Television Nigerian

.To issue clearer restriction guidelines on essential duty staff

.NCDC to test 1500 days per day by next week

.Newspaper Vendors exempted from restriction, FG tells Security Agencies

.Moves to decongest Custodial Centres as Kaduna inmates riot

Ehanire

By Omeiza Ajayi & Idirisu Yakubu

The Federal Government has announced that more Nigerians who are victims of the Novel Coronavirus disease COVID-19 would soon be released once all their results turn out negative.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire disclosed this Tuesday during a media interface by the Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19.

Ehanire said; “As of today we have recorded 135 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Nigeria. The majority of persons are from overseas and others were traced as their close contacts.

“The incidence of new cases into Nigeria as a result of the closure of the airports and the land borders will reduce the number of importations so that we shall be dealing largely with those which have already been brought into the country and are being transmitted from person. to person.

“Five persons have been discharged and sent home. Nigeria has unfortunately recorded two fatalities and both of them had underlying illnesses.

“Persons with fever and cough or shortness of breath and other symptoms in the areas of high Covid-19 prevalence in Nigeria can be tested for the disease. More laboratories will join the network for molecular diagnosis for Covid-19 in Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt and Sokoto.

“I want to emphasize that testing is at no cost to anyone in the public and only results from any of the accredited molecular laboratories are recognised.

“There are some (patients) that are due to be discharged. Quite a few are due but the protocol is that they must test negative twice within 24 or 48 hours and if they do not test negative twice they are held back. Treatment normally takes a month or between three to five weeks depending on how your body responds”, he added.

Reviewing restriction guidelines

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha said the government was reviewing its guidelines in respect of the 14-day lockdown of the nation’s capital, Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun states.

The SGF said; “Today, we have just begun the first day of restrictions in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja. We are observing developments around the country as we receive reports.

READ ALSO: Nigeria discharges five coronavirus patients in Lagos

“The PTF has however met with the Security Chiefs to smoothen the rough edges of implementation and within the first day of implementation and an appropriate restriction protocol and exemption guidelines will be issued.

“Initial feedback is that there are violations of restrictions by the citizens that we desire to protect. Let me emphasize that the decision to lockdown is to prevent community spread which may be dangerous to manage. It can only be done by Nigerians and for Nigerians”, he declared.

Newspaper Vendors exempted

Mustapha reminded security agencies that the media including newspaper vendors are exempted from the restrictions, saying the president’s speech was clear on that. “I used to have a friend who was the Chairman of the Newspaper vendors association amd they have their identities. Provided they can establish that that is their trade, and of course a vendor cannot operate from his house, he has to be on the streets to distribute the papers, I believe Paragraph 41 of Mr President’s speech adequately covers that”.

Epidemiological Update

Speaking on the epidemiological situation in the country, Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control NCDC, Dr Chikwe Iheakwazu said the country was still at a point where it feels it can identify all those affected hence the decision to lockdown Abuja and two other states.

“This is a tedious process, we are following up about 5000 contacts across the country. The focus of all our efforts is to increase and improve on our testing capability. As at last week, we were testing about 500 per day and by the end of this week we will be testing a thousand per day. By next week, we plan to take it to 1, 500 just by increasing the number of laboratories and also increasing capacity of the laboratories that we have”, he said.

Also speaking, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said Nigerians should not be worried when they see certain flights come into they country, explaining that there are exemptions on flight restriction.

He said; “certain flights that are considered to be essential will continue to happen. So Nigerians will continue to see aircrafts flying but those aircrafts are qualified. Aircrafts in distress or technical stop are allowed; medical evacuation and essential cargo, as well as certain diplomatic flights and humanitarian items, are allowed. Security flights are allowed. And we have set out protocols for each of these flights”

On her part, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouk said the school feeding programme would continue as earlier announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Relief materials are being deployed in the affected states. The food items would be deployed from the general grain reserves across the country and it would take at least 24hours to reach the target audience.

“On school feeding, it is the directive of the president that we continue with it. We are exploring different options either by way of food packs or providing them the food items. We will do a web conferencing with state governors to agree on modalities”, she said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Enyeama said the ministry is in touch with all its embassies across the world to evacuate Nigerians whenever the need arises.

He said; “We are in touch with our embassies in all the countries around the world. So if there are those who want to be evacuated it has to be done within the framework of the embassies. As of now, we have not had any request from any of our embassies indicating any significant number of Nigerians wanging to be evacuated.l but certainly of we recieve any communication from our embassies, we will take that into consideration”, he added.

Kaduna inmates riot

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola also announced that the federal government was taking measures to decongest the prison, explaining that condemned inmates at the Kaduna Custodial Centre had gone rioting on the false assumption that government had sanctioned their release from jail.

“Long before now we had taken measures to ensure a very high level of hygiene at the Custodial Centres which to a large extent will minimise any basis for infection or contamination. But with the outbreak of this pandemic, I had a meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chairman of Presidential Taskforce on Prisons Decongestion and we all agreed that we should propose to the president some measures that will relieve the Custodial Centres and I am happy to announce to Nigerians that the President has approved our recommendations on measures to take to bring relief to some of the overburdened Custodial Centres which we are going to work upon very soon.

“Let me throw some light on developments at the Custodial Centre in Kaduna. The inmates at the condemned section of Kaduna Custodial Centre, on the misinformation circulated on the social media on the false amnesty granted to some sets of prisoners began a mutiny, which I will call a riot. I want to assure Nigerians that we have put it under control. We have sent circulars round the custodial centres in Nigeria to tell the managers and the inmates that the information is fake and false and that we are working on appropriate measures to decongest the Custodial Centres”, he added.

Vanguard Nigeria News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By David Odama – Lafia

The payment of the ten thousand naira conditional cash transfer programme of the federal government is to commence  1st April, 2020 in Nasarawa State.

The state Governor,  Abdullahi   Sule stated  this during a meeting with the state distribution committee in Government House Lafia, Tuesday.

Governor Sule  said the credibility and confidence reposed in the state by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Services and Disaster Management can not be geoperdized adding that all precautions and preventive measures against the spread of COVID 19 must be adhered to in order to keep the state safe.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Nigeria testing about 500 people per day ―NCDC DG

“ The payment of 10,000 naira each to beneficiaries of this programme in the state will commence tomorrow in six local governments “ Gov Sule said.

According to the  governor, the state is in the process of procuring food stuff and other essentials that will  cushion  the hardship faced by the people at this trying moment and also protect the people against the Coronavirus pandemic.

Governor Sule  however assured that every kobo donated as support for the fight against COVID 19 will be judiciously used for the purpose it’s meant.

Speaking separately, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Comrade Dogo  Shammah and that of Local Government and Community Development,  Aliyu Turaki maintained that government at the federal and state levels are aware of the plight of the people at this moment and are doing everything possible to support the masses.

According to the Commissioners, all arrangements have been concluded for the distribution exercise in the affected local governments.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: 12-year-old girl becomes Europe’s youngest known fatality

Commissioners, House of Assembly members, Local Government Chairmen, and Councillors from the affected areas are to be part of the exercise.

On his part, the ALGON Chairman and Chairman of Lafia Local Government, Aminu Muazu Maifata said all security arrangements have been concluded to ensure a hitch free distribution of the support fund to the beneficiaries.

Maifata added that  they have mobilized health personnel and the COVID-19 committees at the local government levels to work with the distribution team in order to ensure a safe and smooth exercise.

In his contribution, the SSA to the Governor on Humanitarian Service and the state Focal Person, Imran Jibrin, expressed appreciation to the state Governor for his support in ensuring the success of the exercise which is targeted at assisting the most vulnerable in the society.

Imran Jibrin stressed that in line with the social distancing put in place as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the exercise is arranged in a way that the beneficiaries will be paid in batches of 25 people each.

“In each of the 38 payment units in the 6 affected local governments, there will be 10 pay points that will pay simultaneously in order to hasten the process and ensure transparency “. Imran added

The affected local governments in Nasarawa State are Lafia, Awe, Wamba, Akwanga, Kokona and Nasarawa local governments.

vanguard

Ogun State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, on Tuesday, confirmed a new case of the coronavirus in the state.

Coker, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abeokuta, said the new case is a 30-year-old female from Sagamu area of the state.

The commissioner said two of the four cases in Ogun have been discharged while 72 contacts were being monitored.

This brings the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state to four.

She said: “Last night we had a new confirmed positive case of COVID-19 who is a 30-year-old female and contact of the third case.

“So far in Ogun State, we have run 68 tests of which four are positive.

“The four positives are actually two clusters. The second case is the contact of the first. And the fourth case is the contact of the third.

“As I said, we ran 68 tests, four positives, 58 negatives. Six are, however, pending.

• READ ALSO: COVID-19: Nigeria testing about 500 people per day ―NCDC DG

“We also have 112 contact tracing of individuals of which 40 have completed their 14 days follow-up.

“We are currently, and actively, following 72 cases.”

According to the commissioner, the state currently has 24 ventilators, comprising 14 ready-for-use and 10 other pieces for back-up.

She decried the harmful and unsafe practices of some people who, she said, were giving their children hand sanitizers to drink.

According to her, there was no evidence or medical support that drinking sanitizers could cure or vaccinate one against coronavirus.

Coker reminded residents to keep observing social distancing rule as well as hand and respiratory hygiene.

She also warned communities against stigmatizing hospitals receiving suspected COVID-19 cases in the state. (NAN)

Vanguard

Malami

By Soni Daniel

abuja—Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has faulted claims by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ebunolu Adegboruwa, that President Muhammadu Buhari does not have the powers to shut down two states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic currently ravaging the world.

President Buhari had in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday ordered the lockdown of two states of Lagos, Ogun and the FCT in order to reduce the spread of the virus, an action condemned by Adegboruwa, as illegal, since in his argument the President does not have the authority to do so without the approval of the National Assembly.

But Malami disagreed with Adegboruwa yesterday, saying the legal practitioner was wrong by misconstruing the law regarding the community reading of Section 5, 14, 20 and 45 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 2, 6 and 8 of the Quarantine Act and Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 11 on Human and Peoples Right which make the declaration by the President, valid, legal and enforceable.

In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists, the AGF said it was wrong for the senior lawyer to accuse the President of committing any infraction of the law without stating the law breached by the President.

He said contrary to Adegboruwa’s argument, Buhari did not declare any state of emergency in his broadcast and as such did not commit any offence as alleged by the lawyer.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Buhari commends Tinubu, Adenuga, Offor, ‘public-spirited’ donors

Malami said: “It is important to inform the discerning members of the public that the President did not make a declaration of a State of Emergency under Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which would have required the concurrence of both houses of the National Assembly. Even at that Section 305(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) permits a proclamation of a State of Emergency to run for a period of 10 days without the approval of the National Assembly when the parliament is not in session as in the present situation wherein the National Assembly has shut down.

“The learned silk also goofed when he questioned the President’s powers to restrict movement, claiming that such powers can only be exercised by the governors and the respective State Assemblies. It is clear from the President’s broadcast that what he sought to address is a public emergency occasioned by a dangerous and infectious coronavirus disease. The restriction of movement came on the heels of advice received by the President from the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, the two focal agencies in the fight against COVID-19.”

Vanguard

LAGOS — THE Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has condemned in strong terms Sunday’s harassment of drivers of newspapers distribution vans by overzealous security agents in some states.

The NGE in a statement signed by the National President, Mustapha Isah, and General Secretary, Mary Atolagbe, said: ”It should be noted that the media is a strategic partner in national affairs, with the Constitutional mandate of providing information to the populace.

”The body of Editors, hereby, restates that media personnel are rendering essential services and journalists should be commended for carrying out their constitutional mandate of sourcing stories and monitoring compliance with government directives in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world, instead of being harassed.

“The Guild, therefore, implores state governments that have declared one form of lockdown or the other, being measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, to appropriately educate the security agents drafted to enforce the restrictions, on the essential nature of media duties.

READ ALSO: 11 establishments exempted from total lockdown in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun

“The body of Editors recalls that President Muhammad Buhari’s statement in a nationwide broadcast, permits workers of telecommunications companies, broadcasting, print and electronic media, who can prove they are unable to work from home’’ as being exempted from the total lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory.

“‘The Guild is worried that some security agents, who may not be sufficiently knowledgeable about the operations of media houses,may find it difficult to determine the categories of print and electronic staff who cannot work from home.

“In the light of this potential friction, the Guild is calling on the Nigerian Government to exempt all categories of media staff from the COVID-19 Stay-at-home restrictions and hereby enjoins journalists to carry their means of identification as they undertake their duties, to eliminate the chances of being harassed by security operatives.

”The Guild commends the Federal and State governments for the measures put in place to contain the deadly Corona Virus and also applauds government’s pledge of palliative measures for the most vulnerable in the society during this period of lockdown, especially those who survive on daily income.“”The body of Editors also salutes the tireless efforts of our medical personnel, who have continued to put their lives on the line, as the world battles the monstrous COVID-19 pandemic.“

”The Guild also notes however, that Nigeria cannot afford a total lockdown at this time. People should be allowed to move within their neighbourhoods to access Pharmacies, fuel stations and other basic needs. We urge all journalistsand other personnel on essential services to adhere strictly to the prescribed precautionary measures against COVID-19 and continue to stay safe in the course of their duties.”

Vanguard

President Muhammadu Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari eventually made the long-awaited national broadcast outlining the Federal Government’s broad policy direction in tackling the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria on Sunday, March 29, 2020.

Unlike the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who apologised to his compatriots for ordering a shutdown that hit the poor very hard, Buhari shook off criticisms, insisting that measures taken were tailored to reflect our local peculiarities and relying strongly on the guidance of medical professionals.

Recalling measures taken so far, such as healthcare initiatives, fiscal and monetary policies as well as security responses, he added: “Our focus, therefore, remains to urgently and drastically contain these cases and to support other states (apart from Lagos and Abuja) and regions in the best way we can”.

The highpoint of the broadcast was the order for a total shutdown of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun States, which are the epicentres of the pandemic in Nigeria for 14 days to avoid a doomsday scenario where infection rate gets out of hand.

We rate the President’s broadcast above average and regret that it did not come early enough. Governments all over the world see this pandemic as “an invisible enemy”. It is with war-footing that most of them are confronting the scourge, with the Commanders-in-Chief taking full charge, even when some of them, such as Premier Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, tested positive and had to self-isolate.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: CBN suspends cheque clearing

An early broadcast and daily briefing from the highest political authority in the country would have served in better galvanising Nigerians and governments at all levels to face this challenge in the manner that China did and conquered it. Because of this laid-back attitude many Nigerians have not yet fully come on board. They have not seen the danger for what it is. Even some governors are still handling this danger with superstitious misapprehension.

That bit about the continuation of the school feeding programme had no place in the broadcast. All schools are closed nationwide. Can there be school feeding without pupils? Can we have school feeding while at the same time asking people to stay at home and maintain social distancing?

These reservations notwithstanding, however, we commend the Federal Government, especially the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire and the Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, some of the governors, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, our frontline billionaires and others who have demonstrated leadership and patriotism in this fight. We must all join hands.

We commend the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his humility in queuing behind the President’s lock-down of Lagos even after opting for a partial lock-down. It is for the good of everyone.

We hope that every effort will be made to provide succour to the poorer and needier sections of the Nigerian populace to ensure hunger does not kill more people than the pandemic.

VANGUARD

Illustrative, Medical staff

•Total confirmed cases now 131; Gov Makinde tests positive


•Ogun shifts lockdown till April 3; Nigeria records second fatality


•Osinbajo heads C’ttee on Economic Stability as Lagos discharges 5 Coronavirus patients


•Buhari exempts CBN, Finance Ministry from Abuja lockdown


•Benue index case not co-operating, Deputy Governor laments

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief, Dapo Akinrefon, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Omeiza Ajayi & Adeola Badru

ABUJA — The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has said it is following up on no fewer than 6,000 people suspected to have had contact with the 111 previously confirmed cases of the disease in the country, as the tally rose to 131 last night.

It also expects the number of confirmed cases of the disease in the country to be on the rise, just as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State disclosed that he has tested positive to Coronavirus.

These came as Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, yesterday, postponed the lock-down directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari from midnight yesterday to Friday, April 3.

This is even as the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said yesterday that Nigeria has recorded a second death from Coronavirus, as government announced discharge of three persons who have recovered from the disease.

Speaking on his Twitter handle, Governor Makinde said: “I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is positive. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate.

“I have designated Professor Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully.

“Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe.”

No of cases’ll continue to rise — NCDC boss

Also, NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who dropped hint of the rise in the number of positive cases in the country on Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, was hopeful that Nigeria would be able to manage the situation and reverse the trend.

He said: “We have crossed the one hundred mark and the reality is that there is a virus circulating in our midst and that is why Mr President came up yesterday (Sunday)  to speak to Nigerians.

“In the short term, we do expect the numbers to keep rising but we also expect that we will be able to get on top of this and that is why some measures were needed and we met with Mr President.”

Ihekweazu said the President’s decision to restrict movement, especially in Lagos and Abuja, was a tough but necessary one.

He also urged Nigerians to co-operate with the NCDC and others working hard to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

“He (Buhari) took a very hard decision to make the statement he made to institute the measures he did; you will see that this is really a call on Nigerians to come together and support these measures.

“We know that these measures work, the challenge for us as a society are the side effects of these measures and which is why they were very difficult to make … it has not been an easy measure to carry out in Nigeria’s biggest (commercial) city and Abuja.

“From today, we will appeal to Nigerians to bear the few weeks of pain that will come. Stay at home as much as possible, unless you really really need to go out and let’s see whether we can get on top of this.

“At the moment, there is no vaccine, there are no treatments that work; so, our only hope in containing this outbreak is to prevent transmission from one individual to the other. The way we can do this is to stop contact with each other which is very difficult, and which is why those extra measures were needed.”

Ihekweazu also said his agency is currently tracing 6,000 contacts of the 111 confirmed cases in the country.

He said: “These few weeks will help our teams, the Lagos State team, to have access to the contacts that are living around Lagos and FCT. We are following over 6,000 contacts of these 111 confirmed cases across these two cities.

“Every time we have a new case, we add about 50 to 60 contacts that we then have to follow every single day for 14 days. We can’t do this if we don’t have access to these cases, so this is really one of the reasons Mr President took this very difficult decision.”

Second death from Coronavirus

In a related development, Nigeria has recorded a second death due to coronavirus, as government yesterday announced the discharge of three persons who have recovered from the disease.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, who announced this at a news briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja yesterday, said: “Till date, three persons have been discharged after successful treatment. But sadly, another fatality was recorded over the weekend in the person of a patient who had severe underlying illnesses.

“We have intensified contact tracing and our strategy remains to promptly detect cases, isolate them, and follow up with their contacts and also isolate and treat, in order to reduce the spread of the infection.

“As of today, March 30, 2020, we have recorded 111 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria of which 68 are in Lagos, 21 in the FCT, seven in Oyo, three in Ogun, two in Bauchi, two in Edo, two in Osun, two in Enugu, and one each in Benue, Ekiti, Kaduna and Rivers states.”

READ ALSO: JUST IN: FCT minister Bello tests negative for Covid-19

Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, also announced the setting up of a committee on economic sustainability to be chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He said: “In the President’s broadcast on Sunday, March 29, 2020, he announced far reaching measures aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus. For economic sustainability, Mr. President has, today, (yesterday) approved the constitution of a committee to be chaired by the Vice President.

“The terms of reference of the committee will be announced soon. Similarly, Mr. President has approved the exemption of the financial services sector from the restrictions, to allow skeletal operations in the financial system and money markets in order to keep system in light operations during this period.

“The response strategy of the PTF shall remain focused on testing, detection, contact tracing, containment, slowing down the spread and management of coronavirus. A lot of questions have been asked by the public about testing and the PTF is always willing to provide relevant information and clarifications.

“Several measures have been put in place by government to address the problems posed by COVID-19 disease. The PTF has been methodical, learning from the experiences of other nations and adapting solutions that suit our environment.

“These include measures such as enforcing social distancing; advising on personal hygiene; closure of air, land and sea borders; banning mass gatherings above 50 persons; restricting movements in high burden areas such as Lagos and Abuja; aggressive contact tracing and isolation of cases; improving medical infrastructure, expanding testing capabilities and establishing new isolation centres.”

Five cases recover, discharged in Lagos

In a related development, Lagos State government has confirmed that five additional patients who have recovered from coronavirus were yesterday discharged  from Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba Mainland Hospital.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, who confirmed this to Vanguard on the telephone, said: “Yes, I’m aware. Five coronavirus patients who have fully recovered from the disease after treatment were set to be discharged from isolation centre today (yesterday).

“The state government has concluded all arrangements to reintegrate the patients into the society. By now the patients are supposed to be in their respective homes.

“However, the state government will soon come out with a statement on the issue very soon. It’s a thing of joy.”

Ogun gov extends lock-down deadline

Also yesterday, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State postponed the lock-down directive given by the President from midnight yesterday to Friday, April 3.

The governor, however, disclosed that postponement of the lock-down directive was informed by the need to provide food items and other palliatives to people of the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari in his nationwide address on Sunday, directed that Ogun, Lagos states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, should be on lock-down for a period of 14 days to contain the spread of coronavirus..

He said he had already consulted with the President on the need to postpone the lock-down and got the approval.

He said: “After consultation with the Presidency, the inter-state and international borders will close tonight (last night) at 11.00pm as directed by the President. However, the total lock-down of the state will be effective from 11pm on Friday, 3rd April, 2020. “This is to enable us finalise mechanisms for the distribution of relief materials and food items ahead of the total lock-down.

“We appeal to our people to abide by these government orders, and the advisories provided by the Ministry of Health on hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and social distancing. These include washing hands with soap under running water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer, if water is not available.

“Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the used tissue immediately. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.”

Lock-down tough but necessary, says Sanwo-Olu

Reacting to the President’s order to lock down Lagos yesterday, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described it as a “tough decision but a necessary step” to effectively stop and combat the spread of the pandemic

Sanwo-Olu, however, assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with  the Federal Government, other agencies and organizations, would stop at nothing to curb the spread of the  disease in the state and country at large.

He hailed residents of the state for their endurance since measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic were announced by the government.

CBN, Finance ministry exempt from lock-down

Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari has exempted the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning from the Abuja lock-down ordered on Sunday, as a measure to stop the spread of coronavirus in the.country.

The exemption was contained in a joint statement by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, and CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emediele, yesterday.

The statement read: “To ensure that Nigerians can still perform online transactions and use ATMs while observing these restrictions, we will like to inform the general public and all affected stakeholders that we have obtained exemptions from the President to allow very skeletal operations in the financial system and money markets in order to keep the system in light operations during this time.

“To this end, all relevant staff of affected outfits and agencies should look out for further instructions from their immediate bosses.

“We are mindful of the difficulties these restrictions would bring on ordinary Nigerians and are grateful to the President for approving these exemptions, which should help ease some of these burdens.

“We urge all Nigerians to be patient, cooperative and united as all hands are on deck to defeat this virus.”

Benue index case not co-operating to enable contact tracing, Deputy Gov laments

In Makurdi, chairman of the Benue State Action Committee on COVID-19 and Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Benson Abounu, has alleged that index case in the state was refusing to co-operate with his committee to enable contact tracing in the state.

The Deputy Governor who made this known yesterday at the end of the committee’s meeting in Makurdi said it took him and the surveillance team nearly seven hours last Saturday to plead with the victim to accept referral from a private hospital in Makurdi to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi treatment centre.

The index case had came into the state a week ago from London and sought treatment in a private hospital in Makurdi when she took ill two days later, after which the test conduct on her samples by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC confirmed that she had Coronavirus.

But the index case had taken to social media, claiming she did not have the virus and was not being well-treated in the state.

According to the Deputy Governor, “On Saturday I pleaded (with her) from 2pm to 9pm when she eventually agreed to be moved to the treatment centre, after I spoke with two of her brothers.

“Even when a team went to take her vital signs, she refused them to treat her. She is simply not co-operating with us to enable us trace her contacts as well.

“But the good news is that her temperature has normalized and coughing has considerably come down. So according to protocol, her samples will still be taken for another test by the NCDC, who did the initial test and confirmed her positive.”

The Deputy Governor explained that since she was responding to treatment she would undergo two more tests to ascertain her status before her release.

Confirming the status of the index case, a professor of Public Health at the NCDC, Dr. Steven Abba who was drafted to the state by the centre said the index case was actually confirmed by the NCDC after the necessary tests were carried out on her samples.

“We have an index case in Benue state and the NCDC is working with state team to ensure that it is contained,” Abba said.

Vanguard

Muhammad Musa Bello

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has established a mechanism to cater for the vulnerable groups within the city centre and satellite towns during the 14-day lockdown.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, made this known on Monday in Abuja while addressing newsmen at the end of a meeting with relevant stakeholders charged with the responsibility of implementing the lockdown directives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday ordered a complete lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11 p.m. on Monday,

Bello explained that FCTA in partnership with the relevant Federal Government agencies would cater for the vulnerable groups through palliatives measures.

He said that the FCT palliative committee would be headed by the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu and supported by the Chairmen of Area Councils, Traditional and religious authorities, NGOs and support groups.

Bello said that all organs of the FCT security services and other government agencies have agreed to work out modalities to ensure that all entry and exit points of the city and satellite towns are manned by relevant security agencies.

READ ALSO: Covid-19: FCTA enforcement team arrests pastor, closes churches, pharmacy

” And in doing that the security agencies would be supported by the FCT Department of Road Traffic Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“The best way to curtail the spread of covid-19 is personal discipline, staying indoors, and ensure personal hygiene through constant handwashing with soap and water.

“I am appealing to the FCT residents to stay indoors, abide by all the regulations issued by health authorities,” Bello said

He reiterated that, except those that have been exempted from the restriction of movement, all residents are enjoined to stay at home.

The Minister warned that law enforcement agencies have been empowered to arrest and prosecute defaulters.

He noted that the FCT administration would not allow any individual or group as a result of their inability to honour medical advice to jeopardise the health of others.

“As we have been shown over the world, one of the greatest weapons to fight covid-19 is confinement and containment in one place.

“This way, contact tracing becomes much easier and those that are infected are easily provided medical services,” Bello said.

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