29/08/20

[post-marguee]

DANIELS G. O

THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU HAS DIRECTED SCHOOL RESUME AS LAGOS RECORDS DECLINE IN POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES.

SEE FULL TEXT BELOW

•Tertiary Institutions Resume Sept. 14; Basic Schools, Sept. 21

•Governor Launches COVID-19 Care Pack For Home Treatment

All tertiary institutions in Lagos State are to re-open for academic activities from September 14, 2020. This was the directive by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the 18th state-wide briefing held at the State House in Marina on Saturday.

The Governor also directed the primary and secondary schools across the State to resume on September 21, 2020, but said this date could be subjected to further review in the ongoing modelling of the State’s response to the pandemic.

The re-opening order came six months after all tertiary institutions and basic schools were shut on the order of the Government, following the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Sanwo-Olu said the decision to re-open the schools was carefully thought through, given the decline in the number of positive cases and the progress recorded in the State’s response. He asked the management of the schools to ensure adherence to the safety guidelines as they re-open their campuses for activities.

Besides, the Governor also permitted the re-opening of recreational centres and social clubs that have registered trustees, but on the condition that they obtain a provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC).

He said: “I am pleased to announce that tertiary institutions in Lagos State will re-open from September 14, 2020. We are also working towards the reopening of Primary and Secondary Schools anytime from September 21, 2020. However, the decision to re-open the basic and secondary schools is not cast in stone and is subject to a review of our ongoing modelling of the State’s response to the pandemic.

“Also, social clubs and recreational centers that have registered trustees have also been permitted to open, on the condition that they have applied for and obtained a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety Commission. Restaurants are now permitted to open for in-dining services, but they must ensure the maintenance of a 50 per cent maximum occupancy at any point in time. They must also have obtained a provisional Safety Compliance Certificate.”

Sanwo-Olu said his Government remained sympathetic to the plight of business owners, especially those operating in hospitality and tourism sectors. He said the State Government was still reviewing the permissible opening dates for businesses tourism and hospitality industry, pointing out that there would be concrete decisions on easing the lockdown on tourism businesses before the end of September.

The Governor directed that all event centers, bars, lounges, night clubs, spas, beaches, cinemas, gyms and game arcades to remain shut till further notice.

As Federal Government prepares to re-open international airspace for traffic on September 5, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government had started to work with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to put adequate measures in place in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of Lagos residents in the light of resumption of international air-travel.

The Governor also ordered civil servants in the State’s unified public service to comply with existing guidelines and roster schedules issued by the Head of Service and the heads of MDAs.

He said: “As a Government, we will continue to keep our citizens informed and updated on the decisions that we are taking in response to the pandemic. We will also continue to ask for your understanding and cooperation. These are challenging times for all of us, and it requires extra levels of patience, sacrifice and understanding.”

Sanwo-Olu said the observed decline in the number of positive cases did not mean the pandemic was over. He urged residents to continue to adhere to the safety guidelines outlined by the health authorities.

“The fact that we have been seeing a gradual easing of the lockdown does not mean that we are now returning to our old way of doing things. The easing you are seeing is the outcome of a careful and deliberate attempt to ensure that livelihoods are not crippled by the overwhelmingly disruptive impact of the virus. It is certainly not an invitation to carelessness or nonchalance,” the Governor said.

The Governor disclosed that the State’s Deputy Incident Commander and Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had been discharging his duty and responding to treatment, adding that Commissioner remained asymptomatic.

Sanwo-Olu, at the briefing, launched a COVID-19 Care Pack, which contains medications, hand sanitizer, face masks and handy medical equipment that could be used to check temperature.

The Care Pack is to be given to those who have been confirmed positive of the COVID-19 free of charge and who prefer home-based care.

#ForAGreaterLagos

29/08/20

[post-marguee]

DANIELS G. O

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode has described his visits across the country as a fact finding assessment meant to evolve strategies that could help solve the country’s challenges.

He has again apologized over the media outburst in Calabar, Cross River State, saying it is an action he regrets.

Speaking at a media chat to mark the end of his visit to Akwa Ibom State, Kayode said he was very impressed with the strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom State.

Kayode who was emphatic on his source of funding for the tour said, “I am not being bankrolled by anyone. If I am being funded for this fact finding mission, I won’t be able to have a mind of my own.”

The former presidential spokesperson said the visit is a personal sacrifice which he has no regret undertaking.

“Akwa Ibom has really impressed me. I want to say this, you are blessed to have a Governor in mould of Mr Udom Emmanuel.”

“Governor Udom Emmanuel has attracted massive investments into Akwa Ibom State, you can only achieve that if you have an enabling environment. Gov Emmanuel is a focused and very disciplined professional.

Stressing that the visit was his first ever, he maintained that, “I have never been to Akwa Ibom before but what I have witnessed since I came in has been mindblowing. The state is not only very beautiful but truly blessed.”

The PDP chieftain whose recent outburst against a journalist in Cross River State sparked uproar in the media circle expressed regrets for the action, saying it was not worthy coming from a leader.

“I very much regret the Cross-River State incident, I let my anger becloud my better judgement. I deeply regret my actions on that day. My response was disproportionate and unacceptable, that is why I had to apologize to my family, friends and the Media world.

“No leader should ever be found wanting on such. I have reached out to the person in question and I am still reaching out to him again in love personally to say I deeply regret my actions towards him on that very day.

Kayode had taken a tour of projects located in Akwa Ibom for two days and holds an impression that, “Governor Udom Emmanuel has done exceedingly well.”
He told journalists that, “the projects I have seen on ground are all world class and very modern.

“I’ve been to various parts of Akwa-Ibom state and I’m amazed by what I’ve seen in this state.

This is not a question of propaganda it’s a question of infrastructural development and I must say that Akwa-Ibom state is blessed to have a Governor like Gov. Udom Emmanuel.”
He also lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for the fight to stop cultism in Akwa Ibom and the general peace enjoyed within the state.

“I also must state emphatically that the security situation of this state is top notch, let me openly say that the Governor of Akwa-Ibom state has fought cultism in this state and this had contributed majorly to the peace in this state. It is not the case with many states I’ve been to, I must commend Gov. Udom Emmanuel on this”

He listed the projects he visited to include the King’s Flour Mill which produces 500 Tons of Flour, Jubilee Syringe which produces 400m syringes a year, a coconut oil factory that Process 300,000 coconuts a day and the Lions Plywood/Timber Factory.

While lauding other projects like the Ibom Air which currently has 5 aircrafts in its fleet, the new International Terminal Building being executed by the Government and the 21 Storey Tower built by the government for multinational companies, Chief Fani Kayode explained that the Innovations in the health care sector which have led to remodeling and reequipping of over 7 new General hospitals to world class standards.

“These hospitals were furnished with modern equipment from the best producers worlwide. With the containers of the equipment safely in the state, it was possible for the Governor, during the COVID 19 lockdown period, to establish a new PSR laboratory and Isolation Center which have all contributed to making the state less negatively affected by the pandemic.

“The network of roads to open up the state for investments. I am told that across the entire 31 LGAs, no local government is left untouched by at least one major expressway by this administration.

“The new 18,000 capacity Stadium in Eket from where I was able to also spot the towering ultramodern market,” he added.

29/08/20

[post-marguee]

DANIELS G. O

Director General of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu,has confirmed the death of the third victim, the only survivor of the Opebi helicopter crash.

According to him, the victim died at the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja at 9.30 on Friday evening.

The pilot of the ill-fated helicopter and a passenger were earlier recovered dead.

Meanwhile,the Accident Investigation Bureau has commenced investigation into the accident involving a Helicopter Bell 206B3 with the Nationality registration Marks 5N-BQW operated by Quorum Aviation coming from Port Harcourt to Lagos, which occurred on the 28 August, 2020 at the Opebi Area of Ikeja Lagos.

“As the investigating agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation.

Kindly contact us on our official communication channels:Mobile App: AIB-NWebsite: http://www.aib.gov.ngTwitter: @aibnigeriaInstagram: @AIB_NigeriaFacebook: AIB NigeriaEmail: Commissioner@aib.gov.ngSMS/WhatsApp: +234807 709 0900, 0807 709 0928

The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT assume the cause of the accident until formal report is released”.

28/08/20

[post-marguee]

DANIELS G. O

Two persons have been Confirmed Dead and one rescued in An Helicopter Has Reportedly crashed into a building around Salvation Road in Opebi Allen Lagos.

It is not however clear the number of persons on Board.

The Accident And Investigation Bureau has also confirmed the incident.

More Details later