The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has extended hands of fellowship to the management of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) in the distribution of pallatives.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu while delivering the items to the management of NAPTIP led by its Director General said NAPTIP is as an organisation that tackles one of the very serious challenges of child abuse among vulnerable families in the country.
Aliyu also said that the gesture was to cushion the effect of sit-at-home directive among the vulnerable members of the society under the purview of the management of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person, stressing that the activities of the organisation in curbing child and human rights abuse stands out.
Her words, “While welcoming the D.G NAPTIP and her management team, we want to also appreciate them for the wonderful work they are doing in various communities NAPTIP happens to be an organisation that tackles one of the very serious challenges we have as regards the vulnerable groups of the society facing girl child and women’s rights abuse.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu while delivering the items to the management of NAPTIP led by its Director General NAPTIP
“Even though we are yet to form the critical mass that is required to support this organisation in the fight against the anomaly, NAPTIP still stands out in this country. And we know under her purview, are these vulnerable ones of both sex and age.
“On this note we appreciate and extend the palliative distribution to the vulnerable ones under your purview for we know they are not captured by the Area Councils. We have also identified other groups that are not captured in the Area Councils list and I can assure you that palliative items would be extended to them because no segment of the society will be left out”.
Receiving the items on behalf of the management staff, the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, thanked the FCT Administration for recognizing the role of NAPTIP in the society, while assuring that the items would be distributed to the affected members.
Items donated include 20 bags of 50kg rice, 100 cartons of noodles, 20 cartons of hand sanitizers, 3 packs of hand gloves, 5 cartons of maggi seasoning and 50 packs of spaghetti.
Operatives of the FCT Enforcement Team on Congregational worship
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
Three pastors in Abuja on Sunday denied their ministries and followers when the operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Enforcement Team on lockdown moved in to arrest them for violating the ban on congregational worship in the nation’s capital.
The Pastors were said to have partitioned a mountain at the Federal Housing area of Lugbe District traded words among themselves and even denied stewardship of their large crowd that were worshipping at the hilltop.
The pastors are: Ibitoye Kayode of the Liberty Faith Gospel Church, Joshua Olaniru of Liberty Gate Ministry and Vitalis Udeazi of Dominion Chapel.
Problem started when the Enforcement team on COVID-19 Restrictions stormed the area following a tip off, but found it difficult to identify worshippers and their religious leaders.
Some of the worshippers being arrested by the task team
After a brief interrogation, the three pastors were indentified from the crowd, even though one of them, Vitalis Udeazi of Dominion Chapel struggled to conceal his identity.
He said none of his members were present at the time the taskforce arrived the mountain top, but this did not go down well with other pastors who protested vehemently that he was one of them.
Luck, however, ran out on him when some members pointed at him as their pastor. He still insisted that they were his prayer members.
For Joshua Olaniru of Liberty Gate Ministry, who argued that he was not among those holding worship session, a resident of the community availed the taskforce of a video clip which showed the cleric holding a worship session, a development which had led to a fight about an hour before the taskforce personnel arrived.
The Chairman of the taskforce, Comrade Ikharo Attah while speaking to the pastors, queried why are you all denying these large groups of worshippers? No one among you agreed that anyone came to worship with them even when they turned out in large numbers. One of you even went ahead to deny being a pastor”.
Meanwhile, another cleric, Pastor Effiong Bassey of the Holiness Revival Ministry Church, Karamajiji was apprehended for holding a church service to mark the 60th birthday of a retired military colonel, P.E Ebong who left the military in 2015.
Attah said while addressing the pastor, “you cannot hold a worship service in defiance of the directives of the Commander in Chief just to mark the 60th birthday of a retired colonel. Even for a serving colonel it is very wrong. You have to come with us and explain it to the magistrate at the mobile court”.
The Clerics were consequently arraigned before a Mobile Court presided over by Magistrate Akonni who found them guilty and fined them N5,000 each in addition to three hours of community service.
The team also shut down the informal sector at the Dutse Alhaji market which was fully in operation on Sunday in contravention of the Administration’s guidelines. Four traders were arrested and arraigned at the Mobile court.
… Unhealthy Surgical Masks Disposal Can Add To The Risks Of Contracting Covid-19
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
Compliance to the public health advisories should be taken as a civic duty and obligation for every citizen, where each should be responsible for the other. As such, enforcement or policing should not be necessary, for what is meant to preserve life and health,The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has said .
He, however called for considerate attitude and social adjustment to the challenges we face at this moment.
The minister made this disclosure at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, on Friday in Abuja, while reiterating the importance of adhering to public health advisories (wearing our face masks, observing social distancing, practicing hand washing or sanitizing, standard respiratory hygiene, avoiding crowds and all non-essential travel).
According to him, ” 193 new covid-19 cases were confirmed in the past day in 15 states- Lagos(58), Kano(46), Jigawa(35), Yobe (12), FCT(9), Ogun(7), Plateau(5), Gombe(5) Imo(4), Edo(3), Kwara(3), Borno(3), Bauchi (1), Nasarawa (1), Ondo(1), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria over the 5,000 line to 5,162 in 34 States and the FCT. Till date, 1180 patients have been treated and discharged from hospital care and 167 deaths have sadly been recorded. The case gender ratio remains about 70 to 30 percent for men and women respectively, while case fatality hovers around 3%.
He further stated that, a steady rise in these figures is what we envisage with more diligent testing, treatment, Isolation and tracing. Ability and capacity to keep up and align these activities with each other will determine the course of events as time goes on.
We implore States and partners not to relent, but to keep up with the pace, which, in some States will increase well before it begins to decrease. Adherence to advisory against interstate travel and compliance with other simple measures like use of masks and avoiding crowds will significantly mitigate the burden, the minister added.
Ehanire said that a strategy document of National Primary Healthcare development Agency is being developed and repurposed for application to Kano; but also to similar high density, high burden metropoles like Lagos to respond more specifically to the challenges of COVID-19 tracing, tracking, testing, Isolation and treatment in congested communities. If implemented it could go a long way in addressing many challenges looming before us.
Speaking on the issue in Kano , he said the situation has largely stabilized, thanks to the good relationship between the visiting Federal task team and Kano State Task force on COVID-19, one manifestation of this being the high number of new cases recorded daily from the fact that all labs in Kano are now functioning and clearing the sample backlog, with over 350 tests done daily. The State government has been doing well in opening up more treatment and Isolation centers.
Accordibg to him, “an innovation of the FMoH Kano task team is the Training of journalists to take place tomorrow, the aim of which is to ensure reporters are in a better position to interpret covid-19 related data and information and also learn to take necessary infection prevention measures. I shall use this opportunity to thank His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State for providing the necessary support for the Federal team to function.
“A Federal Ministry of Health team has been assembled to proceed to Sokoto and Bornu on fact finding and support missions; to engage with State authorities and determine material and technical needs. A most immediate probability is the prioritization of these States for the deployment of repurposed Gene Xpert machines as soon as we start receiving the cartridges in a few weeks to bring speed to testing.
“As mentioned earlier part of the mission in Kano is to assist State pathologists and scientists to unravel the mysteries around unexplained deaths in some States. The tools for forensic investigation have been jointly developed for a uniform approach and balanced results.
“We were able to persuade Mrs Susan Idoko-Okpe, now popularly known as the Benue Lady, to allow a test sample to be taken to our laboratory for testing yesterday; the result is being awaited any time now and it will be given to her in person. Please note that, while a patient may disclose their result by themselves, the FMoH cannot do so, except with the permission of the one concerned.
“The annual World Health Assembly, held every year in Geneva, shall begin on Monday 17th May, and hold this year for the first time by teleconference. I shall be leading the Nigerian team to the virtual meeting, the focus of which is expected to be the global spread and response to COVID-19, requirin individual and collective effort”, he buttressed.
Collaborating the Minister’s point on the compliance to the public health advisories with compulsion, the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said behaviour should not be regulated by enforcement.
While adding that, “We don’t require another Government intervention that has been imposed onto us. It is important for us to survive, to keep our families safe, friends alive, people that we care for and ourselves it is something we need to do for ourselves and to do it for ourselves means we don’t need any suppervision to wear masks, we don’t need the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, you don’t need the policeman stopping you on the road to insist that you wear a mask.
“In many states we have been hearing of taxi drivers who give people masks to wear when they entered their cars so that the Police doesn’t stop them. This completely defeat the purpose of this measures. We must remember that these are life saving measures that we need to carry out for ourselves.
“If you are wearing a disposable surgical masks, it is important that we think about disposal, there are many ways to do this safely, you buy a polythene bag out them inside , tie them and out in the waste, this will help keep them from people picking masks to sell, this can also add to the risk that we all face”, he added
Honorable Minister, FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (left) and the GMD, NNPC Mallam Mele Kyari during the courtesy visit by the FCT Minister to the NNPC Corporate Headquarters.
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will receive a boost in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic when the 70 bed Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) hospital at Utako District of the City, currently under renovation is completed and put to use.
Tthe FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello made this known on Friday when led a delegation from the FCTA on a courtesy visit to the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari at the Corporation’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Bello thanked the NNPC and the entire oil and gas industry for their support to the FCT in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
While also acknowledging the positive role the NNPC has played in the development of the city over the years and the Corporation’s plans to develop a world class medical facility in the Territory.
Bello, however, revealed that the Corporation has been allocated a piece of land at the proposed Abuja Medical City Development Project located at the Phase 2 development area of the city for the construction of the medical facility in conjunction with its partners in the oil and gas industry.
He said that on completion, the medical facility will also serve as a development catalyst for the area just as the NNPC Towers has attracted development to the Abuja City Center after its construction over 20 years ago.
According to him, “when reputable organisations like the NNPC and associations in the oil and gas industry set up a project, it will serve as a magnet that will attract other investments and we will all be the better for it”
Honourable Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello(left) presenting a gift to the GMD NNPC Mallam Mele Kyari (right) during a courtesy visit by the FCT Minister to the NNPC GMD at the NNPC Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
He also revealed that an international financial multilateral organisation of which the Federal Government is a shareholder along with 26 other African countries has also been allocated a plot for the construction of a center of excellence for the provision of medical services also at the Abuja Medical City Development Project.
Also, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malm Mele Kyari who led the FCT delegation on a tour of the 70 bed hospital which includes 10 Intensive Care Units, commended the FCT Administration for its efforts in handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the Territory saying that the medical personnel of the FCTA, despite the challenges posed by the Coronavirus always responded promptly and professionally whenever their services were required.
Kyari also used the occasion to reveal that the NNPC had plans to construct a world class international convention center in the city saying that the existing ones were inadequate.
On the entourage of the FCT Minister were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin and other senior staff of the FCT Administration.
…Sets Guidelines For Operations In Agricultural Sector.
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured farmers in the nation’s capital of the Administration’s commitment to step up the provision of support towards the attainment of food security amist the relaxation of the lockdown amidst the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Acting Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat Mr. Ibe Prospect Chukwuemeka made this known when he issued the Safety Protocols for Agricultural activities in the FCT.
He hinted that the measure is to mitigate the spread of the disease, saying, the Agricultural Sector as you know is key to our collective desire to attain food security and job creation. This is why the FCT Administration is putting in place these measures aimed at protecting our farmers as they go about their various Agricultural activities.
He added that, the FCT Administration under the leadership of Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello and the Minister of State Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu are in discussions at various levels with the AfDB, Central Bank of Nigeria and other Corporate organisations towards the actualisation of the food secutity, wealth creation and empowerment of FCT residents, through the implementation of various initiatives that will propel the growth of the sector in the FCT as wel as other routine support programmes.
The operational guidelines covers 5 key sectors which includes: Abattoir and slaughter slabs; Veterinary Clinics ; Livestock Markets; Fish processing Facilities ; and Agric Extension Services.
The guideline are: Strict Surveillance of all entry points into the FCT to ensure that meat brought into the FCT are duly certified by Veterinary officials to be safe for consumption; The use of infrared thermometers will be mandatory for all those entering the facilities; Protective items such as hand sanitizers and running water with antibacterial soap will be kept at the entry points into the facilities which must be used before access is allowed into any of the facilities; and The use of face masks is to become mandatory.
In addition, Veterinary health officials Butchers, Fish vendors as well as handlers of live birds cattle, goat and sheep will be required to use hand gloves and boots; The use of disinfectants for cleaning will be made more frequent in all the facilities especially the abattoirs; Dealers of Agricultural inputs and food items will be encouraged to use transparent materials to cover them.
h. In order to avoid congestion at the various facilities, social distancing measures will be adopted and enforced at all the facilities ; and Agric. Extension workers shall adopt social distancing measures in conducting their training progrrammes.
While soliciting the understanding and support of the public the Acting Secretary disclosed that a monitoring team has been put in place to ensure implementation and compliance.
Inter state Violators coming out of the truck with their luggages
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Enforcement Task Team on COVID-19 restrictions has arrested twenty seven (27) Violators of the interstate travel ban in Zuba , a boarder town to Kogi , Kaduna and Niger states.
The 27 travellers were hidden in Dangote trucks, conveying bags of rice and onions from Zaria in Kaduna.
It was revealed that, luck ran out of the travellers when men of the FCT enforcement team insisted on seeing the content of the trucks.
They were latter arraigned at the Zuba Mobile Court, where the presiding Magistrate, Ebiwari Damini convicted the driver, Olalekan Wasiu and other passengers for violating the ban on interstate travelling imposed by President Buhari to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Unfortunately, unlike the previous sentences, the magistrate who fined the driver five thousand Naira (N5,000) ruled that the Dangote company’s truck used to transport the violators be impounded until after the interstate travel restriction is lifted.
He also ruled that those caught should be guided out of the FCT to the place of departure.
Speaking to newsmen, after the judgement, the Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Enforcement Task Team on Covid-19, Comrade Ikharo Attah, lauded the verdict by the magistrate, saying that it would deter violators of the interstate travel ban.
He stated that, , “Now that the truck drivers know that whenever they are caught transporting people from one state to another, their trucks would not be released, they would stop such act”
Attah appealed to Nigerians to be mindful of their health”, decrying that “A situation in which people are hidden in between bags of onions in trucks and covered with tarpoline, as it is in this case, is not good for their health. Some even hid on the floor of trucks carrying cattle, which is also not hygienic.”
Inter-state ban violators arrested in Abuja
He also warned Management of Dangote company, who are the owners of most of the trucks used for this illegal act must do all to ensure their trucks which are meant for haulage of goods are not converted to be illegally transporting persons from one state to another, thus violating the lockdown directive of the president”.
Speaking while pleading for mercy, the driver of The Dangote truck, Olalekan Wasiu admitted that after delivering items in Zaria, he was hired by someone to convey food items to Edo State, adding that he had to carry passengers to increase his profit.
In a related development, a mobile court sitting at Dei-Dei also cconvicted two buse drivers who were coming from Minna, Niger State for violating the same travel ban. They were fined by the magistrate who also ruled that they be returned to Niger State where they came from.
… Cooks , Food Vendors To Wear Masks, Or Risk Losing Customers
…the End Of Covid-19 Outbreak Will Come , When We Get Vaccine.
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health on Thursday said that the delivery of routine services in all tertiary hospitals in Nigeria has reduced drastically as a result of Covid-19 lockdown.
Adding that, the latest statistics from the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) indicates that Out-Patient visit dropped from 4 million to about 2 million, Antenatal visits from 1.3 million to 655 thousand, Skilled Birth attendance from 158,374 to less than 99,000, while immunization services dropped to about half.
This was as, Ehanire warned all cooks and Food vendors to wear masks, or risk losing customers. Face masks should become commonplace.
He made this known on Thursday during the daily briefing on the presidential Task Force on Covid-19, in Abuja, while adding that all these have as yet undetermined consequences, which the easing of the lockdown should hopefully address.
He further stated that the downside of easing the restrictions needs to be balanced of with a collective determination by all of us, not only to comply with protective and prophylactic advisories, but to encourage relatives, friends, neighbours and customers to do same.
Ehanire added that, the use of facial covers like masks in places where social distancing may be difficult or impractical, should be supported and emphasized through donation of masks to the population, as an act of goodwill.
He also enjoined workplaces to institute such requirements and ensure that all workers are masked and knowledgeable about COVID-19 and by extension share it with their families and relations.
According to him, “We have also deployed commodities like PPE and other supplies to States and Federal Health Institutions, and in addition continued with supplies to laboratories to forestall delays arising from shortages.
“These measures and others are to address the needs reported to us by the FMoH team, presently deployed in Kano, which has paid exploratory visits to Jigawa, Bauchi and Katsina and is preparing to pay to Sokoto and Borno very soon. Part of the needs already identified is the urgent necessity of on-site laboratories with molecular diagnostic capacity, to reduce the presently extended turnaround time for results.
“Practical, hand-holding training has been requested for some of the health systems with little or no experience in Infectious disease management. To this end, more personnel is to be deployed from the Federal Infectious Disease Specialist Hospital, Irrua, while the kind offer of Lagos and Ekiti State Governors will also be drawn upon. Stepdown training will be a priority in the entire exercises to build capacity down to the level of community health workers in a bid to sustain delivery of services”, he added.
The Minister further stated that, “As we inch towards significant milestones in our COVID-19 statistics, we are looking at all options to adjust our approach to the emerging situation. The Federal Ministry of Health and its Agencies particularly the Nigeria Center for Disease Control has scaled up training of case managers, Infection Prevention and Control, case finding, Emergency Patient Transportation Systems, Surveillance Outbreak Response Management Analysis System (SORMAS), down to training of hygienists, stretcher bearers and security personnel. This will increase confidence in the health system, reduce instances of desertion and improve overall performance.
“The Federal Ministries of Health and FCT held a ministerial meeting today and agreed on a firm, synergistic collaboration and cooperation framework to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 in the Federal Capital Territory. A joint committee led by the HMSH and including the Perm Secretaries of both Ministries has been created to manage the newly donated ThisDay Dome COVID-19 treatment facility. The initial medical team is to be headed by the CMD of ISTH Irrua. An inspection visit was also paid to the 600 bed COVID-19 treatment center at Idu, a flagship project of the FCT.
“Yesterday, the 13th of May 2020, 184 new confirmed cases were recorded in 22 states. A breakdown of the cases by states shows Lagos(51), Jigawa(23), Bauchi(16), Katsina(16), Kano(14), FCT(10), Rivers(10), Kwara(9), Delta(5), Kaduna(5), Sokoto(4), Oyo(4), Kebbi(3), Nasarawa (3), Osun(3), Ondo(2), Ebonyi(1), Edo(1), Enugu(1), Anambra(1), Plateau (1), Niger (1) 6 deaths were recorded in the same period. This brings to 4,971 the total number of cases which have been confirmed in the country with 164 deaths. So far, 1070 cases have been treated and discharged”, he stressed.
He added that they shall engage State Commissioners of Health and their staff through the IT platform to continue training and retraining of health workers in the states as more information on COVID-19 is received, to ensure learnings and exchange of ideas and experiences of other countries is shared.
In addition, we have been in discussion with multinationals and our development partners such as WHO and Global Fund plan our needs and processes. Funds are also being repurposed for use in further increasing our diagnostic capacity and providing personal protective equipment for our health care workers.
Meanwhile, the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said the end of this outbreak (Covid-19) will come , when we get the vaccine.
He added that, getting a vaccine does not mean that we will have access to it. We have heard of a vaccines to humanbaseviralogy for the last ten years but because the vaccine cost about $50 per shut we don’t have access to it in Nigeria.
So we have to engage globally, to insist on equitable access to this vaccine when they are develop. We also do that by looking inward, by engaging globally, by making the case for access to this vaccine.
We must engage globally by having more access to diagnostic, theraupitics measures and to everything we need to fight this diseases.
As we look inwards, we must also look outward because no country can solve this problem by themselves, we have to work with others
The Founder and Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications , High Chief Raymond Dokpesi Returns home from Isolation and Treatment Centre, after testing nagative twice.
He made his new status known in his statement of appreciation to Nigerians, on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement reads in bits: “The past weeks have provided us with a first-hand experience of the enormous challenge before us as a country. We are better acquainted with the personal sacrifices many Nigerians are making to ensure that we collectively defeat this pandemic. This cuts across the policymakers, the care providers and even the cleaners whose job puts them at constant risk of exposure.
“I am exceptionally indebted to God Almighty for keeping and protecting me and my entire family all through our isolation at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada Isolation Centre.
“My gratitude goes to many Nigerians in the county and in the diaspora for their outpouring of concern and prayers.
“However, special mention must be made of the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha & Chairman PTF, who not only sympathised with me & my family but also personally made both video & voice calls on several occasion to ascertain our well-being.
“My appreciation goes to the Hon. Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Medical Team and other members of the PTF, the CMD UATH – Gwagwalada – Prof Bisallah Ekene, Head of Isolation Center – Dr Tahir, Rivers State Governor – His Excellency, Nyesom Wike and other serving & former State Governors too numerous to mention, Fmr President & Head of State, His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Former President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency,
Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, Former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), GCFR, Gen Abdusallami Abubakar (Rtd), former Vice President Alh. Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Elder Statesmen, Alh. Bamanga Tukur, CON, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Odili, Sen. Ken Nnamani, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Chief Bitrus Pogu, Sen. Francis Alimekhena, Sen Ben Obi, Chief Tom Ikimi, CON, General Aliyu Gusau (Rtd), Gen Akinrinade, Dr Auwalu Anwar, the D.G NBC, Fmr I.G of Police – Solomon Arase and members of the National Assembly.
“I thank all PDP Chieftains and Party stalwarts across political divide, Chief Emeka Offor, Sen Ifeanyi Ararume, Chief Acho Ihenacho, King Sunny AdeChief Dr Olasupo Allibalogun, Fatai Bello-Omeiza, Oba Otudeko, Chief Akomolafe, Prince Folusho Phillips, Chief Shobanjo, Traditional Rulers across the federation and particularly The Okumagbe of Uwanno, Chief George Oshapii, the Arch Bishop of Abuja Diocese – Ignatius Kaigama, Bishop Mathew Kukah and all the catholic church clergy who offered masses for us, Islamic Scholars, Chief Tom Adaba, Mac Emokpore, Prof Anya Anya, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Sen Lee Maeba, Rt. Hon Austin Opara, Media Proprietors & practitioners, Management and Staff of DAAR Communications Plc., entire members of my family, friends and well-wishers.
“It is my firm belief that with well thought out policies, coupled with targeted and highly coordinated investment in the health system, Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19 may become the catalyst for the much-needed reform in the health sector”, the statement further stated.
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJAThe FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has hinted that success of the FCT Palliative distribution exercise is attributed to the sacrifices made by personnel drafted in from various security and paramilitary outfits in the Territory, .
While adding that the security personnel defiled the scourging sun and rains, to ensure that the palliatives were served to the most vulnerable ones of the society.
She gave this hint on Thursday, during the FCT Administration’s donation of 500 bags of 10kg rice, 250 cartons of noodles and 250 packs of table water for the benefit of the personnel.
Aliyu also used the occasion to commend the personnel, who are also involved in enforcing COVID-19 lockdown directives, for ensuring that so far, there was no incident of harassment or whatsoever encountered in the FCT.
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu with the FCT covid-19 enforcement team
Her words: “The much we are seeing achieved as a success in this (FCT) Palliative distribution exercise wouldn’t have been possible without your sacrifices.
“You defiled the scourging sun and rains, and sometimes you cross rivers, to ensure that the palliatives were served to the most vulnerable ones of the society.
You went to the very end of difficult terrains of the FCT , to ensure that no one was left out . You all stood tall, you were resolute not to strike anyone, but to abide by the rules until normalcy was restored.
Covid-19 p alliatives to be distributed by FCT
“We are here with very important men of our society. Very important in the sense that they sacrifice their own lives to safeguard our own lives, we appreciate you all.
“I say a very big thank you very on behalf of the FCT Administration.
To all of you across the various security outfits and volunteer groups in the FCT. We have a little token for you, not because is enough but just to say that we appreciate you.”
Responding, the Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Task Team on COVID-19 lockdown enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah thanked the Minister for the initiative, while adding that this gesture demonstrates that the FCTA actually cares for gallant personnel.
According to him, “When we sit and watch these gallant men, most of whom in the last two months had not seen their families for more than three times.
“Throughout our operations, we are bold to let the world know that the people (security personnel) here did not flog anybody, they did not kick anybody, and they did not injure anybody.
“And by God’s grace they will all return gallantly to their respective domains after the defeat and exist of COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have to say that those people who want to learn from FCT team, a team guided by very highly intelligent military and service heads of the various security outfits in FCT,” he stated can do so.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, on Thursday congratulated the newly appointed Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, while describing the appointment as well deserved.
In her congratulatory message she personally signed and made available to Newsfucos media in Abuja, she noted that the appointment of Gambari was in recognition of his wealth of experience, locally and internationally, stressing that it was also a testimony to Mr. President’s firm confidence in his ability to help steer the ship of state at the very heart of government.
She, however, expressed the confident that his appointment would usher in a new era in the discharge of Mr. President’s second term so that the citizens of this great country continue to witness the delivery of promised programmes by the progressive platform, the All Progressives Congress.
The letter reads in parts: “I would like to offer you my most sincere congratulations upon your assumption of the new responsibility as the Chief of Staff to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Your assumption of office today, in recognition of your wealth of experience, locally and internationally, is a testimony to Mr. President’s firm confidence in your ability to help steer the ship of State at the very heart of government.
“It is an eloquent testimony of Allah’s grace in your life’s journey and the milestones you have crossed in your glorious service to humanity. I am therefore confident that your appointment shall usher in a new era in the discharge of Mr. President’s second term so that the citizens of this great Country continue to witness the delivery of promised programmes by our progressive platform, the All Progressives Congress.
“I take this opportunity to pledge my dedicated cooperation and look forward to tapping from your tremendous wealth of experience as we work to serve the nation productively under the leadership of our amiable President.
“Once again, I congratulate you on this well-deserved
appointment”.
