LOCKDOWN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER 14 DAYS

And so the speculations came true. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari in his broadcast today has extended "the current restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the FCT for another 14 days effective from 11:59 pm on Monday, 13th of April, 2020." 

He acknowledged that this was "a difficult decision to take, but I am convinced that this is the right decision. The evidence is clear."

• Though he acknowledged the difficulties and hardship the lockdown has caused us, he however pleaded that such sacrifice was needed to limit the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria and save lives.

• He acknowledged the support from various traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) during this pandemic.

• He acknowledged the support and contributions received from public spirited individuals, the business community and our international partners and friends.

• He noted that over 7,000 Healthcare workers had been trained on infection prevention and control and NCDC teams had been deployed to 19 States of the Federation.

• In the last fourteen days alone, over 70,000 people have died worldwide due to this disease.

• Here in Nigeria, we had 131 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 12 States on 30th March 2020. We had two fatalities then.

• This morning, Nigeria had 323 confirmed cases in twenty States. Unfortunately we now have ten fatalities. Lagos State remains the center and accounts for 54% of the confirmed cases in Nigeria. When combined with the FCT, the two locations represent over 71% of the confirmed cases in Nigeria.

• Majority of the confirmed cases in Lagos and the FCT are individuals with recent international travel history or those that came into contact with returnees from international trips.

• By closing our airports and land borders and putting strict conditions for seaport activities, we have reduced the impact of external factors on our country. However, the increase in the number of States with positive cases is alarming.

• Having signed the Quarantine Order and additional regulations for the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be released soon.

• He stated that he has directed that the current social register be expanded from 2.6 million households to 3.6 million households in the next two weeks.

• Today, the cessation of movement, physical distancing measures and the prohibition of mass gatherings remain the most efficient and effective way of reducing the transmission of the virus. By sustaining these measures, combined with extensive testing and contact tracing, we can take control and limit the spread of the disease.

After his address to the Nation, the total number of COVID-19 in Nigeria had risen to 343. 91 of these had been discharged and 10 dead.

O Lord, heal the Earth of this raging pandemic in Jesus Name! Amen.

This Easter 2020

He is risen! Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Today, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

The year 2020 has gone down in history as the first Easter I was indoors all day. Of course that is to be expected, since we have been ordered to stay indoors to curb the spread of coronavirus.

This is the FIRST time I spent Easter celebrations completely indoors. Mass was done online, has it had been for four weeks now.

Well, being indoors did not stop me from having a sumptuous Easter meal. After all, its Easter! The whole essence of Christianity is hinged on Easter. That is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

May the joy of Easter fill our hearts.

May God Almighty heal the earth.

Happy Easter!

THE PANDEMIC KNOWN AS COVID-19

The new word on everybody's lips is CORONAVIRUS.

Most sentences today have that phrase inserted somewhere. 

Some people give it a different pronunciation while some pronounce it entirely wrong.

It's no longer news that coronavirus, also referred to as COVID-19 is the latest pandemic.

There had been so many news on the coronavirus especially on the social media. Most of which are all fake or rather, unverified. It is sickening.

Exercising the powers conferred on him by the Quarantine Act, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, declared COVID-19 a dangerous infectious disease and therefore restricted movement and ordered a "lockdown" of activities in Lagos State, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory. This was for an initial period of fourteen (14) days, with a view to curbing the spread of coronavirus which was on the rise as at 29 March 2020 when the President addressed the Nation.

It has been eight days of "lockdown". . .

My sincere prayer is for the whole crisis to end very soon and we get our lives back. Yes, that is my prayer.

However, when the restriction order is lifted, while the crisis gradually fades out, my major concern is this: how will people commute with public buses, tricycles (keke napep) and okada?

My suggestion is that the buses should be mandated to take 3 passengers per seat instead of 4, while the tricycles should only pick 2 passengers instead of 4. The motor park touts should be stopped from making frivolous monetary demands from the transporters, so the transportation fares will not be hiked.

Shout out to all the medical personnel who are at the fore front and taking care of the sick. May God Almighty bless you all. I also commend all who have volunteered to join the medical personnel in this fight against coronavirus. You are ALL truly appreciated. God bless you.

P.S: I have decided to make this page active again. Lord help me.  🙏🙏

. . . State of the Nation!

For a long time now, we have been living in "fear of the unknown"

I have been AWOL for quite some time!

I use this medium to express my heartfelt sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones in the ill fated DanaAir crash on June 3, 2012. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen!

It has been one ugly incident after the other!

For a very long time, Nigerians (particularly my fellow brothers and sisters in the Northern States) have been living in the "fear of the unknown". A friend who is based in Abuja informed me that it is so bad that she hardly steps out of her house. She said she is afraid to move around. It is that bad! What a pity!

On Sunday, 17 June 2012, a total of three Churches were attacked (bombed) by the dreaded islamist sect otherwise known and addressed as boko haram. As it is expected with such attacks, people died! Properties were damaged!

The boko haram sect claimed responsibility for these bombings (like they have always done in the past). One of such attacks was the Christmas Day (2011) bombing on a Catholic Church near Abuja. There was another attack on Easter Day (2012). These attacks are usually carried out while Christians are worshiping!

While I do not believe in the "eye for an eye" doctrine because, that would make every one on earth go blind, I however believe there is a limit to everything! When an individual is pushed to the wall, and has no where to run to, that person would fight back! O yes! I believe that might be the reason for the reprisal attacks that followed almost immediately! News had it that after that attack on the Church on Sunday, angry young Christians began a violent protest and started attacking mosques and motorbike operators (okada riders).

Anyway, enough is enough! Enough of these killings!

In the midst of all these uncertainties and insecurity in the Nation, our dear president, GEJ had the "mind" to travel to Brazil in order to attend the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. I consider such an action as insensitive and very uncaring! GEJ could have been represented by ANY member of his cabinet!