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The number of confirmed COVID- 19 cases in Nigeria will be at least 312 by Friday, April 3 , the University of Ibadan Committee on COVID- 19 Data Analysis and Management has predicted .

As of 10 . 40 pm on Saturday, March 28 , Nigeria had recorded 97 confirmed cases of COVID- 19 .

This was an increase of 27 cases from the 70 confirmed cases as of 8 pm on Friday, March 27 .

In a graphical report , the UI team said if the current trend continued, the number of confirmed COVID- 19 cases in Nigeria would hit 312 by Friday, April 3 .

The graphical report shared by UI ’ s Deputy Vice- Chancellor , Research , Innovation and Strategic Partnership , Prof . Olanike Adeyemo , on her Facebook wall “ shows the rate at which the infection is being transmitted among those who were exposed to COVID- 19 . ”

The explanatory note on one of the graphs read , “ Approximately 70 . 4 per cent of those people currently infected with COVID – 19 were initially exposed to the disease on day 12 of the occurrence of the disease in Nigeria .

“ The predictive model is an indication that the disease will continue to be on the increase in the days ahead and that time, in days , accounted for 89 . 0 per cent of the variation in the cumulative confirmed cases of COVID- 19 in Nigeria.

“ If the current trend continues, the number of confirmed cases of COVID – 19 is expected to be at least 312 by 3 rd April , 2020 . ”

The senators have agreed to donate half of their March salaries to the fight against the spread of coronavirus in the country .

They are however still consulting among themselves on the amount to cut from their own portion of the N128 bn National Assembly budget approved for the year .

Investigations by news correspondent revealed that the senators have started sending half of their salaries to a dedicated account .

The account it was learnt was being coordinated by the Senate Committee on House Services .

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The Senate Minority Leader , Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe , confirmed to news correspondent that his colleagues had started donating half of their March salaries .

He said , “We ’ ve already given out 50 per cent of our salaries like ministers , ( to government ) amidst other individual efforts to our constituents . ”

But the Leader of the Senate, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi , told our correspondent on Sunday that the senators were still consulting on the matter .

He , however , disclosed that the senators would not do exactly what the ministers have done .

He said , “ The senators are still consulting. The result of our consultations will be made open tomorrow (today ) Monday .

“ We are not doing exactly what the ministers have done . ”

Abdullahi also said that the leadership of the National Assembly had not agreed on when to reconvene and review the 2020 national budget .

A senator, however , news correspondent on condition of anonymity that the part of the sacrifice that members of the Senate wanted to make was to reduce their own portion of the N128 bn National Assembly budget .

He said , “ We have agreed to slash the National Assembly budget for this year in line with the current reality. It is certain that the Federal Government will reduce the N10 . 59 tn national budget because of the reduction in the revenue to fund it. So , we are reducing our own too. ”

The Federal Government is planning to connect all tertiary institutions in the country to the Internet in the next five years .

The government also plans to reach 50 per cent of secondary schools and 25 per cent of primary schools in the country with Internet connection by ensuring that institutions are located within five kilometres of fibre infrastructure or a fixed connection .

The plans to achieve these are contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 .

As part of the plans , one general or major hospital per local government area as well as federal medical centres across the country would have access to Internet connectivity in the next five years .

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Stakeholders in the telecommunication industry also plan to increase internet download speed from a minimum of three megabytes per second in urban areas this year to 25 mbps while delivering a minimum of 10 mbps in rural areas by 2025 .

They estimated that extensive deployment of fibre optics infrastructure and connection to towers would help the country to achieve 90 per cent 4 G coverage in the next five years .

According to the NBP , another area of focus is the need for denser fibre network in order to aggregate fibre from base stations and across metro areas .

“ To date , fibre density in Nigeria remains particularly low with approximately 10 per cent of base stations connected to fibre and majority of the fibre networks over -built on the same routes.

“ The continued reliance on narrow band microwave links remains a limiting factor in terms of aggregate capacity and stability of mobile networks , especially in a challenging electricity supply environment . Denser metro fibre networks will also provide the essential building blocks for future fibre – to – the – x networks , ” it stated .

Speaking at the unveiling of the plans in Abuja , the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rted . ) , urged mobile network operators to ensure full attainment of the targets set in the new National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 by giving special attention to the un – served and underserved areas when deploying telecom services.

Buhari expressed concern about the challenges faced by operators in the country, particularly vandalism of telecommunications equipment and directed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy , Dr Isa Pantami , to work with all relevant government agencies to ensure full protection of critical national infrastructure such as telecoms infrastructure.

He emphasised the Federal Government’ s commitment to ensuring that all stakeholders have a right environment to ensure the successful implementation of the broadband plan , which would seek to boost broadband penetration as well as support the deployment of 4 G across the country.

The Executive Vice Chairman , Nigerian Communications Commission , Prof . Umar Danbatta, recalled that when the Buhari ’ s regime came in 2015 , broadband penetration was hovering between four and six per cent , adding that broadband penetration had now reached 38 . 5 per cent .

NATIONAL Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has donated N200 million as part of efforts in fighting the scourge of coronavirus.

Tinubu, who made this known on his Twitter handle, while announcing the suspension of this year’s Bola Tinubu Colloquium, said the donation was made to the Lagos State government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

The former governor said: “Today, but for COVID-19 we would, as we have done for the last 12 years, have celebrated this day with the Bola Tinubu Colloquium. We could not do so this year but by God’s grace, we will do so again.

”The circumstances this year prevented us from gathering together to celebrate my birthday but I would still like to mark the occasion.

”That is why I have chosen today to announce that I will be making a donation of N200 million to fight this deadly virus. Pursuant to this pledge, N100 million will be made available to the government of Lagos State and another N100 million to the NCDC to support their efforts in fighting the scourge of COVID-19. Together, we will overcome this disease.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Leadership and Justice, CLJ, yesterday, commended the contributions of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Tinubu to national development.

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The group, in a statement by its President, Mr. Emmanuel Umohinyiang on the 68th birthday of the national leader of the APC, noted that Tinubu has demonstrated unparalleled loyalty to peace and progress of the nation, even at the risk of his life.

The statement reads “We join millions of Nigerians especially all lovers of democracy, across the globe in wishing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a trojan of our democratic struggle a happy 68th birthday.

“That Tinubu has clearly shown that he is committed to democratic struggle was not too late to identify after joining forces with the likes of Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Beko Ransom Kuti, Femi Falana, Baba Adesanya, Gen. Alani Akinrinade and many others during the NADECO era.

“He took the struggle to a higher height as Governor of Lagos State as he catapulted the state to the path of the progress and development has now been witnessed in the state.

“His intermittent interventions in the crisis in the APC is worthy of commendation, as this is what has made the party stay afloat thus far.

“This is not unexpected as the APC prides itself has a vehicle committed to taking Nigeria to the promised land, after sixteen wasted years of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“Even with all these successes, he remains his humble self, accessible to all who are desirous of a better Nigeria that all of us will be proud of it.”

Employees of the Transmission Company of Nigeria branch of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies on Sunday vowed to sustain the evacuation of electricity despite challenges posed by the spread of coronavirus .

According to the President , TCN Branch of SSAEAC , Abidemi Dairo , the management of the transmission company has been proactive since the outbreak of the virus by ensuring the protection of workers .

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Dairo disclosed this while speaking on the failure of the national body of SSAEAC to release the N 25 m check – off dues that was meant for the association ’ s branch at the TCN.

He noted that the TCN workers on essential duty had sustained the wheeling of electricity across the country to ensure Nigerians got supply, as latest industry report showed that transmission infrastructure did not hinder power generation .
The report stated that on March 27 , 2020 , “4 , 144 . 5 megawatts ( of electricity ) was not generated due to unavailability of gas .

“ Zero megawatt was generated due to unavailability of transmission infrastructure, while 211 . 1 MW was not generated due to high frequency resulting from unavailability of distribution infrastructure. ”

Meanwhile , Dairo described the non -payment of the check – off dues of the TCN workers by the national body of SSAEAC as illegal .

Egypt has shuttered several hospitals and quarantined villages in an attempt to halt the rising infection rate of new coronavirus in the most populous Arab state .

A Cairo hospital was closed for sterilisation late Saturday after two COVID- 19 cases were confirmed .

An official at Al – Salam hospital told AFP : “ We are currently disinfecting the hospital for the safety of everyone concerned . One patient had come in tested positive and a member of our staff was infected after ” .

He said no date was yet set for re -opening the facility .

Other hospitals have also been closed in the last week after recording cases of the virus , including the Alexandria University Hospital and Al – Shorouk hospital in Cairo.

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Health ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed also announced that villages in up to 10 governorates have been quarantined .

“ We have several infections from the same source … in what we call local transmission . Before it spreads to become a community transmission , we undertake this precautionary measure of quarantining the entire village… for 14 days , ” he said on a widely watched talk- show with popular host Lamees al – Hadidi on Saturday.

Egyptian doctors on social media have urged people to stay home to stem the rate of transmissions through social interactions .

The health ministry has reported 576 COVID- 19 cases , including 36 deaths .

Egypt imposed a night – time curfew last week for two weeks in a bid to contain the growing contagion , which has caused over 30 , 000 deaths globally .

Penalties for violators include a fine of up to 4 , 000 Egyptian pounds ( around $ 250 ) and even jail time . Flights have been grounded until 15 April.

AFP

Thomas Schaefer , the finance minister of Germany ’ s Hesse state , has committed suicide apparently after becoming “deeply worried ” over how to cope with the economic fallout from the coronavirus, state premier Volker Bouffier said .

Schaefer , 54 , was found dead near a railway track on Saturday. The Wiesbaden prosecution ’ s office said they believe he died by suicide .

“ We are in shock , we are in disbelief and above all we are immensely sad , ” Bouffier said in a recorded statement .

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Hesse is home to Germany ’ s financial capital Frankfurt , where major lenders like Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank have their headquarters . The European Central Bank is also located in Frankfurt.

A visibly shaken Bouffier recalled that Schaefer , who was Hesse ’ s finance chief for 10 years , had been working “ day and night ” to help companies and workers deal with the economic impact of the pandemic .

“ Today we have to assume that he was deeply worried , ” said Bouffier , a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel .

“ It’ s precisely during this difficult time that we would have needed someone like him , ” he added .

Popular and well – respected , Schaefer had long been touted as a possible successor to Bouffier .

Like Bouffier , Schaefer belonged to Merkel ’ s centre – right CDU party .
He leaves behind a wife and two children .

AFP

Sophie Gregoire – Trudeau , the wife of Canada ’ s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , has recovered from the novel coronavirus , she said .

“ I am feeling so much better and have received the all- clear from my physician and Ottawa Public Health , ” she wrote on her Facebook page.

“ From the bottom of my heart , I want to say thank you to everyone who reached out to me with their well wishes . ”

She had tested positive for the virus on March 12 after returning from Britain , with her husband subsequently going into self -quarantine as a precautionary measure .

He has since been giving daily press briefings from the porch of his residence .

“ I strongly believe that science AND compassion will get us through this crisis , ” Gregoire – Trudeau said .

“ That means listening and following the health protocols and staying at home for the time being . ”

Earlier Saturday Trudeau told reporters he intended to remain with his family at his residence even though his 14 – day isolation period had ended .

“ We are continuing to follow the advice of health experts . And as everyone should do , we must try to stay at home, to isolate ourselves as much as possible , not to go out if not absolutely necessary , ” he said .

AFP

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has announced a 14 – day total shut down of the state and as well imposed 12 – hour dusk – to – dawn curfew effective from midnight on Monday .

He said this in a statewide broadcast .

The governor said this was to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state .

He said , “ It is in urgent public interest that we must ensure strict compliance with all directives given to prevent community spreading of the disease .

“ Therefore , in our collective interest and to further ensure the safety of Ekiti – kete , having declared Coronavirus an infectious disease in Ekiti State , I hereby, in pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act , Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended ) impose a curfew of movement in Ekiti State.

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“ The purpose of this curfew is to impose restrictions on the movement of persons and goods within Ekiti State for an initial period of fourteen days . This is in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Ekiti State . ”

The governor also shut all borders , urging Nigerians to remain in their state of residence .

“ All boundaries of Ekiti State are closed during this period , except for transportation of fuel, food and drugs and other essential goods .

“ All non – residents who arrive the State prior to , or after , the imposition of this restriction , and who remain in the State , must remain in their place of temporary residence in the State for the duration of the 14 days, as the case may be , and may be subjected to screening for COVID – 19 and be quarantined or isolated if necessary , ” he added.

He expressed disappointment with the lukewarm , nonchalant or downright defiance of some residents in observing compliance with the preventive actions to protect themselves from infection and curtail the spread of the virus in their communities .

The Chief Medical Director , University College Hospital , Ibadan , Prof . Jesse Otegbayo , has said that he tested positive for coronavirus.

The CMD made this known in a statement .

Reports says, the CMD ’ s positive status was among the four new cases recorded in Oyo State and announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Saturday evening .

The statement , which was personally signed by him , read , “ Unfortunately , my result returned positive on Saturday afternoon and I remain in isolation as I am not symptomatic .

“ All staff who have been in contact with me and other participants during this period have been advised to immediately proceed on self – isolation pending the time they get tested . ”

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He , however , clarified that though he attended a board meeting three days before testing positive, social distancing was maintained.
Otegbayo suggested that he could have contracted the disease from one of those who attended the meeting .

He added , “ On Monday 23 rd March , we commenced a 12 – man quarterly board meeting which was meant to last five days in the hospital , we observed social distancing and other precautionary measures for COVID- 19 as much as possible .

“ However , on Wednesday morning , one of us presented with what appeared to be symptoms of COVID- 19 , his samples were immediately taken for test and the meeting called off .

“ His results returned positive on Friday morning and every participant ( including me) immediately went into self – isolation while our samples were also taken for the test .

“ COVID- 19 is spreading faster than we think and I enjoin everyone to take precautions. If one person has it , then a gathering of two becomes dangerous. Stay at home, avoid unnecessary outing and stay safe . ”