The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has paid his final tributes to his late Elder brother Dede Charles Amaechi.
Amaechi said his late brother was a father figure to him and his siblings as he undertook the responsibility of his education and that of his siblings after the death of their father.
Speaking on Saturday in his home town Ubima, Rivers State during the funeral rites held at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Amaechi said his late elder brother kept the family together despite the absence of their father. He said his demise has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.
Amaechi said, “It is difficult to mange the death of my elder brother. I called him Dede and the reason why I called him that is because it’s like a tradition in Ubima. You cannot call your older brother or sister by their name, so I called him Dede and it became a household name. Most people didn’t even know that his name wasn’t Dede.
“I recall that in the struggle to get through the university, he made his own contributions, he wanted me to school overseas, unfortunately I didn’t, I had to school at the University of Port Harcourt. He’s done quite a lot for all of us and the most difficult aspect of it is that he kept the family together; and I’m not in a position to do that now that I’ve become the head of the family, but we’ll try.”
Speaking at the event, the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum and representative of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum (NGF) while commiserating with the family, said the deceased lived a good life worthy of emulation and contributed greatly to the growth of the church of Christ.
Lalong said “Having read through what the man has done, I’ve met him several times, he has done a good work and it’s not easy for those of us who are catholics to be a knight and die as a knight. He has done everything for evangelism in the church and ours is to emulate him. So on behalf of all of them, jointly and severally, I once again extend our condolence to the church, to the Amaechi family and the entire village,” he said.
Lalong further extolled the late Charles Amaechi, highlighting his contributions to the church of Christ as he on behalf of the Plateau state delegation donated a 32-seater bus to the church in Ubima in memory of the deceased and all of his good deeds.
Dignitaries at the funeral include, National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni who doubled as the representative of the Progressives Governors Forum, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, APC National Secretary, Sen. John Akpan Udoedeghe, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Security and Administration (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia amongst many friends and well wishers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a network of laboratories to reinforce genome sequencing of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, in Africa.
This is as several African countries are now expanding COVID-19 testing
WHO in a statement issued and made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, said specialized and regional reference laboratories in the network will provide sequencing, data analysis and other technical support services to the countries where they are located as well as to neighbouring countries and countries in their sub-regions.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa stated that, “As we continue to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, being able to not only track its evolution, but also assess the possible mutation of the virus is crucial to mounting an effective response”
She further noted that, “Through this new laboratory network dedicated to genome sequencing we can better develop vaccines and treatment which are tailored to Africans and eventually bring COVID-19 under control.”
Ongoing sequencing is already providing crucial information for determining the type of SARS-CoV-2 lineage circulating in some countries. WHO said that most of SARS-CoV-2 genomes circulating in Africa are assigned to the B.1 lineage which emerged from the epidemic in Europe. In Africa, it said ten lineages have been identified and more than 80,000 sequences have been produced globally.
The United Nations has warned against further attacks on educational institutions and students, while lamenting that between 2009 and December 2018, about 611 teachers were killed in the Northeast due to the wave of insurgency in the region.
tyhe UN in a statement to commemorate the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack, urged Nigeria to prioritise school safety as well as learners’ protection.
It said while 910 schools were destroyed in the region within the period, 1, 500 schools were forcefully closed, with 4.2 million children at the risk of missing out on an education.
Also, the Education in Emergencies Working Group (EiEWG) Nigeria, a platform of some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), UN agencies, academics, and other partners has said attacks on education is not limited to the damage of education buildings and facilities but include attacks on key education assets – the most precious assets being school children, teachers and non-academic staff without which education cannot happen.
While adding that; “Beyond physical attacks, when due to fear, a student cannot go to school because it has become a place of danger causing the desire for the school to become eroded, then education has been attacked psychologically. When a girl-child is afraid to go to school because the path to school is no longer safe and secure or due to a traumatic experience or knowledge of one, education has been attacked.
“When a vulnerable boy becomes exposed to recruitment into an armed group involved in a conflict or is used as a carrier of improvised explosive devices or to manufacture, transport and plant devices as recorded between 2018 to 2019 when 57 children with 45 being girls were used and killed as human bombs, education has been attacked”, the group was quoted in the statement.
The global body also urged states in Nigeria to incorporate building a resilient education system into their COVID-19 response plans in order to be able to withstand future shocks.
“The United Nations in Nigeria today said safeguarding education from attack is urgently needed to restore confidence in schools as places of protection for children and teachers. This is particularly pressing in light of COVID-19, which affected 46 million primary and secondary learners across Nigeria due to pandemic-related school closures.
The statement further stated that; “The protracted conflict in the north-east has had devastating impacts on education. From 2009 until December 2018, 611 teachers were killed and 910 schools damaged or destroyed. More than 1,500 schools were forced to close and some 4.2 million children in the north-east are at risk of missing out on an education.
“Hundreds of girls have been abducted, some even from their own schools, which are meant to be safe zones. Notably, many children have been used to act as carriers of person-borne improvised explosive devices. The attacks on schools, communities and education itself are tragic consequences of a protracted conflict that has left a generation of children traumatized”, the statement noted.
Meanwhile, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon “as State Governments plan to reopen schools after prolonged closures, building a resilient education system to withstand future shocks should be included in pandemic response plans.”
He noted that prioritising safety in schools for educators and learners is an indication of the Government’s commitment to protecting investments in the education sector and a validation of Nigeria’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration.
“While the world marks the first-ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack under the theme ‘Protect Education, Save a Generation’, more than three million children in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe in north-east Nigeria are in need of education-in-emergency support.
“Education is essential to helping crisis-affected communities in the north-east rebuild and recover. Attacks on schools are a direct attack on future generations. I call on all parties to the conflict to take all necessary measures to protect education and give learners a chance to build a brighter future”, Mr Kallon said.
The statement quoted the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres as stating that “as the world fights to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, children and youth in conflict zones remain among the most vulnerable to its devastating impact. We must ensure our children have a safe and secure environment in which to learn the knowledge and skills they need for the future”.
It condemned the repurposing of schools for use as markets, military bases, isolation centres and camps for internally displaced person IDPs, saying schools must remain safe places free of conflict and violence.
The UN also “vehemently condemned any and all attacks on education including abductions of school children, school-related gender-based violence, herders-farmers clashes, and repurposing of schools for use as isolation centres, IDP camps, markets or for military purposes”.
Similarly, UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay said, “Schools must remain safe places, free of conflict and violence”.
He said; “Our collective future, as well as the achievements of all development goals, depend on it. Safeguarding the right to education for all contributes to the achievement of sustainable development and nurtures the international community’s decades-long gains towards peace, economic prosperity, and social inclusion worldwide.”
The statement noted that left unchecked, incessant attacks on schools and learners could reverse the gains on education investments made by the government of Nigeria, the UN and other multilateral, bilateral, and private sector partners over the years.
More so, Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, “Attacks on schools are a violation of humanity and basic decency. We must not allow these senseless attacks to destroy the hopes and dreams of a generation of children. We must do all in our power to ensure that schools and the children and teachers within them are protected’’ .
“As the world begins planning to re-open schools once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we must ensure that schools remain safe places of learning, even in countries in conflict.”
With school reopening plans underway in many states, the UN called for increased funding, noting that it would go a long way in mitigating the effects of prolonged school closures on learners, especially vulnerable children, including girls and others living with disabilities.
“In north-east Nigeria, education in emergency partners are appealing for $55 million USD to provide emergency education to 3.1 million conflict-affected children this year. So far this year, only $3.3 million USD, a mere 6 per cent of the total needed, has been received so far.
“The Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to build a resilient education system, invest in human capital and strengthen communities who act as first responders in the event of attacks on schools.
“To deliver for children in Nigeria, education must remain on top of the public agenda while Government should boost efforts to translate its vision for education into real change for children, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged learners,” it added.
The Safe Schools Declaration is an inter-governmental political agreement that outlines a set of commitments to strengthen the protection of education from attack and restrict the use of schools and universities for military purposes.
It seeks to ensure the continuity of safe education during armed conflict. To date, 104 countries around the world have joined this international political agreement.
The Ministry of Transportation has constituted a committee to draw up guidelines for the disbursement of the N10 billion Federal Government palliative fund for road transport operators and workers.
Minister of State for Transportation Sen. Gbemisola, disclosed this in Abuja when the immediate past National President and the incumbent National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najumdeen Yasin, and Prof. Tajudeen Ibikunle Lawal, paid her a courtesy visit.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry Of Transportation, Mr Eric Ojiekwe, the Minister of State, said that the members of the committee are drawn from the Ministry of Transportation and all other relevant stakeholders in the transportation sector.
She charged the unions to interface towards having one recognized body that the Ministry can deal with so that the funds can be properly disbursed as soon as possible because so that its intent and purposes will not be defeated.
While congratulating the new President of NURTW on his election, she pointed out that the tasks before him is daunting but not insurmountable and urged him to continue to steer the affairs of the union in the right direction.
Sen. Saraki commended them for their perseverance during the lockdown despite the fact that their source of livelihood was disrupted by safety protocols put in place by government to curb the spread of the pandemic.
She further appreciated the fact that the sector has continued to thrive through sheer efforts on the part of members, adding that government is now positioned to improving the conditions of service since over 90% of Nigerians travel by road.
Earlier in his remarks, the Former President, Alhaji Najumdeen Yasin, said that the purpose of their visit was to officially present to her the new National President of the Union as well advise her to disregard the numerous associations posing as representatives of road transport workers and operators.
He further informed that the NURTW which has existed for 21 years is the only recognized representative of road transport workers and the Ministry should do well to work with it. The new National President, Prof. Tajudeen Ibikunle Lawal, while thanking the Minister of State for granting them audience stated that NURTW members suffered directly and indirectly during the pandemic and prayed that the Ministry concedes a larger portion of the palliative to its members.
*Intercepts 86 Darul Salam Terrorists Family Members In Kogi
Ola Akinola
The high command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), has said that it would not join issues with the political authourities in Benue state, over the recent killing of Gana, the wanted militia kingpin, by troops in the state.
Troops of Operation Ayem Akpatuma III, had on 8 September 2020, killed the militia leader, Terwase Akwaza alias Gana.
The military is being heavily criticized by political authourities in the state, for killing Gana, having known fully that he had allegedly surrendered to the state and was covered by the ongoing amnesty programme of the Governor Samuel Orton’s administration.
Meanwhile , the AFN high command said at a press during in Abuja, through its Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, (CDMO), Major General John Enenche, hinted that Gana was killed in an encounter with troops around Gboko in Benue State.
“Forty members of his gang were also captured alongside arms and ammunition”, General Enenche briefed newsmen.
The attention of the military was drawn to the fact that Benue state authourities had expressed misgivings with the said operations, asking whether the military wasn’t aware of the acclaimed amnesty programme of the state, before embarking on the said operation.
Responding, the Defence Operations spokesman said he was unauthorized to speak on a matter, which political leaders in the state had already started speaking on.
According to him; “I’m aware that the Governor made a statement and a Senator there also made a statement. I cannot again. I’m no longer to answer because by law, we are subordinate to them. If it came, say last week, I might have answered”, General Enenche said, stressing that he lacked the capacity to reply, following directives from military authorities, not to reply on issues raised by political leaders, as it constituted an offence.
While speaking further on the operations in the North Central Zone of the country within the period under rewiew: September 3 to September 9, 2020, the CDMO said that 86 family members of Daryl Salam terrorists, running away from military fire in the forest, were intercepted by troops in Kogi state.
He added that; “The Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to sustain the tempo in the fight against all the criminality in the (North Central) zone with attendant successes.
“These ongoing kinetic efforts were supported by Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities in the form of stakeholders’ meetings amongst the various ethnic groups in the zone.
“Within the period under review, troops of Operation NUT CRACKER, on 3 September 2020 intercepted 86 persons suspected to be Darul Salam family members along Kpareke-Koton-Karfe Road in Kogi State.
“During the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the suspects fled Uttu forest general area due to the ongoing military offensive.
“Relatedly, on 6 September 2020 troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed at Guma in Benue State, and Keana in Nasarawa State, conducted a dawn raid at an identified armed bandits’ camp at Guma forest along the Benue-Nasarawa border following actionable intelligence reports on the location of the camp.
“Troops neutralized one bandit while others escaped with gunshot wounds. Troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 rifle magazine, one locally made pistol and 3 mobile phones while the camp was subsequently destroyed.
“Similarly, troops of Sector 1 deployed at Gagbe in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State conducted a dawn raid on another suspected armed bandits’ hideout at Tse Agi in the general area.
“The gallant troops stormed the hideout and apprehended 4 suspects while one AK 47 rifle, 2 AK-47 rifle magazines and 46 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition were also recovered at the location. The hideout was subsequently destroyed.
Similarly, Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested 35 suspected criminals during raids on some identified criminal hideouts at West of Mines, Mid West, Charcoal Market and Busa Buji areas of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The raids were conducted following intelligence reports of criminal activities in those areas.
“Furthermore, on 5 September 2020, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN raided hideouts of suspected Sara Suka criminals at Yantifa, New Market, Terminus and Bauchi road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“Troops apprehended 20 Sara Suka suspects at the location while two members of a syndicate specializing in the production of fake security agencies identity cards were also apprehended.
“Currently, all the arrested suspects are being profiled after which they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for further action.
“.As part of Civil Military Cooperation activities within the period under review, Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN fostered several stakeholders meetings with community leaders in various parts of Plateau and Kaduna States.
“Areas covered include: Bassa, Jos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State, as well as Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“This move is expected to achieve the desired result with the provision of credible and actionable intelligence specifically from primary sources. In this regard, the locals are requested to cooperate with the security agencies by availing them with the required information that will be useful to our collective objective of taking out the criminals from the zone”, General Enenche said.
The CDMO said that the high command was happy with its roops and other security operatives in all the operations, stressing that they “are further encouraged to remain dogged and sustain the tempo in all the Joint Operations Areas.
“The High Command of the Armed Forces also reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to securing the country for all human activities to strive.
“Members of the general public are, as always, enjoined to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the nearest military and other security agencies location for prompt and effective action”, the CDMO stated.
The Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) , Prof Mohammed Nasir Sambo, has reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting the sustained efforts of the Federal Government to protect all Nigerians from the debilitating scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He made the assertion when he handed over a consignment of Personal Protection Equipments to the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Umar Abba Mohammed at the Headquarter Complex of the anti-graft agency, in Abuja.
Prof Sambo, in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja, by the NHIS Head, Media and Public Relations officer , Ayo Osinlu lauded the strategies and initiatives being deployed by the nation through the Federal Ministry of Health, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to protect lives and livelihood of all residents of the country.
He, however, expressed concern for institutions and personnel providing essential services, whose nature of work pre-disposes them to high risk of infection, stressing that no effort must be spared to ensure their protection in the line of duty.
According to him, this is responsible for “the prompt response of the NHIS to requests from the PTF on COVID-19 for assistance in the provision of personal protection equipment for officers of strategic agencies such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the EFCC”.
The NHIS boss , also hinted that the Scheme had also recently extended similar gesture to personnel of healthcare providers through the government of some states in the country with high burden of COVID -19.
Prof Sambo also said that this was intended to protect frontline health workers from possible infection while they provide services to health seekers, and to also stem the reported abandonment of duty posts by some health workers for fear of infection by the dreaded virus.
He said the seriousness attached to curbing the spread of the virus informed the Scheme’s constitution of a Standing Committee on COVID -19, charged to design internal strategies and enforce overall protocol and guidelines issued by relevant authorities against the disease.
He expressed the gratitude of NHIS to the Commission, for its continued assistance in the recovery and return of trapped funds of the Scheme, which he said has been timely, as the Scheme is currently on an aggressive drive for expansion of coverage towards attainment of universal health coverage in the country.
Speaking at the occasion the National Coordinator of the PTF on COVID -19, Dr Sani Aliyu expressed the concern that the pandemic has inflicted untold hardship on social, economic and even security situations in the country, and therefore called for sustenance of the push against the virus.
He further stated that , “the best vaccine against the virus for now is wear a mask, wash your hands, use hand sanitiser and observe social distancing”
Aliyu, also commend the management of EFCC for the impressive observance of prevention protocols noticeable on their premises and personnel.
In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Umar Abba Mohammed, expressed the agency’s appreciation to the PTF for midwifing the huge supply of PPEs from NHIS.
He added that it will go a long way in ensuring the protection of the agency’s staff in the line of duty. He promised to ensure that distribution is made to the fourteen zonal formations of EFCC nationwide.
He, however, recalled his personal role in the recovery of the trapped funds of the Scheme, and the return of same to NHIS, while giving assurance to continue to pursue vigorously further fund recovery for the Scheme.
Complete mayhem broke out in Tunga Maji in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as gunmen in the early hours of Thursday invaded the community, abducting an unspecified number of residents.
One of the residents, Mr Ezekiel Denzi, said the gunmen abducted over 30 people after prolonged gun battle with the Vigilantee in the community.
Another resident , Mrs Pious Bala said the shooting started in the community at about 1.a.m. and lasted more than an hour, while local vigilante group were overpowered.
She further stated that ;“ It is very unfortunate that such an incident is happening in this hard period. We could not sleep throughout the night. It’s this morning that the vigilantes told us that about 20 people were abducted.
“We have had last week that the authorities were informed of the entrance of Boko Haram members into Abuja but nobody took the report serious. We are appealing to government to help before all of us are killed”, she added.
It would be recalled, that a leaked circular revealed that members of the extremist group, Boko Haram, had build camps in some communities in the territory.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) , DSP Anjuguri Manzah said they rescue five kidnapped victims while assuring of deployment of proactive crime fighter measures.
The PPRO in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, stated that, the FCT Police Command wishes to assure the public that protection of lives and property remains the core of its policing mandate and it will continue to inject fresh strategies that will place the security of the Federal Capital Territory at its optimum.
The statement reads in bits; ” The Command wishes to inform the public that when it received a distress call on Kidnap of some persons on 10th September, 2020 at about 0130hrs in Tungan Maje, a village bordering FCT and Niger state, a joint team of Police operatives from the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Rapid Response Squad and Zuba Police Division responded swiftly to the occasion.
“During a fierce gun confrontation with the heavily armed hoodlums, the Police team successfully rescued five of the kidnapped victims.
“Meanwhile, a concerted effort has been deployed to rescue the remaining five victims that are still with the hoodlums who escaped into Niger state through a nearby forest that is surrounded by rocky terrain.
“The Command reassures members of the Public with its commitment to deploy proactive crime-fighting measures to ensure the security of lives and property in FCT”, the statement further reads.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished four brothels, 14 beer parlours and other illegal structures in Jabi village, which is located in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Newsfocus gathered that, security personnels had to teargas the villagers who were trying to resist the demolition the exercise.
The demolition left the ‘runs girls’ and shops owners wailing and raining abusive words on the administration.
It would be recalled that, the FCTA had issued several warnings and demolition notices to shop owners and some residents of the illegal settlement to remove their belongings as the Administration intended to clear the area which is not only distorting the Abuja Master plan but also serving as save haven for criminals while indigenes would be resettled.
These warnings were however, said not to have been taken seriously by those operating businesses and living there even after their shops and houses were marked by the authorities about eight times.
Demolition of brothels in JabiFCTA demolish illega structure in Jabi, AbujaF CTA demolish illegal shanties at Jabi
Our correspondent gathered that, ” when bulldozers belonging to the the FCTA Department of Development Control arrived and started pulling down the structures, the whole area was turned to tears and yellings by the owners who lamented that their means of livelihood destroyed while attempts to resist the exercise was quelled by security operatives who fired gunshots in the air to scare them.
“Apart from shop and house owners, commercial sex workers also joined in the lamentations as no fewer than four brothels were equally demolished during the exercise.
“Some of those who properties were affected told newsmen that they were not given enough notice before the demolition, describing it as height of insensitivity on the part of government”.
Addressing newsmen, the Director of Development Control in the FCTA, Mucktar Galadinma said the Administration had carried out adequate sensitization meetings with the villagers and marked the structures long time before the exercise.
He further stated ; “My advice is that they should not build any commercial structure along this corridor because this is supposed to be an indigenous community but the proliferation of these commercial activities are attracting men of the underworld and even making the environment dirty”.
Similarly, the FCTA Director of Security, Adamu Gwary said the proliferation of shanties in the community made it a save haven for criminals and the FCT Administration will definitely not condone that, hence the demolition.
Gwary, however, explained that: “This notice is timely, it would have been done during the first term of Muhammad Bello (FCT Minister) but due to so many considerations we stepped some of these things down but something has to be done and this is in the interest of the general public”.
Meanwhile , the Chairman of FCT Task Team on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah hinted that most of the shops that were turning the place to an eyesore and some brothels were removed at the instance of the original inhabitants of the FCT whose buildings were not touched.
“If you go around the buildings some places have been marked for about 8 times and the people believe that the government is not serious because when empathy is brought to the fore and pity is iceing the cake of enforcement people think that the government is not serious. The Department of Development Control has come here severally to issue warnings”, he noted.
One of the residents, who does not want his name mentioned said, “I share a wall with one of the brothels, in the night my little children use to hear strange noises. Which is not good for their upbringing. I am happy that the place is demolished.”
Moses Samuel stated that, “We are all Nigerians what they are doing is not good. They don’t give us notice, they demolished our houses, I don’t know why our political leaders are not here”.
Also, a food seller who refused to mention her name said: “They told us that they will come but nobody belief it, it was yesterday they supposed to come but we did not see them, even yesterday I cooked very well, but today I don’t cook well.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has revealed that the country has continue to record low positive cases of Covid-19 even as the number of samples tested has increased.
While adding that, with this cheering development, it will be presumptuous to conclude that the disease is reducing.
Ehanire gave this revelation on Thursday in Abuja at the Presidential Task Force briefing, adding that, this is because as of today, not many states are testing. We shall therefore ensure that testing continues in all the states until we reach our daily targets.
According to him; “Today, 10th of September, 2020, the total number of positive cases recorded in Nigeria is 55,632of a total of 433,206 samples tested. In the last 24 hours, we recorded 176 positive cases out of 2,494 samples tested.
“Ten percent of positive cases are children and adolescents with more than half of them in the age bracket of 10-18 years. It is therefore pertinent at this point to renew the warning of the PTF on the reopening of schools so as not to expose our children to the risk of infection.”
He further stated that ; “In my meeting with the Chief Medical directors and medical directors of the Federal Teaching Hospitals and Medical and Specialist hospitals last week, , I stressed the need for them to work in synergy with the state governments to ensure a coordinated response. The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Medical Directors to exchange notes and share experience.
“Important components on COVID19 response such as laboratory testing, home based care, psychosocial implications of covid19, challenges associated with covid19 case management (Isolation & treatment), were discussed.
“A critical and important outcome of the meeting was the resolve of the Medical Directors to complement the efforts of the state governments in the fight against the pandemic. They also stressed the need for continued routine services in order not to erode the gains we have made in other areas of health”, Ehanire explained.
The Minister added that, this was also underscored in my meeting with the Commissioners of Health on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. It is in this regard that a country wide deployments of community volunteers (CVs) to intensifazy contact tracing and active case finding supported by various partners is ongoing.
In the morning, I had the honour of addressing the meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on PHC Delivery (NTLC) with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. I was happy to note that NPHCDA still enjoys the confidence and strong support of the Committee. The pivotal role traditional and religious leaders played in building community trust and acceptance of the oral polio vaccine was the game changer, we therefore hope to leverage upon on this advantage to halt community transmission of COVID-19, he noted.
Normalcy is about to be returned to the nation’s health sector as the striking Nigerian Resident Doctors are at the verge of calling off the ongoing industrial action.
This came to play after a six hour reconciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the National Association Of Resident Doctors (NARD).
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Chief reconciliator and Minister for Labour And Employment Sen. Chris Ngige gave an order that the strike action must be suspended by the striking doctors within 24hrs after due consultations with its organs.
He noted that the Federal Government had earlier addressed most of the original eight demands made by NARD and the remaining two were in different stages of being resolved.
After extensive deliberations, some level of understandings were reached on each of the demands by both parties.
Among them are: Provision of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) where NARD agreed that the hospitals and isolation centres now have sufficient PPEs. On the Provision of group life insurance for Doctors and other Health care Workers and payment of death-in-service benefit to next of kin/beneficiaries: The meeting noted that the Federal Government had paid the total sum of Nine Billion Three Hundred Million naira (#9B.3) to insurance companies for life Group Insurance and payment of death benefits for health workers.
“In view of these understandings, NARD will consult with her Executives Council within the next 24hrs with a view to calling off the strike by tomorrow, September 10, 2020.
Nobody will be victimized for any activity connected with or for participating in the industrial action”.
In his response, the President National Association Of Resident Doctors Dr. Sokomba Aliyu expressed satisfaction on the agreement reached.
He said the Association will meet immediately on how to call of the strike immediately.
It could be recalled that resident doctors embarked on indefinite strike on the ground that the Federal Government failed to meet up with their demands including insurance package, payment of outstanding covid 19 inducement allowance, onward review of covid 19 hazard allowance.
