Tag: Coronavirus

COVID-19: APC Govs Forum To PDP- “Don’t Politicize FG’s Containment Measures”

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ABUJA: Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman has slammed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP for attempting to politicize the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to lock down the nation’s capital, Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun states for two weeks as part of emergency control measures against the Covid-19.

The President had in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday evening announced that the Federal Capital Territory and the two states would be completely shut down to allow health personnel to effectively contain the deadly Covid-19.

However, the PDP had immediately berated the president, describing his address as empty and manifestly lacking in content especially with regards to proffering new solutions different from what the states are already doing.

He said; “President Muhammadu Buhari, while addressing Nigerians on the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday, March 29, 2020, declared: ‘As individuals, we remain the greatest weapon to fight this pandemic.’

Interestingly, immediately following the address, on the same day, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiya described the President’s speech as ’empty and failed to address the salient demands of the impact of the scourge (of Covid-19) on the nation.’

“The statement of the PDP was complimented, perhaps inadvertently, by another statement from a private lawyer, Mr. Ebun-olu Adegboruwa SAN who condemned some of the measures announced by the President, which include restriction of movements in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun as illegal, arguing that the President ‘has not invoked his powers under the Constitution to declare any state of emergency, which must be approved by the National Assembly.’

“These responses completely ignore the gravity of the challenges and imagine that the problems can be reduced to politics and legal arguments. They all miss the point, very conveniently, that the world, including Nigeria, is fighting a war that is a threat to human life in a manner that the world has never experienced before. It is an unconventional challenge such that the enemy, Covid-19, doesn’t respect politics, legality or recurse to any form of interest. It was in fact in recognition of this that the President declared that we are all as individuals the ‘greatest weapon to fight’ the war.

“After all the hue and cry, before the President’s broadcast, lamenting the slow responses from the government in taking measures to protect citizens against the spread of the virus in the country, one would have expected some attempts to direct attention in the country to strengthen the capacity of the government to succeed in containing the spread of the virus. Or could PDP be arguing that there are other more effective measures to contain the spread of the virus, which the President has failed to take? Or could Mr. Adegboruwa be implying that there are legal provisions that could be invoked that would ensure containment of the spread of the virus while at the same time respecting the rights of citizens to move freely?

“We deceive ourselves to imagine that some of us are free from the virus, on account of which we could be tempted to politicise the problem or indulge in legal arguments. Besides, one will be tempted to ask what legal process did we invoke either as pro-democracy activists or as unionists when we declared sit-at-home under Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in 1993, 2000 and all the cases of our protest campaigns against the military and increases in petroleum prices? If the law gives us the right to protest, did we follow the processes provided under the law to prosecute all our sit-at-home campaigns? Mr. Adegboruwa, being an active participant and leader in some of those campaigns may want to humbly reflect on some of those realities and candidly reassess his position about the so-called legal requirement for restriction of movement in Abuja, Lagos, and Abeokuta.

“As for PDP, we can argue with some confidence that the position of Mr. Ologbondiya is not shared by the PDP leadership especially Alh. Atiku Abubakar and PDP Governors. This is because of Alh. Abubakar has already demonstrated his commitment to support the Federal Government to win the fight against Covid-19 for which he has already contributed N50 million. In the same vein, PDP Governors are working in partnership with the Federal Government and all Governors in the country, irrespective of party affiliations to role out uniform initiatives in all our states under the coordination of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). Without any hesitation, it could be argued that PDP Governors are not playing politics with the challenge of fighting Covid-19 in the country. We are all very encouraged for the inspiring leadership of Alh. Atiku Abubakar and PDP Governors for rising to the national challenge of teaming up with all Nigerians irrespective of party lines”, he added.

COVID-19: Wole Soyinka- “Buhari’s Lockdown Of States Is A Political Virus”

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Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described movement restriction imposed on two states of the federation by President Muhammadu Buhari as “unconstitutional and a political virus for the future.”

Soyinka said this in a statement issued on Monday and titled: “Between COVID-19 and constitutional encroachment.”

The statement, which he signed off as “Wole Soyinka from Self-Quarantine, ” read: “Constitutional lawyers and our elected representatives should kindly step into this and educate us, mere lay minds. The worst development I can conceive of us is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the coronavirus pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis.

“This is a time for unity of purpose, not nitpicking dissensions. So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers.

“We are not in a war emergency. Appropriately focussed on measures for the saving lives, and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers.

“We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.

“A President who has been conspicuously AWOL, the Rip van Winkle of Nigerian history, is now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and begun to issue orders.

“Who actually instigates these orders anyway? From where do they really emerge? What happens when the orders conflict with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy – `including even trial-and-error and hiccups – undertaken without let or leave of the centre.

“So far, the anti-COVID-19 measures have proceeded along the rails of decentralised thinking, multilateral collaboration and technical exchanges between states.

“The centre is obviously part of the entire process, and one expects this to be the norm, even without the epidemic’s frontal assault on the Presidency itself.

“Indeed, the Centre is expected to drive the overall effort, but in collaboration, with extraordinary budgeting and refurbishing of facilities. The universal imperative and urgency of this affliction should not become an opportunistic launch pad for a sneak recentralisation no matter how seemingly insignificant its appearance.

“I urge governors and legislators to be especially watchful. No epidemic is ever cured with constitutional piracy. It only lays down new political viruses for the future.”

President Buhari had on Sunday directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja for an initial period of 14 days in a bid to check the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

COVID-19: Banks, ATMs Will Be Functioning During Lockdown- Minister Of Finance

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Zainab Ahmed

The Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, on Monday, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has allowed skeletal operations in the financial system and money markets during the lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun.

In a statement on Monday titled, “Notice to affected stakeholders and general public regarding COVID-19 and restrictions in movement of persons”, bankers are expected to be handed new directives.

The minister said in light of the devastating effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on many countries around the world, President Muhammadu Buhari is highly applauded and appreciated for the appropriate and proactive restrictions in personal and vehicular movements.

According to her, these restrictions are critical to significantly reduce the transmission rate of the disease and make it easier for health professional to trace, test and isolate patients.

“To ensure that Nigerians can still perform online transactions and use of ATMs whilst 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 the 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.

Covid-19: Delta State Tells FG To Shutdown All State Borders

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Delta State Government, has urged the Federal Government to close all inter State borders so as to effectively contain the spread of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu who stated this in Asaba while briefing newsmen on the State Government efforts to contain the spread or outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the State, debunked rumour making the rounds of somebody suffering from coronavirus in Ekpan, near Warri.

He advised Deltans against spreading fake news about the pandemic, appealing to the people to always sanitize their hands, maintain social distancing order.

He added that the State Government has acquired 19 ventilators with four well-equipped isolation centers in Asaba, Warri, Oghara and 12 holding centres across the State.

He said the suspected case in Ekpan was swiftly moved to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, by the Central Committee on COVID-19, where she was diagnosed and discovered that she was not suffering from coronavirus.

Aniagwu said: “This is very unfortunate; this is not the best time to begin to generate and spread outright falsehood on the COVID-19 Pandemic. We want to seize this opportunity to warn Deltans to desist from unfounded stories, which will do us no good.

“We discovered that certain individuals are behaving like they want COVID-19 to come here. The committee gave out dedicated numbers to call, in case of any information regarding the COVID-19 scourge.

“A case was reported at Ekpan in Uvwie local government area, and the Central Committee on COVID19 promptly responded with an ambulance, which later turned out not to be the true story as our quick response team went there and moved her to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara where she was checked and later discharged as she was free of the virus.

“We have ambulances that would transfer people from one medical facility to another. Let us not take it that the moment you see an ambulance carrying somebody, it automatically means it is a COVID-19 patient.

“We need to make this clear to avoid issues that are not necessary and heightening tension or encourage panic situations.

“If there is any COVID-19 in the state, the committee will inform the public accordingly, is not a thing anybody will hide. As at this moment, there is no case of confirmed COVID-19 in the state.

“You need to be tested and certified to have contracted the virus for you to be said to be suffering from COVID-19, not just to go to town with it because someone has high temperature.

“We have to apply caution as the number has continued to increase by the hour. Good enough, federal government has shut down some high risk states. Unfortunately, a number of states have not seen a reason to shut down, which will become dangerous after the 14 days, and we have been able to curtail it, and threw our borders open.

“If for instance Anambra and Edo states are not shutting down, there may be people in Edo or Anambra that will come into our state, which will make our efforts futile.

“That is why we are suggesting that the federal government has to shut down all the states of the federation, whether there is a confirmed case or not in such states. Some people are making the mistake that it is big man’s sickness.

“The reason is because they go for checks regularly. We must all be very careful with our health, avoid social visits, and avoid collusion with the security agencies.

“As part of our preventive measure and remaining proactive, the COVID-19 technical committee in the state has been able to break into departments.

“So we have those in charge of case management, lab, those to run our isolation centers, which are Federal Medical Center, and Central Hospital, both in Asaba, Warri and Oghara. We can isolate and begin treatments in these areas.

“We also have holding centers in our zonal hospitals where those suspected cases are kept before being moved to the isolation centers after confirmation.

“Aside from Lagos we are the only state with ventilators, which are applied at point of intensive care unit, which no case in Nigeria has been applied to.

On the level of compliance and the relationship with Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers, vehicular movement has continued, he said,

“We will continue to deal with the loose ends and tighten them up. We have spoken with the security agencies to leave above board, avoid graft to allow movements”.

Covid-19: A Chinese Group Donates Materials To Bauchi State Government

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The Chinese Group With The Donated Materials

A Chinese group, Mutual Commitment Group, MCG, has donated medical supplies to Bauchi State government to support in the fight against the spread of coronavirus and other communicable diseases in the state.
The group’s Managing Director, Lui Zhaolong, on Monday in Bauchi, who said his company is donating 150,000 protective medical materials to assist Nigeria fight the virus, stressed that he will do his best to rid Bauchi of the virus.

His words: “We are sorry for your suffering. We feel your pain. The battle against coronavirus is one that we must win.

“In solidarity with you, we are giving 2,000 surgical facemasks and 2,000 medical gloves as our first donation. We will be standing with you every step of the way.

“It is a good thing that the government has taken some measures already to curb the spread of the disease. We urge you not to relent as you fight this disease out of the state and the country.”

Earlier, the state’s Deputy Governor, Baba Tela, who received the donation by the Chinese group on behalf of the state government, expressed gratitude for the donation.

Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aliyu Maigoro, Tela said the donation of the materials will go a long way in assisting the state government to consolidate on its fight against the virus.

Personal Thought: All the materials should be thoroughly tested to check if they are not infected already. Or I think they should be rejected.

Fellow Nigerians what’s your take on this? Drop your view via the comment box below.