AS the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria continues to rise, the Federal Government has warned that the nation is at a very dangerous stage of community transmission, even as it expressed concern that the pandemic may spread to all the 774 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the Federation.

Currently, only 85 LGAs, spread across 20 states, in which tests have not been conducted are yet to record a positive case of the disease.

Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce, PTF on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha who disclosed this at Monday’s briefing of the Taskforce, said the number of LGAs with 50 percent of the COVID-19 burden has now extended to 20 from 11 previously, adding that for technical reasons it has not been feasible isolating those areas for precision lockdowns.

He said: “Nigeria, with 46, 577 confirmed cases and 945 cumulative deaths, remains respectively the third and fourth highest in these parameters. As we emphasised at the last briefing, Nigeria is yet to reach the peak of the pandemic. Therefore, the low test/ case confirmation numbers coming out daily should not be misinterpreted to mean that we have overcome. We have over time ramped up testing but more needs to be done to raise the quantum of test per million population.

“Our analysis has however shown that five States still account for 60 percent of cumulative cases; 689 out of 774 LGAs have reported a case; 85 LGAs in 20 States still remain with no testing done and no case reported; and 50 percent of all cases are in 20 percent LGAs”.

Further, the PTF Chairman said even though the country has capacity to test 10, 000 people daily, only about 2,000 tests are currently being conducted, urging state governments to ramp up testing in their areas of responsibility.

 

1,000 fatality mark a wakeup call —Ehanire

Also speaking, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who expressed worry that the country was approaching the 1,000 mark in COVID-19 fatality, said it was a wakeup call to the reality of the pandemic.

Stating that the strategy of the government was to reduce fatality rate to less than 1 percent, Ehanire announced that the Federal government has reactivated the Basic HealthCare Fund, BHCPF.

He said National Council of Health, has reversed the guidelines for monitoring and disbursement of BHCPF funds, adding that the suspended funds were resumed to support the much needed efforts to COVID response.

“The new system has better structure and transparency and accountability. Development partners are urged to support the new system and the ministry of health is available to attend to concerns of donors. COVID will surely give us the opportunity to strengthen our health system.

Ehanire said government is turning its preferences therefore to gadgets that provide oxygen, like oxygen generators to be in many facilities, including General hospitals and larger Primary Healthcare Centres PHCs.

“Solar-powered aggregates, where available, will be prioritized. Federal Health Institutions with oxygen plants should activate them as a matter of priority and ensure they can deliver to their A & E Dept. The other measure is the activation of the Ambulance service to move patients to treatment centres.”

‘’This strategy worked well in Kano and all States should prepare to set up the system. The Federal Ministry of Health will provide guidance”, he said.

All WAEC centres decontaminated nationwide – Abubakar

The Minister of Environment, Mr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, disclosed that over 40,000 environment officers have been recruited to man all the West African Examination Council, WAEC, centres that have been decontaminated across the 36 states of the Federation.

According to him, the ministry last Thursday concluded while there will be daily decontamination of the centres throughout the examination period.

“The environment officers are to provide assistance at the centres. We have given them PPEs just in case somebody presents with symptoms. They will be there to evacuate, isolate the patients. There will be daily decontamination of the centres.

“ Mr. President is doing everything possible to contain the virus. Next exercise will come up when the schools are opened nationwide. “

The National Coordinator, PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu said the activities of the PTF was based on a scientific approach which is data driven.

“There is no doubt that COVID continues to live with us. For those who continue to deny it, close to 20 million people cannot be wrong. We have about 730 deaths worldwide and it continues to be a threat to our lives. COVID is a silent enemy and an enemy. We encourage persons above the age of 60 to stay at home and wear a mask.

“COVID is a silent enemy and the fact we cannot see it with naked eyes makes it more difficult. We can only get on top of COVID pandemic by enhancing self-awareness.

He said they could not carry out the procession lock-down because most of the centres are by the middle of the state and locking them down will mean locking down the entire state.

Governor of Oyo, Seyi Makinde, has sacked Raphael Afonja, the state commissioner of works, infrastructure and transport.

In a statement on Monday, Taiwo Adisa, chief press secretary to the governor, said the termination of Afonja’s appointment was contained in a letter dated August 10 and signed by Olubamiwo Adeosun, secretary to the state government (SSG).

The reason for the commissioner’s sack was not officially stated, but Afonja had announced at a radio programme earlier on Monday that he spent 55 days treating COVID-19.

The sack letter as reproduced by Adisa, read: “I wish to convey the approval of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, on the termination of your appointment as Honourable Commissioner, with immediate effect.

“Consequent upon the above development, you are hereby directed to hand over all the government items in your possession to the permanent secretary (ministry of works, infrastructure and transport).

“I am to add that, your contribution within the time of your sojourn is appreciated and commendable, and therefore, wish you successes in your future endeavours. I thank you.”

The governor also swapped the portfolios of two of his commissioners.

Bayo Lawal who was commissioner of special duties was moved to the state’s ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, while Funmilayo Orisadeyi who held sway in the latter ministry was given the former role of Lawal.

Students in Senior Secondary Schools Three in Ekiti State resumed on Monday preparatory to the commencement of West African Senior School Certificate Examinations.

This was as the state government on Monday announced the suspension of a school principal who was not available in the school on Sunday when the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, visited some schools in the state on the level of compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

The Commissioner for Education, Foluso Daramola, who announced the suspension of the Principal of Methodist Girls High School, Ifaki Ekiti, directed her to “hand over the management of the school to the most senior vice principal in the school pending the conclusion of appropriate disciplinary action by the Teaching Service Commission.”

A public service announcement signed by the Assistant Director (Information), Kunle Adeniyi, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, stated, “At Methodist Girls High School, Ifaki Ekiti, the principal was not available to receive the governor and his entourage and making the monitoring exercise impossible in the school in spite of the notice from the Ministry of Education.”

The statement quoted Fayemi as saying that schools must ensure that the sitting arrangement of students was done to conform with COVID-19 protocol for physical distancing and to allow teachers’ unhindered movement around the classrooms. 

Catholic Bishops have asked Nigerians to rise and defend themselves against attacks by bandits, herdsmen, kidnappers and other violent criminals across the country.

The bishops spoke as North-East governors yesterday, for the second time in four days, told President Muhammadu Buhari that there was the need to address the root causes of Boko Haram insurgency in the zone.

 

Rising from the second plenary meeting of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province at Bishop’s House, Okigwe, the Catholic Bishops in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, expressed concern over growing insecurity in the country and asked Nigerians to be vigilant and be ready to defend themselves.

‘Defend yourselves, pray’

In the communiqué, signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna and Most Rev. Augustine T. Ukwuoma, respectively, the Bishops said: “Bearing in mind that no economic or educational endeavour can thrive in a volatile and unsafe environment, the security and safety of the nation at large and Igboland in particular, deserve special attention.

“Kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, incessant killings, which have continued unabated, cast serious doubts on the willingness and capability of our security outfits to rise up to their constitutional responsibilities.

“Rise up in prayer to God in vigilance and in legitimate self-defence, for the right to life, to our homes and to our lands that is God-given.”

The bishops also called on governors, as chief security officers of their states, to protect their people’s lives, homes and their lands, appealing specially to Imo and Abia state governors to protect their domains against marauding herdsmen, kidnappers and other violent criminals terrorizing the people.

On COVID-19, the Bishops noted that nothing had shaken the world to its foundations as coronavirus, saying “amid the unprecedented panic, tension and confusion provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the face of the resurgent insecurity in our land and across the nation, we have every reason to thank God, who has kept us alive by His mercy.”

Reaffirming that COVID-19 is real, the Bishops stressed the need for governments at all levels to rise to their responsibility of ensuring adequate provisions of basic amenities, such as running water.

“Particular attention should be paid to improving our poor healthcare facilities, making provision for more testing centres with affordable services and enough personal protective equipment for our healthcare workers,’’ the Bishops pleaded.

On the effect of the pandemic on education, the Bishop’s said: “The pandemic has also impacted negatively on our educational system. Our schools at all levels have been closed for months. With everybody at home, there has been an increase in domestic violence, abuses and all sorts of crimes.

“The inadequacy of our educational system and formation have been laid bare. Some climes have tried to bridge the gap through online education. Unfortunately, we lack the basic infrastructure to cue in, except in a handful of places and schools.

“But this is too few, too selective and too expensive to provide for an integral human forum, which is the goal of education.

“This is a challenge for all stakeholders in education. The billions of Naira embezzled regularly could be gainfully used in meeting these challenges.”