INSTANT NEWS

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, National President, Yerima Shettima has refuted reports of threatening that the North would go to war over End SARS protest.

The said report, not by us, had claimed Shettima threatened that the North would go to war if President Muhammadu Buhari is removed by Southerners.

Condemning the report, Shettima described such claims as false and malicious, which should be disregarded.

He made the denial through a statement signed by the group’s Legal Adviser, Barr Abubakar liman.

The statement described the group’s National President as a democrat who is not against opposing views.

According to the statement:

“The attention of the AYCF has been drawn to a news by an online platform, in which our National President was purportedly threatening war against the EndSARS protests.

“The online newspapers’ sensational and fictitious news stories said our National President has declared that “North will go to war if Southerners remove Buhari”.

This is a concoction of the publishers’ riotous imagination. We therefore state as follows:-

“Our National President – Alhaji Yerima Shettima has never ever been associated with combative or violent protest to opposing views, for whatever reason

“Our National President has always been a Democrat, following legitimate constitutional processes in his agitations and it is for this reason he has built a record of fearless activism but free of violence.

“The AYFC is a platform of matured citizens who strongly believe in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

“The false claim of war being attributed to our National President was indeed malicious and we will not take it lying low.

“Just like our National President, we are unapologetic in the promotion of democracy through legal and legitimate means, in line with the nation’s constitution, which supports presentation of grievances with respect to the Rule of Law.”

Fire has gutted the Post Office located at MDS area in Osogbo, Osun State.

The fire incident broke out on Saturday night.

Officials of the Fire Service was said to have visited the scene.

Reason for the fire incidence is unknown as at the time of filling this report.

This development has thrown residents of the state into panic as the post office is located closely to shops.

Watch video below:

Dino Melaye, former Kogi West Senator, has advised the Federal Government to work with protesting Nigerians or face revolution.

Melaye gave the advice while stressing that the government had no constitutional powers to ban protest.

The former lawmaker said the anti-police protest was an indication that Nigerians had woken up from their slumber.

In a tweet, Melaye wrote:

“Government has no power in our extant laws to ban protests.

“So, the Government must realise that the people have woken up from their slumber.

Work with the people or welcome a REVOLUTION. SDM.“

The continued protest against police brutality by aggrieved Nigerian youths has led to the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, unit of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

Following the dissolution of SARS, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu had established the Special Weapon and Tactics Team, SWAT.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed Tinubu has reacted to a news making the rounds that he was among those sponsoring #ENDSARS protesters.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu exonerated himself, advising Nigerians to jettison the news.

The statement according to Thecable says:

“There is a need to set the facts and record straight for fear that such a fake story may be taken on its face value by some unwary and gullible persons.

“Asiwaju Tinubu could not have sponsored the #EndSARS protest that has blocked one of the main entries into and out of Lagos and one of the economic arteries of the Lagos State Government.

He could also not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organizers.

“Secondly, whereas Asiwaju Tinubu believes in the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression, assembly, and protest where and when necessary, he has always canvassed the need for people to explore peaceful channels to ventilate their views and demands.

“He believes the #EndSARS protesters have made their demands, which the Federal Government is studying.

Like most Nigerians, Asiwaju believes that SARS’ brutality and untoward conduct against innocent youths and other Nigerians have gone on for too long and that security outfit ought to be disbanded as demanded by the protesters.

“Asiwaju Tinubu believes it’s now time for our youths to wait, exercise restraint for dialogue and reform to commence.

It is therefore the height of illogicality to ascribe the sponsorship of the protest to Asiwaju.

The sponsors of this fake news forget that the protest is so widespread and cuts across the country.”

Jane, a physically challenged Nigerian lady is currently feeling the warmth and kindness of Nigerians as she is now only a few thousand naira away from changing her life for the better.

Despite living with just a limb, this did not deter her from joining the ongoing anti-SARS protest. A photo of Jane at the protest walk surfaced online, leaving many people in awe and some, inspired.

Popular influencer and medical practitioner, Aproko Doctor, shared the now-viral photo of the lady and revealed she had been unemployed since 2013 due to her present reality.

He then set up a GoFundMe to raise the sum of N500,000 to get her a prosthetic leg. Much to the pleasure and surprise of many people, the account raised over targeted sum under 1 hour.

Due to the willingness of many to contribute towards helping the young lady, the targeted sum was increased to N1,500,000.

Aproko Doctor explained that the decision was made in order to get Jane the highest quality.

He wrote:-

“We updated the amount needed after deliberations with @Bayo_Ojelabi seeing as she will deserve the highest quality possible. He and his team will not collect a dime for assembling the prostheses. Everything will be done. Free of Charge. God bless you! Let’s keep it coming!”

President Umaro Embalo has expressed appreciation to President Buhari for his support and the fatherly advice he had been receiving from him before and after his inauguration as president of Guinea Bissau.

President Embalo explained that he named a street in Bissau, capital of Guinea Bissau, after President Buhari as a mark of honour and respect he has for the Nigerian leader due to his honesty, discipline and fear of God.

On his part, President Macky Sall of Senegal commended the way and manner Nigeria is supporting the cost of war against insurgency and terrorist activities in all the Lake Chad Basin areas.

The Senegalese leader gave the commendation at the end of a dinner meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday night.

He also lauded Nigeria for supporting the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) toward the restoration of peace and constitutional order in Mali.

He said,

“What I can say on Mali is that I did know that ECOWAS was very involved since the beginning (of the political crisis). Of course Mali is one of our great countries in ECOWAS.

“As you know, Mali is under occupation by terrorists, even Niger Republic, and I want to salute the great action of Nigeria against Boko Haram and how Nigeria is supporting the cost of war even in all the Lake Chad Basin area.

*“Nigeria is also supporting ECOWAS including Mali, Niger and in Burkina Faso where we have a very serious situation.”

Sall reiterated the commitment of the ECOWAS leaders to continue to support the transitional government in Mali to enable it meet the December 2021 deadline of conducting elections in that country.

#EndSARS protesters in Lagos on Friday continued their protests across the city, demanding justice for all victims of police brutality and killings.

While they continue to press for their demands to be met, the protest took another twist as the Muslim youths observed their Jumaat prayers on the road.

Popular comedian, Macaroni took to his Twitter page to share the video of the Muslims praying on the road.

The prayer took place at the House of Assembly Drive, Alausa.

We are all one!! Irrespective of religion or tribe!! We are all one!! There should be no division!! Love must lead!! We are all Nigerian Youths and all we want is a better Nigeria!!! Together we shall overcome!!! 

#EndSARSpic.twitter.com/2XdswjJveo

— DeboMacaroni (@mrmacaronii)

Hoodlums on Friday left few #EndSARS protesters in Benin, the Edo State capital injured and two reportedly dead.

One of the male victims was shot dead while the other was macheted by hoodlums at Ring Road near the palace of the Oba of Benin.

The attackers struck after the protesters gathered at the King’s axis of Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The attackers chased the protesters as they brandished machetes and shot into the air.

They dispersed the protesters after killing two of them.

However, the protesters repelled the attackers and carried on with their peaceful demonstrations until their demands are met.

The Police in Cross River State has uncovered a baby factory, rescued two pregnant women and three children at obot Udonna Village in Akampka Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the covert operation took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning, October 14.

The Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Jimoh, who confirmed the development said they got a tip-off which they promptly acted upon and arrested the operator of the baby factory, Imaobong Asuquo.

CP Jimoh also revealed that the prime suspect operated the baby factory in her home and sells baby for 500,000 each in collaboration with another suspect simply identified as Iquo.

“We got credible intelligence and we swung into action immediately in a covert Operation at about 4:00 a.m Wednesday and we busted a baby factory operated in the residence of one Imaobong Asuquo who sells baby’s for at least 500,000 naira,” he explained.

The police boos said:-

“We also rescued three pregnant girls including two 19 year old and another 21 year old as well as two children (names withheld)aged 2 and 7 years. From the statement we got from one Solomon Christopher husband to one of the rescued pregnant women, we also discovered that three babies were sold for 500,000 naira each already,”

“But we are working assiduously to make sure we get to the root of the matter and all involved apprehended and charged to Court to face justice , investigation is still ongoing as we speak.” Jimoh said.

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to see the decentralisation of policing and the institution of state police as the lasting solution to the impunity and shortcomings he is currently trying to fix in the federal police.

Ekweremadu regretted that the Bill to amend the constitution to create state police departments, which he sponsored in the 8th Senate as well as the current Senate, had not received the required political support.

Reacting to the disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and proposed setting up of the Special Weapons and Tactical Team (SWAT), Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, on Wednesday, said the Federal Government was still addressing the symptoms rather than the real illness.

He said:

“The ongoing street protests over the excesses of elements in the Nigeria Police did not come to me as a surprise. As a matter of fact, I had always known, and warned severally that a day would come when Nigerians would no longer tolerate the worsening insecurity in the land and the excesses of those charged with protecting lives and property.

“The problem with our policing and the attendant insecurity and excesses are engraved majorly located in Section 214 (1) of the 1999 constitution, which provides that ‘There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof’.

“It is also worsened by Section 215 (2), which goes further to declare that ‘The Nigeria Police Force shall be under the command of the Inspector-General of Police and contingents of the Nigeria Police Force stationed in a state shall, subject to the authority of the Inspector-General of Police, be under the command of the Commissioner of Police of that state.

“This informed my Bill for the Creation of State Police with adequate provisions in the mode of financing, control, and appointments of the high commands of such state police services to insulate them from any forms of abuse and give citizens roles in the various State Police Service Commissions.

Unfortunately, this has not received the requisite political support, I call on the President and political stakeholders, once more, to seize the opportunity of the widespread demands for police reforms by Nigerians to do the right thing, addressing the structural challenges”.

Continuing, he stated: “Nigeria is the only federal state with unitary police. It has never worked anywhere. It is not working here and it will never work.

“Therefore, whether we call it SARS or SWAT, we will only be addressing the symptoms instead of the diseases until we decentralise policing to allow citizens and the states take charge of the security of lives and properties of its people.

This is the more reassuring way of addressing the mounting challenges of corruption, excesses, indiscipline, abuse, inadequate and poorly-motivated manpower as well as lack of equipment and security infrastructure currently bedevilling policing in Nigeria”.

The lawmaker added that one of the lessons from the END SARS protest was that Nigerians could always engender the changes they desired if they acted as one.

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, was at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akeredolu, who secured his second term in office by winning last Saturday’s governorship election, presented his Certificate of Return to Buhari.

Speaking with State House correspondent afterwards, he called on his current deputy, Agboola Ajayi, to resign if he still has any honour in him.

Ajayi had dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) first to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

He finished third in the poll after Akeredolu and PDP’s Eyitayo Jegede.

Akeredolu has made it clear that even if Ajayi refuses to resign; his days are numbered since a new deputy would soon be inaugurated.

He said, “God has given us victory, who am I to harbour enmity against anybody? it is not necessary. So, if he (Ajayi) comes back, if he has honour anyway, he should resign and leave as Deputy Governor if he has honour.

“But if he decides not to, if opportunities are there, I am sure the party will take a decision on him because he is no longer in our party, he has gone to another party.

“He has been in three parties within a month, wonderful man. From APC to PDP, from PDP to ZLP, he is a wonderful man.”

#ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos state, today, held a moment of silence to honour those who have lost their lives during the protests.

The protests which have gone on for six days has so far been marred by use of force by police. With reports of police firing teargas, live ammunition, water cannons to disperse protesters.

On Saturday, Jimoh Ishaq, a 20-year old student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology was killed, after police opened fire on protesters in Ogbomosho, Oyo state. Others were injured in the process.

On Monday, a bystander, 55-year-old Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo was killed in Ojuelegba area of Lagos state, after Police opened fire again to disperse protesters.

According to Amnesty International, ten (10) lives have been killed by the Nigeria Police during the #ENDSARS protests.

After the urgent formation of a new Police unit “SWAT” after the dissolution of “SARS” by the IGP Adamu, Nigerians have poured out their serious frustration.

The IGP made it known that the new SWAT unit will be occupied by the member of the former SARS unit – So what are the real changes made?

SWAT as we all grew up to know means “Special Weapons And Tactics” – and they’re like the strongest unit in the police, they’re only deployed for special operations.

When you hear the word SWAT, this is the image formation you should have in your brain;

As a result of this, Nigerians have been coming up with the actual meaning of what the IGP means by S.W.A.T – Maybe this is what Adadmu mean:-

S – SARS
W – With
A – Another
T – Title

Cause you can’t dissolve a unit cause of the menace to pose to the society and redeploy the same members to another newly created unit and expect a different result.

So Guys 

Apart From This SWAT Meaning “SARS With Another Tittle” – Which Other Meaning Do You Know?

Let’s hear from you…

Nigerian bride calls off wedding outside church after finding out ‘groom slept with bridesmaid’

A viral video shows a Nigerian bride insisting she won’t go ahead with her wedding, despite pleas.
.
According to reports her refusal to continue with the wedding has to do with her finding out her groom allegedly slept with her friend who was also her bridesmaid.

The woman was said to have learned of her partner’s alleged indiscretion while on her way to a church in Garki, Abuja, last week Saturday, October 3.

Watch below:-

Nigeria Police have announced that members of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) will not be deployed to the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).

The Force Headquarters confirmed this on Wednesday. Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, gave five ‘important facts’ about the new unit.

The points are:

1. No personnel of the defunct SARS will be selected to be part of the new Tactical Team;

2. Operations of the new Tactical Team will be strictly intelligence driven;

3. Members of the new Tactical Team will by no means embark on routine patrols;

4. The new team are barred from indiscriminate and unlawful search of phones and laptops;

5. Operatives must be free of any disciplinary matter especially those touching on misuse of firearms or abuse of human rights.

The Police had ordered all SARS personnel to report to Abuja.

The security agency also assured that prospective SWAT members will undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility.

They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide next week.

Personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State.

Those from the Police Commands in the North and South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Osun State, respectively.

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, has warned that it may get worse if the Federal Government fails to handle the ongoing protest with the urgency and seriousness it deserved.

There are fears in the air that the ongoing protest in major cities in the country may soon become uncontrollable.

And Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, noted that despite the killings by armed police personnel and attacks by pro-SARs thugs, the protest is gathering momentum.

“10 people murdered in the last few days during the #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria protests,” Fani Kayode tweeted.

“Armed thugs sent out to disrupt the protests in Abuja yet the protests are growing.

“If this matter is not handled with the urgency and seriousness it deserves, things will fall apart,” he said.

Recall that following the protest, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, was disbanded days ago.

And the police Inspector-General on Tuesday announced the formation of another unit in place of SARS.

The development has heightened tensions as the youths refused to leave the streets.

Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, Tuesday ordered all the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, personnel to report to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.

The officers are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties. Disclosing this in a statement, Frank Mba, the forces PRO, said: “The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a Unit, which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, re-orientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties. The Unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, Public Relations practitioners, Civil Society and other Human Rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.

Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS. Prospective members of this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.

They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week. While personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.

The Senate said Tuesday protests across the country by Nigerians, especially the Youth against the activities and actions the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force have yielded results as that led to President Muhammadu Buhari dissolving the body.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja during plenary, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan Tuesday who noted that the conduct of the disbanded SARS was uncalled for and totally unacceptable, said that it became very imperative for the body to go against the backdrop that no country would tolerate their overbearing nature and very oppressive in nature.

According to Lawan, members of SARS forgot that they were being funded by government funds and that when the people were pushed to the wall, they had no option than to rise up against the body. Lawan was contributing to a motion titled ”

End SARS protest: the Death of Jimoh Isiaka and the attack on the Palace of Soun of Ogbomosoland: Need to put our security operatives on their toes and sponsored by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, All Progressives Congress, APC, Oyo North. Lawan who noted that erring officers would be brought to book, however urged protesters to sheath their swords so that peace would reign, adding, ” the protests have yielded the desired results and those culprits involved in the killings should be brought to book.”

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday observed one minute silence in honor of late Jimoh Isiaka and other Nigerian youths who lost their lives due to the unprofessionalism of some members of the Nigeria Police Force.

Earlier in the presentation of the motion, Senator Buhari who came under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Orders as Amended said that ”

The Senate: Notes with grief the death of J imoh Isiaka and several other promising Nigerian youths whose lives were cut short at their prime during the recent ENDSARS PROTEST which started on 8th October,2020.

Further Notes that the right to peaceful assembly and free expression are fundamental principles of any democracy, and section 40 of Nigerian Constitution (1999) guarantee the right of every Nigerian to peaceful protest.

Informed that under Intonational Law, one of the duties of state and its law enforcement agencies is to facilitate the enjoyment of right to peaceful protest, and the 1990 United Nations basic Principles on the use of Force and Firearms by Law enforcement officers provides that, in the disposal of assemblies that are unlawful but non-violent, law enforcement officers shall avoid the use of force or, where that is not practicable, shall restrict such force to the minimum necessary.

“Observes with regret that the protest on ENDSARS snowballed into confrontation between the security operatives and the protesting youths in some part of the country and even turned violent in Ogbomoso, Oyo State for instance, as Nigerian police were alleged to have injured seven protesters and shot dead a young man known as J imoh Isiaka, a constituent of mine, during the protest.

“Also Observes with sadness that as a reaction to the death of J imoh Isiaka, the palace of the paramount ruler of the city The Soun of Ogbomosoland was attacked by the protesters, several properties and vehicles were wantonly destroyed and many palace officials sustained injury. “Notes that the Inspector General of Police has forthwith disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in response to the calls by many Nigerians.

“Convinced that non-violent protests have been a feature of democracy, with demonstrators calling for a declaration or a cancellation or even expressing their displeasure at a particular decision of government, so while preserving freedom of speech and legitimate protest is of course imperative, attention must be paid to how security operatives handle peaceful; protest with professionalism. Also yesterday, Senate Services Committee, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, All Progressives Congress, APC, Niger East has hailed the Youth for leading the Movement against SARS, even as he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for instructing the Inspector- General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu for disbanding the body. In a statement yesterday, Senator Musa said,

“Throughout 2020 our focus has been on addressing and cushioning the effects of COVID19 – a disease caused by a virus that we cannot see. However, more recently, Nigerians have gathered in their thousands, across all regions as a united force, to combat a virus that they see and fear daily.

“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has been the topic of many discussions, particularly with regards to human rights violations and police brutality. We were recently on-lookers as Americans gathered en masse to demand police reform, many of use shared the hashtags and the frustrations, but these same issues are occurring here at home and Nigerians have decided that enough is enough.

“The evidence against SARS is not short of damning, from reports from Amnesty International to videos and witness statements that indicate not just a flagrant abuse of power, but a societal menace that affects everyone. “Despite multiple previous attempts to reform SARS, there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that the unit remains a danger to the people it was created to protect.

I commend the prompt action of President Muhammadu Buhari for the condemnation of the abuse of power and police brutality recently perpetrated by SARS operatives. And the directive to the Inspector General of Police to immediately dissolve the SARS, which already the IGP has issued orders in that direction.

“The first step to change is acknowledgement, Nigerians as a whole have embarked on this cause, and I anticipate an end that will reflect the government’s commitment to protect and secure its citizens. “I join many Nigerians in the sentiment that if change and reform are not effective in SARS – the only viable option is the dissolution.

“I applaud our youth for leading the movement and exercising their democratic right to peaceful protest. I urge you to continue on the path of action taking as this is how nations are built. I commend you for your resilience. I stand as an ally in this movement as a Nigerian first, but also in my capacity as a lawmaker.

“Moving forward, I stand willing to support this cause. Be through providing support for victims and their families or in the Senate where I trust my peers and I will continue to be advocates of continuous reform and development in all aspects, including the Nigerian police force.

“Finally, I join all Nigerians in sending my heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones that have been affected by the menace perpetrated by SARS operatives. History will remember those that answered the call. May Allah continue to guide and protect us, and our beloved nation.”

Popular comedian Ayo Makun, known as AY has said that the average Nigerian police needs to be retrained.

The stand-up comedian said this while speaking to journalists at the #EndSARS protest in Lekki.

He called on the government to organize a master class for them as he compared them to the police in other countries.

AY described comparing the Nigerian police to those abroad as derogatory.

He said police abroad regard suspects’ welfare even when under arrest unlike in Nigeria.

Largely, he blamed it on how the government paid the police.

He said the government should improve police take home pay and re-orientate them, “then we are on course for reforming Nigerian police.”

The Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID-19, has given the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, the go-ahead to reopen orientation camps across the country.

Speaking at their daily media briefing in Abuja on Monday, the PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, however, said that announcing the date for the reopening remains the responsibility of the NYSC.

“We have had further conversations with the NYSC; we have actually given them a date but the announcement of that date remains the responsibility of the NYSC,” he said.

Mr Aliyu lamented that all the states of the federation had failed to meet the testing target set for them, saying, however, that it was only the Federal Capital Territory that met its target.

According to him, Nigeria set a target of conducting 600,000 tests for the virus.

He said:

“With the reopening of schools, the PTF remains concerned about the long-term impact of COVID-19 on education and eventually our economy.

“As of today, we are approaching about 600,000 Nigerians that have been tested for COVID-19. This might sound like a huge figure but it is actually quite low.

“Our target is for every state to test at least one per cent of its population. Only the FCT has achieved this target.

“Lagos is fast approaching (target), with about 97 per cent achievement. But other states are barely above 25 per cent.

“What it means is that most of us do not actually know our status and this becomes even more important as we continue to relax our restrictions.

“We know that coronavirus spreads silently and it spreads quickly, which is why we must follow safety measures at all times especially in our schools.”

In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha, warned against a second wave of the pandemic in Nigeria.

The PTF Chairman said the taskforce would soon unveil the next steps regarding the remaining phase of the eased lockdown.