Nigerian actor, Tchidi Tchikere has revealed that he bought Chloroquine tablets at almost 6 times the usual price.
The hike in price comes after Donald Trump wrongly claimed that the FDA approved the drug for the treatment of coronavirus.
In a press briefing on Thursday, March 19, President Trump said that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine – drugs used to treat malaria and severe arthritis – were approved by the Food and Drug Administration to test as a COVID-19 coronavirus treatment.
However, the FDA made clear in a post-briefing statement that said “there are no FDA-approved therapeutics or drugs to treat, cure or prevent COVID-19.”
The FDA said in the statement that it is working with government and academic entities that are investigating whether chloroquine can be used “to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to potentially reduce the duration of symptoms, as well as viral shedding, which can help prevent the spread of disease.”
Trump’s statement was far-reaching and so was the effects, as people, including Nigerians, are now rushing to buy the malaria drug, and this has led to a hike in price.
Tchidi Tchikere said he bought a small pack of Chloroquine, which used to be 700 Naira, for 4,000 Naira.
He wrote: “JUST BOUGHT CHLOROQUINE NOW FOR 4,000 NAIRA PER SMALL PACK. USED TO BE 700 NAIRA PER PACK..NAIJA! EXPLOITATION.”
Nse Ikpe-Etim, the Nigerian actress has revealed she has gone into self-isolation.
According to the actress, she just returned from the UK which is one of the high risk areas for the coronavirus. Therefore, she is self-isolation according to the directives of the NCDC.
She explained on Instagram that she is not displaying any symptoms of the coronavirus but will keep isolating till the coast is clear.
She wrote: Hi lovelies,
Yesterday, in the morning, I returned to Lagos from the UK – one of the countries listed as a COVID-19 hotspot by the Federal Ministry of Health.
I am presently in Self-Isolation according to the directives of the NCDC and in constant communication with them. So far, I have not displayed any symptoms of the Coronavirus.
However, I will maintain my isolation and keep people at bay till the coast is clear. I hope everyone is responsible enough to do the same. Avoid public gatherings as much as you can. Wash your hands and sanitize them often. Stock up your home with essentials, while being considerate to others so they too can and most importantly, don’t panic. This too shall pass.
Photos of one of the corps member who died in a fatal accident which occurred along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja expressway in Kogi State, has been shared on social media by his friends.
Comrade Sanni Saliu, a graduate of the Kogi State Polytechnic, was travelling home from Umuahia, Abia State, with another corps member when a trailer rammed into their car, killing them instantly. read here
It has been reported that the other victim is Saliu’s brother.
Friends have gone on Facebook to mourn the corps member.
President of the Loveworld Nation popularly known as Christ Embassy, Chris Oyakhilome on the 10th of March 2020, donated a 1 billion naira Faculty of Engineering building to Benson Idahosa University, in Benin City, Edo State.
At the commissioning of the Faculty of Engineering complex in Benin, Pastor Chris revealed that ArchBishop Benson Idahosa, the late founder of Church of God Mission taught him and others, many lessons while they were under his tutelage.
He said the lessons helped to shape his ministry till today.
Pastor Chris donated N1billion for the upgrading of the Faculty of Engineering of the university, during its special convocation in 2015.
He stated that though he grew up from a Christian home, he met a totally different personality in the person of his late mentor, Arch Bishop Idahosa, when he began fellowshipping in his church many years ago.
“Archbishop Benson Idahosa taught us to be kind to the poor and to support the government.
“He taught us to dress well, he taught us to be clean, he taught us to speak be educated, he taught us to speak well.”
“My dad preached the gospel too. My mother was amazing. They brought me up very well, but when you talk about the ministry, there was nowhere to look but the Archbishop.
“As a minister of the gospel, the Archbishop taught us the word, he taught us worship and praises. He taught us to dress well, he taught us to be clean, he taught us to be educated, he taught us to speak well.
“We didn’t know that anywhere else. I grew up in a church, but the first day I entered Church of God Mission, on a Sunday morning, I thought I had raptured, I thought I was in heaven. It was completely different from where I was coming from,” he said.
Pastor Chris said his contribution to the building of the Legacy campus of the University was part of his contribution to the legacy of the late Idahosa, adding that he counted it as a honour done him.
“We are the legacy of his word, we are the legacy of his message. It is my joy to be a part of this. It is my hope that everyone will think about what he could really contribute to it.
“I am his legacy, you are his legacy, this is our campus, it is the campus of the legacy of Archbishop Benson Idahosa.
“We are his fruits. I count myself highly honored to have been given the opportunity to be here.
“This is one University we all need and we have to have it. It is the vision of God. Think of what you can do. Everything you can do in this University, do it, dream of it,” he said.
Big brother Naija 2019 star, Natacha Akide has been dragged by some Nigerians on social media after she partook in “wash your hand” challenge, to teach her fans how to properly was their hands during this time of Coronavirus.
While making the video, the TV star pronounced Coronavirus as ‘Conoravirus’ and since then, her page has been buzzing with remarks from some Nigerians who feel she’s too big to make such an error.
It was probably a slip of tongue which could have happened to anyone, but some people were obviously not ready to let it go.
The Federal Government has added Sweden and Austria to the list of high-risk countries following the outbreak of coronavirus.
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the announcement at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja.
“We have identified two more high risks countries – Austria and Sweden which were added in the past 24 hours to the list,” He said.
On Wednesday March 18th, the Federal government announced the restriction of travellers from 13 countries identified as high risk countries with over 1000 recorded cases of Coronavirus. They are China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland.
In a new update to her followers, Tacha, has said she’d not be returning to her homecountry. Stating that Lockdown in the UK is much more better than a lockdown in Nigeria.
“Nigeria, I’m not coming oh. I’m not coming back. I Natasha Akide is not coming back. Conora, sub corolla.. I’m not coming back..”, she could be heard saying in the video.
In the wake of the battle against the deadly Novel CoronaVirus, Nigerian Media Personality, Daddy Freeze has stated that medical science is the greatest healing miracle.
According to Daddy Freeze, hospitals are the real healing centres, not deliverance and healing houses.
“All the deliverance healing houses are closed while the real healing house; the hospitals are open. It is now clear that medical science is the greatest ‘healing’ miracle. Another Daddy Freeze prophecy being fulfilled”.
“Medical science remains the one of the greatest miracles. God gave us brains to be used, not for ornamental purposes. ~FRZ”
A video making the rounds on social media shows the moment controversial Senator donated the sum of One thousand Dollars to local movie industry, Nollywood.
This is coming just Days after he was asked to be removed as the patron of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), due to the reported ‘slap’ he landed on a lady in an Abuja sex-toy shop some months ago.
Unperturbed by the rallying calls by some actresses, most notably Hilda Dokubo and Kate Henshaw, Sen. Elisha Abbo donated $1000 (Which is about 420,000 when converted at the rate of 420 per dollar) to Nollywood.
Nigerian singer, Mr. Eazi is celebrating the birthday of his lover, Temi Otedola, who clocks a new age today.
Mr. Eazi took to his IG page to share a loved-up of them posing together with the caption:
‘More Life to my Queen, my love @jtofashion May your light keep shining & never Die!!! Wish you great Health, Wisdom, Peace, Love & Joy!!! Omo to Shan!. ‘
The Mountain of Fire Ministries has suspended deliverance services and house fellowship in its churches in Ogun and Lagos following the confirmation of coronavirus cases in the states.
According to MFM Assistant General Overseer (Administration) Pastor Gbesan Adebambo, deliverance services are to be cancelled while house fellowship meetings in the various states are to be suspended until further notice.
The memo reads in part;
“Interim arrangement for ministerial services in Lagos and Ogun states MFM Regions.
“No services including deliverance ministrations must hold in any of MFM branches at all levels in the Region under your supervision until further notice.
“Likewise, all house fellowship meetings at any of the centres are postponed till further notice.”
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh took to Instagram to share a video of her son telling her what he doesn’t like about her bikini photo.
In the adorable video, King Andre is seen taking the photo off the wall then telling his mother that he doesn’t like it because she is “too naked” in it and she’s not wearing shoes.
Tonto wrote in the caption:
I have never been checked in my life, no one cld have the power to do that. But this kid right here… . . . Kia the joy of parenthood.. The joy of waking up to your child/children The joy of holding them…
Kenneth Copeland, an American Televangelist may have just sparked controversy after he made a comment about what Christians must do in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The multimillionaire televangelist told his viewers not to stop paying their tithes and sowing seeds even if they lose their jobs because of coronavirus. According to Kenneth Copeland, people’s source of income is not their job, but Jesus.
He said; “Fear of this coronavirus is faith in its ability to hurt you or kill you. The fear of “What are we gonna do? I’m getting laid off at work!”
“Hey! Your job’s not your source. If it is, you’re in trouble. Jesus is your source! Whatever you do right now, don’t you stop tithing! Don’t you stop sowing offerings.”
“Well, they won’t let us go to church!”
“Well, email it in, then! Text together. Something. But you get your tithe in that church if you have to go take it down there and drop it off… stick it under the door or something. You get that tithe in that church, you get that offering in that church, and then you go home and do what you’re supposed to do.”
Two NYSC corpers have died in a ghastly motor accident along Ajeokuta-Lokoja expressway on Thursday.
According to an eyewitness, Ma Bebe, the deceased Corps members died when a lorry rammed into the Toyota Corolla car they were travelling in.
“Terrible accident happened along Ajeokuta-Lokoja express between toyota corolla car and a lorry, why driving down from umuahia to Abuja…
When i checked, it was two dead copers, nobody knows where they were coming from and going to…. Its was horrible. rip to them”
Ben Murray-Bruce has just lost his beautiful wife, Evelyn Murray-Bruce to cancer.
The 64 year old Businessman took to his Facebook to announce the sad news.
I’m broken. Just lost my beautiful wife to cancer. She was my best friend for 43 years and my wife for 41 years. Cancer is real, but it shouldn’t be a death sentence – awareness, and early detection and treatment are key to survival. I miss her so so much. I’m broken.
Our children are devastated, I am too. But I have to be strong for them. Please put our family in your prayers. Like the sun, my wife was a blessing and touched the lives of everyone she met. Though she’s gone, she’d remain alive in our hearts forever.
I miss you, my sweetheart, and my most beautiful girl, Evelyn Murray-Bruce. Forever yours, ❤️.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has reacted to outcry over President Buhari not addressing the nation over the recent coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Lai Mohammed stressed that the Nigerian leader may not say anything new as all information about the disease has been made available to Nigerians. He told newsmen that President Buhari will address the nation at the right time.
Lai said;
“When it is appropriate, Mr President will address the nation. But, I think what you want to hear from Mr President are the kind of things we are telling you.
“This is not to preempt or second guess Mr President, I think he will do the needful.”
A heartwarming video currently trending on the internet shows moment an 80 year old pensioner in a coronavirus lockdown in Spain, was brought to tears after her neighbours surprised her with a cake for her 80th birthday.
The Woman named Charo from Lavapies, Madrid, was called by her neigbor, and when she opened the door she discovered a birthday cake placed on a table outside her front door.
Immediately Charo stepped out of the apartment, her neighbours started singing “Happy Birthday” from their apartment windows.
A neighbor of Charo, Nacho explained to Sun UK that the 80-year-old woman is “going through a tough time.”
He continued: “The least we could do as neighbours is support each other. Charo is 80 years old, she is a person at risk. We do not know what is going on with our homes, but she is lucky because she has a contract for one more year. However, others have been evicted.
“She is going through a tough time and the least we could do as neighbours is support each other, especially where vulnerable people are concerned.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo has disclosed that they are making arrangements for SS3 candidates preparing for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to be taught some core subjects via radio and television.
In an interview on LTV’s ‘Lagos Today,’ the commissioner said teachers would pre-record lessons in eight subjects for broadcast on radio, television and online. The core subjects are: English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Literature-In-English, Financial Accounting and Economics.
Folashade who advised public and private schools to comply with the closure of schools in the state, added;
“You know in our classes there are lots of children and children will always play with each other.
“So it is to protect our children; we agreed that all schools should just shutdown.”
Nigerian journalist, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo has disclosed that an anonymous ‘Big’ Nigerian celebrity has just tested positive to Corona virus.
Sharing the news via social media platforms, Twitter and Instagram, she warned Nigerians and celebrities who attended the recent AMVCA award night and an undisclosed night club in Victoria Island, to isolate themselves immediately.
She also advised Nigerians to the take preventive measures seriously by washing their hands regularly, wearing masks, and staying far away from celebrities for now.
In her words;
#BREAKING. If you attended #amvca2020 last weekend and a Victoria Island popular club I can’t mention you need to ISOLATE YOURSELF IMMEDIATELY. Follow my Twitter account @kemiolunloyo.
Also PLEASE ABSOLUTELY NO CELEBRITIES OR MEDIA, BLOGGERS MUST DM ME OR CALL. I’m only good at giving vital information as a Journalist. As a Pharmacist I’m trained under HIPAA laws in the USA. I cannot reveal names die to HIPAA. Google! The patient is now receiving treatment. Cases today in Nigeria are now 12 people in Nigeria.”
Seun Kuti, the youngest son of legendary Afrobeat godfather Fela Kuti has expressed his concern over the recent outbreak of the deadly virus, Corona, also known COVID-19.
The quite bold and outspoken music star took to his Instagram page to state what Nigerians should learn from the epidemic.
Seun also clearly stated that hunger would kill more African people than the wild spread of Coronavirus.
He shared the image above and captioned it, ” All the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on DEFENCE, has actually been spent on destroying the other, not protecting humanity or the planet. It is obvious that the world is unprepared to defend itself from a real enemy!! It is clear that all you can do as DEFENCE is to blow up black and brown people and destroy the environment. #getthesax. By the way hunger is killing thousands everyday, where is the hysteria on that!! Listen if u are African take care but also you know death is close by, no be corona kill them for Amuwo Odofin ooo!!”
A British woman battling coronavirus has explained how her body feels as she fights the deadly virus that has swept through the world, killing thousands.
46 year old Mandy Charlton who is a mother of three and a photographer, was admitted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle on Friday evening with a temperature of more than 38 degrees celsius and says it felt like she ‘had swallowed glass’ and her whole body was on fire
According to Mandy she sleeps 20 hours a day and has been taking paracetamol to recover, and she usually wakes up feeling drenched and tired.
Mandy, from Newcastle, said to Metro UK on Thursday: ‘I know my temperature was once 37.9 and once over 39. I have a weird dry cough which hurts.
‘My body has felt like it has been on fire, waking up drenched, horrible. I’ve had flu before but this was something else. ‘When it came to the hospital saying I was well enough to go home and self-isolate, I asked how I would get home.
‘They said I could wait nine hours whilst they tried to get some isolation transport or I could ask a friend. ‘I had a panic attack at that point, thankful for my best friend who risked her own health to get me home. ‘I don’t for one moment blame the doctors or the nurses, I wholly place the blame on the government.’
‘One of the nurses said I was lucky to be admitted when I was.
‘At the moment they’re coping, but in a few weeks they won’t be. The porters weren’t even given masks. ‘I asked one of them and he said the day before they’d had to wear plastic visors but then on that day, Friday, they’d been told they would be fine without any protection. ‘The paramedics were having to borrow masks and aprons as they’d run out.’
Some NSYC members who survived a near-death accident were seen praising God in a video making the rounds on social media.
Some of the corps members had blood stains on their clothes, some sustained injuries and had their uniforms torn after they survived the near-death accident.
Reverend Father Mbaka has released his priestly anointing on the Novel coronavirus disease that has become a global Pandemic.
There are currently 12 confirmed cases of the disease in Nigeria, and Father Mbaka known for regularly giving prayers regarding the affairs of the nation has now spoken about the novel coronavirus.
Speaking at a program at the Enugu Adoration ground during a special prayer for disease on Thursday, the cleric said : “To those who believe in God, all things are possible. No matter how it has defied people, it cannot defy God.
“Coronavirus, wherever you came from, be it any name you answer- caterpillar virus, Venza virus, corolla virus, I command you to be ceased, in the Holy Ghost fire! “Children of God, when you go home, circulate the message that a man of God known as Fr. Ejike Mbaka told you to not be afraid of coronavirus, be courageous it will soon be a thing of the past.
“Fear is a dangerous omen if you become perplexed; it shows that you don’t believe so much on God’s power. Ebola came, it died off. This one will also die off. It is like bird flu disease, it will come and go. I know that the whole world is waiting to hear for the message that will come out from this place, but the message I have is that the disease will soon go.
“Under the priestly anointing, I release healing to the entire world, particularly where the disease is ravaging so much, let there be healing, let there be sunrays always, which is one of the antidotes to the disease. God release drug that will cure it in Jesus name.”
Emeka Rollas, the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria AGN, today asked one of his followers on Instagram to ” go and die” after she inquired when he would drop controversial Senator Elisha Abbo as a patron of the guild.
Emeka Rollas
See the exchange below ;
The Senator currently has a case in court for attacking a woman at a sex shop in Abuja last year.
His appointment as patron of AGN has been rejected by veteran actors Hilda Dokubo and Kate Henshaw, over the said assault case.
The Federal Ministry of Education has ordered the immediate closure of tertiary institutions nationwide.
This is as part of measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the country. Sonny Echono, permanent secretary of the ministry of education, disclosed this on Thursday.
“We have directed all higher institutions to close this weekend. Unity Schools that have completed their exams are to close immediately. Others are to hurry and close the latest on 26th March,” he said.
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has addressed the nation via social media on the state of the CoronaVirus Pandemic.
According to a statement signed by the President’s spokesman for media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the president assured Nigerians that the Government is on top of the situation.
The statement reads in full ;
Nigeria, like every other country around the world, is dealing with the unexpected and unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Muhammadu Buhari administration has taken some steps to mitigate the effects on the Nigerian people.
To prevent the spread of cases imported into Nigeria, the President has already ordered the restrictions of travel from 13 countries, each with more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Government has also suspended visas issued to nationals of these countries. The restriction will take effect from March 20 and will remain until further notice. While Nigeria delights in welcoming the world, the safety and protection of our citizens and land must take priority.
The various agencies of government including Media owned by the government have embarked on vigorous campaigns promoting hygiene measures. There are, currently, very stringent regimes of checks at the points of air and sea entry into the country. The effort Nigeria is making as is well known, has already received the commendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The Presidency wishes to assure Nigerians that government is on top of the situation. There is no cause for panic. So far measures put in place are working efficiently. What this country is doing has been recommended as a template.
The President trusts the relevant Ministers in his cabinet and the officials of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), who are providing him with constant updates and professional counsel. These officials have a track record of competence.
The President instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to reduce the pump price of fuel. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a crash in the global price of crude oil, and the President decided that every Nigerian should benefit from this.
Subsequently, the NNPC announced a 20 naira deduction, and the pump price of fuel has now been reduced from 145 naira per litre to 125 naira per litre.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday announced a credit relief of N1.1Trillion Naira to businesses affected by the pandemic. The Bank has also established a facility for household, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and announced a reduction of interest rates for loans from 9% to 5%.
We do not want to create panic. But we will continue to update the Nigerian public with relevant information. We plead with every Nigerian to cooperate with the government in the fight against Covid-19 and obey all instructions from the NCDC. We have a high level Presidential Coordination Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). This body should be allowed to carry out its duties.
We also plead with Nigerians not to see this most peculiar of times as one to be politicised or seen as an opportunity to regurgitate grudges against the government or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). North, South, East, and West – all Nigerians must unite to fight this plague, irrespective of religious or ideological affiliation.
In this regard, populist advocacies such as the one accusing the President of “complacency” simply because he has not made a television address by ranking members of our respected parliament are cheap and sensational. These are not the times for populism and cheap politics.
President Buhari thanks all those at the forefront of the fight against the deadly disease.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 19, 2020
A trending video on social media captured the moment an Asian woman was kicked out of a Ghanaian supermarket for reportedly refusing to use a hand sanitizer.
According to the information gathered, the incident occurred at the Supermarket shortly after the woman who refused to use hand sanitizers provided for shoppers by the Management, touched some items on the shelves.
While being dragged out of the supermarket, the lady insisted that throwing a person out of the supermarket was against the laws of Ghana. She was however told that Ghana is not her country.
