of over 500 Namibian students in Wuhan and China during this pandemic,” Hage Geingob added. Meanwhile South Africa’s Health Minister says the country is formally going to seek assistance from Cuba and China on managing the pandemic. Nigeria also confirms that it is awaiting a medical team from China to support its response to the virus.

Africanews  

Chadian President, Idriss Deby Itno joined the country’s soldiers in the frontline of the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the country. Deby appeared in military fatigue last week as he led an operation to decimate the terrorists from Chadian territory. The operation codenamed “Operation Wrath of Bomo,” came after terrorists dealt the heaviest blow to the Chadian military after an assault killed over 90 soldiers. “We launched the “Wrath of Bomo” operation. We must defeat terrorism to allow our people and especially those of Lake Chad to live in peace. This is the whole meaning of the fight that our valiant soldiers are waging against Boko Haram,” Deby said in a tweet two Sundays ago. The offensive according to reports took place at Kelkoua bank and Magumeri where the army destroyed several Boko Haram bunkers, recovered cache of arms and arrested a top Boko Haram commander. It was gathered that the Chadian troops allegedly set free some Nigerian soldiers held captive by terrorists at Magumeri, a local government in the northern Borno State. Five days later, April 4, the president announced that Boko Haram had been completely removed from Chadian territory. “I went down this morning to Kaiga-Kindjinria. No element of Boko haram is present in the islands of Lake Chad. Congratulations to our Defense and Security Forces who have cleaned up the entire island area,” he declared on Twitter. On the same day Deby met with head of the commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force fighting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. Deby said the meeting in Kaiga-Kindjinria, with Nigerian General-Major Ibrahim Manu Yusuf bordered on security deployments on the islands of Lake Chad. Deby was back to the area on Sunday when he visited troops who had been injured during the offensive. He stressed that the soldiers had put their best foot forward for their fatherland. À Baga-Sola, j’ai rendu visite, cet après midi, aux soldats blessés lors des opérations lancées contre les illuminés de Boko Haram. Ils sont fiers d’avoir accompli une mission sacrée au service de leur chère patrie. pic.twitter.com/Ba08pIHSWz— Idriss Deby Itno (@IdrissDebyI) April 5, 2020 A video making the rounds on Twitter captures Deby disclosing that Boko Haram’s factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, had narrowly escaped in the town of Dikoa. He goes on to advise Shekau to surrender or be killed inside his Dikoa hideout. “Abubakar Shekau was lucky, he was at Dikoa during the attack. He fled from Dikoa but we know where he is,” the president stressed during a state broadcast. Though birthed in northern Nigeria’s Borno State, the Boko Haram insurgency has taken a regional dimension with the group launching attacks across the Lake Chad region which borders Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. The group is one of Africa’s deadliest along with Somalia’s Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda in the Sahel region.

Africanews  

There are now more than over 10,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, with a number of African countries imposing a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic. According to the latest data by the John Hopkins University and Africa Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 in Africa, the breakdown remains fluid as countries confirm cases as and when. The whole of Africa has rising cases with only two countries holding out as of April 7. We shall keep updating this list which will be put in sub-continental blocs: East, West, Central, southern and North Africa. All statistics are sourced from Africa CDC updates, from the John Hopkins University and from official government data. The classifications are based on where the countries are located especially in the case of countries that belong to two different blocs, like Tanzania in East Africa, despite belonging to EAC and SADC. SUGGESTED READING: Malawi records three cases of coronavirus Major stats as at April 7 Confirmed cases = 10,068 Number of deaths = 487 Recoveries = 993 Infected countries = 52 Virus-free countries = 2 Countries in alphabetical order Algeria – 1,423 Angola – 16 Benin – 26 Botswana – 6 Burkina Faso – 364 Burundi – 3 Cameroon – 658 Cape Verde – 7 Central African Republic – 8 Chad – 9 Comoros – 0 Congo-Brazzaville – 45 DR Congo – 161 Djibouti – 90 Egypt – 1,322 Equatorial Guinea – 16 Eritrea – 31 Eswatini – 10 Ethiopia – 44 Gabon – 24 (The) Gambia – 4 Ghana – 287 Guinea – 128 Guinea-Bissau – 18 Ivory Coast – 323 Kenya – 158 Liberia – 14 Libya – 19 Madagascar – 82 Malawi – 5 Mali – 47 Mauritania – 6 Mauritius – 244 Morocco – 1,120 Mozambique – 10 Namibia – 16 Niger – 253 Nigeria- 232 Rwanda – 105 Sao Tome and Principe – 0 Senegal – 226 Seychelles – 11 Sierra Leone – 6 Somalia – 7 South Africa – 1,686 South Sudan – 1 Sudan – 12 Tanzania – 24 Togo – 58 Tunisia – 596 Uganda – 52 Zambia – 39 Zimbabwe – 10 Virus-free = Comoros, Lesotho SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa II

BBC News Africa  

Burundi's football federation introduces a series of measures as it tries to finish its league season amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

BBC News Africa  

One of Kenya's most controversial clerics is being buried on Tuesday after he died at the age of 89.

BBC News Africa  

Photojournalist Chrystal Ding documented the treatment of survivors of the genocide in Rwanda.

BBC News Africa  

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame says drones will become important for his nation, but can they really deliver?

OkayAfrica  

​ We speak with the South African artist about his captivating new album, iimini, love cycles, and the unexpected influence of Bon Iver.

BBC News Africa  

Two doctors sparked outrage after suggesting a vaccine for coronavirus could be tested in Africa.

allAfrica  

[UN Women] With 90 countries in lockdown, four billion people are now sheltering at home from the global contagion of COVID-19. It's a protective measure, but it brings another deadly danger. We see a shadow pandemic growing of violence against women.

Africanews  

The World Health Organization boss has described as “racist” and a hangover from the “colonial mentality,” recent comments made by two French scientists suggesting a vaccine for the new coronavirus should first be tested in Africa. In his daily briefing on the pandemic, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that all accepted protocols will be followed in any vaccine administration any where in the world. “Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine.” “Expressing disappointment at the comments, Tedros added “we will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world suing exactly the same rule … whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever.” To be honest I was so appaled and it was a time when I said we needed solidarity. These kind of racist remarks will not help. It goes against the solidarity… The hangover from colonial mentality has to stop. WHO will not allow this to happen. “It was a disgrace actually, appalling to hear during the 21st century from scientists, that kind of remark. We condemn this in the strongest terms possible. “But we assure you that this will not happen in Africa and will not happen elsewhere in any country, proper protocols will be followed and human beings will be treated as human beings because we are all human beings.,” he added. Professors Jean-Paul Mira of Cochin Hospital in Paris and Camille Locht of INSERM (France’s national medical research centre) were debating possible COVID-19 cures on French television channel La Chaine Info last Thursday, and Mira asked: “If I may be provocative, should this study not be done in Africa?” Locht then replied: “You are right. We are currently thinking similarly about a study in Africa regarding the BCG vaccine. There is a proposal that has gone out — or will. We will seriously consider it.” Their comments drew a slew of criticisms on social media. A number of African sportsmen weighed in with that of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o hogging major news headlines.

Africanews  

Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos is at the center of the country’s coronavirus combat. Lagos has the highest number of confirmed cases (as at April 4) and the state government has continued to roll out multiple measures to deal with the disease. Lagos has in the past weeks suspended schools across the state – be they public or private, 70% of state government workers were asked to stay at home last week with the most recent move being a week’s closure of shops and markets. The state, with a population of over 20 million, has also been a major beneficiary of coronavirus intervention funds. Governor BabaJide Sanwo-Olu late last week announced a stimulus package to benefit poor people. Africanews will put a special spotlight on Lagos and major coronavirus developments coming from the state. Our main Nigeria COVID-19 updates page is also available. April 6: Lagos discharges two patients Lagos State, the epicenter of Nigeria’s COVID-19 combat reports the discharge of two patients after successful treatment. State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu posted the news on Twitter. “I have more great news for you from our Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba. Today, two more female patients have recovered fully and have tested negative to #COVID19 twice consecutively. They have been discharged from the facility. “With the newly discharged patients, we now have a total of 31 people that have fully recovered from #COVID19 in Lagos and discharged to join the community. We are full of appreciation to the front line health workers, working hard during this difficult time. “Their successful strides in this war against #COVID19 brings us joy and hope. I therefore enjoin citizens to continue to listen and obey health advisories issued by our health experts as they coordinate resources to beat #COVID19,” he added. As of April 6, Lagos accounted for 120 out of 232 confirmed cases. They also have 31 out of 35 discharged patients. Nigeria has 5 deaths this far. Eight new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria: 5 in Lagos, 2 in the FCT and 1 in Kaduna State As at 09:30 pm 5th April there are 232 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Thirty-three have been discharged with five deaths pic.twitter.com/jnWgSFGTUh— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 5, 2020 April 4: Lagos records first death, to create 1,000 bed spaces Lagos State Commissioner of Health on Saturday disclosed that the first COVID-19 related death had been recorded in state. Akin Abayomi disclosed via Twitter that the deceased was a 55-year-old Nigerian male who lived in Holland but returned to Lagos two weeks ago. “He had a kidney transplant seven years ago and also diabetic,” Abayomi added. “He was on strong immune suppression drugs for the kidney transplant. He was admitted on the night of April 2nd, 2020 on presumption of complications from the kidney transplant. “He did not provide full account of his travel history or medical circumstances to the attending doctors in keeping with global trend and to enable guided treatment for COVID-19 related vulnerability due to severe underlying ill health. He however demonstrated some signs of an upper respiratory chest infection. He later tested positive for COVID-19 but died early hours of April 3rd, 2020 from a cardiac arrest. May his soul rest in peace!” he added. #COVID19Lagos Situation Report I regret to announce the first #COVID19 related death in Lagos state. The deceased was 55 year old Nigerian??; male who lived in Holland but returned to Lagos 2 weeks ago. He had a kidney transplant 7yrs ago and also diabetic.jidesanwooluWHO pic.twitter.com/q2msRdcGlG— Prof. Akin Abayomi (@ProfAkinAbayomi) April 4, 2020 Lagos State Government on Friday disclosed that it will create over 1000 bed spaces in six isolation centres within the next month in preparation for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases. The state’s commissioner for heath, Akin Abayomi, in his daily briefing said all necessary measures were being put in place to handle an exponential increase in the spread of the virus. He further explained that Lagos has adequate stock of personal protection equipment to manage the cases, noting that the Infectious Disease Hospital has 70% of its bed-space available. The State has also commenced training of volunteer healthcare professionals who will be deployed to the newly established isolation centres to complement the efforts of the frontline health workers. Lagos is the epicenter of Nigeria’s coronavirus cases. Of the over 210 cases recorded as of April 4, Lagos accounted for over 100. Twenty new cases reported on April 3 comprised: 11 in Lagos, 3 in the FCT, 3 in Edo, 2 in Osun & 1 in Ondo. April 1: Governor hails Lagosians State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended Lagosians for respecting the federal government imposed lockdown which started on Monday stressing that it was in the best interest of the populace. He also thanked the security forces and the frontline medical staff for their dedication in supporting enforcement. He touched on the emergency food response measures which had been extended to over half-dozen local government areas. “I would like to note the high level of our people’s compliance with this presidential directive. It has shown that we realise the enormity of the challenge that we are facing and the choice that we have made – fighting to stave off a massive attack of COVID-19. “Our medical staff – exceptional men and women all – are doing their all to ensure that the patients do well, regain their health and return home to their families. We will be doing a lot to encourage them and lighten their burden by staying indoors. “Those at the bottom of the economic ladder, the underprivileged and the most vulnerable among us, will not be left to fend for themselves at this difficult time, Our Relief Package, which will reach about 200,000 households in the first instance, has continued… “Parts of the following local governments are being covered: Amuwo Odofin, Epe, Ikeja, Badagry, Ibeju – Lekki, Agege, Oshodi-Isolo, Apapa and Lagos Mainland. Others will soon be reached,” he stressed. Finally, Lagos Island that never sleeps now on lockdown… pic.twitter.com/njHgegPyTT— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) March 31, 2020 March 31: Lagos accounts for 61% of cases Lagos state accounts for 61% of reported coronavirus cases across Africa’s most populous nation as of March 30. Nigeria’s diesease control outfit confirmed the case tally had reached 131. Out of the number, 81 were in Lagos. The federal government on March 29 imposed a lockdown on Lagos and Ogun States as well as the federal capital territory, Abuja. Meanwhile, Lagos continues to receive support from the private sector. The latest being 500 million naira donation by telecom giant Mike Adenuga. Adenuga also donated a billion naira to the federal government’s response. Governance must continue during our #COVID19 required lockdown. The Lagos state executive council has moved to virtual meetings that allow everyone participate at the same time. We are fully committed to leading from the front. Please #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe pic.twitter.com/kK5Ec75Ry6— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) March 31, 2020 March 30: Elumelu’s UBA redeems 1 billion naira donation Pan-African banking entity, the UBA Group, on Monday redeemed a one billion naira donation to the Lagos State government. The amount was part of a $14 million dollar pledge by the bank to Nigeria’s coronavirus combat. TUBA Group’s Managing Director, Kenneth Uzoka handed over the cheque to Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on behalf of the group Chairman Tony Elumelu at the Lagos State government house. An amount of one billion naira is also to be shared among remaining 35 states with 500 million for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Another billion will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for medical centers. An amount of 1.5 billion naira is also reserved for the bank’s overseas operations. N1 billion to Lagos, Nigeria N500 million to Abuja, Nigeria N1 billion to the remaining 35 states in Nigeria N1.5 billion to UBA’s presence countries in Africa N1 billion for Medical Centres with equipment & supplies Free Telemedicine call centre facility— UBA Group (@UBAGroup) March 26, 2020 “This is really an important intervention and it will go a long way to meet our needs now and in the future to ensure that Lagos continues to remain safe for business. “We are indeed happy that the bank decided to make this very bold move to support the healthcare delivery system in Lagos and we sincerely appreciate the timely gesture,” the governor said after the ceremony. Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub has been the epicenter of the country’s coronavirus headache accounting for more than half of the national tally which stood at 111 as at midday of March 30. Lagos, Osun state and Abuja have been put under a 14-day lockdown by federal government starting today. ...to ensure that Lagos continues to remain safe for business. We are indeed happy that the bank decided to make this very bold move to support the healthcare delivery system in Lagos and we sincerely appreciate the timely gesture. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/j965J0d3HV— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) March 30, 2020 Ex-Lagos governor donates to state, NCDC National leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has donated over half a million dollars to the coronavirus combat in the country. Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor on Sunday pledged the sum of 200 million naira (about $522,000). He noted that the amount was to be split between the Lagos state government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). He also outlined economic measures he believed government needed to undertake to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. March 29 is Tinubu’s birthday which has come to be associated with the Bola Tinubu colloquium, an annual event to celebrate the day. The current pandemic meant that it could not hold. “Today, but for COVID-19 we would, as we have done for the last twelve years, have celebrated this day with the Bola Tinubu Colloquium. This year we could not but by God’s grace we will do so again,” he said in a tweet before announcing his pledge.. It has usually been attended by top government officials including the President, vice president, state governors and captains of industry from across the country. 3. That is why I have chosen today to announce that I will be making a donation of N200m to fight this deadly virus. Pursuant to this pledge, N100m will be made available to the government of Lagos State and another N100m to the NCDC to support their efforts in fighting COVID-19.— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) March 29, 2020 Buhari imposes lockdown on Lagos State The Federal Government on Sunday, March 29, imposed a lockdown on Lagos State as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The measure which also affects Ogun state and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was announced by President Buhari in his first nationwide broadcast over the pandemic. “Based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, 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. “The Governors of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Minister of the FCT have been notified. Furthermore, heads of security and intelligence agencies have also been briefed,” the president said in an address that touched on a range of issues around the pandemic. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Lagos State (Case File) As at: March 27, 2020 Total confirmed = 52 Active Cases = 49 Total discharged = 3 Nigeria’s overall tally = 97 Key updates below include: Federal government locks down Lagos, Ogun GT Bank donates 110-bed isolation facility Governor dismisses curfew reports Lagos undertaking mass disinfection Lagos using neighbourhood market schemes 70% of public servants asked to stay at home GT Bank hands over isolation facility to state govt On Saturday Macrh 28, Lagos State Government took delivery of a 110-bed isolation facility on the Lagos Island, where confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the State can be managed and treated. The facility was conceived and built in collaboration with the management of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank). The bank said it was part of its social responsibility in helping combat the pandemic. Governor Sanwo-Olu allayed the fear of the residents over the growing cases of the disease, saying the State was working assiduously to stem the rate of transmission, especially by those who returned from abroad. The Governor hinted that there had been improvement in the recovery of some patients currently isolated at the State’s Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba. He said the State would continue to build capacity to enhance its response strategy and actions towards containing the pandemic. The bank’s CEO Segun Agbaje hailed the State Government for accepting the collaboration offer in building the structure, noting that half of the resources used to build the facility was donated by Africa Finance Corporation. He expressed optimism that the effort would strengthen the capacity of Lagos to stop the spread of the virus. The isolation facility, which sits on an expansive area in the Mobolaji Olufunsho Johnson Stadium in Onikan. It is divided into operational sections, including Intensive Care Unit (ICU), regular-bed wards, pharmacy department, doctors’ quarters and consulting rooms. The facility is also equipped with ventilators for the use of patients that may develop acute respiratory symptoms. Residents of Mokoko in dire situation amid COVID-19 .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

OkayAfrica  

The Ghanaian producer talks to us about his debut EP, Different, the massive success of "Akwaaba," producing for Beyoncé and more.