Buhari Commiserates With Families Of Students Killed In Ojodu Accident

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with parents, relations and friends of Ojodu Grammar School students who lost their lives in an accident on Tuesday, along Isheri Road, in Lagos State.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said the president condoled with the Government and people of Lagos State and the authorities of Ojodu Grammar School over the sad and painful loss of the promising lives that were cut short in the tragic incident.

President Buhari prayed that the Almighty God will comfort the grieving parents and relations at this very difficult time, and grant the injured quick recovery..

LASG Close Down Ojodu Grammar School As Tension Rises

The Lagos State Government has shut down Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu, formerly Ojodu Grammar School until January 2022.

Education commissioner Folashade Adefisayo made the announcement when she visited the school on Wednesday morning. This is coming a day after a trailer rammed into some students at the Grammar School bus stop, killing some of them.

Early Wednesday, students of the school protested the death of their colleagues. Also, some parents trooped to the school on Wednesday to protest the death of the students.

Following the protest, the Lagos State Government has shut down the school. The government said the move was to commiserate with families of the victims and to address all the issues raised by the parents and other stakeholders.

Catholic Priest Kidnapped In Ondo

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a Catholic Priest in Ondo State.

The 49-year-old priest, Reverend Father Joseph Ajayi, was kidnapped along the Akure-Ikere highway, on Monday.

Ajayi, who was travelling from Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State in his Toyota Corolla to his parish, St Peter Claver in Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, was intercepted by his abductors.

The Ondo Police Command has not issued any statement on the incident. Efforts to speak to the police image-maker in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami was unsuccessful as she did not pick nor return calls made to her mobile phone.

Reality TV Star, Maria Tests Positive For COVID-19

Former Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye housemate, Maria Chike, on Wednesday announced that she tested positive for COVID-19.

Maria announced this on her Instagram page where she also appreciated her fans for showing concern about her well-being.

Advising her fans to take the virus seriously, she stated that she had been placed in the best possible care.

She said, “Please, do not take COVID-19 for granted, and don’t try to be as stubborn as myself always. I have been placed in the best possible care and receiving treatment. I will be in Ghana until I am fully recovered and tested negative. I love you all and cannot wait to get back to work.”

23 Dead In Sokoto Terror Attack

The Sokoto Police Police Command on Wednesday confirmed twenty-three deaths following an attack on travellers in Angwan Bawa, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the State.

The State Commissioner of Police, Kamaludeen Okunola, confirmed the figure shortly after briefing Governor Aminu Tambuwal in an emergency security meeting summoned by the governor on Wednesday.

The victims were said to be local migrant traders heading to the Kaduna village market in Gadan Gayan.

As part of measures to contain the situation, the state government shut down telecommunication services in some selected local governments, perceived to be the worst hit by the bandits.

Lagos mandates Vaccination for all social attendees

The Lagos state government on Tuesday banned unvaccinated persons from attending social events and gatherings in the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the development in a statement on the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos state. He said all social events must be duly registered to obtain Event Safety Clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission prior to holding.

Sanyo-Olu said every attendee of a social gathering MUST present their Vaccination Cards or digital bar code page showing at least first dose but preferably double dose full vaccination.

The Governor plead with everyone to get vaccinated and join hands with the state government in managing the wave of the pandemic in this festive season by following the guidelines that have been set, especially regarding use of face masks, public gatherings and travelling in and out of Lagos state.

FRSC Denies Being the Cause for Ojodu Auto-Crash

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has denied reports that its officers caused the crash along Ogunnusi Road, Grammar School Bus Stop, Lagos state.

A hit-and-run truck had crushed some pupils on Tuesday at the bus stop just as they closed from school around 2pm.

In a statement, the Sector Commander in the state, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the articulated truck lost control, resulting in the death of “unverified number of students and leaving many injured.” The statement explained that the men of FRSC were called upon by passersby to help intervene after the crash had happened.

Ogungbemide commiserated with the families of the deceased, and asking that God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable losses. He also prayed that the injured will recuperate fast.

Partnership With Private Sector Will Improve Health Services – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said stronger partnership with the private sector will help in improving health facilities and access in the country.

Speaking Tuesday at the virtual groundbreaking ceremony of African Medical Centre of Excellence, the president said a nation needs a healthy population to prosper, adding that the challenges faced in the health sector require collective will, partnership and more resources, especially in tackling brain drain.

He said: “It is my pleasure to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony of the Africa Medical Center of Excellence, Abuja, Nigeria. Today represents more than just the groundbreaking ceremony for a landmark hospital project that will significantly transform the healthcare sector in West Africa.

President Buhari said the rising cases of non-communicable diseases in Africa are well established, and that the AMCE will provide world class medical services at par with the world’s best hospitals.

Covid-19: NCDC Announces 3 New Cases Of Omicron Variant

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed three additional cases of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2) of COVID-19 in the country.

NCDC director-general, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, in a statement on Tuesday said the three additional cases and the initial cases were detected in persons with recent travel history to South Africa in November.

Adetifa said the Omicron variant is a source of global concern because of its increased risk of transmissibility and its potential to escape protective immune responses induced by natural infection and/or vaccination.

Given the reports of increasing numbers of Omicron cases in the UK, he said the NCDC is also prioritising the sequencing of COVID-19 positive samples in travellers with history of travel to the UK. He urged Nigerians to take personal and collective responsibility to ensure the safety of all.

UK High Commissioner Give Reason For Adding Nigeria to Red List

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has explained why the United Kingdom (UK) added Nigeria to the travel red list amid concerns over the Omicron variant.

Laing said the UK took the decision to protect the public health of its people while the government tries to understand the new variant.

Despite the travel ban, the British envoy explained that the government would work closely with the Nigerian authorities as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.

She noted that the decision will be reviewed at the three-week review point on December 20.