Aubameyang, Lacazette on Napoli shortlist With Either of Them to Pair Immobile

According to Napoli expert Ciro Venerato, who was speaking to CalcioNapoli24 via Sport Witness, Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso is extremely keen to sign Lazio centre-forward, Ciro Immobile, who has ripped up Serie A this season with 27 goals in 26 games.

However, Immobile is valued at €100 million and Gattuso may be forced to look elsewhere.

It is said that both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are potential targets, with either of the Arsenal pair the ideal Immobile alternative.

Venerato reports that one of the two are likely to leave the Emirates this summer.

With both under precarious contract situations, Aubameyang’s expiring next year and Lacazette’s the year after that, Napoli could come sniffing on a cut-price deal.

AMB FAFOWORA ON GAMBARI'S BETRAYAL

Dapo Fafowora:

I know him quite well. I was the one who in 1981 brought him to the UN at his request as a member of the Nigerian delegation. He was then a senior lecturer at the ABU. In fact, the late Prof Audu, who was then Foreign Minister actually advised me against inviting him to the UN. But he had strong academic credentials which impressed me. He had obtained his first degree in political science from the LSE, and a doctorate from Colombia University in New York. We were looking for strong delegates to  the UN General Assembly and I considered him the kind of delegate we were looking for. So I invited him as one of our delegates to the UN General Assembly. He was at the UN in New York with me. I gave him and his wife my city apartment which I was not using free for 3 months plus a car. I liked him and I was not seeking any favours from him. After 3 months he returned home and sent me a note thanking me for giving him the first opportunity to visit the UN as a delegate and giving him his first experience at multilateral diplomacy.  However,  he sent President Shagari a secret and private note that while he was at the UN he observed that I had not been attending the meeting of Islamic states at the UN. President  Shagari sent the note to Prof Audu who forwarded it to me in New York. He didn't even ask me for any comments on Gambari's secret memo as Prof Audu fully understood that Nigeria had traditionally not been attending meetings if the Islamic states as we were not then a member of the Group. Gambari asked for a private meeting with President Shagari which Prof Audu advised against. I was shocked that someone I had helped so much turned round to betray me so blatantly. I did not tell him I knew about the secret letter he had sent to the UN. When Shagari was overthrown by Buhari Gambari became Foreign Minister. When career ambassadors were being suddenly retired I was at first not on the list. But Gambari, now FM and Rafindadi, the head of the NSO who had worked under me in London, and was now head of the NSO worked together to secure my retirement.  In fact, when I called him from New York to confirm from him news about my retirement he first denied it. Thereafter, he no longer took my calls. In fact, I remained at my post in New York for another 3 months during which the MFA tried to reverse the decision to retire me. I had done absolutely nothing wrong in my entire career in the diplomatic service and only got into trouble for helping a young academic who turned against me to  fulfil his own personal ambition. Since then, he and I have only met twice in very difficult circumstances. First at a dinner by a mutual friend in New York several years after my retirement.  He could barely look directly at me. He was clearly embarrassed.  Then when Buhari won the elections in 2015 I headed a team that was set up to prepare a paper for him on our Foreign Policy.  Subsequently,  Alhaji Joda asked him to join the team. Last year, he suddenly called me to ask if I would kindly represent him at a public lecture  he had agreed to chair. I told him I could not snd that he should look for someone younger. He immediately hung up on me. Now,  ha may be the kind if person  Buhari is looking for to succeed Abba Kyari as COS. They are very much alike but Gambari is more subtle and even more dangerous and will substitute the national interests for his own personal interests. I have no doubt about that. What I have written in this long piece is just some of my personal experience and encounter with him. Everything I have written here is in my memoirs 'Lest I Forget 'which he has seen and read.  It is nothing new. But I think it important that the character of our top govt officials should be revealed and not covered up. We have, as a nation, paid dearly for supporting appointments to high office that are often detrimental to our nation. Enough is enough and this has to stop.

Court orders arrest of Kano council chairman over alleged diversion of Coronavirus palliatives

A bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Ado-Panshekara, Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Council has been issued by a Magistrates’ Court in Kano.

The bench warrant was issued after the council chairman failed to appear before the court to answer to charges of criminal breach of trust. Ado-Panshekara who was entrusted with 1,632 forms for the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives, was accused of diverting and giving it out to people it was not meant.

Prosecution counsel, Salisu Tahir who accused the council chairman of contravening section 315 of the Penal Code Law and section 26 of Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended), averred that Kabiru Ado-Panshekara was properly served a court summon to appear on May 13 at about 9:00 a.m.

Ado-Panshekara’s counsel, Ibrahim Adamu told the court that he doesn’t know his client’s whereabout as he appealed to the magistrate to stand the matter down for 30 minutes.

The case was subsequently pushed till May 27 for mention.

New Chief of Staff Speaks On What Nigerians Should Expect From His New Role

The new Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has said his primary allegiance would be to President Muhammadu Buhari and not the public.

The Chief of staff stated this on Wednesday when he spoke briefly to State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa.

He started out by thanking President Buhari for deeming him worthy to serve in the new capacity, adding that he would serve the President to the best of his ability.

About what he has to offer the President, he said “my loyalty, competence and support”, adding that his guiding principle as Chief of Staff would be “to serve the President to the best of my ability”

“I thank the President of the Federal Republic for giving me the opportunity to serve him and of course, the country”, he said.

Asked what Nigerians should expect from him as Chief of Staff, he said “we have not started, I’ll have to find out. I don’t report directly to the nation, I report to the President”.

Dangote Cement Plc has donated 35 operational vehicles to the Lagos State Government to improve security within the State in order to ensure an investor-friendly environment.

Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Ernest Ebi, Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Emmanuel Ikhazobor; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Abdurrazaq Balogun, during the presentation of 35 Police Patrol Cars to Lagos Security Trust Fund. [NAN]

Mr Emmauel Ikhazobor, Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement, presented the vehicles to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, on Wednesday.

Ikhazobor said the gesture was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

He said that the donation was in appreciation of the efforts of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for making the state more secure for people and investments.

Besides, he said that it was in response to the challenges to securing the state as a destination of choice to investors.

Ikhazobor also said that the donation was aimed at further strengthening public-private partnership in the state.

“We are all aware of the fact that security is essential to economic development. It remains one of the major demands of investors.

“We are presenting 35 saloon cars today to strengthen the operations of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

“We commend the government of the state for instituting a Trust Fund with the mandate of utilising donations from corporate bodies and individuals to equip the security agencies operating within the state.

“The donation of operational vehicles today is in continuation of our commitment to the promotion of security in Lagos state.

“As a socially responsible organisation, the security and well-being of our host communities remains utmost in our minds,” he said.

Receiving keys for the cars, Executive Secretary of the Fund, Dr Abdulrazaq Balogun, described the donation as a huge intervention from a private sector organisation.

Balogun said it was aimed at easing critical challenges of logistics and mobility faced by the security personnel in the state.

He expressed the appreciation of the state governor for the gesture and promised that the vehicles would be put to good use.

“The state government is particularly happy that Dangote Group has always been there for the state in the area of maintaining security of lives and investments,’’ he said.

He urged other corporate bodies to emulate the gesture by Dangote Cement in strengthening security in the state.

Lockdown Relaxation Will Be Reviewed This Week – FG

Sani Aliyu, the national coordinator of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 has announced that the effectiveness of relaxation of lockdown in some parts of the country would be reviewed this week.

He made this known while briefing newsmen on Tuesday.

“We continue to monitor closely some of the guidelines we have produced,” he said.

“You are probably aware that by the end of this week, we will be coming to the end of the second week of easing the lockdown and we will be taking further decisions based on the review of the performance of the restrictions that we have in place. And we will not hesitate to change our strategy if it looks like it is not working.”

“The PTF continues to see disturbing trends where vehicles are carrying large numbers of people across state borders,” he said.

“We urge the public to please refrain from interstate travels. Only travels that are essential or travel involving the conveyance of essential goods is allowed.

“Movement across state borders is fast tracking the dissemination and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country. We are advising state governments across the country and security agencies to increase those measures and surveillance required to keep people within the state borders.”

Herdsmen Allegedly Caught Slaughtering Cow On Farmlands To Incriminate Villagers In Delta State

There was pandemonium on Tuesday morning in Oviri-Olomu, a community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State when some herdsmen were allegedly caught planting incriminating evidence in a farmland by slaughtering a cow on the land. 

The herdsmen already had a recent case with the residents over the destruction of their farmland which was about to be investigated by the police. 

According to reports on the Guardian newspaper; the herdsmen slaughtered the cow with the intent of making the police to believe the cow was killed by residents of the community.

However, some women in the community protested the activities of the herdsmen in the area, where they accused them of destroying their farmlands and raping their women in their farms. 

While speaking, Mrs Esther Monday, chairperson of Olomu Women and spokeswoman of Oviri-Olomu community, said the women had been complaining about the activities of the herders but nothing was done until it got to the present state. 

“The herders would run to security agencies and the state government to complain that they were being maltreated whereas they were the aggressors,” she said. 

Also, a senior police officer who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian that trouble started when some Fulani herdsmen wrote petition alleging that their cows were been killed and their houses destroyed. 

Meanwhile, the women promised to carry on agitating and protesting until the government intervened and moved the herdsmen out of their kingdom.

Parents Battle School Management Over 175k for E-learning Fee During this Pandemic Period.

Report Coming from Opera news

The smooth rapport between the parents and management of Atlantic Hall School is gradually taking a back-step following their tense disagreement that tailored towards what the parents described as crass extortion by the school.

Nigerian schools have been shut down for about two months due to the present situation while several schools are scheming to create a learning environment for the students outside the classrooms in order to reduce the heavy impact on their accademic lives.

But from the report coming from Atlantic Hall School, located in Epe Lagos, there is a raging battle between the parents and the Board of Trustees over the extra charges for the online learning which appears to be unfriendly for the parents.

The parents were asked to cough out a sum of 175,000 naira only for their ward who would be participating in the onliny intellectual activities.

The decision which was taken by the school BoT was communicated to the parents by it's principal, Andrew Jedra at a PTA meeting held on Zoom on Tuesday evening.

Before now, the school had allegedly imposed a sum of 195,000 naira on the parents as online tuition fee which was bluntly rejected.

After reviewing the decision in line with the current economic challenge, the management apparently in its show of magnanimity decided to prune down the charges to 175,000 naira with the hope of meeting the budget of parents, but this time, it met another brickwall.

Both decision was communicated to them in a letter sent by the school.

In a heated reaction to the decision, parents accused the Board of Trustees as "too profit-oriented" and inconsiderate with their decision despite the current state of things in the country.

They unanimously agreed to reject the offer from the school management. Every attempt by the school principal to score a point and get the parents on the same page with the management was fruitless.

The parents who cited other top private schools both within and outside Lagos that paid #60,000 and below however agreed to pay for value and quality but not exploitation.

Right now, it is a case of who blinks first between the parents and the school authority over how much to pay for an E-learning that only consumes data to disseminate and receive through an electronic gadget.

COVID-19:Lagos releases more procedures for commercial activities

The Lagos State government on Tuesday released more guidelines for the operations of commercial, industrial, institutional and recreational facilities that have just been recently unlocked in the state.

Speaking at a virtual briefing, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the guidelines were aimed at ensuring that community transmission of COVID-19 pandemic is curtailed.

He said the guidelines are in accordance with Lagos State Public Health Law 2015 as well as Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017.

The guidelines are the decontamination of premises/facilities by using government certified outfits and approved disinfectants/fumigants.

Others include the provision of personal hygiene facilities, such as running water and soap for hand washing, digital thermometer, alcohol based sanitisers and nose masks as well as adherence to operation at 60 per cent of staff to ensure physical distancing for commercial, industrial facilities.

He said with the ravaging coronavirus, proper cleaning and sanitation of the environment, which include proper storage and waste disposal should be adhered to in addition to installation of environmental, safety and warning signages for employees and customers about required and suggested measures.

Bello said, as part of the guidelines, organisations must work on the reconfiguration of spaces to permit the required distance between employees and clients/customers and also establish alternate means to serve customers, as applicable.

He also said organisations should plan work schedules and shifts to accommodate staggered shifts in line with the Lagos and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.

He listed the affected facilities to include supermarkets, stores and eateries.

Other are industrial facilities: all manufacturing and packaging facilities, bulk terminals, logistics and haulage companies.

Also affected by these guidelines are corporate and financial business which include all banks and finance houses, Bureau de Change, insurance companies and corporate offices, construction camps and sites and commercial facilities: oil, gas, petrol and diesel depots, petrol and gas filling stations, bus parks and terminals, malls, grocery stores, supermarkets.

He also listed institutional facilities: all public and private schools across all tiers, government establishments, religious centres as well as residential facilities- private estates as part of the facilities affected by these guidelines whenever they are reopened.

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5 Disinfectants That Kill Coronavirus in 30 Seconds or Less as Listed in US EPA

So many of us have relied on brands like Lysol and Clorox to keep our homes germ-free. And while these products also do the trick when it comes to destroying coronavirus, have you ever wondered if your trusty disinfectants are doing the best job possible? Most products, Lysol and Clorox included, require you to leave the surface or object being disinfected untouched for anywhere from a few minutes to 10 minutes after application. But wouldn't faster-acting disinfectants be better?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed all the products that meet their criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The EPA's data also includes how long it takes for each product to kill the virus. In accordance with their findings, we have compiled a list of the disinfectants that can kill coronavirus in 30 seconds or less. 

1

DiscCide Ultra Disinfecting Towelettes

DisCide via Henry Schein

With two active ingredients—quaternary ammonium and isopropanol—DisCide Ultra Disinfecting Towelettes should be your go-to for wiping down surfaces over Lysol wipes. The latter, which only contains quaternary ammonium, takes 10 minutes to kill germs, 20 times longer than the DisCide towelettes.

2

DisCide Ultra Disinfecting Spray

DisCide via Patterson Dental

DisCide Ultra Disinfecting Spray has the same virus-fighting ingredients as DisCide's towelettes, so this spray packs the same powerful punch. Having the spray in addition to the towelettes at home gives you some versatility.

3

Mold Armor Rapid Clean Remediation

Mold Armor via Menards

Although this product was created with the purpose of killing, cleaning, and preventing mold, it also has the amazing ability to rapidly destroy coronavirus, thanks to the sodium hypochlorite and sodium carbonate on its ingredient list. Consider this product your one-stop-shop since it has the power to disinfect, sanitize, and banish fungus, mildew, mold, and viruses all at once!

4

Formula 409

Clorox

Formula 409 can easily cut through grease, and it can also kill coronavirus in a flash. You may already have this super versatile multi-surface cleaner at home, but you probably didn't know that it can kill coronavirus in just 30 seconds. And to learn what household items you should sanitize daily with Formula 409, check out 18 Things You Should Sanitize Every Day But Aren't.

5

Lysol Neutra Air® 2 in 1

Lysol via Walmart

This two-in-one product can kill coronavirus while also eliminating odors. Lysol Neutra Air® 2 in 1 can disinfect the air and soft surfaces, leaving your home coronavirus-free and smelling great. The ethanol in this spray is the secret weapon  that helps it kill coronavirus in 30 seconds. 

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Borno State Government Suspends Lockdown Indefinitely, Asks Mosques, Churches To Resume Congregational Gatherings

The Borno State government has suspended the lockdown in the state indefinitely while also lifting the ban it placed on Friday and Sunday congregational prayers due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Borno, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has so far recorded a total of 188 cases of COVID-19.

But a statement posted on the official Facebook page of Governor Babagana Zulum said the state had recorded, “significant progress in the fight against COVID-19 over the last three weeks.”

The statement was signed by the state’s deputy governor and chairman of its COVID-19 response committee.

The state government however announced the restriction of other public gatherings, especially burials and weddings, to a maximum of twenty people, among other new measures.

The committee announced the following resolutions: “The lockdown be suspended indefinitely to study the situation for the time being. However, where the situation escalates, government should revert to status quo.

“The use of facemasks by the public be made mandatory and enforceable.

“Government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and opinion leaders should enforce social distancing, especially in public gatherings/worship
places.

“There should be restrictions on public gatherings, especially funeral processions/rights, weddings, naming ceremonies, etc to not more than 20 people,” it said.

The committee noted that, “all medical consultations by pharmacies and patent medicine stores that are related to COVID-19 or similar ailment shall be referred to government hospitals as defaulters of this direcive will be prosecuted. On no account government hospitals should reject any patient whether because of COVID-19 or other ailments.”

It said the state government would study the federal governments’ agreement with health unions and implement it at the state level.

According to the committee, “Henceforth, Jumma’at prayers and five daily prayers shall be observed in all mosques as recommended by the Borno State Council of Ulamas in strict adherence with social distancing and the use of facemasks.

“All Churches shall conduct Church services as recommended by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Borno Chapter in strict adherence with social distancing and use of facemasks.”

The committee also restated that alcohol and other intoxicating substances remained banned in the state.

The state government also asked civil servants on grade level 1-12 to continue to work from home pending a review of the directive.

The government further said it had adopted the recommendation of the Borno State Council of Ulamas not to permit public gathering for Eid prayers.

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COVID-19 CASE UPDATE AND IMPRESSIVE RATE OF RECOVERY

Samples Tested

29,408

Confirmed Cases

4,971

Active Cases

3,737

Discharged Cases

1,070

Death

164

Confirmed Cases by State

States Affected	No. of Cases (Lab Confirmed)	No. of Cases (on admission)	No. Discharged	No. of Deaths
Lagos	2,041	1,480	528	33
Kano	707	595	79	33
FCT	370	291	72	7
Katsina	224	187	25	12
Bauchi	206	178	25	3
Borno	188	148	20	20
Jigawa	141	134	4	3
Ogun	127	76	46	5
Gombe	119	53	65	1
Kaduna	116	96	17	3
Sokoto	112	59	40	13
Edo	89	59	26	4
Zamfara	73	67	1	5
Oyo	73	55	16	2
Kwara	53	43	9	1
Osun	42	8	30	4
Rivers	33	25	5	3
Kebbi	31	23	5	3
Nasarawa	28	27	0	1
Delta	22	13	6	3
Adamawa	21	17	4	0
Yobe	20	19	0	1
Plateau	20	16	4	0
Ondo	18	6	11	1
Taraba	17	16	1	0
Akwa Ibom	17	3	12	2
Ekiti	15	5	9	1
Enugu	12	10	2	0
Niger	10	8	2	0
Ebonyi	9	9	0	0
Bayelsa	6	3	3	0
Benue	4	4	0	0
Imo	3	2	1	0
Anambra	2	1	1	0
Abia	2	1	1	0

Highlights From NCDC

• On the 13th of May 2020, 184 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
• No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
• Till date, 4971 cases have been confirmed, 1070 cases have been discharged and 164 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory
• The 184 new cases are reported from 22 states- Lagos(51), Jigawa(23), Bauchi(16), Katsina(16), Kano(14), FCT(10), Rivers(10), Kwara(9), Delta(5), Kaduna(5), Sokoto(4), Oyo(4), Kebbi(3), Nasarawa (3), Osun(3), Ondo(2), Ebonyi(1), Edo(1), Enugu(1), Anambra(1), Plateau (1), Niger (1)

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control at the end of today reported a total of 184 new confirmed cases with 51 in Lagos and 23 in Jigawa taking the lead for the day.

The good news however is a huge increase in the recovery rate as the NCDC reported 1070 people have been discharged which is a little over 20% of confirmed cases. This indicates that whatever treatment is being administered is working and maybe Nigerians could learn to live with the virus and ho about their daily business.

It can also be observed that even though the lockdown has been relaxed, the number of daily confirmed cases is reducing and if the recovery rate persists, things might go to normal earlier than we hoped for.

Despite this development, the number of fatalities still stands at 164 which is a message that COVID'19 is indeed real for those doubting it. The need to take necessary precautions cannot be overemphasized, washing of hands regularly and use of proper face mask is very paramount.

Social distancing and abiding by federal and state lockdown rules are also very important. Stay home, stay safe and above all stay sane.

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