No fewer than 9 members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed to Niger state have tested positive for COVID-l9, investigations have revealed.
Our Reporter learnt that the corps members were discovered to be positive after tests carried out on them when they reported for the two-week orientation programme at the Paiko temporary orientation camp.
It was learnt that those affected had already been placed in isolation in one of the government facilities in the state.
The development it was gathered stopped those concerned from passing out with others on Tuesday after the two-week orientation programme.
They are doing fine in the isolation centre, ” a top official of the State Task Force on COVID-19.
No official of the State NYSC directorate was prepared to volunteer information officially on the development, however when contacted the state Commissioner for Information Alhaji Mohammed Sani Idris confirmed the development, saying that the relations of the affected Youth Corps members have been informed.
The Commissioner also confirmed that the Task Force on COVID-19 in the state had begun the fumigation of the House of Assembly complex following the discovery that the Speaker Abdullahi Bawa Wuse and Clerk of the Assembly Alhaji Abdullahi Kagara tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
The Police Command in Plateau says it will arrest and prosecute anyone caught violating COVID-19 protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus during the Christmas and New Year celebrations in Plateau.
ASP Ubah Ogaba, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Jos.
According to him, the command will do everything within its power to ensure that residents adhere to the safety measures against the pandemic.
“Members of the public are advised to observe the COVID-19 safety protocols, particularly the Presidential Task Force (PTF) directives that social gathering should not be more than fifty persons.
“The command hereby warns that it has put in place measures to arrest and prosecute anyone or group contravening the said directives,” he said.
Ogaba further said that the command had also put stringent security measures in place to curtail crimes and criminality in the state during the celebration.
He advised parents, guardians and the general public to be vigilant and desist from visiting unauthorised designations and ensure the safety of their children.
He said: “The command has put in place elaborate and workable security strategies to curtail crimes and criminality before, during and after the yuletide.
“We have put our patrol vehicles in strategic areas of the state to respond promptly to distress calls from members of the public at anytime.
“To avoid unintended consequences, members of the public are advised to be cautious and avoid patronising unauthorised parks so that they will not be victims to kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements.”
The PPRO also said that the command had banned the use of fireworks, bangers, knockouts and tricycle movement on Dec. 25 and 26, as well as Jan. 1, 2021.
The Kwara Government has announced a partial lockdown between 12am to 4:30am daily till further notice in order to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq, told newsmen in Illorin on Wednesday that the lockdown became necessary with the second wave of the disease and the need to manage it effectively.
According to Razaq, the government has mandated appropriate use of face mask in public places while it bans concerts, carnivals and clubbing until further notice.
The commissioner said that only 50 people at the same time would be allowed at worship centres to allow for physical distancing.
“Other gatherings, formal and informal, exceeding 50 people are also disallowed.’’
He also emphasised the need to ensure the protocol of “No face mask, no entry’’ at all public places.
According to him, civil servants are to work from their homes.
“The only exemptions are essential workers especially in the health sector; virtual meetings are encouraged,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that transporters are to enforce all COVID-19 protocols, including proper use of face mask by drivers and passengers.
Razaq said there were appropriate sanctions for defaulters and that security agencies would deploy all lawful means to enforce these protocols.
He explained that defaulters were deemed to constitute dangers to public health while provisions of the Kwara State Infectious Diseases Regulations 2020 shall apply to all offenders.
The commissioner said here would be further communication on schools resumption date as soon as new guidelines take effect from Thursday December 24, 2020.
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said that 200 security officers would be deployed to Apapa and Tin-Can Ports to clear the gridlock on the route and enforce compliance on truck not to park on the road.
Mrs Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni, Media Assistant to the minister, said Amaechi disclosed this during a meeting with Maritime Stakeholders and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in Lagos.
The union had threatened to go on strike if government failed to address the gridlock on the route.
He, however, said that there should be a Steering Committee headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Magdalene Ajani, to seat monthly until the challenges are overcome.
Other members of the committee would be from the Nigerian Ports Authourity, Nigerian Shippers Council, MWUN, Road Safety and Lagos State government.
Amaechi directed the committee to write to the Inspector General of Police for more Officers for the assignment.
“The issue of traffic on these routes is because in Nigeria we don’t discipline people. People do whatever they like even when it’s wrong because there is no consequence for our actions. We need security officers to enforce compliance on truck blocking the road.
“100 men at Tin Can and Apapa to be stationed their everyday because Nigerians don’t obey until there are consequences for actions. NPA, Shippers Council must have a level of funding to resolve this challenges.
“We need to talk to Shippers and Traders especially those around Warri, to see how they can be using Warri port, so that Lagos Ports will be decongested, we can get security to follow the cargoes to that area, so that traders from Aba, Onitsha that are ready to use that Port can go there.”
Speaking, the Deputy Secretary General of MWUN, Abudu Eroje, said that the union wanted to go on strike because of the hardship workers faced everyday trying to go to work because of the gridlock.
He said that the union is now part of the Implementation Committee which took a decision that letters will be sent out to all relevant stakeholders giving an ultimatum when all trucks must leave the road back to their various parks.
Eroje said that a Manuel call-up system would commence before the electronic system to enable all access road to Tin Can by Mile 2 be cleared.
He said that before the date of ultimatum expires, all truck owners, relevant stakeholders would be sensitized before enforcement.
The Federal Government has declared Friday, December 25, Monday, December 28, 2020, and Friday, January 1, 2021, as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations, respectively.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, announced this on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, on Wednesday.
It was titled, ‘FG declares December 25, 28, 2020; January 1, 2021, public holidays.’
The minister felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Aregbesola urged Christians to adopt the creed of Christ on faith, hope, and love.
“We must emulate the life of humility, service, compassion, patience, peace, and righteousness that the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ signified, that will be the best way to know Christ and celebrate his birth”, he said.
The minister noted that peace and security are critical factors needed to enable the government to accomplish its mission of revitalizing the economy, improving Foreign Direct Investment as well as generating employment opportunities for over 100 million Nigerian youths in the next 10 years.
Aregbesola advised Nigerians and Christians, in particular, to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, as stipulated by relevant authorities, during and after the yuletide, especially with the second wave of the outbreak of the disease.
The minister while reiterating the FG’s commitment to the fight against banditry, kidnappings, and other crimes and criminalities in the country, called on Nigerians to support the efforts of the security agencies by providing them with information that will enhance intelligence gathering.
While admonishing all Nigerians to remain focused, determined, patient, and patriotic, Aregbesola expressed the confidence that 2021 would be a better year for all Nigerians.
He, therefore, urged Christians to use the period to pray for Nigeria.
He wished all Nigerians and Christians in particular a happy Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) has suspended the 9-month old industrial action.
The union announced the suspension strike at a press conference held Wednesday morning in Abuja.
ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, who led other National Executive Committee of the union to the event where he made the announcement, explained that the suspension takes effect from today, Wednesday 23, 2020.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, is hopeful that the ongoing strike by university lecturers will soon be called off.
He made the remark on Tuesday as the Federal Government resumes negotiations with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end the industrial action that has crippled academic activities in universities for about nine months.
Ngige, in his opening address at the meeting held in Abuja, urged the academics led by the ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, to ensure the discussions yielded the desired result.
According to him, the government has addressed all grey areas, and those who plan to occupy the streets in January 2021 to begin an #EndStrike protest will be disappointed.
Professor Ogunyemi, on his part, acknowledged that much progress has been made in the negotiations so far.
He was also hopeful that the meeting would end the long strike as his colleagues were all ready and willing to get back to work provided the government does what it ought to do.
After the minister and the ASUU president gave their remarks, the meeting entered into a technical session while journalists were barred from covering the proceedings.
Tuesday’s meeting comes a month after the Federal Government offered a cumulative sum of N65 billion to the lecturers to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.
At the meeting held on November 20, Ngige noted that the government had decided to shift grounds on the lingering issues that have kept students out of the classroom since March.
He explained that in its bid to resolve the impasse with ASUU, the sum of N15 billion from the amount offered by the government would be for more funds to revitalise the universities.
The minister stated that the fund was in addition to the N20 billion paid earlier, making it a total of N35 billion committed as revitalisation fund by the government.
Professor Ogunyemi had also at the end of the meeting acknowledged that the government had made some new offers to the union and progress had been made.
He, however, said the union leaders would report to their organs and get back to the government on the position of their members.
As Nigerians prepare for the festive season, the police have shared six security tips for people in public spaces.
The recommendations were issued on Tuesday by the Public Relations Department of the Police Headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
They highlight how residents, especially those who intend to travel for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, can be as secure as possible at motor parks, airports, and train stations.
See the security tips shared by the police on Twitter below:
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, has sacked the Education Secretaries of all the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor also relieved the General Manager of the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) of his appointment.
El-Rufa’i in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye on Tuesday said the personnel adjustments were aimed at reinvigorating governance and deepen reforms in the education sector in Kaduna state.
The statement said that Mrs. Saude Amina Atoyebi has been appointed as the acting General Manager of CSDA, adding that ’’she will combine this responsibility with her role as head of the State Social Investment Office until a new GM is recruited through a competitive, advertised process.’
Adekeye further said that “the most senior official in the Education Department of each LGA will act as Education Secretary until substantive appointments are announced.’’
According to the statement, Saude joined the government in 2015 and has served as Senior Special Assistant (Administration) to Governor El-Rufai, adding that she “was appointed in 2019 as State Focal Person on Social Investment.’’
“Saude began working for Malam Nasir El-Rufai in 2012 as a researcher for his acclaimed budget series. She served as secretary of the Finance sub-committee of the 2015 Kaduna State Transition Committee before her appointment as the governor’s Personal Secretary and Senior Special Assistant, Administration.
‘’In these roles, she has provided support for the running of the Governor’s Office and has sometimes covered the duties of the Principal Private Secretary,’’ the statement added.
According to Adekeye, “Saude Amina Mohammed, she graduated in Economics from ABU Zaria, close to her Wusasa roots, before taking a master’s degree in Advertising and Marketing from Coventry University, United Kingdom.
‘’She has attended the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Programme on Adaptive Leadership and the Agha Khan University’s Voice of Leadership programme,’’ he added.
President Buhari has extended the tenure of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to March 2021 as Nigeria faces a second wave of the pandemic.
The President announced the extension of the tenure of the task force when he received the members at the statehouse Abuja today December 22.
At the meeting, President Buhari received the end-of-year report of the task force led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.
He noted that the mandate of the PTF was extended for a further period of three months, bearing in mind the new surge in the number of cases and the bid for vaccines.
According to the President, recent reports have indicated that Nigeria is facing a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases, a situation that is similar to the second wave of infections recorded in other countries.
He added that new epicentres have been identified and Nigeria cannot afford to lose the gains of the last nine months.
President Buhari said that he has critically evaluated the situation and remained convinced that urgent measures needed to be taken to curb the spread and the attendant fatalities.
He explained that this necessitated the need to speedily and strategically access and administer the COVID-19 vaccine in a safe, effective, and timely manner.
The president informed the PTF members that this has become an important obligation that the government owed Nigerians in the new year and it must be carried out through efficient machinery.
Read the full text of President Buhari’s address at the meeting below:
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE END-OF-YEAR REPORT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON COVID 19 AT THE STATE HOUSE, PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA ON TUESDAY, 22ND DECEMBER, 2020.
PROTOCOLS:
The year 2020 has been most challenging for the whole of humanity as a result of the havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 on lives, livelihoods, global and national economies, governance structures, health, social welfare, and other systems.
It has consumed an inordinate amount of resources deployed to address it by countries of the world, without abating.
Sadly, the COVID 19 pandemic has also taken and keeps taking, precious lives of our loved ones, leaving several homes, families, and associates to mourn. May the Almighty God grant all those that have lost their lives to this deadly virus eternal rest.
Over the last nine months, I received a total of eight Interim Reports along with one Mid-Term Report, apprising me progressively of developments on the COVID-19 pandemic, from the Presidential Task Force.
I similarly approved several far-reaching measures recommended to support the achievement of the objectives of our National Response. I have been in constant touch about the pandemic in all corners of our country.
Let me also add that I have religiously followed the daily national briefings by the PTF which has become the platform for communicating with Nigerians and the most authentic source of information which substantially reduced the space for fake news.
The successes recorded by the PTF in managing the control of the pandemic since March 2020 are largely attributable to the multi-sectoral approach adopted by the government, the proactive steps taken, and the commitment of its members.
I wish to acknowledge the immeasurable support received from the National Assembly, state governments, the private sector coalition, the international community, development partners, well-meaning Nigerians who donated in cash and kind and also made sacrifices, the media organisations, security agencies, and the frontline workers who toiled day and night as our last line of defence. The list is endless. Our gratitude is endless.
On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I thank you one and all for your support and contributions to this National Response to a global emergency.
The impact of the COVID-19 on global and national economies cannot even now be fully assessed. No nation of the world has been spared the experience of different degrees of the economic downturn as several countries including Nigeria went into negative growth territories.
To mitigate this impact, we developed an Economic Sustainability Plan aimed at cushioning the impact at all levels and stabilizing our economy.
Family businesses, small, and medium-scale enterprises, and the manufacturing sector were all supported through various windows.
Appropriate support has also been provided through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program, as well as the Trader and Market Moni loans.
For the very vulnerable, significant steps taken include:
Expansion of the National Social Register to 3.6 million beneficiaries across thirty-six states;
Support provided to 8, 827,129 households through the 70,000MT food grains released from the Strategic Reserve; and
Support to 1,289,405 vulnerable households that benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfers across 34 States.
The pandemic also revealed the vulnerabilities in our health system which compelled our determination to ensure that its support is given top priority in terms of infrastructure, human and institutional capacities, legislative support, etc.
It must be emphasised that this administration recognizes that an effective and efficient health sector represents a significant component of our security and economic growth strategy.
It is in this regard that I am pleased to note the legacy improvements made in the health sector in the areas of laboratory infrastructure, treatment centres, training of health care personnel, improvement in surveillance and Port Health capacities, etc.
I must again single out and thank those private entrepreneurs who sourced and installed impressive healthcare facilities in some strategic places as their contribution to this National Emergency.
There is still more work to be done in the health sector to help us cater for our citizens and minimize the drain on our foreign exchange and trained manpower through medical tourism.
For Nigeria to enjoy a lasting legacy from the huge investment in the health sector, a comprehensive Health Sector Reform that will achieve the following amongst others must be instituted.
The objectives include to:
Build the human and institutional capacity to provide a world-class 21st century health care system, capable of responding effectively to future pandemics;
Develop a viable strategy for our primary and tertiary healthcare system;
Re-align institutional mandates and functions within the health sector for effectiveness and efficiency;
Distinguish policy and coordination from implementation responsibilities; and
Strengthen the statutory and regulatory capacities within the health sector
Recent reports reaching me indicate that Nigeria is now facing a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide which is similar to the second wave of infections occurring in other countries across the world.
New epicentres have been identified and the nation cannot afford to lose the gains of the last nine months. I have critically evaluated the situation and remain convinced that urgent measures have to be taken to halt the spread and the attendant fatalities.
Closely associated with the foregoing is the need to speedily and strategically access and administer the COVID vaccine in a safe, effective, and timely manner.
This is an important obligation that we owe Nigerians as we go into the year 2021 and it must be carried out through efficient machinery.
Accordingly, I have authorised the following measures for implementation:
The extension of the mandate of the PTF for a further period till the end of March, 2021 bearing in mind the new surge in the number of cases and the bid for vaccines;
That the PTF should coordinate the process for planning and the strategy for accessing, delivery, and administration of the vaccines using the existing health structures that have worked in the past in vaccine administration;
Authorised the PTF to engage with the States for them to assume full ownership of this stage of the response by deploying legal structures and resources, including enforcement to manage the pandemic within their jurisdictions. Details of the advisory measures have already been announced; and
Authorised the PTF and the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure that all in-bound passengers who failed to show up for post-arrival COVID-19 test are sanctioned within the ambit of the law, for breaching the public health protocols.
The nation is clearly in a perilous situation given the virulent nature of this second wave and we must act decisively to protect our people.
I, therefore, urge all sub-national entities, traditional rulers, religious and leaders of thought to collaborate with the PTF by taking up the responsibility for risk communication and community engagement at all levels. Now is the time for collective efforts to be intensified.
As the festive season approaches, I urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and stay safe. Non-essential trips and large social gatherings should be avoided or shelved completely.
I thank you all for your commitment and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
