PDP GOVERNORS' FORUM

The PDP Governors’ Forum expresses its condolences to the Governor, Government and people of Adamawa State on the sad news of the passage of Hajiya Fatimah Umar Badami, Mother of His Excellency, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State. A press statement dated 29th April, 2020 and signed by  Hon. C.I.D Maduabum, LL.M, the Director-General of the forum, in part reads: "We pray God to give his Excellency and his family, the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. "The Chairman, Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR and your colleagues in the Forum are particularly saddened by the loss of such a young woman who has been a pillar of strength to His Excellency, her family, Adamawa State and the nation at large. "May her soul rest in peace and may Allah grant her Al Jannah firdaus.

The Rivers State Police Command has withdrawn all its personnel attached to the State Taskforce on Road Decongestion, Illegal Street Trading and Motor Parks set up by Governor Nyesom Wike. The officers were withdrawn after the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, led other senior officers and men to visit the family of the late female Police Sergeant, Lovender Elekwachi, who was shot dead on duty at Eneka in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state. Spokesman of the Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the development in an interview with newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. Omoni said that the withdrawal will enable the Commissioner of Police to adequately review the deployment before deploying any officer to such operation to avoid a repeat of what led to the untimely killing of the female police sergeant. All personnel who were initially deployed to enforce the congestion of road, illegal street trading and motor park...

Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has granted pardon to 32 inmates of the Correctional Center in Gusau this morning. This is in addition to the earlier 22 he granted similar gesture on behalf of the Federal Government last week. Governor Matawalle granted the pardon in line with the international calls to decongest prisons and maintain social distancing at all times due to the ravaging spread of COVIDI-19. The Governor adopted his earlier criteria of releasing inmates which include the demonstration and exhibition of changed behaviour on the part of the inmates and those whose terms have almost come to an end. Another criteria followed in determining the beneficiaries of the gesture include those who have fully memorised the Holy Quran while in prison. Governor Matawalle, who was represented by his Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Nura Mohammed Zarumi, called on those released to fully imbibe acceptable life styles and shun their old ways of life. Governor M...

Governor Bala A. Mohammed of Bauchi State today, Tuesday, signed an Executive Order 001 on COVID-19 virus tagged: "Bauchi State Infectious Disease Prevention Regulations". Speaking shortly after signing the order, Governor Bala Mohammed explained that the order covers the COVID-19 partial lockdown and the State Infectious Disease Prevention Regulations The Governor, after mentioning the penalties for the offenders of the order, directed the Chief Judge to with immediate effect, commence the enforcement of the order. "This day is very auspicious in my tenure as the governor that we are singing an Executive Order in line with the directive we have given, which is to stop the spread of Coronovirus." "We are coming with this order because we are always governed by the rule of law, we must clearly set out what we want to achieve, we have done the partial lockdown, we have closed markets partially, we have banned the operations of Achaba, we have restric...

…to cover 70 roads across all zones—Oyo Govt …also to launch operation zero potholes …two dumpsites set for rehabilitation Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, approved the commencement of the Light-Up Oyo State project, which is to cover 70 roads and 223.42 kilometres across the five geopolitical zones of the state. The State’s Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Rapheal Afonja, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen at the end of the State’s Executive Council meeting, said that 70 roads across the five zones of the state will be captured in the second phase of the Light-Up Oyo Project. He also added that the State’s Executive Council has approved the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of two dumpsites in Ibadan as part of the new Solid Waste Management Architecture launched by Governor Seyi Makinde recently. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also quoted the State’s Commissioner...

By Admin Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State said his government has so far spent about One Billion Naira to tackle coronavirus pandemic in the State. He added that the Restriction of Movement order in the State will be relaxed when the situation improves, adding that a gradual reopening of the system on order of economic importance of sectors would be considered. The Governor, who stated this Monday evening during a media chat held at the Government House, Uyo, said that COVID-19 has enabled the State Government to continually equip hospitals, noting that the 300-bed isolation centre at Ituk Mbang was near completion. He said that COVID-19 never met Akwa Ibom State unprepared as it already had an isolation centre with 25 bed/modern facilities, 13 ventilators, functional intensive care unit and digitised/functional situation room and call center manned by 50 medical experts. On the proposed random testing for COVID-19 in the State, Gov. Emmanuel said that it was a wa...

By Admin As various states in Nigeria battle to contain the ravaging global pandemic, COVID-19, Lagos State government, Benue State and a Kano Business mogul, Alhaji Isiaku Rabiu, have separately placed orders for nose masks from the Cross River State Garment Factory. While Lagos State placed order for one million nose masks, Rabiu ordered for 100,000 pieces of the masks to assist the Kano State government contain the pandemic. Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade, who made the disclosure Monday at the Garment factory, Calabar stated that  production of masks has been ramped up  at the factory following the  orders. Apart from states, other organizations that have made orders for masks from the factory include construction giants, Julius Berger and DHL. “We have Julius Berge, a construction company that has made a massive order. Shoprite also has made a massive order. We have also received an order of one million masks from Lagos State government." “Al...

By Admin In more measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate deportation of almajiris and other street beggars from the state with immediate effect. Governor Wike gave the order on Monday in a statewide broadcast on COVID-19. He said that it became necessary to deport the almajiris because of the dimension COVID-19 is beginning to take in the country. The Governor also announced a 24-hour total lockdown in parts of Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas including; Elakahia, Stadium Road, Rumuomasi and Rumuobiakani, just as he warned residents of Oyigbo, Rumukwurusi and Rumuokoro to stay indoors. Governor Wike, therefore, said that the Rivers State Taskforce will be inaugurated on Tuesday since the Police and other security agencies have failed to protect the borders. He said: “In view of the non or passive compliance with these measures, it has become compelling to also place the followin...

By Admin The Bayelsa State Government has given clarification about those exempted from the stay-at-home directive of the Governor, Senator Douye Diri. Governor Diri in a state broadcast on Monday directed residents to stay at home for one-week except those rendering essential services and duties. This followed a reported case by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of a 49-year-old female that tested positive for the COVID-19 in the state. The index case is on admission at the isolation centre of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Okolobiri. The Governor's acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement on Monday night, however, explained that banks, foodstuff sellers in markets and vehicles conveying foodstuff, supermarkets as well as petrol and gas stations were exempted from the stay-at-home directive. Others are pharmaceuticals outlets, telecoms services operators, oil and gas services firms, medical and health personn...

By Admin Government Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has suspected that the 1,800 bags of custom bonded warehouse rice sent to the State as Federal Government palliative for COVID-19 may not be suitable for consumption. Governor Emmanuel has therefore announced a decision to subject the rice to scientific test to ascertain whether such should be distributed to the people of the state.. The Governor who made this public during a press conference in Uyo on Monday said that he has strong reservations against distributing a food item that has shown serious signs of decay to the people of the state. “For the Relief materials from Federal Government, we got 1,800 bags of custom bonded warehouse rice. That gift is not good for me to distribute to my citizens. We have sent it for test, but it doesn’t look good enough for consumption,” he said. Presenting an overview of efforts so far made by the State Government in the fight against the spread of Covid-19, Governor Emmanuel said t...

• To inaugurate Task Force on Border Closure Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has announced a lockdown of parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas in view of the failure of residents of the affected areas to comply with the regulations of the State Government to check the spread of Coronavirus. In a state-wide broadcast on Monday,  Governor Wike stated that the complete lockdown starts from Tuesday, 28 April, 2020, till further notice. He said: "In view of the non or passive compliance with these measures, it has become compelling to also place the following parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/AkporLocal Government Areas on 24 hours complete lockdown, beginning from Tuesday, 28 April, 2020, till further notice: "(i) Elekahia, including the entire stretch of Rumukalagbor-Elekahia link road; (ii) Rumuomasi, including Stadium road; and (iii) Rumuobiokani. (iv) All residents in these areas must stay at home. All shops, mini-markets, of...

By Admin Despite the rising number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has maintained that there will be no lockdown in the state. Mr. Makinde restated this position while speaking in an interview with Fresh FM on Monday morning. He also said that Oyo State will begin the distribution of aid this week while civil servants from level 13 had been directed to resume this Monday. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Oyo State has 21 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, out of the 1,273 cases in Nigeria as of Sunday night. “The economic health of the state is as important as the public health,” Mr. Makinde said. “As I have often said, we have to find a local solution. We can’t keep making reference to United States of America, how about other parts of the world? You have to compare what people have done right." “America should not always be the point of reference, there are other places in the world doing far better tha...

....seeks partnership with private sector to expand Oyo economy Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Monday, declared the readiness of his administration to upgrade the popular Akufo Farm Settlement to an agricultural estate. The Governor stated this during an on-the-spot inspection tour of the farm settlement as well as the inspection of Kartlos Farms Limited, located inside the Akufo Farm settlement. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Governor Makinde as stating that his administration is working round the clock to make commercial agriculture the backbone of the State’s economy by upgrading some farm settlements in the State to agricultural estates. The Governor said: "Agriculture is where we think we have comparative advantage and we are looking at agro-processing to expand our economy. This place used to be a farm settlement but we are upgrading it to a farm estate." "People are already ...

- Patient Stable, Disputes NCDC Result Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has announced a one-week stay-at-home for residents of the state following the index COVID-19 case reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Sunday night. Senator Diri, who gave the directive in a state broadcast on Monday, said everyone except those on essential duties should remain at home with effect from the night of April 27 in order to effectively contain the spread of the virus in the state. In a press release by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor said one of the five test results received for the state was positive for COVID-19, saying it was the first confirmed case in Bayelsa. Senator Diri described the patient as a 49-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes, who presented with non-productive cough, headache, fever and chest pain within a week duration. The governor noted that the patient, who is now clinically ...

......for sending samples to NCDC The politics played by the Akwa Ibom State Government on the fight against COVID 19 has resurfaced with the State Commissioner for Health Dr. Dominic Ukpong sacking the State Epidemiologist Dr. Aniekeme Uwah for sending samples of suspected patients to NCDC. THE INK can report on grounds of authority that the action of the State Government has really exposed the administrative rascality and and dishonesty in the fight against the dreaded pandemic in the State. Professional Health Workers told THE INK reporter that the action of the Government is exposing Citizens of the State to a Challenge that will do the State more harm than good. THE INK understands that Akwa Ibom State Epidemiologist, Dr Aniekeme Uwah was removed from office for taking samples of COVID - 19 suspected cases against the wishes of the Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Inyang Ukpong. Ukpong, it was learnt had removed Uwah from office claiming the Uyo born Medical Doctor...

By Admin The Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, asked Civil servants from level 13 and above to resume to work on Monday 27th of April, 2020. The governor gave the standing order during a press briefing at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan. He maintained that only officials with separate offices will resume duty, adding that only one gate will be used as entrance and exit point at the state secretariat. The governor also placed a ban on all canteen in the secretariat and proscribed visitors into the secretariat premises. In a similar vein, governor Makinde also relaxed the Dusk to Dawn curfew in the state from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM with the claim that farmers will use the opportunity to plant as the raining season begins. READ  Oyo records two new cases of coronavirus He revealed that COVID-19 compliance guidelines will be provided for the markets in the state and only markets that meet up with the guidelines will be allowed to reopen. The gov...

*Gives Swali Traders Two-Month Grace Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has given traders in Swali, the largest market within the Yenagoa metropolis, a two-month grace to demolish illegal structures in compliance with the state government's directive to restore sanity and public health in all markets.  Governor Diri stated this on Saturday shortly after an unscheduled inspection of the market accompanied by top government officials, members of the COVID-19 Taskforce in the state and the market leaders. In a press release by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor said at the expiration of the period, all illegal structures yet to be demolished by the government would give way.  He described as unacceptable the manner illegal structures had been erected and taken over the roads into the market despite the fact that there were over 600 unoccupied stalls built by the government. His words: "As a result of the ravaging COVID-19 pand...

By Admin Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) regrettably announced the confirmation of two COVID-19 infected persons in the State. In a late night announcement via a short video clip, Governor Bello Mohammed announced the results of two persons found to be positive from a test conducted by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) which was made available to him late night on Friday, 24/4/2020. Governor Matawalle said that the result justifies the measures taken by his administration to protect the citizens from the spread of the disease despite the fact that at that time, no index was recorded in the state. "Hence, later in the day, I will anoounce additional measures to be taken in order to further protect our citizens from the spread of this deadly virus in our dear State", Matawalle announced. He urged the citizens in the State to be more responsive to all the international good practices of observing social distancing, use of face masks, hand s...

By Admin Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has warned that any further extension of lockdown in the country in response to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic will spell doom for the nation. Ayade stated this in Calabar, the Cross River State capital that further extension of the lockdown will give rise to uncontrollable youth restiveness, adding that it was better to lockout than lockdown. Professor Ayade said that the recruitment of 8,000 youths was targeted at avoiding social tension in view of the harsh economic impact created by COVID 19. “With prices of oil falling, locking out is far better than locking down because another two weeks of lockdown will find this country under siege by young people. There is no way you can hold down these young energies for too long." “It is demographic, it is statistics. Sixty-five per cent of the population is below the age of 35 and the virus itself does not have penetrative force in such demography and that is what w...

By Admin In his avowed resolve to alleviate the pains and sufferings experienced by the less privileged and vulnerable in the hinterland, Governor Udom Emmanuel has reached out to the less privileged in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area with edible food items such as rice, garri, noodles and beverages. Using the Divine Mandate Community Service, the State Chief Executive urged the people of Eastern Obolo to help him fight against Coronavirus by adhering to the safety measures. The community service is strategically designed to embark on a door to door gifting of food packages and other life-saving items to the less privileged residents of rural communities to ameliorate their difficulties. The Governor’s Divine Mandate community service team was led by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Research & Documentation, Mr. Essien Ndueso, and his counterpart on Media, Rev. Richard Peters, as well as a youth leader and former Special Assistant to the Governor on Petroleum ...

By Admin The Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to scale down the total lockdown imposed in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja. This was contained in a letter dated April 24, 2020 and signed by NGF chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. The letter was addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha. The Governors have asked Buhari to allow free movement in all the states, but with restrictions on large gatherings. The other things the governors want incorporated into President Buhari’s impending pronouncement on the lockdown are: “Inter-state lockdown, excluding movement of essential supplies- food, beverages, medical and pharmaceutical, petroleum supplies and agricultural products; internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies; overnight curfews; lockdown of flights; and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public.” Fa...

By Admin Akwa Ibom State Government may have become the first state in Nigeria to pay the April salary of all its workers despite the global economic and health crisis. The payment of salaries before the 24th day of the month, accordingly affirms the Governor’s vow to always make the welfare of workers his top priority, even in challenging economic circumstances. The state, will be recalled, was among the first to pay its workers the new minimum wage salary with effect from December 2019. A Grade Level 9 worker in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Arit Akpan, told reporters she was pleasantly surprised to see the salary alert. “With the economy of the country nearly brought to a standstill and a deliberate lockdown policy to control the spread of the Coronavirus disease, it had been feared that payment of workers salaries would be delayed especially since we had done virtually nothing than stay at home with our families for most of ...

The Oyo State Government on Friday indicated that it might return the 1,800 bags of rice donated to the State by the Federal Government as COVID-19 palliative on the grounds that the rice had been infested with weevils. The State Government took delivery of the three trailer loads of rice through the Nigeria Customs Service on Monday. The Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande, explained that the 1,800 bags of rice from the Federal Government had spoilt. Akande said, “We received these items from the Federal Government via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and we brought them to the warehouse. It was in the process of further inspection that we discovered that the rice had been infested with weevils." “On that basis, we formed a committee to re-inspect it so we can be sure of what we have received." “We don’t want to create another problem while providing solution to another o...

By Admin Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, made a surprise visit to entry point into the State to enforce the lockdown directive. He was at the Adagbabiri boundary with Delta State and vehicles without the appropriate permit to be on the road were being stopped from entering Bayelsa. The Governor, who drove in an unmarked Hilux vehicle and without siren blaring, took the security personnel at the border point by surprise. They were caught off guard as they could not explain when asked why vehicles were being allowed into the State without the necessary checks and screening. He then took over the checking of permits by drivers and anyone with the wrong document was asked to reverse and prevented from entering the state. Gov. Diri promised to conduct such unscheduled visits to border points as a practical demonstration of his resolve to prevent the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 into the state. "We cannot sleep or rest while we have an enemy we cannot see. C...

By Admin In strict adherence to directives of the Enugu State Government closing all land boundaries and inter-state transportation, among other precautionary measures, to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the state, the Nigeria Army, at its checkpoint in Nsukka, intercepted over 30 vehicles loaded with passengers who were passing through the state.  The intercepted passengers were consequently escorted out of the state by the military with the assistance of the police.  Some of the passengers who were mostly from Northern parts of the country, according to the security officials on duty, disguised and covered themselves with bags of food items, which are allowed into the state as essential commodities.  One of the intercepted passengers, Peter who was coming into the state from Benue State revealed to newsmen that they trekked from the state land boundary from Amalla to Obollo Afor in Udenu Local Government Area, where they boarded bus t...

By Admin In line with this week's agreement by the Northern Governors' Forum to repatriate all Almajirs in their respective States to their States of origin, Governor Bello Mohammed has made adequate arrangement to absorb Zamfara returnees this fasting period. Governor Matawalle said in a state-wide broadcast that his administration is ready to receive all the Almajiris from other States who are indigenes of Zamfara State. "However, we have made arrangement at our borders to ensure that all returnees are oprperly checked to ensure that they are free from COVID-19 infections", Governor Matawalle added. He said that it was worrisome that the Northern States are still bedevilled with the menace of growing number of Almajirs which is constituting a social problem for the region. Similarly, all traders who left for Kano to purchase essential commodities on the eve of the fasting period are now being properly checked to ensure their health status concerning ...

…as Makinde’s mum, P&G, Interswitch, others also support State By Admin Donations into the Oyo State COVID-19 Endowment Fund continued to grow as renowned industrialist, Chief Bode Amoo, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Heritage Bank, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George and the mother of Governor Seyi Makinde, Chief (Mrs.) Abigail Makinde, have joined the list of donors to the State. The Fund, which now stands at about N290 million, was set up by the State Government with a view to serving as an endowment fund for relief activities and other measures towards combating the novel Corona virus in the state. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Chief Amoo, who donated N25 million to the state, tops the latest round of donors, while the CCECC followed with N10 million. Also, the octogenarian mother of the governor, Mrs. Makinde, has a...

 ... urges them to pray for Allah's mercy, end to Covid-19 pandemic By Admin Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has felicitated with  Muslims in the State for witnessing  the commencement of yet another Ramadan fasting. The Governor, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, urged  Islamic faithfuls to pray relentlessly during the fasting period and specifically ask  the Almighty Allah to show mercy on the people. He said that Muslims must embrace the piety demanded of them during the Ramadan and ask Allah to put an end to novel Covid-19 which is ravaging the whole world. He also enjoined Muslims in the state to use the month-long fasting period to pray for peace of the state  and the country at large. According to him, sacrifice and increased prayers are important and critical at this time, when the world is fighting a vicious Corona virus pandemic. According to him: "It was regreta...

By Admin Bauchi State Government has carried out fumigation of Yankari Game Reserve to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus The Acting General Manager, Mr. Mohammed Ladan, who supervised the fumigation exercise, on Thursday, thanked Governor Mohammed for taking proactive steps towards curtailing the spread of COVID19 in the state. Ladan, said the fumigation which was carried out by the State Environment Protection Agency (BASEPA), started from the main gate at Mainamajji to the second gate and right inside the Wikki base camp. “The excercise is to disinfect the entire environment to one square kilometre because we all know the havoc that COVID-19 is wrecking across the world. Places fumigated in the reserve include the administration block, the Central Mosque, Chapel, Amenity centre, Corporate Villa A and B, Guest Accommodation, Government Lodge, Bamako Activity Centre Restaurant, Musuem, Wikki Warm Spring, Conference Hall, Rangers Quarters, outdoor and indoor sports ...