'Protect yourselves,' FG warns Nigerians as
coronavirus deaths approach 1,000
The Federal Government has warned that the 945
deaths recorded in COVID-19 pandemic cases is a wake up call for citizens to
take appropriate measures to avoid being infected.
The Minister of Health, Dr
Osagie Ehanire, said this on Monday in Abuja at the joint
national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
According to Ehanire, as at August 10, 2020, Nigeria has recorded
46,577 cases from 317,496 samples tested so far, while 33,186 persons have been
treated and discharged.
He said that 945 persons have been lost to the COVID-19 disease,
which had now been identified in 549 of the 774 local government areas.
He said and I quote, "Half of all cases in Nigeria so far are concentrated in 20
Local Government areas, which could offer the attractive option of targeted
attention, to focus on case finding, isolation and treatment.
"The figures show that Nigeria is also sadly approaching the
symbolic 1,000 number of fatalities, a grim reality that should be a wake up
call for us," close quote.
The minister also said that many more Nigerians today personally
knew a person who succumbed to COVID-19, warning that COVID-19 was still around
and would be for a long time.
He, however, said that there must be effort to balance the benefits
of a reactivated economy with the need to keep the citizens safe, with no loss
in gains so far made.
He also said that since Friday, August 7, Nigeria had joined the
rest of the world to commemorate World Mask Week, the aimed of which was to
reinforce the importance of wearing masks to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread
in the absence of a vaccine.
He noted that the government was turning its preferences to gadgets
that provide oxygen, like oxygen generators to be in many facilities, including
General hospitals and larger Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
US warns Nigeria about incoming Al-Qaeda
terrorists
The United States has warned the Nigerian
government about the possible entrance of the Arab jihadist group, Al-Qaeda, in
the northwestern region.
While speaking during a digital press briefing on Tuesday, August 4,
2020, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, Africa, Major General Dagvin Anderson,
warned that the terrorist group is making in-roads into Nigeria and other
African countries.
He said the sharing of intelligence with the Nigerian government has
been vital to providing an understanding on terrorist activities in the
country.
The Nigerian Armed Forces has battled an insurgency from local
Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in the northeast region since 2009. The group further
broke into factions over the years, including one backed by Islamic State known
as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) since 2016.
Anderson also noted that Nigeria will have to take the lead on
defeating the extremist groups within its borders so that international
partners know where to help.
He also warned that governments must realise that defeating
terrorist organisations takes a group effort from the entire international
community, and no one country can do it alone.
He said there must be a deliberate coordinated partnership to
dismantle the terrorist organisations while also examining the social effects,
economic development, health issues that they target.
JAMB shifts 2020
post-UTME screening to Monday, September 7
The Joint Admissions
and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that post-Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) screening for the 2020 admission
processes will begin by Monday, September 7. According to Channels TV,
Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of JAMB made this on Monday, August 10,
a virtual meeting with vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts of tertiary
institutions.
Oloyede explained
that the screening was moved from Friday, August 21, to accommodate candidates
who would be writing West African Senior School Certificate Examination
(WASSCE) this year.
According to JAMB,
there is no particular national minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculations
Examination (UTME) score for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of
education in the country. This was disclosed by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, head of
media and information. He said the UTME mark was not the sole determinant for
the placement of candidates in tertiary institutions.
The exam body made
the disclosure in an announcement by its spokesman, Fabian Benjamin in Abuja,
on Sunday, July 19, that was contained in the guidelines for admission.
According to Dr. Fabian, the deadline for the first and second choice
admissions would be determined by the federal government and communicated at a
later date to heads of tertiary institutions. JAMB's spokesperson issued a
stern warning to schools against duplication of forms. He also added that on no
account should institutions sell or advertise application forms for admission
into some listed programmes.
Falz The Bahd Guy unveils film production
company with 'Therapy' comedy web series
Star singer, Falz The Bahd Guy has added a brand
new feather to his well decorated cap with the unveiling of his film production
company, House21TV.
To kick off operations, Falz took to Instagram to unveil an all new
comedy series, 'Therapy', to air exclusively on YouTube.
Episode
one which premiered August 7, 2020 stars Toke Makinwa, Josh2funny, Bovi and Falz. It follows the story of
a dysfunctional couple who attempt to resolve their marital disputes.
And
on the Foreign scene,
Beirut explosion: Lebanon's government resigns as public anger
mounts
The announcement was made in a national TV address by Prime Minister
Hassan Diab on Monday evening.
Many people have accused the country's leaders of culpability
through their alleged negligence and corruption.
Protesters have taken to the streets and clashed with police for a
third straight day.
The massive blast was caused by the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of
ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port for years.
President Michel Aoun has asked the government to stay on in a
caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.
The Parliament will now have to decide on a new prime minister - a
process involving the same sectarian politics at the root of protesters'
discontent, reports says.
The death toll from
last week's explosion has risen to 220 with 110 people still missing, Beirut
city governor Marwan Abboud was quoted by reporters.
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