ARSENAL AND MANCHESTER UNITED STADIUM WILL BE AMONG 8 NEUTRAL VENUES FOR THE RESTART OF FOOTBALL.

Premier League clubs have agreed to play at eight neutral venues if the Government agrees football can restart

But after a 3½-hour video meeting of the 20 “shareholder” clubs, plans to use “eight to ten neutral stadiums” were given the thumbs-up.

Clubs confirmed their target of starting general training from May 18, with the first Prem fixtures now pencilled in for Friday, June 12 — the same date Euro 2020 would have kicked off.

We are informed about plans to use neutral venues to play out the season on March 18.

The grounds, all of which will be current Prem stadiums, will be confirmed in the next two weeks.

But police concerns over using congested urban areas and fans converging in the vicinity of the stadiums — and potentially causing coronavirus-spreading clusters — will mean grounds including

Anfield and Stamford Bridge being ruled out.

The strongest candidates for the eight grounds in the Premier League are:

Brighton’s Amex and Southampton’s St Mary’s on the south coast.

West Ham’s London Stadium and Arsenal’s Emirates home in the capital.

Leicester’s King Power and Aston Villa’s ground, Villa Park, in the Midlands.

Old Trafford and the Etihad in Manchester, providing a north west base.

Wembley and St George’s Park are understood to have been discounted as options.

But no club will play in their own stadium, to try to ensure a degree of equality in the unprecedented circumstances.

And while six clubs are understood to have voiced some significant doubts over whether the desire to finish the campaign is wise, the majority view was to push ahead as long as there is

clearance from the Government.

It also means that when Liverpool seal the title — as seems likely with a 25-point lead over second-placed Manchester City — it will NOT be at Anfield.

A Prem insider said: “It’s pretty clear we will have to play behind closed doors when we come back — including, probably, into next season.

“Nobody wants that but we cannot deny the reality.

“This is seen by everybody as the best option in the circumstances and we recognise that we must choose venues where we can ensure only those authorised to be there will be in and around the

stadium.

“Of course, there are a range of views around the League and clubs. They all have their own stances and positions.

“But it was generally agreed that we should do everything we can to try to finish the season.”

How the top of the Premier League table would look if previous seasons were finished nine games early

How the bottom of the Premier League table would look if previous seasons were finished nine games early.

The key to that will be the Government lifting its current lockdown restrictions, with a decision due on Thursday.

Prem clubs will meet again the following morning when they have had time to assess the latest position.

A further meeting is scheduled for May 18, the date it is hoped training can restart.

ONE OF THE 5 EMIRS IN KANO DIES AFTER BEING HOSPITALIZED

Emir of Rano dies after being hospitalized

Emir of Rano , Tafida Abubakar Illa, is dead. holami news reported earlier that the late Emir of one of the newly created emirates in Kano state, was referred to Nassarawa Specialist Hospital after being admitted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital over an undisclosed ailment.

Secretary of Rano Emirate council, Sank Haruna said he received news of the Kano Monarch's death by 5pm on Saturday May 2.

The emir who is survived by two wives and 17 children, died at the age of 75. He will be buried according to Islamic rites.

BREAKING: Movement not allowed for Lagos workers resident in Ogun – Dapo Abiodun

BREAKING: Movement not allowed for Lagos workers resident in Ogun – Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said residents of the state who work in Lagos State are not permitted to move out or into the state as the lockdown eases next week.

This was contained in the latest guidelines by the state government over the Federal Government-ordered partial lockdown in the state.

Announcing via Facebook on Saturday afternoon, the governor said the lockdown in the state ends on Sunday, May 10, as a result of the initial grace the state was granted.


He, however, stressed that the use of face masks would become mandatory for everyone in public places effective May 4.

He also referred to the order of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), restricting inter-state movement as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Partial lockdown would begin in Lagos on Monday, May 4, and business activities are expected to resume in the nation’s commercial capital.


A tangible percentage of the working population in Lagos live in Ogun due to its affordable housing and nearness to the nation’s economic epicentre.

But Abiodun said this category of people would not be permitted to move in or out of the Ogun as the lockdown eases.

He said, “All schools remain closed, while students will continue with their DigiClass.

“All essential service personnel will continue to work despite the lockdown.


“All public religious gatherings remain banned. All pubs, clubs, stadia, public pools, spas, gyms, salons, etc. and all assemblies of more than 15 people remain banned. Restaurants may open on the approved days for take-out meals only.

“Burials and naming ceremonies are allowed but there must not be more than 15 people including the officiating ministers.

“There is a total ban on interstate travel (outside Ogun). If you work in Lagos or any other state but you live in Ogun State, you are not allowed to go to Lagos or any other state and return to Ogun.”

PARTIAL RESUMPTION OF WORKERS IN OGUN STATE

HS/C.34/4/106
          Office of the Head of Service,
          Office of the Governor,
          Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
     May, 2020.
CIRCULAR LETTER TO:

The Secretary to the State Government,
Chief of Staff/State Commissioners,
Special Advisers/Consultants to the Governor,
Chairmen of Boards/Statutory Commission,
Permanent Secretaries/Clerk of the House,
Chairmen of Local Government Transition Committees,
Director-General,
Heads of Local Government Administration,
General Managers/Managing Directors of Corporations and Boards,
Accountant-General/Auditors-General (State and Local Governments)
Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments,
Head of Tertiary Institutions.

PARTIAL RESUMPTION OF WORKERS
In a bid to ease lockdown measures in the State, consequent of COVID – 19 pandemics, the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, has approved partial resumption of workers from Monday, 4th May, 2020. All Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the Local Governments are to put in place modalities that will ensure that not more than 30% of their staff report for work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only until further notice.
2. In addition, hand washing materials and sanitisers should be made available and all staff on duty must put on face mask in their respective MDAs and Local Governments; while the rule of social distancing must be adhered to all the time.
3. Please ensure that public health and safety are not compromised in anyway.
4. Meanwhile, it should be carefully noted that this Circular Letter does not apply to educational institutions at all levels in the State.
5. Kindly give the content of this Circular Letter the widest publicity it deserves and ensure strict compliance among your staff in the best interest of all.
6. Many thanks.


Fagbohun, K. P.,
Permanent Secretary
For: Head of Service

COVID-19: WHO To Commence Vaccine Trials In Nigeria

COVID-19: WHO To Commence Vaccine Trials In Nigeria

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that Nigeria has expressed interest to be part of the global solidarity trial of the vaccines being developed to tackle COVID-19 pandemic and efforts are underway to start the process in the country.

The Officer in charge, WHO Nigeria and member of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Fiona Braka, said this on Friday in Abuja, at the 24th joint national briefing of the committee.

She also said that 89 vaccines are being developed globally, including seven in clinical evaluation and several therapeutics in clinical trials to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said:-

“Nigeria has also expressed interest to be part of this solidarity trial and efforts are underway to start the process in Nigeria too.”

According to her, on the subject of vaccines and clinical trials for Covid-19, research and development is an important aspect of the response and researchers around the world are working hard on accelerating the development of vaccines and therapeutics for Covid-19.

She said the WHO has launched various working groups to accelerate various aspects of vaccine development.

“Together with global health actors and partners, over the past week, WHO launched the Access to Covid-19 Tools ACT Accelerator, a global collaboration to accelerate development for equitable access to new Covid-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

“We have a total of 89 vaccines that are in development globally, including seven in clinical evaluation and some therapeutics are in clinical trials. WHO is committed to ensuring that as medicines and vaccines are developed, they are shared equitably with all countries and people.

“We do have the solidarity trial which is an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for Covid-19, launched by the WHO and partners. More than 100 countries have joined the solidarity trial and to date, over 1,200 patients have been randomized from the first five countries to evaluate the safety and efficacy full drug and drug combinations,” Braka said.

One of the emirs of the newly created emirates in Kano reportedly in critical condition

Emir of Rano reportedly rushed to hospital in critical condition

One of the emirs of the newly created emirates in Kano, the Emir of Rano, Dr Tafida Abubakar Ila ll, was allegedly taken to a hospital yesterday, May 1, over an illness.

Though it is still not clear if his illness is related to Coronavirus, Daily Trust reported that he was brought to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in a critical state. He was reportedly referred to the Nassarawa Specialist Hospital for further medical attention.

A traditional title holder in Rano emirate who pleaded anonymity told the publication that the Emir of Rano was first rushed to AKTH, but was referred to Nassarawa hospital due to lack of oxygen.

He said;

“The vehicle conveying the emir to Nassarawa hospital just left the premises of AKTH, the condition of the emir was critical at the time they departed AKTH.

“The emir is in critical condition and from the look of things, the situation is alarming, may Allah protect us all.”