Television Nigerian

Obiano

By Our Reporters

A human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, Intersociety, has expressed doubt over the amount claimed by the Anambra State government to have spent in its precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The group said the claim was bogus and that such amount was spent in the moon even as they doubt if any of such items claimed were actually on ground.

“It is categorically clear that the N1 billion claimed by the Obiano-led Government of Anambra State to have been spent on ‘proactive’ procurement of coronavirus prevention equipment, was only spent in the moon.

ALSO READ: COVID-19: Anambra to distribute 3m masks, fumigate markets

“This is nothing short of a total vindication of the over-inflated amount. I can categorically tell you that the N1 billion was not spent on anti-corona virus equipment.

“First, those items mentioned are sold at the Tools & Allied Market and the remainder at its neighbouring Surgical Market of the Onitsha Niger Bridgehead Central Market.

“I was brought to that Tools & Allied in late 1983 as a teen for apprenticeship and have remained there from the year of my settlement in 1993 till date and I can tell you that no other market sells those equipment in industrial quantity and cheaper anywhere in Anambra or beyond than the Tools & Allied Market.

“A supply of those items worth N300 million will dry all the items in the market, not to talk of N1 billion.

“Facemasks, for instance, were so scarce in the market and Lagos that it is very difficult to purchase 100 cartons of same today. Packed 2000 pieces in a carton now goes for N92, 000 per carton from N10, 000 to N14, 000 it used to be sold way back in January 2020; all owing to acute scarcity.”

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Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus (Covid-19), says it is yet to  receive any money from the funds donated by the private sector towards the fight against covid-19 pandemic.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a member of the committee and the Minister of Information and Culture, disclosed this on Friday when he appeared on News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum to give update on the activities of the task force in the fight against the pandemic.

Mohammed expressed dismay over reported calls by some Non-Governmental Organisation seeking the probe of the task force over the deployment of monies gathered from the donations.

READ ALSO:How mosques, religious bodies can respond to Covid-19

“We have not received even one kobo; people want us probed for how we spent monies we have not even seen.”

NAN reports that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party had, similarly called for the disbandment of the task force to be replaced by Eminent Nigerians Group to manage the donations from the private sector and palliatives from the federal government.

Mohammed said that such criticisms were unfounded.

“I can say without any fear that as of this moment, the task force has not receive a kobo from anybody.

“The only money we will be able to account for is whatever money we receive from the federal government.

“The Nigeria Economy Group-led private sector has said it is not going to give a penny to the task force; it says it will only raise the money and ask us what our needs are,” he explained.

Mohammed said that the task force had already compiled the needs.

“We have asked for more equipment and facilities, especially for those who might test positive to the virus.

“We anticipate a spike in the number of people that will test positive but there should be no cause for alarm.

“What we need now are equipment and bed facilities where those who have tested positive can be admitted because we do not want a situation where there will be no bed space.

“When people test positive, it depends on the stage. If it is mild, such persons do not need to go to hospital. It can still be managed at the isolation centres.”

The minister said that apart from the equipment such as the testing machines, ventilators and personnel protective equipment, the task force is working on ramp-up training of personnel to handle the equipment.

He said that in addition to the existing covid-19 testing centres set up by the task force, two had been newly opened in Ibadan and Abakaliki while that of Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Kano would join soon.

The Minister added that in about a week’s time, two private concerns would also set up their laboratories to start running the test which would increase testing capacity to 5,000 per day.

He said that Nigeria was also expecting the new technology that would increase testing capacity to about half a million per day.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recently said that monetary contributions by the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) had totaled up to about N15 billion so far.

According to its spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, the fund, domiciled in an account set up under CACOVID, has so far received donations from 37 donors including individuals, banks and other corporate organisations.

Details of the contributions showed that the CBN and Aliko Dangote Foundation contributed N2 billion each.

Abdul Samad Rabiu (BUA Sugar Refinery), Segun Agbaje (GTB), Tony Elumelu (UBA), Oba Otudeko (First Bank), Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank), Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank) and Femi Otedola of Amperion Power Distribution donated N1 billion each to the relief fund.

All copyrights for this article are reserved to TheNigerian News

Lai Mohammed

The Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus (COVID-19), says it is yet to receive any money from the funds donated by the private sector towards the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a member of the committee and the Minister of Information and Culture, disclosed this on Friday when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum to give an update on the activities of the task force in the fight against the pandemic.

Mohammed expressed dismay over reported calls by some Non-Governmental Organisation seeking the probe of the task force over the deployment of monies gathered from the donations.

“We have not received even one kobo; people want us probed for how we spent monies we have not even seen.”

READ ALSO: Stop this fallacy against Atiku, group cautions Lai Muhammed

NAN reports that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party had similarly called for the disbandment of the task force to be replaced by Eminent Nigerians Group to manage the donations from the private sector and palliatives from the federal government.

Mohammed said that such criticisms were unfounded.

“I can say without any fear that as of this moment, the task force has not received a kobo from anybody.

“The only money we will be able to account for is whatever money we receive from the federal government.

“The Nigeria Economy Group-led private sector has said it is not going to give a penny to the task force; it says it will only raise the money and ask us what our needs are,” he explained.

Mohammed said that the task force had already compiled the needs.

“We have asked for more equipment and facilities, especially for those who might test positive to the virus.

“We anticipate a spike in the number of people that will test positive but there should be no cause for alarm.

“What we need now are equipment and bed facilities where those who have tested positive can be admitted because we do not want a situation where there will be no bed space.

“When people test positive, it depends on the stage. If it is mild, such persons do not need to go to the hospital. It can still be managed at the isolation centres.”

The minister said that apart from the equipment such as the testing machines, ventilators, and personnel protective equipment, the task force is working on ramp-up training of personnel to handle the equipment.

He said that in addition to the existing COVID-19 testing centres set up by the task force, two had been newly opened in Ibadan and Abakaliki while that of Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Kano would join soon.

The Minister added that in about a week’s time, two private concerns would also set up their laboratories to start running the test which would increase testing capacity to 5,000 per day.

READ ALSO: How mosques, religious bodies can respond to Covid-19

He said that Nigeria was also expecting the new technology that would increase testing capacity to about half a million per day.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recently said that monetary contributions by the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) had totaled up to about N15 billion so far.

According to its spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, the fund, domiciled in an account set up under CACOVID, has so far received donations from 37 donors including individuals, banks and other corporate organisations.

Details of the contributions showed that the CBN and Aliko Dangote Foundation contributed N2 billion each.

Abdul Samad Rabiu (BUA Sugar Refinery), Segun Agbaje (GTB), Tony Elumelu (UBA), Oba Otudeko (First Bank), Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank), Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank) and Femi Otedola of Amperion Power Distribution donated N1 billion each to the relief fund.

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DISCO official disconnecting lines on electric pole

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc (IBEDC) says there will be no disconnection of electricity to non-paying customers during this period of lockdown in Coronavirus pandemic.

Its Chief Operating Officer, Mr John Ayodele made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.

According to him, this is in recognition of the current precarious and tense situation pervading the country and the whole world occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ ALSO:FCMB temporarily suspends season 7 of Millionaire promo

“IBEDC is a customers cent Ric organisation, with the welfare and wellbeing of its customers at heart.

“Therefore, management has decided to suspend the disconnection of non-paying customers to help alleviate the hardship and pressure Nigerians are facing as a result of the various lockdown across our franchise.

“Furthermore, as much as it is within our remit and control, we will ensure regular and steady supply of power to make the stay at home order more bearable bearing in mind the attendant challenges and pressure that this pandemic has brought on us,” he said.

Ayodele said in recognition of these, and to ensure safety of staff and customers, IBEDC had temporarily recalled its staff on non-essential duties from the field.

He said this was part of the COVID -19 safety protocols of social distancing and limiting physical contact.

Ayodele reassured customers that this would not in any way hinder or disrupt services.

“However, we will continue to advise our customers of their bills electronically through emails and SMS.

“Also, our staff on essential duties, the technical crew will be available to attend to faults speedily during this period, under strict supervision of our health, safety and environment team to ensure complete compliance to NCDC and WHO safety protocols,” he said.

Ayodele urged customers to take advantage of alternate hassle free payment channels to pay or vend.

He said this include online (Quickteller, Jumia, Fetswallet and payarena) or USSD (GTB,MCASH, Etranzact) for electricity, to reduce physical contact and likely exposure to the virus at crowded locations.

“They can also reach us through our call centre number 0700 123 9999 or call their business hubs directly to report faults or make enquiries,” Ayodele said.

He, however, appealed to customers to stay safe and obey all the COVID-19 safety protocols and guidelines.

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Millions of Americans without health insurance should not have to pay for any Covid-19 treatment, the White House said on Friday in Washington.

“We don’t want any American to have to worry about getting a test or treatment,’’ U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday at the White House.

Also read: Lockdown: FG appreciates Nigerians for compliance, sacrifices

President Donald Trump had instructed the White House coronavirus task force to find ways for the government to pay for treatment for the 30 million or so Americans who are not covered by health insurance.

They are working on a proposal for Trump to use coronavirus funds to pay the hospitals directly.

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A Cleric, Isaac Ogbah, has advised Nigerians to return to God in prayer to surmount the Coronavirus pandemic in the country and all over the world.

Ogbah, a Senior Pastor, God’s Signature Royal Assembly, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun, on Friday.

The pastor, also the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ota Branch, referred to the scripture (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Also read: Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II due to coronavirus

According to him, if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin and heal their land”.

He said that the only way to get over the COVID-19 was to exercise faith in God and pray to save and heal the nations.

“The current Coronavirus pandemic is a sign of the end time. We need to repent from our sins and turn to God.

”The church must prepare for the rapture and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

Ogbah urged Nigerians to do everything possible to take good care of themselves and observe all hygiene practices to ensure that they were protected from being infected with Coronavirus.

“If anyone shows signs of the infection, they should immediately call their personal physicians or the relevant Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) phone contacts”, he said.

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Ikpeazu

By Our Reporters

Abia State government has directed the Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency, TIMAAS and the Federal Road Safety  Corps, FRSC, to impound vehicles who defy the order on the restriction of movement in the state.

Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who disclosed this in a statement, explained that only individuals and vehicles on essential duties are allowed to ply the roads.

He listed those exempted from the ban to include medical workers, journalists, and those conveying food items, among others.

ALSO READ: COVID-19: Abia Lawmaker, Uzosike, distributes relief materials to constituents

He said: “Abia State government has directed all security agencies in the state including TIMAAS and FRSC, to impound all tricycles and other commercial vehicles seen on the roads from today to the period of the lockdown and keep same in their custody for a minimum of 7 days.

Only vehicles transporting food items and those exempted from the lockdown are allowed on the road.”

In an interview with journalists while monitoring compliance in Aba, Commissioner for Transport and leader, Abia South Task Force on COVID-19 lockdown, Barr. Ekele Nwaohamuo, lamented that Aba residents did not see the need to comply with the governor’s order.

Nwaohanmuo said his team used the first day of the lockdown as a sensitization, promising to be strict to ensure people stayed at home as directed by the governor.

Vanguard News Nigeria.

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Lai Mohammed

The Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus (Covid-19), says it is yet to  receive any money from the funds donated by the private sector towards the fight against covid-19 pandemic.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a member of the committee and the Minister of Information and Culture, disclosed this on Friday when he appeared on News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum to give update on the activities of the task force in the fight against the pandemic.

Mohammed expressed dismay over reported calls by some Non-Governmental Organisation seeking the probe of the task force over the deployment of monies gathered from the donations.

“We have not received even one kobo; people want us probed for how we spent monies we have not even seen.”

NAN reports that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party had, similarly called for the disbandment of the task force to be replaced by Eminent Nigerians Group to manage the donations from the private sector and palliatives from the federal government.

Mohammed said that such criticisms were unfounded.

“I can say without any fear that as of this moment, the task force has not receive a kobo from anybody.

“The only money we will be able to account for is whatever money we receive from the federal government.

“The Nigeria Economy Group-led private sector has said it is not going to give a penny to the task force; it says it will only raise the money and ask us what our needs are,” he explained.

Mohammed said that the task force had already compiled the needs.

“We have asked for more equipment and facilities, especially for those who might test positive to the virus.

“We anticipate a spike in the number of people that will test positive but there should be no cause for alarm.

“What we need now are equipment and bed facilities where those who have tested positive can be admitted because we do not want a situation where there will be no bed space.

READ ALSO: COVID-19:  Twitter followers berate FG for begging Elon Musk for ventilators

“When people test positive, it depends on the stage. If it is mild, such persons do not need to go to hospital. It can still be managed at the isolation centres.”

The minister said that apart from the equipment such as the testing machines, ventilators and personnel protective equipment, the task force is working on ramp-up training of personnel to handle the equipment.

He said that in addition to the existing covid-19 testing centres set up by the task force, two had been newly opened in Ibadan and Abakaliki while that of Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Kano would join soon.

The Minister added that in about a week’s time, two private concerns would also set up their laboratories to start running the test which would increase testing capacity to 5,000 per day.

He said that Nigeria was also expecting the new technology that would increase testing capacity to about half a million per day.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recently said that monetary contributions by the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) had totaled up to about N15 billion so far.

According to its spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, the fund, domiciled in an account set up under CACOVID, has so far received donations from 37 donors including individuals, banks and other corporate organisations.

Details of the contributions showed that the CBN and Aliko Dangote Foundation contributed N2 billion each.

Abdul Samad Rabiu (BUA Sugar Refinery), Segun Agbaje (GTB), Tony Elumelu (UBA), Oba Otudeko (First Bank), Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank), Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank) and Femi Otedola of Amperion Power Distribution donated N1 billion each to the relief fund.

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Many bank customers in Asokoro, Nyanya and Mararaba areas of Abuja on Thursday cried out against alleged exploitation by Point-of-Sale (POS) operators as many ATMs in the FCT had run out of cash.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), they alleged that most of the banks failed to restock their ATMs since cash previously loaded had been exhausted.

One of the customers, Mr Rufus Abangu, said he visited more than four banks in Asokoro without any luck, hence was left at the mercy of the POS operators, who were charging arbitrarily.

He said that the POS operators charged N200 on each N1000 withdrawal, as against the usual N50 which he had to pay because he needed money desperately.

“The ATM in banks were not dispensing, at that point, I had no choice, as I was forced to patronise the POS operators,” he said.

Another customer, Madam Remi Oluwole, said that she was ready to pay any amount as charges at any POS point because she had wasted over two hours at the ATM without any luck.

Oluwole said that most operators were capitalising on the fact that most ATMs were not dispensing to exploit customers.

“Don’t blame them, COVID-19 has brought them easy money.

“Will anybody blame President Buhari for this? Is it his duty to restock ATM? The banks are not sympathetic to the plight of their customers,” she said.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: We disagree with Anambra State’s expenditure — Rights Group

A NAN correspondent who went round the area gathered that the ATMs were not dispensing cash.

Customers were seen queued up at ATMs at various locations as early as 6a.m. without cash to dispense.

Meanwhile, Jaiz bank, Mararaba, that was dispensing had a long queue of customers to attend to.

Mr Austin Oyingbo, a customer noted that the banks that were supposed to be more useful during this lockdown period were worsening the situation.

Some of the customers also stated that some shops were willing to sell, using cash transfer, provided the customer agreed to pay extra charges.

At Access Bank in Mararaba, there were 15 points, but only few were dispensing and at a stage all stopped dispensing cash.

A cross-section of the POS Operators who spoke to NAN on condition of anonimity, said that the instruction came from their owners as they were vendors.

One operator, Mr Ibukun James, said that the pressure was too much on POS and some of them employed extra hands to assist.

“The extra hands must be paid, see people coming from distant places to look for money, we have to satisfy them and make profit also,” he said.

NAN observed that some motorists also engaged in panic buying at few petrol stations that opened for business.

Similarly at the gas filling stations, there were long queues of cylinders. (NAN)

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Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the rising spate of fake news and misinformation, in spite of repeated caution by government, is distracting the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The minister stated this in Abuja when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum to give an update on government’s efforts toward containing the pandemic.

He said that the government is particularly worried about unverified local therapies circulating in the social media as a cure to COVID-19 when in actual fact, no known cure had been developed for the disease.

Also read: COVID-19 Lockdown: Buhari’s declaration requires no legal backing ― APC Govs Forum DG

“If you go by Whatsapp platform, there are so many myths and cure for COVID-19 today.

“Some people will tell you, it cannot affect Africans or the disease is not even existing at all, while some will say, all you need to do is to take garlic, take ginger.

“As we speak today, there is no vaccine or medicine for COVID-19.

“The only weapon to combat the virus is what we called Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention (NPI), which are largely sensitisation, advocacy, keeping very good hygiene, social distancing, not shaking hands and no gathering.

“These are the only effective ways to contain the pandemic and that is why governments are declaring total lockdown.

“Once it starts spreading, no healthcare in the world can survive it,” he warned.

The minister said that if Nigerians do not change their ways, the country might witness an upsurge in infection of the deadly disease.

“I do not want to raise any alarm, but give a scenario – if one per cent of our population is infected, that is two million people.

“We do not have two million beds in all our hospitals combined, it is not a joke and that is why Nigerians should take the Government seriously.

“You see, COVID-19 does not kill as fast as Ebola, even SARS, but the damage it does to the economy, the social dislocation is worst.

“I pray that we overcome and contain COVID-19, even if we do so next month, the effects will still be felt for many more months.

“The country’s benchmark for crude oil, for instance, was 57 dollar per barrel, but, unfortunately, that has gone below 30 dollars and the implications on the economy are grave.”

He said that Nigerians should appreciate the fact that the pandemic is a real war.

“Clearly, the pandemic is a real war, but the enemy is invincible and the only control is if they obey the simple rules of self-isolation, social distancing and personal hygiene,” he stressed.

The minister regretted that many Nigerians are living in denial, while many more do not even believe that the disease is real.

“As a matter of fact, I was informed that a cleric on Radio in Akure was saying that the disease was not true but just a hoax.

“In Katsina State last week, an entire Police Station was burnt down by an irate mob that felt angered that they were not allowed to attend the Friday Juma’at service.

“In Plateau State also, there was a violent protest by some Muslims while some Churches are also saying “don’t mind government, it is not our portion.

“When you look at those that have been afflicted by this virus anywhere in the world, you will see that nobody is immune,” he said.

Mohammed also accused the media of sensationalising reports on those who had contacted the virus, saying that such posture was not encouraging people to come out for testing.

He reiterated that COVID-19 is not a death sentence and Nigeria had recorded a good feat in containing it with the present figure of 184 confirmed cases, 20 certified recoveries and discharged, and two deaths.

He said that the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), had started undertaking some clinical trials of drugs for Covid-19 treatment, but needed to be certified globally.

The minister commended some media organisations, including NAN, for disseminating timely, educative and informative materials to the public to contain the virus.

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