Good morning lovely readers and welcome to Politics Nigeria roundup of the top 10 Nigerian newspapers headlines for today Friday, April 3rd, 2020.
1. COVID-19: We’ve Not Received Any Cash Donation – FG
The Federal Government has said it has not received any cash donation to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, made this known a press briefing on Thursday. Mustapha added that there have been efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), corporate bodies and individuals to raise funds but the government has no control over the initiatives.
2. Online Fraud: Atiku Raises Alarm Over Impersonation
Former vice president of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has raised alarm over social media users using his name to commit online fraud. Mr Abubakar in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said he is not connected to the online broadcast circulating around the country.
3. Family Of Abba Kyari Reveals Chief Of Staff’s Health Status
The family of Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, says their son is responding very well to treatment after experiencing mild symptoms of COVID-19. According to a family member, his doctors have asked him to rest more as he recovers from the dreaded disease. Politics Nigeria reports that Kyari tested positive for coronavirus last week after returning from Germany and had gone into self-quarantine.
4. COVID-19: Buhari Directs Finance Minister To Pay Salaries Of Civil Servants Promptly
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to ensure that Nigerian civil servants get their salaries paid promptly. The Nigerian leader issued the directive on Thursday at the presidential villa during a meeting with members of the COVID-19 Impact Assessment Committee to review the effect of the pandemic on the economy. Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Chairman of the Committee and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said the President further directed that measures be put in place to protect the poor during this lockdown.
5. COVID-19 Lockdown: IGP Cautions Officers Against Harassing Citizens
Nigeria’s number one police officer, Mohammed Adamu, has cautioned officers of the Nigeria Police Force against harassing citizens during the enforcement of the coronavirus lockdown. In a statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, the police boss said persons on essential duties are duly exempted from the restriction orders. He added that those dealing in essential services should be accorded due respect and given access to and fro their places of duty.
6. Lagos Govt Announces Sanwo-Olu, Family, Aides’ Coronavirus Test Results
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, his wife, Ibijoke and other family members have tested negative for Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Politics Nigeria understands that the Lagos governor was among the state governors who had a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari in Abuja. In a tweet on his Twitter handle in the early hours of Friday, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Sanwo-Olu, his immediate family members and all his aides have also tested negative for the virus.
7. COVID-19 Lockdown: Police Reveal How Soldier Killed Man In Delta
The Delta State Police Command have said an unknown soldier has killed an unidentified young man in Delta State, South-south Nigeria. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, disclosed this to reporters on Thursday. She said the sad incident happened on Thursday at Ugbuwangue community in Warri South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
8. COVID-19: Aisha Buhari Rejoices As Daughter Returns From Isolation
One of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari has returned from isolation and reunited with her family after returning to the country. Aliyu Abdullahi, the media aide to the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, revealed this in a statement on Thursday night. The statement said the lady, whose name was not disclosed, reunited with her family on Thursday after she went into isolation for 14 days, following her return to the country. He explained that the isolation was done in line with the protocol of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to ascertain the health status of returning travellers on coronavirus (COVID-19).
9. COVID-19 Lockdown: Why Lagos Govt Sealed Off Agege Central Mosque
The Lagos state government has sealed off the Agege Central Mosque after some worshippers attacked members of the taskforce monitoring the compliance with ban on large gatherings. Politics Nigeria reports that the officials were reportedly attacked while trying to ensure compliance with the ban.
10. Atiku’s Son Speaks From Sick Bed, Shares COVID-19 Experience
Mohammed Abubakar, son of former Vice president Atiku Abubakar, has shared his experience while on the sick bed after testing positive for COVID-19. Mr Abubakar, who was the first case recorded in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, tested positive two weeks ago. He was then admitted to the federal hospital in Gwagwalada, FCT. However, as of Thursday evening, Nigeria has recorded 174 cases of the pandemic with 35 from the FCT. In a recorded broadcast from Arise TV, Mr Abubakar addressed Nigerians, sharing his thoughts on fake news.
