Good morning and welcome to Politics Nigeria roundup of the top 10 Nigerian newspapers headlines for Monday, April 27th, 2020.
1. Presidency reveals Buhari may extend Lockdown
A Presidential aide has stated that the government may extend the lockdown in place due to the rising cases of the novel COVID-19 virus. In a tweet on Sunday, Presidential aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie insinuated that the lockdown may be extended if Nigerians refuse to abide by the current stay at home order.
2. Commissioner for Education kidnapped as gunmen kill Councillor in Ekiti
A gang of gunmen have killed a councillor and abducted Folorunsho Olabode, a commissioner for education in Ekiti state. Olabode, the commissioner for agriculture in the state was kidnapped between Isan and Iludun-Ekiti. POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the councillor of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the state, Olatunji Omotosho was shot dead on the spot.
3. House of Representatives to resume Plenary on Tuesday
The Nigerian House of Representatives is set to resume plenary on Tuesday. This was announced by the clerk to the house of representatives, Patrick Giwa. This was shared via the official twitter page of the legislative arm.
4. Coronavirus: “Lockdown Kano state now!” – CUPP warns Buhari, makes 10 Demands
The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to lockdown Kano state immediately after the mysterious death of several people in the state. In a statement on Sunday evening signed by the Spokesperson of the group, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the group raised an alarm that the COVID-19 virus may be responsible for the deaths and it was spreading rapidly.
5. DSS storms residence of Gov. Obaseki’s ex-chief of staff, Taiwo Akerele
Officers of the Department of State Security Services, DSS have reportedly stormed the residence of the former chief of staff to Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki on Sunday. However, the DSS operatives arrived the residence at about 5 PM in a bus and 3 other vehicles. They reportedly arrested an aide to Akerele, Jasper Olowojogba and raided the property located at 1st Ugbor road, Benin city.
6. Kano Deaths: PDP blasts Governor Ganduje for ‘abandoning governance’
Following the mass deaths in Kano state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the situation. Nigeria’s biggest opposition party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to visit the state as a matter of urgency.
7. Kano state government speaks on cause of ‘Mysterious Deaths’
The Kano state government has stated that the recent spate of ‘mysterious’ deaths in the state was not caused by COVID-19 as widely speculated. In a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, Malam Muhammad Garba, state commissioner for information revealed that investigations carried out by the ministry of health indicate that most of the deaths were not COVID-19 related, rather they were caused by complications arising from high blood pressure, meningitis, diabetes and acute malaria.
8. Suspected Ondo COVID-19 patient returns to hospital
Suspected Coronavirus (COVID-19) patient, who ran away from the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, has returned to the hospital. POLITICS NIGERIA understands that the suspected patient had caused panic among residents after leaving the hospital last Saturday. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Oluwole Ige, said the patient showed symptoms of the disease and the result was being expected when he ran away.
9. Osun records death of two Coronavirus patients
The Osun state government has announced its first death of Coronavirus. The governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, confirmed the death of two patients in a press briefing in Government House, Osogbo on Sunday. He said out of the 12 new cases of COVID-19 patients, two have died.
10. “Allow Pastors to pray for COVID-19 patients but….” – Shehu Sani tells FG
Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani has reacted to an appeal made by Apostle Johnson Suleman to the Nigerian government for permission to be given to pastors to visit isolation centres to pray for COVID-19 patients. Suleman made the appeal during a recent sermon saying that cases will drastically reduce once pastors begin prayers on patients. Speaking on Suleman’s appeal, Shehu also called on the government to grant approval to the pastors but must make sure they wear protective gear.
That’s the roundup of the top 10 Nigerian newspapers headlines this morning. More Nigerian newspapers headlines are available on Politics Nigeria website.
