Television Nigerian

A United States-based Delta State indigene, Mr. Tommy Onovbiona, has queried the preparedness of both the Federal and Delta Government in curtailing the spread of the dreaded coronavirus COVID-19.

Onovbiona, said this in a statement made available to Vanguard.

According to Onovbiona: “Do we have any standard hospital in Delta State or in Nigeria where people infected with this virus can go to for treatment and cure?

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Lagos State discharges one new patient

Recalling the case of his sister, Queen Omonode, who died along with four other school principals in an auto-crash in Delta State three years ago due to the poor medical facilities in Nigeria hospitals, Onovbiona recalled, “She was alive at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) without treatment. Her right shoulder was bandaged up with cardboard as she laid in intensive care unit ICU, dying for six days. UBTH refused to provide her medical records to the US hospital where she was going to be treated. The hospital could not provide any medical record, which the Florida Air Ambulance team needed to determine her flight survivability from Nigeria to Florida. Fast forward three years to now, nothing has changed to our health care system in Delta state or Nigeria as a country.”

Onovbiona said he hopes that COVID-19 will become a reality check for Nigerian government officials, who are now trapped at home unable to escape to Europe for medicare, with no welcome flights to anywhere and are now being forced to patronise the country’s dilapidated hospitals.

“This is the time for them to build state of art the hospitals. We need hospitals equipped to meet western standards. Incentives should be provided to attract the best workers (fully solar powered with standby generator for emergency use only – monthly testing to ensure that it is working properly) to show that we are capable as Deltans and as Nigerians,” he stated.

VANGUARD

All copyrights for this article are reserved to TheNigerian News

In his contribution to curbing the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19 in Osun State, philanthropist and politician, Olubiyi Fadeyi – Ajagunla has called on the state government to set up 600-bed mini hospitals with full amenities and disinfect strategic locations in the state, with Ejigbo township as one of the centres.

In a statement signed by the former candidate of African Democratic Congress ADC in the Osun State central Senatorial election, also urged the administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola to seek the assistance of the Federal Government.

According to Fadeyi – Ajagunla, “Osun government should request for N2.5billion as well as seek the support of corporate, private sectors and NGO’s to help to provide amenities for the proposed centre.

“The state needs protective gears, face masks, hand gloves for the front-line workers and to start the training of more front-line workers to combat COVID-19 pandemic. In my private capacity, Ajagunla Foundation will increase ongoing distribution of hands sanitizers and surgical masks to the people of the state,”said Ajagunla.

He advised the government to enforce a law of ‘No Mask, No Movement’ even after the 2 weeks restrictions placed on the state. He further charges the government on the need to give daily briefings to the citizens of the state in order to avail them with the knowledge about the approach and mechanism put in place to curb the spread of the deadly pandemic in the state.

Recently Ajagunla Foundation, founded by him commenced the distribution of hand sanitizers across the 10 Local Government Areas in Osun Central and also extended cash gift to his constituency to ameliorate hunger in the ongoing lock-down period.

Hollywood actor-turned-lawmaker, Desmond Olushola Elliot has described his social media critics as “agents of negativity” for deriding his hand wash donation to his Surulere constituents.

Reacting in an Instagram post yesterday, the visibly angry lawmaker berated the social media community for their habit of not seeing anything good in whatever other people have done.

He particularly lamented the alarming rate at which negativity thrives on social media, adding that he’s always attacked in spite of the good works he has attempted to do in his Surulere constituency.

According to him, while he is not averse to criticisms, anyone criticising him must be constructive, in addition to taking into considerations his other previously accomplished projects.

The lawmaker lambasted bloggers and social media users for peddling negativity, and rarely doing anything to support in nation-building.

“Normally, I would have ignored them, but this has to do with life and death due to the COVID-19; a response from me is very necessary this time. I got a couple of messages from people showing me the backlashes and criticisms going on social media concerning my hand washing project.

The actor-turned-politician had come under social media criticism a few days

after he showcased his hand-washing project to support the Lagos State government in combating the spread of COVID-19.

Some Nigerians on social media seemed unimpressed with the project and they expressed their dissatisfaction.

Amidst the struggle to curtail, and to successfully end the era of Covid-19, Nigerian Bishop, Sam Zuga of House of Joy Ministry, who recently unveiled the solution to tackle the dreaded disease and other ailments, has written an open letter to President Muhammad Buhari and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, seeking permission to use his spiritual formula H2O+NaCl+C12H22O11+ 33°C = 37²7/322 on Nigerians in a 7-day healing festival at Ribadu square, Yola – Adamawa State. The Healing  Festival is slated to  take place from 14th of April.

The highly respected Bishop wishes to let the president know that millions of Nigerians have benefited from his free medical treatment programs using different formulas revealed by God, while reminding the governor of Adamawa State that the same program has been going on in Nurses House Yola and all Local Government headquarters in Adamawa State for the past 6 months with amazing testimonies until the lockdown order.

His letter reads:

“Your Excellencies, President Muhammad Buhari through Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, I wish to turn Adamawa State to become a medical destinations like India and Germany.

I want to share with you the formula that would make Coronavirus bow; H2O+NaCl+C12H22O11+ 33°C = 37²7/322. It is a combination of water, salt and sugar boiled to a certain temperature. 3 teaspoons of salt, 7 cups of water fetched with plastic cup. It must be a plastic cup. The 3 spoons of salt should be added inside the water, then 7 cubes of sugar. Place it on the fire, boil it for 7 minutes. The boiling temperature should be 33°C . When they all come together, it would become a Solution. This formula shall be served by drinking a cover of any bottle water, 3 times in the morning, 2 times in the afternoon and 2 times at night 7 days. Those that don’t have a cover of bottle water, can use table spoons. 7 covers of any bottle water from the solution can also be added inside the bathing water of the patient.

The formula is not just for Covid -19, but any other chronic disease. Once any patient start taking it, they should expect a reaction from the third day, regardless of how chronic or deadly the ailment is. On the 7th day they shall receive a total healing and can go for a test/checkup in the hospital on the 8th and receive your good news.

Your Excellencies, I seek your permission to use the above mentioned Formula to heal the people of Nigeria, through a healing festival slated to commence from 14th of April, “if permission to go ahead is granted” and also to be  permitted to organise same healing festival in the Six (6) Geopolitical zones within the month of April.  Over 3 million Nigerians have benefited from my free medical treatment programs using different formulas revealed to me by God, same program has been going on in Nurses House Yola and all Local Government headquarters in Adamawa State for the past 6 months with amazing testimonies until the lockdown order.

Although, Adamawa State has not recorded any case of coronavirus, they can bring other medical cases with reports and watch them and to also Conduct test on them after 7 days of my treatment with this formula, they would be retested for a different outcome.

This formula is for all; Christian, Muslims, pagans and all. But you must say these prayers before it would work.

“Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you today. I am a sinner, forgive me my sins. From today, I accept you as my Lord and personal saviour. Heal me, Jesus Christ, so that I will serve you all the days of my life. Thank You Father for saving and healing me. In Jesus name..Amen!”

However, this formula can only work between 1st to 30th April 2020, is not a forever formula just as the bronze snake of Moses is not a forever treatment for snake bite. This is just a Divine intervention for this hard times.

The House of Representatives is to consider a fresh Stimulus Bill that will ensure that Nigerians get free electricity supply for two months to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Speaker Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said.

The Speaker said the proposed Bill is to help in boosting the economy through the informal sector as the country prepares for the aftermath of the coronavirus.

The proposed Bill, which will be the second Stimulus Bill by the Green Chamber, is to be considered immediately the House reconvenes from its ongoing break, declared due to the pandemic.

It has, however, been agreed by the leadership of the National Assembly that the resumption date, initially slated for April 7, will be extended by one week in compliance with government’s 2-week stay-at-home policy.

Gbajabiamila spoke at the National Assembly on Saturday during a meeting between the National Assembly leadership and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmad, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, among others.

The Senate President, in his opening remarks, noted that the meeting, the second in about 10 days, was a testimony of the commitment of both arms of government at addressing the issues holistically.

He assured that the Nigerian parliament would perform its constitutional roles towards ensuring that Nigerians benefit from all efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of the disease.

While noting that Nigerians must be assisted to weather the storm of the virus, Lawan added that critical decisions needed to be taken but must be legal, which makes it important that the legislature is part of the entire process.

On his part, Gbajabiamila said the country could not afford to be unprepared for the effect of Covid-19 on its economy.

Explaining the necessity for the proposed stimulus bill for the electricity sector, the Speaker said electricity, being a commodity consumed by every household, has a greater effect on the people and that since more Nigerians are in the informal sector, the effects would be more felt by the economy.

“The issue of electricity, you’ll agree, because the Minister did say that she has been inundated by the public, just as we are, on several suggestions and ideas and I am almost a hundred percent sure that, from those ideas will be the issue of some kind of shelter, as far as electricity is concerned.

“It is one thing that will touch every household. As I said earlier, when we engaged, I discussed with the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) that packaged whatever they would require, if the government can give them, for us to allow for two months free electricity for Nigerians, they would be able to guarantee it.

“We have figures. I think we should look very seriously into that as part of our package for economic stimulus because stimulus means something that will stimulate the economy. When you are stimulating the economy, most of it will come from the informal sector.

“When you are saving people their electricity and the fact that they now have stable electricity for two months, you are also saving the monies that would go into the payment of those bills at least for two months.”

On the need by the Executive arm to source for funds in the fight against coronavirus and its socio-economic effects, the Speaker restated the determination of the National Assembly to partner the Executive in efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of the disease on Nigerians and the economy.

He, however, noted that all government funds and private donations must be transparently accounted for.

He said: “Definitely, you will be taking loans from the Special Accounts, and as the Senate President said, it has to be backed by law, which again emphasizes the need to collaborate as earlier stated by the Minister.

“There has to be a collaboration. It cannot be a unilateral decision from the National Assembly; it can’t be a unilateral decision from the Executive; there has to be a collaboration. I’m glad that we are on that trajectory.

“I’m glad that my earlier discussion with the Honourable Minister on food and other items seized by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has been taken care of, as stated by the Minister.

“We need to, as soon as possible, and let the public know. On the issue of Presidential Task Force (PTF), none of us here, I don’t think any legislator can point to, who exactly is in charge. Where does the buck stop?

“Who is in charge of the disbursement? Who is in charge of the distribution of cash? Who decides what money goes where?

“Now, it is incumbent on the National Assembly to follow the money. Constitutionally, any money that comes into Nigeria, there has to be oversight.

“That is why, we in the House have directed our Committees on Health, Disaster Management and Preparedness and Donor Agencies to talk to the PTF, talk to the Minister of Health and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“I wrote letters to all these people, but I wasn’t sure where exactly the buck stops. We need to clearly define exactly who is handling the money, who is handling what?

Gbajabiamila also urged the Finance Minister and her team to consider all options put forward by experts on preparation against the economic effects of coronavirus outbreak.

Earlier, the Minister for Finance, said among other measures, the establishment of a N500bn Covid-19 Crisis Intervention Fund is on the table.

She said the money is expected to be raised from various Special Funds and Accounts in consultation with and with the approval of the National Assembly.

The intervention fund will be utilized to finance the Federal Government’s support to state in improving their healthcare facilities and also finance the creation of a Special Public Works Programme

She also explained the need to revisit the 2020 national budget has become imperative, saying, “It has been established that Nigeria is currently facing significant fiscal risks due to the worsening global economic outlook.

“Specifically, Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the current global economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis; and exposed to the risks of both a pronounced decline in oil prices and spikes in risk aversion in the global capital markets.”

With Lagos and Ogun states’ businesses and firms projected to lose N1.08 trillion and N119.5 billion respectively, in terms of productivity during the two-week Federal Government-ordered lock-down, Sunday Vanguard sought the views of Dr. Muda Yusuf, the Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the economic impact and implications on the people and industries in the two states, Nigeria, as a whole, and the West African sub-region. Excerpts:

Impact of the two-week shutdown of the nation’s economic nerve centres of Lagos and Ogun states

The lock-down of Lagos has far-reaching implications for the Nigerian economy, the Lagos economy, the welfare of the people, government revenue, business losses and many more.

The impact is far beyond Lagos. Being the commercial nerve centre of the country, Lagos feeds the other states with many products used either for consumption or production.

Lagos is an economic and commercial hub, not just for Nigeria, but for the sub-region. Lagos ports hosts over 80% of the imports into the country.

Daily loss and envisaged loss for two weeks

The economic cost of the Lagos lock-down, therefore, will run into trillions of naira. There will surely be significant job losses. Not many small businesses can afford to retain [for long] staff that are not working.

Those of them that are magnanimous may pay for a few weeks; but majority may not be able to afford that. Besides, Lagos is host to a huge informal sector. They account for over 50% of the Lagos economy.

Many of them live on daily income to survive. The lockdown, therefore, will greatly hurt the informal sector players. They are perhaps, the most vulnerable group.

Suggestions that shutdown ought to have been staggered to prevent disruption of operations and production processes of companies

The lock-down cannot be staggered otherwise the objective will not be achieved. It is a sacrifice that we must make to avert a major health and economic crisis. It is this non-pharmaceutical solution that had worked in China to ensure the containment of the pandemic. Government does not have many options in this matter.

Brunt on patronage and consumption of essential products in food and beverages sector

The lock-down adversely affected all sectors, including the industrial sector. However, it is noteworthy that the lock-down increased the demand for essential products. Citizens prioritized their spending on food, medicaments etc.

It would thus appear that the food segment of the food and beverage sector experienced a surge in demand for their products following the outbreak of the pandemic.

The challenge, however, would be in the area of replenishment of their stocks because of the disruptions in the global supply chains.

However, industries that depend more on local raw materials will benefit much more at this time. They will generally be more competitive given the exchange rate depreciation.

Reality of work-at-home order be for business operations

Working remotely can be very cost effective and efficient. One of the major benefits of this current experience is the fact that it compels many companies to adopt the remote working model for their operations.

There are some operations that could work well with this model.

I am sure after the pandemic disruptions, many firms would embrace the practice or culture of working from home. Things have to evolve. In a cosmopolitan city Lagos, this practice needs to be imbibed by many organizations.

It would reduce the traffic congestion on Lagos roads. It is also good for the welfare of the workers because it saves them the stress of driving through the sometimes-horrific Lagos traffic.

Supply chains disruptions with states indiscriminately shutting borders to vehicles bringing food items to Lagos and southern markets

Food security will be at risk if there is no proper coordination and control about the various directives by state governors closing interstate borders.

This is recipe for chaos. It would compound the hardship of the citizens and may create a food crisis. For instance, a cosmopolitan city like Lagos, with a population of over 20 million depends largely on other states for food supply.

This closure of interstate borders would create a major problem of food shortages across the country. Such closures are not in consonance with the presidential directive on exemptions of some vehicular movements in the country. There is a lot of work to do to ensure the coordination of states restriction policy.

Effectiveness of government palliatives in face of looming hunger

There is a major problem with the appropriateness of the palliatives announced by the President. The school feeding programme for instance is not relevant at this time.

All schools are closed already. There is the issue of the currency of the database of the vulnerable people. It was compiled few years ago.

The segment of the vulnerable that should be targeted at this time are the urban poor, many of them are in the slums of Lagos especially, and other states currently on lock-down.

This was the expectation around the palliatives that was anticipated in the wake of the pandemic and eventual lock-down. The pre-COVID 19 pandemic palliatives should be markedly different from what should happen at this time.

There is need for a comprehensive review of social intervention programmes to bring it in alignment with the current social crisis resulting from the Corona virus pandemic. The context has changed; therefore, the intervention model should change as well.

The much-touted stimulus package

A stimulus package of N3. 5 trillion is staggering and unprecedented. There were additional policy measures announced by the CBN to cushion the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the Nigerian economy.

It is an initiative that is laudable. But effective targeting is important to achieve the desired outcomes. Certainly, it would have positive enterprise level impact on businesses that can access the facility.

It will impact their liquidity and operating cost. Other complementary measures announced by the apex bank include a one-year moratorium on CBN intervention facilities; interest rate reduction on intervention funds; creation of N50 billion credit facilities for SMEs; restricting and refinancing opportunities for existing facilities; activation of N1.5 trillion InfraCo project for building infrastructure; N100 billion facilities for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare practitioners, and N1 trillion loans to boost local manufacturing and production across sectors.

The health sector component of the fund is particularly laudable because the most critical issue at the moment is the fixing of the looming public health crisis.

Therefore, focusing on the health sector is perhaps the most important thing to do at this time. This is a time to prioritize measures that can deliver quick wins.

It is also important to ensure seamless access to the funds, especially by the small businesses [without compromising the security of the funds]. Many SMEs have complained in the past about difficulty of access to the intervention funds

Problems with the measure

However, like in most economic challenges, monetary intervention can only fix a fraction of the problem. There are fundamental macro-economic issues that investors would still have to contend with.

These are issues around the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on crude oil price, exchange rate depreciation, and depletion of foreign reserves, inflationary pressures, stock market slump and general investors’ sentiments.

These are critical drivers of investors’ confidence. Unless the external sector normalizes, there is very little domestic policy responses can do to fix these disruptions, especially in the light of the vulnerabilities of the Nigerian economy.

Need to bolster purchasing power of Nigerians

The interventions are focused largely on the supply side of the economy. However, a supply side stimulus needs a complementary demand side fortification otherwise there would be the unintended outcomes of unsold inventories build up. It is therefore, important to bolster purchasing power of citizens which has been decimated by the slump in economic activities. Both fiscal and monetary measures are imperative to make this happen. Meanwhile, we await the guidelines that would spell out the details of how the facilities would be managed.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun

James Ogunnaike

As the much anticipated lockdown in Ogun state begins Friday night, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Friday disclosed that the State is targeting 500,000 households in its stimulus package to cushion the economic effect of the exercise on the masses.

He equally declared a total “no movement” from Friday 3rd April till Tuesday morning of 7th April across the state.

Abiodun, who made the declaration, while addressing newsmen at his private residence at Iperu Remo in Ikenne local government area of the state said the total lockdown of the state for the first three days is to allow for complete fumigation of the state.

ALSO READ: Lockdown of Lagos, Ogun, FCT: You’re wrong, Buhari is right, Malami replies Adegboruwa

The governor also announces that the third index case of COVID-19 who was tested positive about 14 days ago, was expected to be discharged Friday evening having shown considerable improvement in his health condition.

He explained that the relief package, which comprised of 5kg each of rice, beans, “gari”, as well as tomatoe pastes, vegetable oil, salt and seasoning cubes among others were principally targeted for poor and the vulnerables in the state.

While appreciating the support and donations from well meaning Nigerians in the efforts to fight the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic, Abiodun singled out a-9 year old  Oluwasikemi Ogunleye who donated a sum of #950 as her personal contribution for the management of Covid-19 challenges in the state.

The governor explained that the total lockdown would be relaxed at every 48-hours beginning from 7a.m Tuesday morning till 2p.m in the afternoon for residents to replenish their food stores while the lockdown lasts.

Abiodun further declared that the state government would begin to enforce compulsory wearing of face mask as from Tuesday morning of 7th April till the expiration of the lockdown.

He also announced that the state taskforce constituted by his administration to monitor the daily report and distribution of the stimulus packages from state government to all the 236 wards of the state.

Vanguard News Nigeria.

All copyrights for this article are reserved to TheNigerian News

As the much anticipated lockdown in Ogun state begins Friday night, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Friday disclosed that the State would be relaxing the total lockdown at every 48-hours.

According to Abiodun, this will begin from 7a.m Tuesday morning till 2p.m in the afternoon for residents to replenish their food stores while the lockdown lasts.

He also stated that the state is targeting 500,000 households in its stimulus package to cushion the economic effect of the exercise on the masses.

He equally declared a total “no movement” from Friday 3rd April till Tuesday morning of 7th April across the state.

Abiodun, who made the declaration, while addressing newsmen at his private residence at Iperu Remo in Ikenne local government area of the state said the total lockdown of the state for the first three days is to allow for complete fumigation of the state.

The governor also announces that the third index case of COVID-19 who was tested positive about 14 days ago, was expected to be discharged Friday evening having shown considerable improvement in his health condition.

He explained that the relief package, which comprised of 5kg each of rice, beans, “gari”, as well as tomato pastes, vegetable oil, salt and seasoning cubes among others were principally targeted for poor and the vulnerable in the state.

While appreciating the support and donations from well meaning Nigerians in the efforts to fight the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic, Abiodun singled out a-9-year-old Oluwasikemi Ogunleye who donated a sum of #950 as her personal contribution for the management of COVID-19 challenges in the state.

Abiodun further declared that the state government would begin to enforce compulsory wearing of face mask as from Tuesday morning of 7th April till the expiration of the lockdown.

He also announced that the state task force constituted by his administration to monitor the daily report and distribution of the stimulus packages from the state government to all the 236 wards of the state.

James Ogunnaike

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, while appreciating the support and donations from well meaning Nigerians in the efforts to fight the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic, singled out a-9-year-old girl, Oluwasikemi Ogunleye, who donated a sum of N950 as her personal contribution for the management of Covid-19 challenges in the state.

Abiodun also disclosed that the State is targeting 500,000 households in its stimulus package to cushion the economic effect of the lockdown exercise on the masses.

He equally declared a total “no movement” from Friday 3rd April till Tuesday morning of 7th April across the state.

Abiodun, who made the declaration, while addressing newsmen at his private residence at Iperu Remo in Ikenne local government area of the state said the total lockdown of the state for the first three days is to allow for complete fumigation of the state.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Lockdown: Abiodun gives food items to stranded students

The governor also announces that the third index case of COVID-19 who was tested positive about 14 days ago, was expected to be discharged Friday evening having shown considerable improvement in his health condition.

He explained that the relief package, which comprised of 5kg each of rice, beans, “gari”, as well as tomatoe pastes, vegetable oil, salt, and seasoning cubes among others were principally targeted for poor and the vulnerable in the state.

The governor explained that the total lockdown would be relaxed every 48-hours beginning from 7a.m Tuesday morning till 2p.m in the afternoon for residents to replenish their food stores while the lockdown lasts.

Abiodun further declared that the state government would begin to enforce compulsory wearing of face mask as from Tuesday morning of 7th April till the expiration of the lockdown.

He also announced that the state taskforce constituted by his administration to monitor the daily report and distribution of the stimulus packages from state government to all the 236 wards of the state.

Vanguard News Nigeria.

All copyrights for this article are reserved to TheNigerian News

… Oyo records new case

…FG proposes N500bn fund

By Chioma Obinna

The race to trace the contacts of a man who died of coronavirus in Lagos on Friday began yesterday. His coronavirus status was unknown because his friend who took him to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Thursday unconscious didn’t disclose it.

The 55-year old victim just returned from Holland.

He earlier performed a coronavirus test at Yaba, according to a statement by LUTH’s Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, which turned positive.

The statement also revealed that the victim was a diabetic hypertensive patient who had a transplant for chronic kidney disease and was on immuno-suppressant drugs.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, described as unfortunate the news of the first COVID-19 death in Lagos but the fourth in the country.

The other deaths were recorded in Edo (two) and Abuja (one).

READ ALSO: COVID-19: LUTH 120-bedded isolation centre ready for use — Bode

As of yesterday, there were 209 confirmed cases in the country spread across 13 states and the FCT with 25 patients discharged. Lagos topped the  list with 109 cases. The breakdown:

FCT- 41

Osun- 20

Oyo- 9

Akwa Ibom- 5

Ogun- 4

Edo- 7

Kaduna- 4

Bauchi- 3

Enugu- 2

Ekiti- 2

Rivers-1

Benue- 1

Ondo- 1

No new cases were announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday.

The developments on the Lagos death came on a day the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, met with the leadership at the National Assembly on an executive proposal to establish a N500 billion COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund.

Contact tracing

The LUTH statement said its Department of Community Medicine had moved swiftly to trace, follow-up and assist gallant staff who managed the deceased patient.

It further implored all LUTH staff to continue observing strict standard protocols while handling all patients as medical personnel are especially at increased risk from such undisclosed exposure.

Details

Giving details about the incident in the statement, they said: “A man was brought unconscious to LUTH Emergency late in the evening of Thursday 02/04/2020 by his friend and although they denied any history of recent travel, his presentation strongly suggested Covid-19.

“He was handled professionally by the Infectious Diseases Consultant and his team without unduly exposing LUTH staff to danger. He died a few hours later.

“Further investigations later revealed he had earlier performed a test at Yaba soon after he returned to Nigeria from Holland and the test was positive. He was a known Diabetic Hypertensive patient. He had also had a kidney transplant for chronic kidney disease and was on immuno-suppressant drugs.

“The corpse has since been handed over to the appropriate unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Health for safe burial according to international best practices.”

Required items

The statement added that all efforts are being made to ensure the availability of all required items to continue the effective management of such cases that come to LUTH.

The management also added that efforts are also in top gear to complete the isolation facility in LUTH for management of any possible spillover from the Yaba Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, if the surge in patients’ load continues.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Abayomi, described as unfortunate the news of the first COVID-19 death in Lagos.

The Commissioner, on his twitter handle- @ProfAkinAbayomi, said: “I regret to announce the first COVID-19 related death in Lagos State.’’

According to him, the deceased, a 55-year-old Nigerian male, lived in Holland and returned to Lagos two weeks ago but failed to provide full account of his travel history or medical circumstances to the attending doctors in keeping with the global trend and to enable guided treatment for COVID-19 related vulnerability due to severe underlying ill-health.

Abayomi said the patient, however, showed some signs of an upper respiratory chest infection and later tested positive for COVID-19 but died in the early hours of April 3, 2020, from cardiac arrest.

“He had a kidney transplant seven years ago and also diabetic. May his soul rest in peace”, he said.

N500bn intervention fund

Meanwhile, the meeting the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had with lawmakers was a follow-up to the one held on March 25, 2020, between the National Assembly leadership and members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

Also in attendance were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege; Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, and some principal officers of both Chambers.

N500 billion

According to the minister, “what we are proposing is the establishment of a- N500 billion COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund. This Fund that we are proposing to be created will involve mopping up resources from various special accounts that the government has.’’

She added that the proposed intervention fund would also be sourced from grants being expected and loans from multilateral institutions.

“Our general view is that this crisis intervention fund is to be utilised to upgrade healthcare facilities as earlier identified. The Federal Government also needs to be in a position to improve health care facilities not only in the states but to provide intervention to the states,” she said.

Ahmed explained to the lawmakers that the Fund if approved would also take care of special public work programmes currently being implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

Vanguard

All copyrights for this article are reserved to TheNigerian News