Category: News

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved a further extension of the work-from-home order to all State Public Servants on Grade Levels 14 and below from Monday, 18th January 2021, to Monday, 1st February 2021, to curtail the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement signed by the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, noted that the directive excludes staff on essential duty as well as First Responders, urging all public servants to stay safe and ensure continued observance of all COVID-19 protocols for physical distancing, use of face masks, regular washing of hands with soap and running water as well as the use of hand sanitisers.

Muri-Okunola also stated that the weekly duty rosters should be maintained for effective service delivery by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State Government.

Oduduwa News has just gathered that the Lagos State University College of Medicine has shut down the college following the spread of COVID-19 among the students and officials. Details later.

Owners of private health facilities in Oyo State have been warned against managing COVID-19 cases in their facilities, as this has been linked with the rising cases of the infection in the state.

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the state’s COVID-19 Technical Task Force, on Saturday, gave this warning, noting that there are 30 approved Testing Centres including the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, for the purpose of testing samples.

It added that those suspected to have symptoms of coronavirus infection should be referred to these centres for testing and that testing for symptomatic or suspected cases is free.

A statement by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, indicated that the chairman of the state’s COVID-19 Technical Task Force, Professor Temitope Alonge, gave this warning in a memo addressed to Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers and Managers of private health facilities in the state.

Alonge, the statement noted, appealed to the health workers to comply strictly with the advisory, reiterating that the Oyo State Government could not afford any depletion in the healthcare workforce due to ill health arising from coronavirus infection.

The statement read in part: “The spread of the new wave of the coronavirus infection in Oyo State is increasing and the reports reaching the Emergency Operations Centre and the Technical Task Force is that some of the people infected had been managed for various ailments in some private health facilities.

“In some cases, the private health facilities fail to notify the EOC about suspected cases that would have had their samples taken by the EOC at the invitation of the private health facilities. Sampling of such cases by the EOC has been the established protocol and it is still in place.

“However, repeated breach of this protocol is worrisome and I wish to remind all health care providers that we are not immune to this infection and admitting suspected cases in private health facilities is unacceptable.

“No private health facility in Oyo State has been licensed to manage COVID-19 patients. Strict adherence to the laid down infection prevention and control measures will be enforced by the EOC at any private health facility. I wish to inform you that there are reports of an increase in the number of healthcare workers who have contracted coronavirus infection at various healthcare facilities.”

The Task Force indicated that managements of all public and private health care facilities in the state should be aware that “there are thirty (30) testing centres dotted all over Oyo State, including the UCH, Ibadan, and that patients suspected to have symptoms of coronavirus infection should be referred to these centres for testing.

“Please note that testing for symptomatic or suspected cases is free.

“There are five testing centres in Ibadan, namely; Alakia PHC (Lagelu LGA); Health is Wealth (Ibadan North LGA); General Hospital, Apata (Ibadan South West LGA); Ologuneru PHC (Ido LGA); and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

“I wish to appeal to all for strict compliance with this advisory and to reiterate that the Oyo State Government can not afford any depletion in the healthcare workforce due to ill health arising from coronavirus infection.

“If you see something, say something, and if you know something, please speak up,” the statement concluded.

Sowore, Peter Williams, Sanyaolu Juwon, Emmanuel Bulus and Damilare Adenola arrested on New Year’s eve during a procession organised have just been granted N20m bail. Details later.

The leadership of the Osun Chapter of Nigerian Legion on Wednesday lauded the Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for creating an enabling environment for the members of the Legion to thrive.

They also commended the tremendous achievements recorded by the Administration in the last two years.

This is just as Governor Adegboyega Oyetola extolled the onerous roles and supreme sacrifice of the security agents to continually ensure peaceful coexistence, unity and togetherness in the country.

The Nigerian Legion spoke through its State Chairman, Comrade Oladimeji Olalere, at the launch of 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem held at the Government House, Osogbo.

Comrade Olalere said the Administration had done excellently well in all the sectors of the economy as manifested in the myriad infrastructure development springing up across the nooks and crannies of the state.

He described the two years of the Administration as most impactful not only to the members of the Legion but also to the generality of the citizens of the State.

“I will not hesitate to express our profound gratitude to the Government of Osun and other donors for sponsoring this event every year since the assumption of Governor Adegboye Oyetola as the governor of our dear State.

“This period of two years has brought about laudable development to the Nigerian Legion in particular and the citizens as a whole. We appreciate and congratulate the efforts of outstanding performance recorded only two years of governance which had brought positive changes in the Nigerian Legion in particular and the state at large.

“We congratulate the Governor for the numerous achievements recorded as this had lifted our State high among her equals in the country,” he added.

In his remarks, the Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboye Oyetola applauded the nation’s security operatives in the country for standing firm to ensure adequate protection of the nation’s territorial integrity and collective security and safety of the citizenry.

He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the Nigerian Armed Forces to nation building, particularly the avowed commitment to containing the activities of terrorists and bandits across the nation.

Oyetola, represented by his Deputy, Benedict Alabi, described Armed Forces Remembrance Day as a day that affords a unique opportunity to publicly salute the courage and extol the onerous roles of the outstanding patriots whose preoccupation is the protection of the territorial integrity of the nation; and the collective security and safety of the citizens

He added: “We say thank you for your role in containing the activities of terrorists and bandits in our nation, especially the North Eastern part of the country. We thank you for giving up your own comfort so that we all can sleep with our eyes closed.

“We thank you for fighting to safeguard our unity as a sovereign nation. We thank you for serving humanity with the outstanding roles you constantly play in global peacekeeping operations.

“We thank you for your unparalleled patriotism, which continues to set the pace for us to give our best in the service of our beloved nation. We will never forget.

“As an administration, we are grateful for your sustained commitment and support. We pledge to continually do all within our abilities to support causes as this and to work with you in our collective quest for the protection of lives and property.”

Oduduwa News has just gathered that some residents in Lagos had discovered kidnappers’ tunnel and beat one suspect to death.

It was reported that they found some people in the tunnel including school uniforms, generator, and even an AC (air conditioner).

An eyewitness who spoke to Oduduwa News today under the condition of annonymity said, “I was there yesterday. It happened at Alafia Bus-stop before Orile. The man had been acting like a mad person for several days before people caught him yesterday while he was secretly making calls.

“The tunnel was so deep that they had to burn it one time. There’s one always sleeping under one truck in front of our compound. The guy used to shave his hairs, he has mirror and he called himself mad man. This morning, women in our compound had to chase him away because we were suspicious of his behaviour as well”.

It was learnt that the tunnel has been in existence for years without people knowing that it was meant for carrying out such barbaric action.

A tanker fully loaded with Premium Motor Spirit exploded on Thursday, at Toyota Bus stop, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos.

Firefighters have since arrived at the scene of the incident and are battling the fire as of the time of filing this report. Details later.

Oduduwa News has gathered that the Lagos state deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has lost his 37-year-old brother, Dr. Haroun Hamzat, to COVID-19 complications.

According to the report, Haroun was a medical officer at one of the Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) under Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) before his death. These are not the best of times for Dr Hamzat as he has lost his younger brother, Haroun due to COVID-19 complications

@drobafemihamzat Source: Twitter The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) also confirmed the passing of the medical expert, in a terse statement sent to journalists.

Oduduwa News has just gathered that one person has been reportedly dead as over 55 years old elevator of Cocoa House building crashed in Ibadan this afternoon.

It was also reported that three persons sustained various degree of injuries. Details later.