The meeting between the Federal Government and the Organized labour on the battle of the recent twin increase on the price of premium motor spirit PMS and electricity tariff seems to be having a head way, as the Meeting has been adjourned to Monday 7th December 2020 to allowed the federal government do proper consultation on the pump price of petrol.
Briefing journalists after a long close door meeting that lasted till twelve midnight, the minister of labor and employment said that a lot of progress was achieved.
He said that the organized labor is insisting on the reversal of the new pump price to statusquo.
He said there was need to consult the principal players from the government side. ” we are going back to consult with our principal, will come back by Monday 7th December. The message from organized labour is clear, they want reversal of the pump price to what it was. No fixing of price of PMS anymore because its deregulated but its part of the economy, government side will consult everybody that needs to be consulted, the President as Minister of Petroleum and then the economic management team”.
On electricity tariff he said “The electricity industry, there is a committee that is working headed by the Minister of State for labour and Employment. Infact next week we will use the opportunity and take on fuel visit to different discos in Nigeria and come back with a more comprehensive report”
The President Trade Union Congress Comrade Quadri Olaleye who confirmed to journalists said that labour is insisting on the reversal of PMS Product.
“NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum to do proper consultation for reversal of fuel price to what it was before, the meeting has been adjourned till Monday 7th December”.
The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Offences Commission (ICPC) has commended the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) for the structures and processes put in place to ensure the promotion of ethical standards and anti-corruption fight in the agency. In a statement Signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation James Odaudu, the Commission commended the agency for creating the right environment for the effective functioning of the Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), thus promoting the ideals of the ICPC.
A letter personally signed by the ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye stated that the agency scored 69.9% during the 2020 deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard and the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI).
“Recall that the Commission, under section 6(b) – (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, carried out the 2020 deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard (ECS) and the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI). “Your documents were analysed and the result revealed a score of 69.9 % which conotes partial compliance on the ECS and a Very Effective status on the AEI”. “The Commission commends your organisation for the structures and processes you have in place which promote efficiency”.
The ICPC Chairman urged the agency to maintain the standards and not derogate from them, while also improving on certain areas like; Ethics and Compliance training to identify corruption vulnerabilities and mitigation mechanisms and effective whistle-blowing mechanisms.
Other areas include the continued support for the Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit, development of a clear policy to guide acceptance of gifts, hospitality and donations by staff and putting in place a system for staff to understand the core values of the agency.
Reacting to the Commission’s commendation, the Director-General of NiMet, Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi described it as a good development that would spur the agency to do more in the area of anti-corruption fights.
According to him, the agency has been able to record major achievements with the encouragement of the Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, whose commitment and leadership continues to propel the sector to higher altitudes.
“This is a new locomotive that has gone bad, even if we have the expertise to repair it and we do have this expertise, the truth is that NRC has sent engineers to fix it, but we should be worried that brand new locomotives that we bought failed. We are saying this is brand new, it shouldn’t fail by now, it should be failing after 3 to 5 years. There is a warranty and we have to call them back” On the pace of work he said “There is a need to increase the pace of work. They were doing well, but the pace of work has slowed down. Covid is no longer an excuse, they have worked for three months, we insist, the perm sec myself chairman of NRC, and MD Railway and agreed that the tech committee should meet with them Tomorrow to ensure that they put measures that the pace of work is increased so that by d next time we come here for inspection, we will see a huge improvement. They gave covid as an excuse for cutting down the number of workers but if you wear your mask and sanitize your hands, you will reduce the risk of infection”.
The Minister Of Transportation Hon. Rotimi Amaechi says that the newly acquired Abuja to Kaduna locomotives would be returned to China due to malfunctions. Amaechi gave the hint in Lagos at the inspection tour of Lagos-Ibadan rail line. He regrets that the newly acquired locomotives which are still under warranty are already developing faults within a short space of time. He said he has already ordered for the returned of the failed locomotives to its manufacturers China. The Minister apologized to Nigeria over the inconveniences this might cause. He commended the China Civil Engineering Construction Company CCECC for the job done so far, but task the contractors to increase their pace of work in order to meet up with the targeted date. He said himself, the permanent secretary, chairman of NRC, and MD Railway will be meeting with the technical committee tomorrow to ensure that they put measures that will increase the pace of work before the next inspection. On the faulty Abuja-Kaduna locomotives he said ” I will like to apologise to Nigerians over what’s happening at Abuja to kaduna line, Its worrisome in the sense that they are brand new locomotives, We may be forced to bring back our old locomotives, the locomotives are under warranty. We have called the chinese to come back for the locomotives that are bad or have failed more than two or three times and the response to that on behalf of government and on behalf of the ministry and NRC, we apologize to Nigerians and we have told NRC to either fix it or get the chinese to fix it. And if that is happening, then they should bring back the old locomotives. It may therefore affect the number of times we are able to run because we just brought those locomotives to increase passenger services”.
The Nigeria Labor Congress has accused the Federal Government of not being sincere and honest in finding a lasting solution to the lingering issue of petroleum price hike and electricity tariffs. In a speech jointly signed by the General secretary NLC Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja and his TUC counterpart Comrade Musa Lawal read to journalists at a world press conference.
They informed journalists that there is a breakdown in dialogue between government and organized labor. They said labour staged a walk out yesterday due to Federal government’s recalcitrant attitude towards the issue. He further said that the recent hike in petroleum product by government while negotiation is ongoing, is not only a violation of fundamental terms of its agreement with labour, but also in bad fait calculated to frustrate the process of an amicable resolution.
“it is clear that government is not prepared for a sincere and honest dialogue on finding a lasting solution to the twin issues of petroleum price increase and electricity tariffs. And this is in spite of the patriotic understanding of labour which has drawn the flak of the public which think we are not doing enough to protect their interests on the issues of petroleum products and electricity tariffs”.
“You may recall that following our notice to government to protest the increase in the pump price of petroleum products and electricity tariffs, government reached out to labour not to proceed on its nation-wide protest, that was slated for 28th September 2020”.
“Terms and conditions for putting the protest on hold were clearly spelt out in the Memorandum of Understanding. The conditions include fixing the existing refineries, entrusting them to efficient managements, creating an enabling environment for new refineries, and doing all positive things that would ensure enhanced and sustainable local refining capacity”.
“Nothing in the agreement gives government license to embark upon pain-inducing and life-crippling increase in pump price of products at this difficult time, indeed, the letter and spirit of the terms and conditions of the agreement presuppose that contemplation of an increase or an increase would constitute a breach of the dialogue process”.
“Whilst the Committee was still working the government had not taken any step to revitalise the local refineries and has flagrantly refused to discuss this with the unions in the oil and gas sector as agreed. At our meeting yesterday, we had prioritised as urgent this matter before delving into the issue of palliatives. However, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Dr Chris did not think it was important. All efforts to make him see reason failed. Given the tense situation and government’s manifest insensitivity, labour has no option other than a walk out.”
Despite the ongoing industrial action by the Nigerian Universities by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal government has opted for the process of registering a rival union comprising of University lecturers.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this in Abuja when the leadership of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), a faction of the ASUU led by its National Coordinator, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, paid him a courtesy visit.
Commending the university lecturers for initiating the process to register the union, the minister lamented the negative impact the ongoing strike by ASUU has had on the educational development of the country.
He revealed that he had earlier constituted a committee to review CONUA application for registration, he said the Committee has been given four weeks to submit their report to the ministry.
“We are receiving you in audience formally today in this ministry. We have the right to receive associations of persons that are workers, weather we have registered them or not, just as you have the right to apply for registration who is the lawful thing to do.
“We have the right to receive and hold meetings with you. They journey to have you registered have just started.
“You have done the right thing by applying and this ministry has also done the right thing by processing your registration.
“The review of your application for registration is ongoing now. I have put up a committee to look into that review. I would ask that Committee to wind up their work and we are giving them four week from today to turn in their report within four weeks from today to the ministry. Part of our jobs here is to register unions and part of our job is to also to make sure that unions that are not functional anymore can be helped.” Said Ngige
Earlier, the National Coordinator CONUA Dr. Sunmonu said that association has rapid growth of membership from various Universities across the country since it’s establishment in February 2018.
He explained that CONUA was established due to irreconcilable differences between its members and ASUU.
“CONUA members are not members of ASUU and we are not ready to be part of ASUU because of ill irreconcilable differences and modes of operation and because ASUU no longer represent our interest and aspirations rather CONUA fits to be described as group of people who are independent academics and who have decided to come together to form a union for our teaming members and solely for the purpose of advancement of education in Nigeria.” He said
Sunmonu further condemned in strong terms the prolonged strike in the university system noting that unions should choose to engage the government constructively rather than down tools every time considering the negative effect it has on the educational system of the country.
Accordingly, he noted that when CONUA is finally registered, constructive engage with the government would be their watch word
He said “the government cannot see what we see and we will not see what the government see but when we have our mind made up in a constructive manner we will come to a reasonable agreement to further progress our universities and for the advancement of the nation.
“We want to ensure seamless and uninterrupted academic calendar in the university system.
“This strike has done more damage than good. As academics and researchers, we are supposed to have evaluated the effect of the strike on our institutions and especially on our collective psychic.
“From the preliminary report that we have, the strike has done more harm than good to our universities. Nigerian Universities should rank comfortably with any other university in any part of the world.” Said Sunmonu
On the issue of IPPIS, he revealed that most of its members have indicated interest to register in the platform but due to series of threats they are unable to register.
He however, appealed to the Minister to provide a conducive environment for its members to undergo the registration process without any confrontation.
“There are some of our members who are interested in registering under IPPIS but they are being threatened.”
UNICEF in a new report released today, has warned of significant and growing consequences for children as the COVID-19 pandemic lurches toward a second year.
In a statement issued by UNICEF Communications Specialist, Mr Geoffrey Njoku shows that while symptoms among infected children remain mild, infections are rising and the longer-term impact on the education, nutrition and well-being of an entire generation of children and young people can be life-altering.
Released just ahead of World Children’s Day on 20 November, Averting a Lost COVID Generation is the first UNICEF report to comprehensively outline the dire and growing consequences for children as the pandemic drags on.
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria hinted that, “Since the pandemic started, there has been a false belief that children are not affected by COVID-19.
“Nothing can be further from the truth, including in Nigeria. While children are less likely to have severe symptoms of illness, they can be infected – and the biggest impact by far is the disruptions to key services and increasing poverty rates, which are both having a huge impact on Nigerian children’s education, health, nutrition and well-being. The future of an entire generation is at risk – globally and in Nigeria.”
The new UNICEF report finds that, as of 3 November, in 87 countries with age-disaggregated data, children and adolescents under 20 years of age accounted for 1 in 9 of COVID-19 infections, or 11 per cent of the 25.7 million infections reported by these countries. In Nigeria, children in the same age group accounted for 1 in 10 infections, or 11.3 percent of total infections.
While children can transmit the virus to each other and to older age groups, there is strong evidence that, with basic safety measures in place, the net benefits of keeping schools open outweigh the costs of closing them, the report notes. Schools are not a main driver of community transmission, and children are more likely to get the virus outside of school settings.
COVID-related disruptions to critical health and social services for children pose the most serious threat to children, the report says. Using new data from UNICEF surveys across 140 countries, it notes that: Around one-third of the countries analyzed witnessed a drop of at least 10 per cent in coverage for health services such as routine vaccinations, outpatient care for childhood infectious diseases, and maternal health services. Fear of infection is a prominent reason. In Nigeria, the drop was between 17 percent and 22.5 percent for select services, compared to figures from 2019 in the same period, and is variable across the country.
There is a 40 per cent decline in the coverage of nutrition services for women and children across 135 countries. In Nigeria, that decline is estimated at 35 percent; 65 countries reported a decrease in home visits by social workers in September 2020, compared to the same time last year – including Nigeria.
More alarming data from the report include:As of November 2020, 572 million students are affected across 30 country-wide school closures – 33 per cent of the enrolled students worldwide.
An estimated 2 million additional child deaths and 200,000 additional stillbirths could occur over a 12-month period with severe interruptions to services and rising malnutrition.
An additional 6 to 7 million children under the age of 5 will suffer from wasting or acute malnutrition in 2020, a 14 per cent rise that will translate into more than 10,000 additional child deaths per month – mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Globally, the number of children living in multidimensional poverty – without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water – is estimated to have soared by 15 per cent, or an additional 150 million children by mid-2020.
To respond to this crisis, UNICEF is calling on all governments and partners to: Ensure all children learn, including by closing the digital divide.
Guarantee access to nutrition and health services and make vaccines affordable and available to every child.
Support and protect the mental health of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence and neglect in childhood.
Increase access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene and address environmental degradation and climate change.
Reverse the rise in child poverty and ensure an inclusive recovery for all.
Redouble efforts to protect and support children and their families living through conflict, disaster and displacement.
UNICEF Nigeria will commemorate World Children’s Day in Nigeria by amplifying the voices of children and young people calling for improvements in the situation of children in Nigeria, many of whom are playing an active role in their communities to help bring about that change.
UNICEF Nigeria will also introduce two new animated characters to Nigeria – “Lara and Ali” – who will bring regular messages to children about important child rights issues in a fun and educative way.
“World Children’s Day is an important day to commemorate but also recommit ourselves to addressing the rights and needs of children in Nigeria,” said Peter Hawkins. “We are asking the government, partners and the private sector to listen to children and young people about the Nigeria they want to see for themselves and their futures, and prioritize their needs. As we look ahead to a post-COVID-19 world, children must come first.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched a Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
While outlining three key steps to eradicating the dreaded disease: vaccination, screening and treatment.
Saying, successful implementation of all three could reduce more than 40% of new cases of the disease and 5 million related deaths by 2050.
Today’s development represents a historic milestone because it marks the first time that 194 countries commit to eliminating cancer – following adoption of a resolution at this year’s World Health Assembly.
Meeting the following targets by 2030 will place all countries on the path toward elimination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age; 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed).
The strategy also stresses that investing in the interventions to meet these targets can generate substantial economic and societal returns. An estimated US$ 3.20 will be returned to the economy for every dollar invested through 2050 and beyond, owing to increases in women’s workforce participation. The figure rises to US$ 26.00 when the benefits of women’s improved health on families, communities and societies are considered.
WHO Director General , Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, hinted that; “Eliminating any cancer would have once seemed an impossible dream, but we now have the cost-effective, evidence-based tools to make that dream a reality.
“But we can only eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem if we match the power of the tools we have with unrelenting determination to scale up their use globally.”
Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. It is also curable if detected early and adequately treated. Yet it is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Without taking additional action, the annual number of new cases of cervical cancer is expected to increase from 570 000 to 700 000 between 2018 and 2030, while the annual number of deaths is projected to rise from 311 000 to 400 000. In low- and middle-income countries, its incidence is nearly twice as high and its death rates three times as high as those in high-income countries.
Also, the WHO Assistant Director General Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela added; “The huge burden of mortality related to cervical cancer is a consequence of decades of neglect by the global health community. However, the script can be rewritten.
“Critical developments include the availability of prophylactic vaccines; low-cost approaches to screening and treating cervical cancer precursors; and novel approaches to surgical training. Through a shared global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and leaving no-one behind, the countries of the world are forging a new path to ending cervical cancer.”
The strategy is launched at a challenging time, however the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to preventing deaths due to cancer, including the interruption of vaccination, screening and treatment services; border closures that reduced the availability of supplies and that prevent the transit of skilled biomedical engineers to maintain equipment; new barriers preventing women in rural areas from travelling to referral centres for treatment; and school closures that interrupt school vaccine programmes. To the extent possible, however, WHO urges all countries to ensure that vaccination, screening and treatment can continue safely, with all necessary precautions.
More so; Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela stated that; “The fight against cervical cancer is also a fight for women’s rights: the unnecessary suffering caused by this preventable disease reflects the injustices that uniquely affect women’s health around the world,”
“Together, we can make history to ensure a cervical cancer-free future.”
The launch is being celebrated with a day of action across the globe, as ministries of health, partners, and cancer advocates engage in activities to improve access to cancer prevention and treatment for girls and women.
Around the world, monuments are being illuminated in the cervical teal, from Niagara Falls in North America to The Dubai Frame, to city skylines across Australia. (More information about the events in countries around the world and monument lightings will be posted here.
…..As Lufthansa, Air France and KLM get approval to resume operations
By Ekaette Ibuot
All the nation’s international airports may resume international flight operations before the end of the year, as the Ministry of Aviation is working with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and other relevant bodies to ensure that the airports meet all the safety and health requirements and protocols.
In a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation Mr James Odaudu, Sirika said all hands are on deck to ensure that all logistic and policy necessities will soon be in place in order to address the difficulties encountered by international travellers, especially with the impending yuletide season.
“The international airports that are yet to be cleared to resume operations are the Port Harcourt airport, the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu”.
He expressed his appreciation for the understanding and cooperation of Aviation stakeholders in ensuring the smooth reopening of the nation’s airspace.
The statement further stated that the Federal Government lifted the flight ban on Lufthansa, KLM and Air France, paving the way for them to resume their operations in and out of the country. Qatar Airways has also been granted approval to start operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
This follows the approval of their respective flight plans and schedules submitted to the Ministry.
In granting the approvals, the Minister emphasised the need for airlines operating in the country to employ international best practices in handling Nigerian passengers, as government will not tolerate any form of maltreatment of its citizens by any airline.
The Federal Government on Friday in Abuja inaugurated Steering Committee and Federal Technical Committee of the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery for Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) .
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed while inaugurating the committees urged members to fashion out ways to ensure that post Covid-19 was not injurious to the Nigerians and the nation’s economy.
The minister said that the consequences of COVID-19 would be high if Nigeria ignored the root cause of rising civil unrest in the country.
“We must, therefore, fashion out ways of ensuring that post Covid-19 is not injurious to the Nigerian people and the economy.”
Ahmed said that diverse and severe impacts of the pandemic was being felt across the world with significant consequences on informal businesses, and households that survive on daily income and the farmers who depend on their farm produce to survive.
“As part of windows of opportunity to mitigate the effect of Covid-19, the Federal Government is in the process of accessing a World Bank loan of 750 million dollars on behalf of the states to stimulate the local economy and support vulnerable household’s consumption.
“Federal Government has created several windows of interventions as captured in the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) inaugurated by President, Muhammadu Buhari on March 30.
“This is to among other things respond robustly and appropriately to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, identify fiscal measures to enhance oil and non-oil government revenues and reduce non-essential spending,” she said.
Ahmed said that to ensure the implementation of the N-CARES was in line with the FG priorities as outlined in the ESP the Federal Steering Committee was made up of ministers, permanent secretaries, while technical committee comprised directors of key MDAs.
She said that members of the committees were carefully selected because of the important role their MDAs played in the recovery of the Nigerian economy as well as the fulfillment of lifting 100 million people out of poverty.
Accoording to Ahmed the major role of the steering committee was to provide overall policy direction for the implementation of the programme and advise the president appropriately.
“Also, the federal technical committee would be responsible for the programme oversight , overall guidance, support, coordination, strategic direction, review and approval of the annual work programme as well as budget for the Federal CARES Support Unit (FCSU).”
The Minister of State, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clement Agba, said that the N-CARES programme was a multi-sectoral programme designed to provide immediate emergency relief to the vulnerable and poor Nigerians.
These according Agba include smallholder farmers and SMEs that were adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic using a World Bank loan of N750 million over a period of two years (2021 – 2022).
Agba said that the economy was currently faced with challenges in economic downturn in its history.
He said that government intervention had became crucial as most of the sectors had been adversely affected.
The minister commended the Federal Government, stakeholders and the committee members for been part of the occasion.
On his remarks, an Executive Director with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Lateef Shittu, said that N-CARES Programme was to bring succour to the citizenry at the difficult time considering the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic on the national economy.
Shittu said that as key stakeholders in the Nigeria agenda, the NGF and all state governors applauded the program.
“This is evident in the support already given by the NGF secretariat which is a policy hub and resource centre that serves as the technical and administrative arm of the NGF. “
Shittu said that in recognition of the critical role peer learning played in the success of programs, the forum was ready to support peer learning and experience sharing in a bid to distil best practises across the 36 states of the federation.
He also commended the World Bank for the N-CARES programme expressing believe that it would reflate the economy and deepen governance.
Task Team Leader for CSDP at the World Bank, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, said the initiative would reduce negative impact of covid-19 on poor and vulnerable, adding that poverty and vulnerability levels were already high in Nigeria before the pandemic.
Dr Abdulkarim Obaje, National Coordinator, Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), an initiative of the Federal Government, said N-CARES programme was aimed at mitigating the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on citizens, infrastructure and the economy.
Obaje also said that the programme was designed to cover all the 36 States and FCT, assuring that CSDP was technically prepared to provide all that was needed to drive the programme.
He said that the Federal Government has shown high commitment towards lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) through the UReport platform, has launched an SMS based interactive chatbot to provide Nigerians with timely and accurate information on COVID-19.
Currently, over 64,000 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Nigeria, with over 50,000,000 confirmed globally.
One of our NCDC’s key responsibilities as Nigeria’s National Public Health Institute is to provide Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their risk of infection.
This has been done through a website dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an ongoing communications campaign with the theme #TakeResponsibility. These have formed the cornerstone of public health messaging on the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
Our communications approach has leveraged social media, mainstream media and all other avenues to encourage Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting themselves and loved ones and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
This new COVID-19 chat bot will serve as an additional medium to access validated, vetted and accurate information about COVID-19 and government’s efforts to control the pandemic.
According to the Director General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, he said that, “At NCDC, we always leverage opportunities to use technological solutions to enhance the delivery of our mandate. Technology has been critical for strengthening our public health response to COVID-19. This interactive chatbot is a welcome initiative that will be integrated into existing technology deployed for communication at the NCDC. We are grateful to UNICEF and partners for supporting our efforts to provide Nigerians with prompt and reliable information on the COVID-19 pandemic.”
However, UNICEF Nigeria Representative , Peter Hawkins, hinted that, “COVID-19 is not to be taken lightly and needs to be discussed factually and accurately. We need to guard against misinformation to help save lives. The new chatbot is a useful tool that provides vetted and accurate information and response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
UReport is an innovative mobile social monitoring platform for community participation to address issues that matter to young people. It is designed to give young people a chance to voice their opinions on issues in their communities, encourage citizen-led development and create a positive change. The chat bot can be accessed for free across all networks via SMS by sending the word “coronavirus” to the shortcode 24453. Also, Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp users can send the word “Coronavirus” to +2349087401607 as well as via the UReport platform on Facebook via @ureportnigeria
The NCDC, under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Health, remains strongly committed to protect the health of Nigerians. We urge the public to remain aware of the risks of COVID-19 and to adhere to the preventive measures advised by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Federal Ministry of Health.
