Showing posts with label COVID-19. Show all posts
Showing posts with label COVID-19. Show all posts

Resumption: FUNAAB debunks ASUU's Chairman's claims, insist on resumption

Resumption: FUNAAB debunks ASUU's Chairman's claims
.....says it is politically-motivated

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Kolawole Salako has described as political, mischievous, baseless and unfounded the university's ASUU chairman, Dr. Adebayo Oni's claim in the media that the school is not prepared resume academic activities.

Debunking the claim on Monday at a news conference, Prof. Salako said there was much to it than meet the eyes, dismissing it as a politically-motivated statement intended to satisfy selfish curiousity.

The University's Management reaction came even as the Leadership of the students Union passed a vote of confidence on the Vice Chancellor and the readiness of the university to resume virtually and physically.

Prof. Salako told journalists at a press conference on Monday that all measures had been put in place, including the fumigation of the campus for not less than ten times since March, 2020.

He added that the management had been producing its own hand sanitizers as well as the procurement of hand-washing basins and soaps needed to keep the students and members of staff safe from contracting the virus.

To validate the management's position, Prof. Salako took the journalists on tour of some newly completed and rehabilitated buildings that have been equipped with latest technological gadgets to aid virtual teaching and learning.

The Vice Chancellor added that the buildings also have equipped laboratories, auditoriums, lecture theaters, classrooms with each being 50-seated, 100-seated, 200-seated capacity as well as newly constructed and renovated administrative offices and hostels.

He hinted that about 150 solar panels have been installed in some of the buildings to provide alternative sources of electricity and aid the planned hybrid system of academic activities.

According to Prof. Salako, "the university is ready to receive students both online and physically and we are going to ensure that all the students adhere to covid-19 protocols.

"One things that this administration is known for is that we are not just building, we are equipping. We are committed and responsible to ensuring that things work in the school despite the threat posed by Covid-19".

He lamented that students are tired of staying at home, promising that the management would do everything possible to cover the academic gap caused by the closure of the campus.

Covid-19: How Muyiwa Ademola’s wife, Iyabo Ojo saved my life – Lola Alao

About two weeks ago, popular actress, Lola Alao who is now based in Canada, opened up on how she battled for COVID-19 and narrowly escaped death.

According to her “there is a thin line between life and death. Covid-19 is just around your corner, stay safe, my people I am writing this because I got a second chance to live, I tested positive to it but I am fine now. To God be the glory”.

Lola Alao has now given an in-depth recount of the whole experience and the major role, actor Muiywa Ademola’s wife and Iyabo Ojo played in saving her life.

She told Dr Seye Kehinde thus:

First and foremost, I will like to glorify God Almighty for his kindness and giving me a second chance, I am indeed grateful.

Honestly, I was scared, I was just begging God to spare my life for the sake of my kids and my family that I am taking care of and give me last chance I was just begging God for forgiveness and spare my life because I am not better than people that didn’t survive it.

It was a terrible experience but I thank God for blessing me with a good family, who didn’t relent in their prayers, then Iyabo Ojo, she was there I don’t know how to thank her, if there is going to be another world, she will be my blood sister, she really tried for me then my friend Bisi Alimi, despite knowing my condition, she wanted to come in and take care of me but I didn’t let her she was always going round getting herbs and everything I need. God bless all of them, then my kids despite the fact that I was avoiding them, they didn’t leave me, we were all taking the treatments together, they kept saying mummy, we are all in this together.

Why did you say we are lucky in Nigeria with getting treatment for Covid-19?

Because, the herbs are almost everywhere in Nigeria, but it is difficult to get over here and once you get it, it is pretty expensive you need to go to some special store to get organic things.

Why did you decide to go home instead of staying in Isolation Centre?

I am an African woman and I already know much about the virus, for me, I feel the care I will get at home, I can’t get it at the hospital, no caregiver will go and get herbs for me to drink and inhale, I was even giving cold water to drink at the hospital and ordinarily, I am supposed to stay away from cold water, I am not saying they don’t treat people well there, Canada has one of the best healthcare facilities in the world but I wanted to treat myself with herbs.

So you treated yourself with both drugs and herbs?

No, what I took is herbs to treat myself, then I took talon, which is the same as panadol, then I took some little drugs for cold, but I focused mainly on herbs to treat myself for Covid-19 like I said earlier on, I took the herbs solution, inhaled it, inhaled the aboniki and hot water solution and I started sweating it out, and I didn’t relent, I kept doing it continuously and am still doing it.

What is your advice to people watching you concerning all these?

Do you know that people that are really educated don’t even believe there is Covid-19, some were like, how would have Covid-19? My advice to them is that they should be very careful it can happen to anybody, please and please take the necessary precaution people die from this virus on a daily basis please be careful. I decided to voice out so that people can be very careful. Covid-19 is real, I am a living witness and I have my two results with me, the one that proved that I had the virus and can’t go to work, and the one that cleared me and over here, they just leave you to your fate, they follow up, always checking up to know if you are getting better or worst. Someone said celebrities are having Covid-19 and not dying, yes because they quickly did the needful someone who is ignorant might just waste his or her life like that because you believe it is not real. Please if you feel funny go to the hospital and run the test, if it is positive, Isolate yourself and don’t infect others.

All through the crisis I stayed at home and didn’t see anybody, my friend Bisi stood by me and helped me with almost everything, then Muyiwa Ademola’s wife kept calling, when I was not picking, she came to the house but was not allowed in, God bless Muyiwa Ademola’s wife for me, despite everything she never stopped coming. God bless you my darling sister.

There is actually a thin line between life and death I kept begging God to spare my life for the sake of the children. It was indeed a terrible experience, I could not stand up and even do anything I had to teach my daughter how to give a sponge bath, she was the one always cleaning me up, I don’t pray for my enemies to go through that horrible experience, so please kindly help me preach it in Nigeria that Covid-19 is real, nobody is paying anybody to say they got infected. It is real.

How long were you really down?

Two weeks, but that 2 weeks was like 10 weeks for me, it was terrible the painful part is that most people don’t believe it is real, I reposted your post and my friend said Lola Covid-19 bawo, I just started laughing, please take precaution Covid-19 is a respecter of nobody, do your ginger, garlic and lemon paste and always drink, sanitise your hands and use your nose masks, someone might be infected and not be coughing, apart from feeling weak and running temperature, I didn’t have any symptoms relating to Covid-19.

Apple cider with vinegar is also very good this period, I remember sometimes when I had this severe cough, I added it inside hot water and drank it and I vomited and felt better, but I stopped using it because it is not good for people suffering from ulcer.

Honestly, there is actually nothing about this life, absolutely nothing, so please if you feel I have offended you in any way, please forgive me and I don’t have anything against anybody too. There is nothing about this life.

COVID-19: Principals Say FCT Schools Ready For Reopening

Principals of secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said safety measures have been put in place for students to resume classes.

The president, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), FCT chapter, Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulrahman, who made the statement, stressed that principals were satisfied with the arrangements put in place by the FCT Administration to ensure that students did not contract coronavirus when they resume.

He spoke during the distribution of 10,000 units of three-in-one protective equipment against COVID-19 for students across the FCT at Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja.

Alhaji Abdulkarim insisted that principals were prepared for reopening as safety guidelines had been put in place.

“Coronavirus is not a threat to FCT schools because the principals have braced up for reopening of schools, especially with the necessary provisions by the administration.

“We are happy and set for commencement of classes because the FCT Administration, through the Education Secretariat has provided all the necessary medical materials needed to ensure safety in the schools,” he said.

He explained that the items, which were donated by Kas Arts Service Limited, would be shared based on zones and across schools under the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Secondary Education Board (SEB) and Science and Technology.

According to the breakdown, schools under UBEB got 600 cartons of nose masks, sanitizer and face shields.

NCDC announces 4 deaths, 216 fresh COVID-19 infections

The health agency said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3 had continued to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

It disclosed that the new infections were recorded in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NCDC stated that of the 216 new cases, Plateau had the highest number with 59, followed by Rivers, Abia, and Lagos which had 27, 22, and 20 respectively.

Others were Oyo – 18, Enugu – 17, Kaduna – 11, FCT – 11, Ogun – 10, Ebonyi – four, Osun – four, Ekiti – four, Delta – three, Edo – three, Akwa Ibom – two, and Bauchi – one.

The health agency said that this brought the total number of infections in the country since its first index case in February, 2020 to 54,463.

It noted that those who had lost the their lives to the virus in country increased by four, raising the death toll of infections to 1,027.

The health agency also said that the number of recoveries in the country increased to 42,439 after 429 more patients were successfully treated and discharged from various isolation centres in the country.

It added that as at Monday, Nigeria had a total of 10,997, recoveries.

NCDC stated that this represented 20.19 per cent of the total confirmed cases with 77.92 per cent recoveries and 1.88 per cent deaths recorded.

Meanwhile, the health agency noted that the success of the public health response to COVID-19 was not dependent only on the efforts at the national level.

It said it was also dependent on the actions of various communities and individuals to adapt the messages and solutions to their local context.

“One good thing from Nigeria’s polio experience is a well developed vaccine delivery mechanism.

“What we now need to do is ensure we have the right data on immunity levels of our population to guide decision making around prioritisation within our context,” it said

Source: News Agency Of Nigeria

Buruji Kashamu dies of COVID-19

Sen. Buruji Kashamu is dead. He died of COVID-19, Sen. Ben Bruce announced on his Twitter handle.

“I have just lost my good friend of forever to #COVID19. Until his death, Sen. Buruji Kashamu and I were inseparable. He died today at First Cardiology Consultants, in Lagos. May his gentle soul rest in peace. I pray his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this heavy loss”, he wrote.

Buruji Kashamu was a Nigerian politician, born May 19, 1958. He served as a Senator representing Ogun East at the 8th National Assembly.

COVID-19: Nigeria approves return of sports

The minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the return of non-combat sports after sporting activities were suspended as a result of COVID-19 pandemic in March.

It also approved the use of recreational parks for supervised physical exercise only.

Sports ministry eager to resume sporting activities amid COVID-19 crisis
YSFON president, Gawuna urges youths to sustain interest in sports
It emphasised recreational parks are not to be used for social interaction purposes, asking those unable to enforce this to remain closed.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, disclosed these during its briefing in Abuja.

“For recreational parks/communal sports, restrictions are removed on outdoor communal non-contact sports and the use of recreational parks for supervised physical exercise, not for social interactions.

“For recreational parks that are unable to enforce this, we expected them to remain closed.

“For outdoor non-contact sports, this includes lawn tennis, table tennis, squash, badminton, cycling, athletics, golf, polo, para-athletics, cricket and other non-contact outdoor communal activities, in the event that people are not certain, please contact the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for further guidance,” he said.

Some other non-contact sports are cricket, tennis, badminton, golf, bowling, bowls, swimming, diving, gymnastics, sprinting, running.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the return of non contact sports.

“On behalf of Sports loving Nigerians, I wish to thank President Buhari, through the PTF on COVID-19 for approving the return of non-contact sports in the country.

“All non-contact sports listed must obey the COVID-19 Sports Protocol,” he said in a tweet on his Twitter handle.

COVID-19: Five to get death sentence for obstructing mobile court

The Suspect

A Magistrate Court, sitting in Chediya, GRA, Zaria, has declared that five persons arraigned before it may get a death sentence or life imprisonment for obstructing the sitting of a mobile court enforcing the COVID-19 movement restriction.

According to the Magistrate, Mustapha Dahiru Isah, his court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, but the offence was an attempt to commit homicide, which penalty was “life sentence or the death penalty.”

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The court, therefore, ordered the remand of the suspects, Alhaji Bello, Ibrahim Adamu, Sadam A. Mohammed, Basiru Abdullahi and Habibu Bello, in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility pending an advice from the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice on the next line of action and adjourned the matter to September 19, 2020.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Abdullahi Rilwanu, on behalf of the state commissioner of police, said on 31st of May, 2020, Lamido Abubakar Esq, Magistrate of the mobile court, reported to the Area Command Office of the Nigeria Police in Zaria that the suspects, all of Maraban Gwanda, Sabon Gari, Zaria, had chased him away as the Magistrate of the mobile court stationed in the area.

Inspector Rilwanu also told the court that Magistrate Abubakar told the police that the suspects had attacked him and his auxiliary staff with clubs where he sustained injuries on his finger and leg.

The suspects, according to the prosecutor, also damaged parts of the Hilux bus attached to the court, saying that the acts were a criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit homicide, causing hurt, and obstruction of public servants from performing legitimate duties.

The offenses, according to him, contravened sections 59, 222, 199, 228 and 317 of the penal code of the Kaduna State laws 2017 as amended.

‘Suspects randomly picked’

Some relatives of the suspects, seen at the court premises by our correspondent, however said that their brothers were “randomly picked without any investigation.”

They said, on condition of anonymity, that the fracas happened when hundreds of motorists protested the death of a 70-year-old driver as members of vigilante attached to the court arrested him and attempted to arraign the deceased before the mobile court.

“So, our relatives were just picked because their houses were close to where the mobile court was stationed.

“Actually, those that chased away the Magistrate of the mobile court were motorists plying the Zaria-Kano express road, as their colleague died in the hands of the vigilantes attached to the court.

“They are doing this to us because we are villagers and we have nobody to stand by us.

“Allah is fully around.

“We are appealing to all well-meaning Nigerians to intervene for our relatives to have justice,” one of them said.

Lagos State COVID-19 Enforcement Taskforce was attacked at the weekend with guns at a hotel in Ipaja

Osigold Hotels and Bar, No 15 Apostle Soyinka Street, Baruwa, Ayobo Ipaja, Lagos shut

Lagos State COVID-19 Enforcement Taskforce said it was attacked at the weekend with guns at a hotel in Ipaja area of Lagos when it went to enforce COVID-19 compliance.

The taskforce, led by  the Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, also sealed over 10 social and religious centres due to non-compliance with the government’s directive on social distancing and ban on social and religious gathering.

The enforcement Team disclosed that the Commission, during the enforcement operation carried out late hours over the weekend sealed The Harvest Lagos, Bay Lounge, The Heavens Suites, Angle Villa Bar, Ehi Guest House and Gardens Egbeda, Mountain Top Hotels and Suites Ojodu.

The Technical Adviser to the Commission Mr. Seun Awojobi stated that while carrying out the enforcement on Friday night, the team was attacked and shot at, at Osigold Hotels and Bar in Baruwa Ipaja, Lagos.

The Hotel had over 100 people clubbing and dancing within its premises flouting the State Government’s directive and contravening the Infectious Disease Law of the State.

However, Mojola said the hotel was sealed and that the team was determined to ensure that relevant laws and safety guidelines are strictly adhered to.

He appealed to citizens to take responsibility and fight against the novel Coronavirus more seriously to complement the efforts of the government to curb spread of the virus.

Mojola enjoined the public to continue registering their businesses in line with the Register to Open lnitiative of the Government on www.lasgsafetyreg.com to ensure adequate space management and preparation against when such businesses would be allowed to open.

He warned other facilities in the State, stating that the Commission would continue to shutdown erring and non-compliant facilities across the State.

Mojola reiterated the importance of wearing a mask always as it ensured that “you are keeping yourself and other people around you from being infected.”

COVID-19: Ogun govt speaks on school reopening

The Government of Ogun State said it had set up a committee to look into the possibility of reopening schools in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

The committee will work in collaboration with the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and the Federal Ministry of Education.

The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said this on Tuesday while addressing newsmen after assessing the COVID-19 compliance level of an amusement park in Ibafo area of the state.

Salako-Oyedele, however, maintained that schools, religious and tourism centres among others, will remain closed until government’s further directives.

“Governor Dapo Abiodun has set up a committee to work in collaboration with the Presidential Taskforce and the Federal Ministry of Education to look into the reopening of schools in compliance with Coronavirus safety measures,” she said.

The Deputy Governor urged stakeholders affected by the ban to begin to put COVID-19 related measures in place while awaiting the state government’s response.

Speaking, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said the government will not let its guard down on containing the spread of Coronavirus in the state, saying it has stepped up measures on ensuring quality healthcare system.

However, no date has been given for school resumption

Covid-19: 3 Prominent Nigerians die of Covid-19 in 1 day

Covid-19 took a fatality swipe at the country as three prominent Nigerians were reported to have died on Sunday, July 5, as a result of coronavirus complications.

The three victims are Professor Godwin Achinge, J. Shalanga, and Chief Jide Odekunle who is the immediate past general manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA).

Achinge, who is the vice-chairman of Benue State Action Committee on COVID-19, died on Sunday afternoon at an undisclosed hospital in Jos where he was receiving treatment.

NCDC supervisor in Zamfara state, J. Shalanga, and two other prominent Nigerians have died of Covid-19 complication on Sunday. Credit: Vanguard and Nigerian Tribune.
A deputy vice-chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi, Achinge's Covid-19 status was confirmed by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state hours before his death.

Shalanga, on the other hands, is the state supervisor of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Zamfara, supervising the spread and control of the virus in the state.

His death was confirmed by Zamfara state commissioner of health, Alhaji Yahaya Kanoma, who said the NCDC supervisor fell sick and was rushed to Yariman Bakura Specialist hospital Gusau for treatment. He died on the way.

Meanwhile, Odekunle died on Sunday at the age of 53 at the Onikan isolation centre in Lagos state. He was until his death the Bobagunwa of Egbaland.

Thomas Macias attended the party in June, and on June 20, he wrote an impassioned message on Facebook in which he lamented ignoring social distancing.

A day after posting his regret on Facebook, Macias succumbed to the deadly disease.

Lagos schools resume Aug 3, churches, mosques remain closed‌, Ogun extends weekend lockdown by two weeks, schools to remain shut.

Lagos schools resume Aug 3, churches, mosques remain closed
• Ogun extends weekend lockdown by two weeks

The Lagos State Government, on Friday, directed that schools should reopen on Monday, August 3, for only Senior Secondary School Class 3 and Technical Schools Class 3.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated this at the 16th briefing on the COVID-19 response at the State House in Marina, adding that pupils in Junior Secondary School Class 3 would need to wait for “about a week or two before resumption.”

Sanwo-Olu also sustained the ban on churches and mosques, as well as on social gatherings, while clarifying that the schools’ reopening was only for day schooling as boarding activities were prohibited.

For the Primary 6 pupils, the governor noted that they would be graded by their already recorded Continuous Assessment to cross over to secondary schools.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had on Monday approved the “safe reopening of schools in the next phase of the gradual easing of lockdown” ordered to stop the spread of the infection.

Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, announced the gradual reopening of the schools from August 3, directing students in transitional classes, with mandatory public exams ahead of them, to resume for revision classes and examination.

He said, “Students in transitional classes, who have mandatory public exams ahead of them, are now permitted to resume revision classes and examination. All education establishments are to follow established public health guidelines and protocols for reopening the schools for these categories of students. The commencement date for this opening will be August 3, 2020, for SSS 3 and TEC 3 students only. Dates for JSS 3 schools’ reopening for revision classes and examinations will be announced in due course.”

The governor added that churches, mosques, bars and other public places remained closed until further notice.
 
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has said it is sustaining the closure of schools, churches and mosques as COVID-19 cases reached 898 in the state with 270 active cases and 19 deaths on Friday.

The state government said this in statement by Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, adding that one of the border local government areas had the highest number of cases.

The state added that it was sustaining the phase of eased restrictions for another two weeks, after which it would review and modify the guidelines.

“Schools are to remain shut. A committee has been set up to engage all stakeholders, public and private school owners, and develop guidelines for a safe reopening of our schools, especially to allow certificate classes to resume and sit for their examinations,” it said.

Another Kogi gov’s aide dies


Kogi State  Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has lost another aide. The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement in Lokoja, said  the Executive Chairman of the state Security Trust Fund, Siaka Oyibo, died on Thursday afternoon.

Oyibo’s death occurred three weeks after the governor’s Personal Assistant, Abdulateef Suleiman, died.

Fanwo, in his statement, stated, “The Kogi State Government wishes to announce the passing away of Honourable Siaka Oyibo a few hours ago. Until his death, Honourable Oyibo was the Chairman of the Kogi State Security Trust Fund.”

The statement, however, did not indicate the cause of  Oyibo’s death, unlike the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, who reportedly died of COVID-19, but the governor insisted that he did not die of the virus.

Plateau LG chairman ,Mandya,  dies in hospital

The Chairman of the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Mr Ezekiel Mandya, also died on Thursday.

It was learnt that the council chairman died at the Jos University Teaching Hospital on Thursday evening.

The Leader of Barkin Ladi Legislative Council, Mr Pam Chollom, confirmed Mandya ‘s  death to our correspondent in Jos on Thursday night.

Dung said,  “It’s true. We were with him in the morning and he was also with some people in the afternoon and there was no problem. Later, we heard that they took him to  hospital only for us to hear this evening that he had passed away. It’s really said.”

FG to involve NUT in guidelines for reopening of schools

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the Federal Government was engaging teachers in   the guidelines for  resumption of schools.

The General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mike Ene, had, in reaction to the guidelines by the PTF, told THE PUNCH that teachers would not resume because the government was not serious with what it was  doing.

But Nwajiuba said, “We are engaging them (the NUT). We as a people review the information that is available to government and juxtapose that with the needs of children who are in the exit classes so that they may obtain the minimum certificates that they need in order to progress in future.”

FG releases interim report on Madagascar’s drug, says plant grown in Nigeria

While answering a question, Ehanire said initial findings on the Madagascar’s drink touted as possible cure showed that the plant, which is the primary ingredient of the organic drink, is grown in Nigeria.

The minister said, “The preliminary result or analysis of  Madagascar’s  herb  done by the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development shows that it is the same plant called artemisia annua which is grown in farms in Abuja.

“Further research on its efficacy will be conducted when the grant for the research is approved.”

The task force’s National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, justified the government’s decision to retain the 10pm to 4am curfew despite the lifting of the ban on interstate travels.

Responding to a question, Aliyu said the strategy adopted by the PTF was to reduce social interactions as much as possible in a manner that had the least adverse effect on the economy.

He said, “When it comes to respiratory tract infection, what we are trying to do is to reduce the frequency of contact between people. So, anything you do that reduces that frequency will help towards reducing the risk of transmission.”

On when the railway would be opened, Aliyu said the sector must put in place the COVID-19 safety measures as was done in the aviation sector for reopening

FG warns medical directors over rising deaths in hospitals

Treat emergency cases on stretchers if there are no bed spaces, minister tells CMDs
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Olalekan Adetayo, Friday Olokor, Ade Adesomoju, Deji Lambo, Matthew Ochei, James Abraham, and Gbenga Odogun

The Federal Government, on Thursday, stated that  it was disturbed by increasing rejection of patients by hospitals, saying medical directors would be held  responsible  for the laxity.

The Minister of Health, Dr  Osagie Ehanire, who stated this during a meeting involving the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Capital Territory Administration and medical directors in the FCT, also lamented that hospitals were delaying testing of  COVID-19 patients, leading to increasing coronavirus deaths.

Also, at its press briefing on Thursday, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19   urged state governments  to prepare for the worst  because of the rise in the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.

An Ibadan-based businessman, Mr. Omololu Akinyosoye, who  lost a friend to COVID-19, said he was tested at the Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, on June 17 and told to come back for the result in two  weeks.

Also, many hospitals have been abandoning patients. For example, a man, Wisdom Akpan, accused the health workers of a primary health centre in the Joju area of Sango in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, of denying his sister, Rose, treatment till she collapsed and died in front of the hospital.

Attend to emergency cases on stretchers, if there are no bed spaces, minister tells hospitals

Warning heads of hospitals on Thursday, the ministers said, “No emergency should be denied attention, even if it means admitting on a stretcher or an examination couch to give lifesaving oxygen. I appeal to all medical directors, who we have specifically invited here today for this message, that we shall hold each personally accountable for the outcomes emanating from your hospitals.

“You are to kindly ensure that patients are attended to with dignity and dispatch, in the spirit in which the Honourable Minister of the FCT and I have spoken.

“I understand that health workers are rightfully concerned about their safety in COVID-19 pandemic. So, we have provided the PPE (personal protective equipment), training and an infection prevention and control protocols for doctors and nurses to discharge their duties safely, without risks to themselves.”

He also lamented that many COVID-19 patients had died while awaiting the results of their tests for the virus

The minister stated, “I have  also been informed that many patients are left unattended to after admission, or even  die, while waiting for the result of their COVID-19 or other tests, which sometimes take as long as three to six- days to be released.

“We, in the healthcare sector cannot, afford negative impact on our sector and must be mindful of the collateral damage that can befall us, wipe out disease control gains we have made in the past decades and threaten our not so strong health system.

“Efforts to control COVID-19 must not be at the expense of allowing other diseases that are equally life-threatening to begin to thrive and increase mortalities. It would be a serious setback, if medical services, especially emergency medical service, begin to deteriorate in the wake of fighting COVID-19.

 “There are places today, where we suspect that needless mortalities from other diseases have overtaken the threat of COVID – 19. We are beginning to see that fear of or focus on coronavirus is making some health institutions lose sight of other health hazards in our communities.”

While stressing that the government was deeply worried that health practitioners were neglecting their patients mainly for fear of contracting coronavirus, Ehanire said he had also directed that basic diagnostic  laboratories  be set up at the emergency centres of major hospitals.

He said, “I have directed that  side labs for GeneXpert COVID – 19 diagnostic machines, which deliver results within one hour, should be deployed and activated at the National Hospital Abuja and the UATH (University of Abuja Teaching Hospital) in Gwagwalada. I also directed that basic diagnostic side labs be set up at the emergency centres of major hospitals.

“I am talking of the frequency of reports of very sick persons being rejected and abandoned by our hospitals. Many have died having been denied attention in hospitals, or told there is no bed, often after they have made marathon journeys from one hospital to the other in search of help.

“This is not acceptable, we cannot afford to continue to lose so many of our people, who have in fact found their way to a hospital, only to lose their lives to health conditions, some of which could have been cured.”

At the PTF briefing,  Ehanire said states must beef up their battles against COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, Nigeria had recorded 26,484 cases and 603 deaths caused  by the virus, while 10,152 patients had been successfully treated and discharged.

Ehanire called on state governments to continue to prepare more bed spaces, adding the cases would  rise with  increased testing.

He said, “We are urging state governments to prepare for the worst. This rising trend requires that each state of the federation to continue to prepare more bed spaces and increase sample collection sites, as well as improve logistics to deliver to designated laboratories promptly.

“It is also important to protect the vulnerable by putting in place measures which take care of their social needs and reduce their exposure to risks of infection.”

According to him, the rising number of cases is “a sign that COVID-19 is actually expanding faster than our systems are handing it.”

Ehanire also said COVID-19 positive persons, who did not show symptoms of the virus, would be admitted in hospitals, if they had conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, among others.

He stated, “The Federal Ministry of Health’s plan will be to focus more on minimising fatalities by prioritising pre-emptive admission to hospital for medical observation, for all persons who test positive for COVID-19 and meet our definition of vulnerability, even if they do not yet have classical symptoms.”

Ehanire said with the lifting of the ban on interstate travels, the assumption should not be that the COVID-19 danger was over.

The risks of being infected, he said, were higher during travels, advising Nigerians to avoid non-essential travels.

The chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, also said with the easing of restrictions, it was expected that there would be rise in cases.

He said, “One significant observation the PTF wishes to make is that new rise in cases are to be expected as nations start to ease restrictions.”

FG says those responsible for attack on FMC, Lokoja will be apprehended

Mustapha expressed regret over the Wednesday attack on the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja and promised that the Federal Government would ensure that the culprits were brought to book.

He added, “The PTF has received, with great concern, reports about the attack on the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State by some hoodlums.

“The PTF is particularly distressed and regrets the trauma to which medical workers, patients and others who went for their legitimate duties were subjected.

“I wish to assure you that security agencies have been tasked with the responsibility for fishing out the criminal elements behind it and they will be brought to justice. We thank law- abiding Nigerians for reporting the occurrence promptly.”

COVID-19: Ekiti reopens schools, worship centres

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said worship centres in the  state may resume for services as from Friday, July 17th,  inline
with the agreement reached by the state government with leaders of religious organisations in the state.

Governor  Fayemi who disclosed this on Tuesday in a state-wide broadcast on the next stage in the State’s COVID-19 Response said arrangements are in top gear to ensure that pupils and students return to school from July 20 as recommended by stakeholders in the education sector.

He also noted that the  two largest markets in Ado Ekiti, the Oja Oba and Bisi Market, will now be open to lock-up shops only subject to
compliance with protocols stressing that street trading, makeshift stalls kiosks and open display of wares in the said markets remain
banned.

The Governor also announced that the state government has taken an N2.5 billion Life Insurance cover of N2 million each for 500 frontline
medical personnel involved in COVID-19 assignment in addition to the prompt payment of COVID-19 special allowances to qualified cadres.

However, he expressed dismay with the increasing refusal of residents to wear face masks in public which he said could spike community
transmission of the disease.

Fayemi said security agencies and the Ministry of Justice have been directed to arrest and prosecute any person caught in public places
without wearing the face mask appropriately covering the nose, mouth and chin.

Expatiating on the conditions to be met before public worship resume, Fayemi said social distancing of six feet must be observed and hand washing, as well as use of face masks, are compulsory.

According to him,  maximum capacity for each building should be determined with the six feet social distancing principle adding that the number must be conspicuously displayed outside the building.

Federal Government Inaugurates States’ Selection Committees For Post Covid19 Jobs’ and their contacts



Find in the photos the contacts of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary of each state of the Federation and the FCT below.

The jobs is an initiative of the Buhari Administration to assist Nigerians in mitigating against the pandemic for a three-month job between October-December, 2020 and will be paid directly by the CBN.

Each local government has been allotted 1,000 slots and qualifications are not needed.

The programme is being supervised by the Honourable Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Hon Festus Keyamo, SAN.
Festus Keyamo on Monday, June 29th, 2020 inaugurated the special committees for the selection of applicants on the proposed federal government Special Public Works programme.
The post Covid19 poverty alleviation programme which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari is aimed mainly at recruiting one thousand (1,000) itinerant, unskilled workers each in all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) accumulating to total employments of 774,000 Nigerians across the nation.
 
In a virtual inauguration conference jointly addressed by Dr. Nasir Ladan Argungu in Abuja, the DG, National Directorate of Employment.
The Minister announced that “they have reached this point in the progressive march towards executing the programme after the painstaking work of an Inter-Ministerial Committee he inaugurated on Wednesday, 29th April, 2020. This Inter-Ministerial Committee drawn from eight (8) Ministries and headed by the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) made far-reaching recommendations on ways and means of executing this programme, one of which is the setting up of States’ Selection Committees to identify and recruit those to be engaged under the Programme. These Committees would also be saddled with the responsibility of identifying the public works to be executed in each of the LGAs in all the States. This would be in addition to projects already identified by several Federal Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals in different localities across the country.
 
Dr. Nasir Ladan Argungu in Abuja, said, “Having accepted the recommendations, we also ensured that the composition of the Committees is multi-sectoral and local enough to balance all the competing interests in different States. Your selection, therefore was a result of a painstaking process we carried out to ensure that we make the exercise as credible as possible.
 
The 1,000 persons you will recruit per LGA would be engaged by the Federal Government between October and December this year to carry out public works that are peculiar to each Local Government Area. They would be paid a total of N60,000 each (that is N20,000 per month). They would be engaged in roads rehabilitation and social housing construction, urban and rural sanitation, health extension and other critical services. Depending on how successful the programme is or how buoyant the Federal Government’s purse is, this programme may either be extended or repeated every year. There are also various suggestions on some exit strategies for this programme, one of which is to move these workers to some agricultural projects, but nothing is concrete yet.
 
You must therefore see this task as a serious, patriotic national assignment. This programme can rightly be described as one of President Buhari’s many star programmes for the lowly, weak and vulnerable people in our society. Hence you must treat it as such. 
 
Because of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we could not all gather in one place to do this inauguration, where we could have also physically handed over to you your letters of appointments. But all the formal letters of appointments will be in our various States’ offices of the NDE this week for everyone to collect.
 
You will also notice that it is only the Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Secretaries that joined us by virtual means today. All other members in the Committees would be contacted by the Secretaries as to the time and place for their inaugural meetings and how they will proceed with the assignments. However, I direct that all meetings should be done in the various State offices of the NDE or some other neutral venues in order to avoid undue influences on the Committees.
 
Permit me at this junction to say that we are already running out of time on the execution of this programme. This is because a lot still have to be done before the various works begin in October. After the selection of those to be engaged, they still have to be captured by some selected banks we are in talks with, their account opened, and their BVNs obtained. This is because Mr President has directed that everyone must be paid through their BVNs to eliminate fraud in the programme. With this measure, no single person can be paid twice.
 
As a result, I direct that all the States’ Selection Committees have just three weeks (3) to complete the selection process and return the names of those selected to us for further processing with the banks. We are hereby releasing immediately, all the names and phone numbers of every member of the various Committees in the entire country for easy access by Nigerians in their various localities to make cases for their inclusions. Members of the Committees, in turn, will also reach out to various sectors of their different States to recruit eligible Nigerians.  The final details of how these would be done will communicated to the Committees through their various Chairmen and Secretaries.
You are therefore enjoined to wait for those details from the Chairmen and Secretaries before proceeding. These would be ready in the next few days in the form of Guidelines for the Operation of the States’ Selection Committees.
 
My belief is that if the Committees adhere strictly to the Guidelines given to them, they are bound to achieve the targets set by Mr President to reach out to 774,000 Nigerians who are largely indigent and itinerant workers. Fortunately, you are saddled with this onerous task and I enjoin you to ensure it is a success. However, the Federal Government will not hesitate to remove and replace any member of the Committees that does not adhere strictly to the Guidelines given to the Committees or acts in such a way and manner as to undermine the purpose of this programme.
 
?It is for the above reasons and in the exercise of my powers under Section 16(1) of the NDE Act that I inaugurate you today.

FG 774,000 PUBLIC WORKS JOBS 

LAGOS SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

ALHAJI MUTIU ARE 08094666601 Chairman

BARR. ELESHIN KASSIM 08033084940 Vice Chairman

HRM OBA OWOLABI ADENIYI 08097778103 Member

HRM OBA KABIRU AGBABIAKA 080340887870 Member

HRM OBA SEMIU KASALI 08033309607 Member

ENGR. BAMGBOSE MARTINS 08033055120 Member

CHIEF MRS FOLASHADE TINUBU-OJO 08060853356 Member

APOSTLE ALEAXANDER BAMGBOLA 08035030246 Member

PROF. T. GBADAMOSI 08033150657 Member

ALHAJI AKINSANYA MUSILIU 09071786474 Member

AKANNI BABATUNDE 07039028579 Member

MRS FADEKEMI OTITONAIYE 08055227420 Member

HON OMOTAYO ODUNTAN-OYELODUN 08023154764 08065085850 Member

HON. CORNELIUS OJELABI 08033196701 Member

MRS MODUPE OLA 08034017964 Member

ASHIRU OLAKUNLE 08094708077 Member

LABRAR FOLAMI 07082259555 08033257533 Member

MRS WALE ADELANA 08024459365 Member

MRS OLUFUNMILOLA BELLO 08023451299 08170585776 Member

SERENA EDWARD 08033014555 Secretary

FG approves reopening of schools, lifts ban on interstate travels and domestic flights

The Federal Government has approved what it called “safe reopening” of schools nationwide in the next phase of the gradual easing of lockdown ordered to curtail further spread of COVID-19.

However, only graduating students will resume.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja on Monday.
 
He said the reopening of schools was meant to allow students in graduating classes to resume preparation for examinations.

He disclosed that the latest developments were contained in the task force’s fifth interim report which was submitted to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), earlier in the day.

Mustapha said, “I am pleased to inform you that Mr President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that, with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase II of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020, through Midnight of Monday, 27 July 2020.

“Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect:

“Maintaining the current phase of the national response, for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatriated by the National Coordinator;
“Permission of movement across state borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July 2020;

“Enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by States, in particular, the use of face masks in public places;

“Safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations;

“Safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable;

“Publication of revised guidelines around the three thematic areas of general movement, industry and labour; and community activities;


 
“Provision of technical support for states to mobilise additional resources for the response.”

The Federal Government has also approved the safe resumption of domestic flights in the country.

The ban placed on interstate travels has also been lifted with effect from July 1, provided such journeys are made outside curfew hours.

The Federal Government has said all primary schools and daycare centres across the Federation remained closed.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the ongoing daily briefing of the task force in Abuja on Monday

REOPENING OF SCHOOLS: PTF ON COVID19 CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWINGS THREE OPTIONS

1. To cancel the two months old third term and instruct schools to use first and second terms results to promote students to the various next classes respectively.

2. Third term may commence in September and end in early December, 2020, whereas first term for the 2021 (not 2021/2022) academic session, will commence in January, 2021 and the session to terminate in December, 2021.

However, final year pupils/students who are to sit for various examinations maybe called upon to come and write their exams shortly from now.

Students and teachers to please bear in mind the above.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 245 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country

This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 7,261, Tribune Online reports.

The NCDC made this known via its Twitter handle and website on Friday. it also said that 131 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos.

“245 new cases of #COVID19; 131-Lagos 16-Jigawa 13-Ogun 12-Borno 9-Kaduna 9-Oyo 9-Rivers 9-Ebonyi 8-Kano 7-Kwara 5-Katsina 3-Akwa Ibom 3-Sokoto 2-Bauchi 2-Yobe 1-Anambra 1-Gombe 1-Niger 1-Ondo 1-Plateau 1-FCT 1-Bayelsa.”