The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has said schools in the country will resume on January 18, until the Ministry of Education announces further directive.
PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, stated this while featuring on TVC on Tuesday.
Just yesterday, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the Federal Government would review the January 18 date which was fixed for resumption of schools across Nigeria.
However, Aliyu clarified that Adamu did not say the date has been changed.
Aliyu said, “As regards schools, I just want to make a clarification, what the minister said yesterday was that they were going to review, he didn’t say that they were going to change the date. He said they will review the situation and let the nation know.
“So, for the moment, it is still 18th January until the Ministry of Education comes back either with an alternative date or reconfirms that.”
The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, had listed reopening of schools as one of the reasons why COVID-19 numbers have spiked.
The Federal Government on Thursday said it will have no option other than to impose a fresh lockdown on the country if the rising cases of Covid infections recorded lately continue.
The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Sani Aliyu, stated this during a briefing in Abuja.
Recall that we had earlier reported that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Monday, said the Federal Government has no plan to impose a fresh lockdown as the country battles the second wave of the pandemic.
But speaking on Thursday, the PTF Coordinator said the rising Covid infections recorded of recent in the country were concerning and might require a fresh lockdown.
Aliyu said, “If these numbers continue to go up and we start having significant deaths, we will have no option. If we do not want to lock down, now is the time to make sure that we follow the non-pharmaceutical interventions.”
Also, the PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who spoke earlier, said, “The Presidential Task Force is very concerned about the increasing daily numbers that we are recording.
“On 6th of January 2021, we recorded 1,664 infections. This is yet another all-time high in Nigerian and we must all take full responsibility through compliance and vigilance.”
As Nigeria attains another high number of daily infections of 1,664 cases, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, PTF, Boss Mustapha has that presently Nigeria had hit the one million mark of testing across the country.
Mustapha made this known today at the National PTF press briefing on COVID-19 today in Abuja.
He said, “Nigeria just crossed the one million mark of testing across the federation.”
Testing according to him remains a key strategy to the nation’s national response towards curbing spread of the infectious virus.
“Our records show that our test per million (TPM) is at 4,695 while our test positivity rate (TPR) is at 9.6% and our Case Fatality Rate has increased to 3% haven recorded 1,324 deaths, these data are not encouraging. “
The PTF further urged all Sub-Nationals to revamp testing and contact tracing in the bid to curb the menace of the dreaded virus, adding that it is only through testing that individuals status can be known and treat early if infected. This will provide among other things, evidence for effective feedback, course correction, experience learning and sharing, as well as optimize documentation systems for future reference.
Meanwhile, the PTF Chairman has disclosed the Government is working round the clock to secure a safe and right vaccines ( COVAX Vaccine) for the Country.
He said that efforts are to intensify efforts at community advocacy to create awareness.
Director Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi who represented the Ministers of Health, the DG (NCDC) and the National Coordinator disclosed that already 92, 705 cases of COVID-19 infection have been confirmed in Nigeria with 76396 cases successfully treated and discharged.
“1319 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
We have now crossed the one million mark for testing. As at today, we have tested 1,004,915 samples.”
Adebiyi said that all laboratories in the country are functioning with enough testing kits to meet up the target of two million persons.
She therefore urged persons experiencing symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, cough, sudden loss of taste and smell or fever, to please visit a sample collection site nearest to you and get tested.
She also emphasized that until the vaccines are available for everyone, the best option to beat this disease is to observe non- pharmaceutical measures. Wear your face masks to cover your mouth and nose, observe respiratory hygiene, avoid crowded places and maintain physical distancing.
… Passports seized, defaulters face 6 months travel ban
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As Nigeria records 1,204 infections, the first ever daily astronomical increase recorded, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Chairman Boss Mustapha has announced that government has commenced sanctioning of passengers who defaulted the mandatory day- 7 post arrival tests.
Mustapha who gave this information today in Abuja at the first National press briefing on COVID-19 in the new year said that defaulters of will also face a six months travel ban effective from 1st January 2021 while their passports are seized and passport numbers published.
He said, “The PTF has generated 20,000 inbound passengers that have also defaulted, and they stand the risk of being punished on a weekly basis till the list is exhausted.
The PTF Chairman said, “Nigerians should be aware that every defaulter is a threat to public health, which is unacceptable to us and represent a draw back to the National Response.”
Mustapha noted that the astronomical spike of infections is the effect of activities carried out during the Christmas festivities, adding that this makes Nigeria joining South Africa in reporting the highest daily infection cases.
He urged people to advise their relations, friends, associates to comply with the laid down rules of protocols.
Meanwhile the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnibe Mamora has called on Nigerians to comply with non-pharmaceutical protocols.
Mamora said, “it is imperative during this second wave to strictly adhere to the non-pharmaceutical interventions of wearing face mask, physical distancing and Social distancing, hand washing with soap and water and use of hand sanitizers.”
He disclosed that there are joint efforts by state governments, the National Orientation Agency, NOA, and other relevant MDAs to sensitize the public von the need to comply with the existing COVID19 protocols. This is a step in the right direction considering the ferocity of this second wave, he noted.
According to the PTF as at date, the statistics for Nigeria shows cumulative cases: 91, 351,Cumulative Tests: 958,911 and 1,318 deaths.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has revealed that 731 members of the National Youth Service Corps Batch B have tested positive for COVID-19.
The chairman, PTF on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, stated this at the national briefing on COVID-19 on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, in continuation of the NYSC engagement, the PTF has conducted the testing of Batch B corps members using RDTs. Out of the 35,419 in Batch B, 731 tested positive compared to the 108 recorded in Batch A.
“It is on record that cases were recorded from corps members from every state of the federation,” he said.
The PTF chairman said “there is also a rising rate of infections among healthcare workers and this calls for the escalation of surveillance.
“In Africa, Nigeria has joined South Africa in reporting the highest daily infection cases.
“As of date, the statistics for Nigeria shows the following: Cumulative cases – 91,351; Cumulative Tests – 958,911; Deaths – 1,318 and Week 53 recorded 57 deaths which is the highest for any single week since we started,” he said.
Mustapha further stated that “we are pleased to inform you that the private sector – CACOVID has commenced supporting our response with 100 oxygen cylinders per day, till the end of March 2021, for distribution to critical care centres in Abuja.
”Furthermore, approval has been given to rehabilitate five oxygen plants across various tertiary health institutions in Abuja. The President has also approved that at least one oxygen plant should be established in each state of the federation immediately,” he said.
On vaccines, he stated that ”the PTF is progressing on the issue of accessing vaccines for Nigerians and that additional information would be provided to Nigerians on accelerated vaccines introduction and deployment plan.
“What is currently confronting us is a critical phase of infections globally. We are constantly reviewing our strategy to emerging situations especially in risk communication, vaccine hesitancy, fake news/disinformation,” he further said.
On sanctioning of defaulting passengers, the PTF said it “has commenced the sanctions on passengers who defaulted on day-7 post-arrival tests.
“Their passport numbers have been published and travel restriction imposed for a period of six months effective from January 1, 2021.
”The PTF has generated over 20,000 inbound passengers that have also defaulted. The publication will continue weekly till it is exhausted.
“Nigerians should be aware that every defaulter is a threat to public health which is unacceptable to us and represents a drawback to the National Response. We have a duty to advise our relations, friends, associates to comply with laid down rules,” he added.
The Federal Government has published the passport numbers of 100 travellers, who failed to undergo the mandatory COVID-19 test after their return to Nigeria.
Details of the passports were published by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Saturday.
“Based on Presidental authority, travel restrictions are placed on the following passports due to non-compliance to the mandatory Day 7 post-arrival COVID-19 test,” the communique read.
It said the restrictions started from January 1, 2021, and would last till June 30, 2021.
The PTF also confirmed that the affected passengers have been notified and will be prevented from out of the country during the period.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, had earlier in the week said the affected travellers would be published before the end of the week.
Nigeria has recorded over 85,000 COVID infections including more than 1,200 associated fatalities, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Authorities in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been asked to reopen all laboratories and scale up the testing for COVID-19.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, made the appeal on Tuesday at a briefing in Abuja.
“We wish to urge all states to reopen all laboratories and ensure that testing is expanded and turnaround time for results is substantially reduced.
“In the same vein, states should please keep their Isolation and Treatment Centres open because of the rising cases of infection nationwide,” he told reporters at the briefing.
Nigeria has tested 937,712 samples, out of which 84,811 infections have been confirmed, 12,190 cases are active, 71,357 people have been discharged, and 1,264 fatalities recorded – as of 7pm on December 29, 2020.
This data is according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)’s micro-website dedicated to monitoring the outbreak in the country.
Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), added, “Reports received also point to the fact that laboratories recently established in the states are not working optimally.
“You will recall that we moved from two laboratories to about ninety (public and private) located in all states of the Federation. Their inability to function optimally has resulted in unacceptable levels of delay in receiving results and pressure on the national reference labs.”
He announced that effective from January 1, 2021, the passports of the first 100 passengers that have failed to take their post-arrival PCR test would be published in the national dailies.
According to the PTF chairman, the passports of the erring returning travellers will be suspended until June 2021, to serve as a deterrent.
On the issue of oxygen availability as critical to the success of managing the outbreak, he noted that a review of the chain for the supply of medical oxygen for facilities across the country was ongoing.
The Lagos State Government on Monday, said it would take over traffic management from the Presidential Taskforce Team, in order to restore sanity to the Apapa area.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this during a fact-finding visit to the Apapa Ports to ascertain the reason for the incessant congestion in the port area, in spite of providing a park for the articulated trucks.
Sanwo-Olu said that a special team would be set up by his administration to takeover traffic management in the area.
He also said a stakeholders’ meeting, involving representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), haulage transport unions and port operators, among others would be convened.
According to him, the meeting is to work out means of solving the protracted traffic gridlock in Apapa, as well as having more efficient, effective port operations in the general interest of the public.
The governor decried the level of indiscipline among port players and promised to tackle head-on, the menace of extortionist tendencies levelled against security personnel in the Apapa environs.
“This is not the first time, certainly not the second and in fact this is about the third or the fourth time in my government, that we are trying to see how we can bring an enduring solution to the Apapa gridlock.
“On all of the times we have come, we knew that we are having a road construction, but you can see now that inside Apapa, there is significant progress. A lot of roads have been done.
“Today even being public holiday, it is even difficult for us to say that we have achieved a 100 per cent traffic free flow into Apapa,´´he said.
Sanwo-Olu added that there had been accusations over a cabal collecting money from operators and there were also counter accusations.
“You are aware that since last year the presidential task force had been working. Now, there is a process that is starting, in which the state government needs to take over that task force.
“One of the reasons for this trip is to start that process, to see things for myself.
“The state government is to set up a seamless operation to have a team of LASTMA about 400 to 500, dedicated to Apapa gridlock.
“To also have a team of policemen from Area B dedicated to the same gridlock. Understand what the airport police command is doing, because they are also part of the problem,´´ he said.
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.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday afternoon, meet with members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Presidency has said.
“@MBuhari will meet with the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 this afternoon,” @NGRPresident tweeted.
The meeting, which will hold at the Aso Villa in Abuja, comes at a time when Nigeria is battling the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
The PTF Chairman and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, had on Monday, announced fresh guidelines to curb the spread of the virus for the next five weeks.
He had announced the closure of all bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres, and recreational venues.
Also ordered to be closed included all restaurants, while schools would remain closed till at least till January 18, 2021.
The government also restricted guests at all informal and formal festivity events, including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities and end of year events to 50 persons.
According to Mustapha, all government staff on grade level 12 and below are to stay at home for the next five weeks.
