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  • COVID-19: FG releases updated guidelines for every sphere of life

    COVID-19: FG releases updated guidelines for every sphere of life

    The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTFCOVID19) has released updated implementation guidelines for the containment of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the updated guidelines signed by Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation/ Chairman, PTFCOVID19 cover aspects of general movement, reopening of airports, markets, intrastate travel and interstate travels.

    The updated guidelines also cover industry and labour, schools, supermarkets, funerals, churches, mosques, hotels, restaurants and eateries, bars, gyms, cinemas and night clubs, recreational parks/communal sports, and hospital visits, and more

    UPDATED IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR CONTAINMENT OF COVID-19

    In view of the progress made with Nigeria’s COVID-19 pandemic, there is no longer a strong need for a generalised lockdown as was the case during the initial stages of the response.

    The Federal Government has decided that the next phase of the response (Phase 2) will involve a cautious but progressive easing of the lockdown across the Federation, with a stronger focus on high burdened local government areas (LGAs) within identified States of the Federation.

    As the State Governments start taking a greater role in developing restrictive guidelines at the LGA level, the Federal Government is approving the lifting of the current lockdown in Kano State while allowing a minimum set of safety conditions to apply nationwide to ensure that the gains made thus far are consolidated, so that the country is positioned to effectively overcome the pandemic going forward.

    Further to the pronouncement of the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha at the Daily PTF Press Briefing of Monday 1st June 2020, the following implementation guidelines on measures to control COVID-19 pandemic are hereby issued for:

    • General Information to the Public;
    • Guidance to States and Security Agencies; and
    • Description of the types of activities allowed under Phase 2 (2nd-29th June 2020)

    SECTION I: GENERAL INFORMATION ON NEW COVID-19 MEASURES

    2. The next phase of the nation’s COVID-19 response will involve the lifting of the full lockdown in Kano while providing a nationwide set of minimum safety guidelines that States can build on to strengthen their local strategies on preventing the transmission of COVID-19 at the community level. The goal of phase 2 over the next 4 weeks is to balance public health with protecting livelihoods and allow the full restoration of economic activities across the country. In this regard, all public and private sector institutions must start putting in place the arrangements required for full compliance with containment measures and safety advisories as provided by the PTF.

    3. Effective from Tuesday 2nd June 2020, the easing of the lockdown will be characterised by the following:

    • The mandatory use of non-medical face mask/covering for all persons while in public spaces. Latex hand gloves should not be worn except for specific medical purposes;
    • The mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitizers in all public spaces;
    • All interstate travel by individuals remain prohibited except for essential travels & the movement of goods and services. All restrictions on the free movement of goods and services within and between States is now removed;
    • The nationwide curfew remains in place, but the timing has been changed to 10 pm to 4 am.

    The purpose of the curfew is to limit social interactions and reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Persons that are on essential duty, including but not limited to those involved in the provision of healthcare services, media services and critical infrastructure are exempted from the curfew;

    • Mass gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace is prohibited;
    • There will be controlled access to markets and locations of economic activities with local authorities providing guidance on opening times;
    • The financial sector shall be fully opened with banks operating normal working hours, five days a week;
    • The manufacturing industry shall fully resume activities with phased opening of the informal sector;
    • Mandatory temperature checks will be conducted in public spaces;
    • Physical distancing of 2 metres must be maintained between people in workplaces and other public spaces; places of worship, offices and commercial premises must create floor markings to guide physical spacing;
    • Gradual opening of air (domestic) and sea borders with safety advisories in place. International land borders shall remain closed;
    • Restricted opening of places of worship based on state government protocols and with strict guidelines on physical distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions; and
    • Mandatory supervised isolation of person(s) arriving from outside the country for at least 14 days will continue until a new protocol comes into place.

    General Rules and Regulations

    • Anyone who presents with a temperature of above 380C will be mandated to return home and call NCDC for evaluation;
    • Anyone without a face mask/covering will be asked to return home and will be prosecuted;
    • Anyone violating the curfew in a non-emergency situation will be prosecuted;
    • Anyone attending a gathering of more than 20 people outside a workplace will be prosecuted;
    • Institutions that fail to comply with these protocols and guidelines will be prosecuted; and
    • Any member of the public who violates the ban on inter-State movement as outlined in this guideline will be prosecuted;
    • This extension will continue to be characterised by the creation of mobile courts for immediate prosecution of offenders.

    SECTION II: PROTOCOLS FOR CONTAINMENT OF COVID-19

    GENERAL MOVEMENT ASPECT RECOMMENDATION

    Curfew now to operate 10 pm – 4 am nationwide

    General Movement

    • May go out for work, to buy necessary foods and for exercise
    • Movement between LGAs (except metropolitan areas) is strongly discouraged unless for critical reasons such as healthcare and work, especially as it applies to high burden LGAs
    • Avoid unnecessary contact with people, preferably stay at home
    • Hawking and street trading remains prohibited
    • Mandatory use of face masks/coverings in public

    Air Transport

    • The Aviation industry to commence preparation for the resumption of domestic operations from TENTATIVE DATE OF 21st June 2020
    • Airlines to ensure physical distancing by reducing passenger capacity on flights
    • Ensure provision of sanitisers and appropriate PPEs to all workers (such as face masks, gloves etc.)
    • Carry out temperature checks at point of entry and departure
    • Ensure cargo and logistics areas are clean and conduct strict compliance when moving items
    • Carry out effective tracking of travellers to ensure contact tracing if necessary
    • Only travellers and airport staff to be allowed into airport facilities

    Inter-State Travel

    • Movement across state borders is still banned
    • Allow movement of all goods and services including but not limited to agricultural products; Petroleum products transport; Security Services;

    Essential Personnel

    Allow essential travel, ensuring the following:

    • Provision of sanitisers and appropriate PPEs to all workers (such as face masks, gloves etc.)
    • Reduce to 50% of usual occupancy for buses and driver plus 3 passengers for Taxis
    • Non-medical face mask for drivers and staff
    • Temperature checks at point of entry and departure
    • Handwashing facilities at bus parks, along with physical distancing

    Intra-State Travel

    • Ensure provision of sanitisers and appropriate PPEs to all workers (such as face masks, gloves etc.)
    • Reduce to 50% of usual occupancy for buses and driver plus 3 passengers for taxis
    • Where possible, carry out temperature checks at point of entry and departure
    • Provide handwashing facilities at bus parks, along with physical distancing
    • Restrict movement in high burden LGAs to essential travel only

    INDUSTRY & LABOUR ASPECT RECOMMENDATION

    Banks and other Financial Institutions

    • Banks to operate normal working hours
    • Maintain normal working hours based on curfew arrangements apart from government offices
    • Offices to maintain working at 75% capacity, while ensuring 2m physical distancing
    • Ensure provision of sanitisers and appropriate PPEs to all workers
    • Limit number of customers to allow physical distancing
    • Limit workers to 75% or less to allow physical distancing
    • Banking operations should prioritise the elderly, people living with disabilities and customers who do not have access to internet services
    • Mandatory use of non-medical face mask
    • Encourage online banking and provide services online
    • Temperature checks
    • Ensure all ATMs are functional and cleaned daily

    Government offices/ other corporate offices

    • To work from 9 am – 2 pm from Monday -Friday
    • Ensure provision of sanitisers and appropriate PPEs to all workers
    • Use non-medical face mask
    • Encourage work at home policy for civil/public servants below GL14.
    • Temperature checks on arrival

    Manufacturing Industries

    • Ensure provision of sanitisers and appropriate PPEs to all workers
    • Limit number of workers to allow physical distancing
    • Use non-medical face mask
    • Conduct temperature checks

    Personalised Services

    • Mechanics, artisans, haïr salons, etc. who own their workshop or workstations and can clearly adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions are permitted to operate
    • Ensure wearing of a face mask when selling goods or providing services
    • Ensure provision of sanitisers and appropriate PPEs to all workers
    • Limit number of workers and customers to allow physical distancing
    • State and Local Government Authorities shall work with the Unions/Associations to monitor and ensure compliance

    Supermarkets

    • Ensure provision of sanitiser to all customers
    • Limit number of customers to allow physical distancing
    • Use non-medical face mask
    • Temperature checks
    • Limit capacity to ensure appropriate physical distancing

    Markets

    • Allocate day and time for opening of shops based on arrangements by local authorities
    • Observe all mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions
    • Observe physical distancing
    • Ensure supply of running water and soap/alcohol sanitizer
    • Temperature checks at all entrances and by shop/stall owners
    • Use of face masks always
    • Maintenance of environmental hygiene in the market
    • Ensure presence of health officers at the abattoirs

    Hotels, Restaurants and Eateries

    • Hotels may re-open but must observe all mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions
    • Restaurants in hotels are to only cater for residents
    • Restaurants (other than those in hotels) to remain closed for eat-ins
    • Eateries to prioritise and continue practicing the take-away system with strict cleanliness

    Bars, Gyms, Cinemas and Night Clubs

    • Closed until further evaluation

    Agriculture

    • Farmers to adhere to physical distancing on site
    • Ensure provision of cleaning stations at all points of entry
    • Observe all mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions
    • Observe physical distancing
    • Ensure supply of running water and soap/alcohol sanitizer
    • Temperature checks
    • Use of face masks always

    COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ASPECT RECOMMENDATION

    Day-care and Primary Schools

    • All schools to remain closed till further evaluation.
    • Schools are encouraged to continue with e-learning and visual teaching.
    • Arrangements to be made for exiting (graduating) students to undertake exams in the next phase of ease of lockdown.

    Secondary and Tertiary Institutions

    • All schools to remain closed till further evaluation.
    • Preparation should be made for graduating classes to finish exams with appropriate distancing measures by next phase of ease of lockdown.
    • Schools are encouraged to continue with e-learning and visual teaching.

    Churches, Mosques/ Places of Worship

    • Restricted opening subject to the guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by respective state governments
    • Observe all mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions
    • Observe physical distancing
    • Ensure supply of running water and soap/alcohol sanitizer
    • Temperature checks at all entrances
    • Use of face masks always
    • Maintenance of environmental hygiene.
    • See additional guidance in Section III.

    Recreational Parks/ Communal Sports/ Hospital visits

    • Closed until further evaluation
    • Limited to immediate family members

    Funerals

    • Limited to 20 people including close family members
    • All attendees must clean hands before and after attendance
    • Physical distancing must be adhered to for all attendees

    SECTION III: GUIDANCE FOR THE CONTAINMENT OF COVID-19 IN PLACES OF WORSHIP

    In view of the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Nigeria, it is important that places of worship operate in a safe manner to ensure the protection of public health, avoid outbreaks and safeguard the health of vulnerable members of the population.

    To this end, the following guidelines have been developed as a minimum set of standards that have to be complied with for places of worship to safely operate nationwide. They have been developed by the PTF in liaison with leadership of the religious communities in the country and should be used by State governments as the baseline for permitting the use of these facilities.

    It is important to note that due to the nature of religious gatherings, places of worship are particularly recognised to have a major potential for spreading COVID-19 among worshippers, as demonstrated by several outbreaks globally linked to religious gatherings.

    Therefore, places of worship that are unable to comply with these measures should not be allowed to operate and may face prosecution.

    A. All places of worship must sign up to full compliance with all aspects of non- pharmaceutical interventions required to protect the public from COVID-19, including but not limited to:

    1. Ensuring the supply of running water and soap/alcohol sanitisers at entry and exit points and in all high-contact locations including bathrooms;
    2. Worshippers must sanitise their hands before entry;
    3. Provision of temperature checks before entry;
    4. Mandatory use of face masks;
    5. Strongly discourage all close contact including shaking hands, hugging, kissing, handing out of materials and sharing of worship implements including prayer mats, musical organs, microphones etc;
    6. Limit the capacity of the facility to allow for physical distancing of at least 2m between persons. Consider the use of floor/surface markings to guide distancing. Encourage people from same household to stay together;
    7. State governments to provide guidance on local arrangements for limiting capacity of places of worship based on strict maintenance of physical distancing rules;
    8. Volunteers should be limited to exact numbers needed and none should have an underlying medical condition or be above the age of 55 years; and
    9. The leadership of the mosques/churches will be responsible for full compliance with these rules.

    B. Limit congregational contact times, with places of worship only opening for regular church and mosque services;

    1. Churches to open from 5am and close by 8pm;
    2. For churches, each service shall be for a maximum of 1 hour with an interval of 30 mins in between services to allow time for disinfection;
    3. Mosques, to open 15 mins before Adhan and close 10 mins after prayers for the five prayers. Waiting period between Adhan and Iqamah should not be more than 10 minutes. Prayers to be shortened to reduce duration of contact between congregations;
    4. For Friday prayers, mosques are to open 20 minutes before prayers and close 20 minutes after prayers. Total time for Friday prayers including sermons should not exceed 1 hour;
    5. Islamiyah schools, All-Night Vigil, Sunday School and children activities are to remain suspended. For mosques, only the five daily prayers and Friday prayer services are allowed;
    6. Mass gatherings that make compliance with physical distancing impossible are not allowed. Stagger prayer sessions if necessary, to encourage greater opportunity for physical distancing. Encourage worshippers to sign up for preferred service time. Make virtual worship option available;
    7. Plan for separate entry and exit points and measures to direct the flow of people to avoid crowding and breach of physical distancing rules;
    8. There should be no social gatherings either before or after worship; and
    9. Business outlets within the church or mosque premises should remain closed.

    C. Advise vulnerable individuals such as those aged 55 years and above, those with impaired immune systems (e.g. HIV, cancer treatment) and underlying co-morbidities such as diabetes and heart disease to stay at home and consider remote participation or non-contact attendance e.g. drive-in services.

    D. Improve environmental hygiene and avoid surface contamination;

    1. Places of worship should preferably be free of carpets to allow easy and regular disinfection of floors and furniture;
    2. Keep all windows open during services and preferably use non-enclosed spaces/open air services as much as possible;
    3. Frequently clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, high traffic areas, common areas, and bathrooms; and
    4. Use dilute bleach (1000ppm) to disinfect all surfaces regularly after removal of visible dirt.

    E. Keep infected persons out and reduce the risk of onward transmission;

    1. Public awareness campaign through effective messaging using conventional media and online outlets and placing of signages/notices at strategic locations. This should address common symptoms, risk of transmission, vulnerability to severe illness, etc;
    2. Remind worshippers not to attend in person if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough, shortness of breath or have had close contact with an infected person in the last 14 days;
    3. Exclude all worshippers noted to have a temperature or are symptomatic on arrival at the place of worship;
    4. Keep up-to-date record of staffing including contact details and if possible, a full record of attendees at every service to enable contact tracing; and
    5. Considering the dangers posed by the pandemic, any religious visits to homes by religious clerics should be discouraged.

    4. State Governments and Security Agencies are enjoined to ensure effective and strict enforcement of these guidelines while respecting the exemptions approved by the PTF.

    5. The level of compliance with these guidelines will continue to be reviewed in due course.

  • Nigeria yet to reach ‘peak’ of COVID-19 cases – PTF

    Nigeria yet to reach ‘peak’ of COVID-19 cases – PTF

    The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, says Nigeria is yet to reach the “peak” of COVID-19 infections.
    The chairmen of PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr Boss Mustapha , disclosed this at the COVID-19 daily news conference on Monday in Abuja.
    He said it was necessary to restate to the citizenry, that Nigeria had not reached the peak of confirmed cases, adding that the battle against COVID-19 was a long term battle.
    He urged Nigerian to pursue a strategy that would aid the sustainable control of the spread of the disease, stressing that risk communications and community engagement should remain top priority.
    He added that precision approached to containment and management should be adopted based on the overall assessment, including available data on the public health considerations and resultant economic impacts.
    According to him, the PTF is of the opinion that Nigeria is ready to allow science and data determine her cautious advancement into the second phase of the eased lockdown for a period of four weeks.
    “It is the consideration of the PTF that while Nigeria’s confirmed cases have increased in the period under review, the following factors should inspire confidence in the response
    “Majority of the confirmed cases are in a handful of local government areas in the country as 20 out of the 774 LGAs nationwide account for 60 per cent of the cases,” he said.
    He said there was an opportunity to concentrate efforts in the high-burden areas, adding that the federal agencies and state governments were working together on the promotion and utilisation of guidelines on case management.
    According to him, there is increased capacity to detect, test and trace those infected with the virus as 29 testing laboratories have been activated, with Bauchi being the latest addition.
    He added that the test count nationwide had exceeded 60,000, stating that a shift in focus to community engagement and enhanced risk communication was imperative.
  • COVID-19: See new government guidelines on easing of lockdown

    COVID-19: See new government guidelines on easing of lockdown

    The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has reeled out guidelines as government rallies best options to consider before easing the lockdown emplaced to curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

    Chairman of the PTFCOVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, reeled out the guidelines at the national briefing of Monday.

    In his remarks, Mustapha said based on the overall assessment, including available data on the public health considerations and resultant economic impacts, the PTF is of the opinion that Nigeria is ready to allow science and data determine her cautious advancement into the second phase of the eased lockdown for a period of four (4) weeks.

    ​After considering all factors mentioned above, the PTF submitted its recommendations and the PRESIDENT approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June, 2020, subject to review-:

    i. Cautious advance into the Second Phase of the national response to COVID-19;

    ii. Application of science and data to guide the targeting of areas of on-going high transmission of COVID-19 in the country;

    iii. Mobilisation of all resources at State and Local Government levels to create public awareness on COVID 19 and improve compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions within communities;

    iv. Sustenance of key non-pharmaceutical interventions that would apply nationwide and include:

    a) Ban of gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace;

    b) Relaxation of restriction on places of Worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and Protocols agreed by State Governments

    c) Managed access to markets and locations of economic activity to limit the risk of transmission;

    d) Ban on inter-state travels except for movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and essential services;

    e) Mandatory use of non-medical face masks in public places;

    f) Mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitisers in all public places;

    g) Extensive temperature checks in public places;

    h) Maintaining 2 metres between people in public places;

    i) Strengthening infection prevention and control at healthcare facilities;

    j) Isolation of vulnerable populations (elderly and those with underlying health conditions)

    k) Massive information and education campaigns.​

    v. Deepening of collaborative efforts with the community leaders, civil society, faith-based organisations, traditional institutions, etc;

    vi. Continuous mobilisation of State governments to take up greater role in the implementation of the guidelines and advisories provided by the PTF;

    vii. Continued provision of support by the NCDC to States through guidelines to shape decision-making in responding to high burden LGAs and Wards; and

    viii. Easing the total lockdown of Kano State and introduction of Phase One of the Eased Lockdown.

    Remarks by The Chairman, PTF on Covid-19 At The National Briefing Of Monday, June 1, 2020

    PROTOCOLS

    I welcome you all to the National Briefing for Monday 1st June, 2020.

    2. ​When the PTF briefed the nation on Monday 18th May, 2020, we informed you that Mr. President had approved amongst others, the extension of phase one of the eased lockdown so that the observed gaps in the expected impact of the National Response could be closed and the gains consolidated. That action was based on the Guidelines developed and published by the PTF, working in collaboration with sub-national entities and key stakeholders.

    3.​The PTF also announced the extension of the lockdown of Kano State due to the need to address the peculiar circumstances that had arisen in that state.

    4.​During the two weeks extension, the PTF evaluated the COVID-19 situation in the country after which it submitted a Report to Mr. President as promised last week.

    5.​Ladies and gentlemen, despite partnerships, injection of resources and collaboration, the COVID-19 has continued to ravage the world in very many ways. It has also continued to spread and claim casualties. The global figures recorded as at Sunday, 31st May 2020 had risen to 6,407,451 confirmed cases, 2,862,610 recoveries and 377,834 fatalities across 216 countries and territories of the world.

    6.​The global epicenter of the pandemic has shifted from China to Europe, then to the United States of America and is now showing significant impact in South and Central America. This shift to South America with virtually similar climatic and demographic similarities with Africa, is a cause for concern when we consider the fact that earlier projections pointed to Africa as likely to be the worst hit continent, by the pandemic.

    7.​In Africa, confirmed cases stood at 146,568 while 64,080 cases had recovered and 4,222 fatalities were recorded as at Sunday, 31st may, 2020.

    8.​Reports have shown that there are lesser number of confirmed cases than expected across the African Continent. Countries have continued to record significant daily increases, capable of overwhelming our fragile healthcare systems if there is a consistent surge. This calls for caution, planning, multi-sectoral investment in institutional and human capacity, scientific and methodical approach as well as citizens commitment to the control of the pandemic.

    9.​As at midnight on the same day (Sunday, 31st May, 2020), Nigeria had recorded 10,162 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 3,007 discharges and 287 deaths. Significantly, Nigeria recorded 553 new cases on Saturday, 30th May, 2020 representing the highest single day numbers, ever.

    10.​ Nigeria’s national response has continued to rely on science, data, experiences drawn from other nations and consideration of our peculiar environment to address the pandemic, while observing the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).

    11. ​While reviewing the impact of previous measures and the first phase of the eased lockdown, the PTF prioritised the following aims:

    i. Ensuring a cohesive, exhaustive and data-driven policy to guide the opening up of the country;

    ii. Putting in place procedures for the effective review of the country’s reopening policy;

    iii. Mitigating against our health system being overwhelmed by a series of sustained outbreaks;

    iv. Maximising the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 control; and

    v. Minimising the negative and social effects of the non-pharmaceutical interventions.

    12.​Similarly, the PTF adopted the following guiding principles to ensure that the response is robust and holistic:

    i. Utilisation of data systems to assess risk, measure response performance, and evaluate progress;

    ii. Application of non-pharmaceutical interventions in a measured and step-wise manner (e.g. using 2-week intervals to identify adverse effects);

    iii. Narrowing the focus of non-pharmaceutical interventions with significant side effects (e.g. business closures, stay at home orders) to targeted areas for effectiveness and impact;

    iv. Development of systems for the protection of vulnerable groups;

    v. Prioritisation of risk communication and community engagement with emphasis on community involvement and ownership; and

    vi. Encouraging States to fund activities (contact tracing, sample and data collection, etc.) that support the control of COVID-

    19 thereby generating data to aid decision-making.

    13.​The PTF, in reaching its conclusions and making recommendations for next steps of the response, remained mindful of the following important socio-economic issues:

    i. impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and all national economies;

    ii. pain and hardship brought upon the poor & vulnerable, the aged, the sick, people living with disabilities, and particularly those whose survival depend on their daily earnings;

    iii. impact of the closure of schools and tertiary institutions;

    iv. avoidable death of citizens occasioned by the decline in the level of availability of medical services to citizens due to closure of medical facilities, rejection of patients by hospitals and fear of stigmatization; and

    v. the level of infection of frontline workers and its implications for the national response.

    14.​From the economic development, security and social cohesiveness perspectives, the PTF also worked closely with:

    i. The Economic Sustainability Committee under the Chairmanship of the Vice President;

    ii. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) promoting the development of stimulus packages for different categories of SMEs, farmers, businesses, etc;

    iii. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development working to enlarge the database of some of the Social Intervention Programmes (SIPs) for inclusiveness;

    iv. The Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment charged with the mandate to organize the Special Pubic Works Intervention capable of employing one thousand youths from each of the 774 LGAs in the country;

    v. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development on the mobilization and technical support to farmers for the planting season as well as unrestricted movement of food and other agricultural produce;

    vi. The Federal Ministry of Education for the development of guidelines and protocols for safe reopening of our schools;

    vii. The Security Agencies for the enforcement and protection of lives and property;

    viii. Professional bodies, Civil Society Organisations, the Labour Sector, trade associations, religious and traditional leaders;

    ix. The Nigeria Governors Forum; and

    x. The National Assembly.

    15.​The PTF has taken into consideration the advisory of the World Health Organization on the need to do the following when planning to ease a lockdown:

    i. balance lives and livelihoods,

    ii. follow a slow and phased approach that is data driven;

    iii. apply Public health measures in every community and at every phase of the response (i.e. surveillance, case finding, testing, isolation, tracing and quarantining contacts.); and

    iv. evaluating the economic and social aspects of the society, which will play a role in progressing or hindering any efforts for the response.

    16.​It is the consideration of the PTF that while Nigeria’s confirmed cases have increased in the period under review, the following factors should inspire confidence in the response:

    i. Majority of the confirmed cases are in a handful of local governments in the country;

    ii. 20 out of the 774 LGAs nationwide account for 60% of the cases (see map below);

    iii. There is an opportunity to concentrate efforts in these high-burden areas;

    iv. Federal agencies and State Governments are working together on the promotion and utilisation of guidelines on case management (e.g. homecare for relatively well patients);

    v. There is increased capacity to detect, test and trace those infected with the virus;

    vi. 29 testing laboratories have been activated, with Bauchi being the latest addition while the test count nationwide has exceeded 60,000; and

    vii. A shift in focus to community engagement and enhanced risk communication.

    NOTE: NCDC to list the names of the 20 LGAs

    17.​Notwithstanding the foregoing, the PTF considers it necessary to restate to Nigerians that:

    i. Nigeria has not reached the peak of confirmed cases;

    ii. The battle against COVID-19 is a long term one;

    iii. Nigeria should pursue a strategy that will aid the sustainable control of the spread of the disease;

    iv. Risk communications and community engagement should remain top priority; and

    v. Precision approach to containment and management should be adopted

    18.​Based on the overall assessment, including available data on the public health considerations and resultant economic impacts, the PTF is of the opinion that Nigeria is ready to allow SCIENCE and DATA determine her cautious advancement into the second phase of the eased lockdown for a period of four (4) weeks.

    19. ​After considering all factors mentioned above, the PTF submitted its recommendations and the PRESIDENT has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June, 2020, subject to review-:

    i. Cautious advance into the Second Phase of the national response to COVID-19;

    ii. Application of science and data to guide the targeting of areas of on-going high transmission of COVID-19 in the country;

    iii. Mobilisation of all resources at State and Local Government levels to create public awareness on COVID 19 and improve compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions within communities;

    iv. Sustenance of key non-pharmaceutical interventions that would apply nationwide and include:

    a) Ban of gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace;

    b) Relaxation of restriction on places of Worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and Protocols agreed by State Governments

    c) Managed access to markets and locations of economic activity to limit the risk of transmission;

    d) Ban on inter-state travels except for movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and essential services;

    e) Mandatory use of non-medical face masks in public places;

    f) Mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitisers in all public places;

    g) Extensive temperature checks in public places;

    h) Maintaining 2 metres between people in public places;

    i) Strengthening infection prevention and control at healthcare facilities;

    j) Isolation of vulnerable populations (elderly and those with underlying health conditions)

    k) Massive information and education campaigns.​

    v. Deepening of collaborative efforts with the community leaders, civil society, faith-based organisations, traditional institutions, etc;

    vi. Continuous mobilisation of State governments to take up greater role in the implementation of the guidelines and advisories provided by the PTF;

    vii. Continued provision of support by the NCDC to States through guidelines to shape decision-making in responding to high burden LGAs and Wards; and

    viii. Easing the total lockdown of Kano State and introduction of Phase One of the Eased Lockdown.

    20.​Ladies and gentlemen, this is still a fight for life and our advancement to phase two does not mean that COVID-19 has ended. It is still potent and highly wasteful of human lives. I implore all Nigerians and corporate citizens to take responsibility and play the expected role.

    21. ​I will now invite the Hon Minister of Health to provide you with details. The DG – NCDC will elaborate on the technical aspects of the next steps while the National Coordinator will expatiate on the guidelines before it is published.

    22. ​I thank you for listening.

  • COVID-19: Why Buhari extended current phase of eased restriction until June

    COVID-19: Why Buhari extended current phase of eased restriction until June

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved that the current phase of the eased restriction should be maintained for another two weeks during which he said stricter enforcement and persuasion measures will be pursued.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Secretary to the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Boss Mustapha, who made this known, said the decision was reached after due consideration.

    In his remarks during the daily press briefing of the PTFCOVID19, Boss Mustapha said the outcomes of the first phase of the eased lockdown have been mixed, stressing that while some objectives were met, assessment showed that non-compliance was rampant.

    Read remarks by Boss Mustapha during the daily press briefing below:

    I welcome you to the National Briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 for Monday, 18th May, 2020.

    2.​ Today’s briefing is significant as it provides us an opportunity to assess progress made in the first phase of our three-pronged strategy and communicate Mr. President’s directive on the next step of our National Response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    3.​ At the commencement of our national response, we informed Nigerians that the COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest public health challenge of our generation.

    4.​ The PTF also developed a multi-sectoral national response bearing in mind the fact that we were traversing uncharted territories and that there was no cure for the virus.

    5.​ As at date, the President has addressed the nation three times, to underscore the seriousness of the situation. On each of those occasions, he pronounced measures aimed at containing and controlling the spread of the disease.

    6.​ Some of these measures introduced in phases and modified as we progressed, include lockdown of specified high burden areas, travel ban, nationwide curfew, as well as advisories aimed at escalating our infection, prevention and control strategies.

    7.​In the national broadcast of 27th April, 2020, Mr. President announced a phased and gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory along with additional nationwide measures aimed at ensuring that our economy continued to function within the limiting constraints posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

    8.​While maintaining a delicate balance between safety and economic survival in a precarious situation, Mr. President focused on achieving the following:

    i. Ensuring that socio-economic difficulties experienced during the total

    Lockdown were alleviated without compromising safety;

    II. Allowing the Healthcare sector to continue preparing the identified metrics needed to manage the response and any potential future outbreak nationwide; and

    III. Increasing the sensitization of the populace and empowering communities to start driving the response through taking personal responsibility by adhering to stated guidelines.

    9.​Achieving the foregoing objectives was predicated on adherence to the guidelines issued by the PTF COVID-19, adaptation and cooperation by the States, ownership by communities as well businesses, professional bodies, labour leaders, faith-based organisations, traditional rulers and particularly, individuals taking responsibility.

    10.​The PTF continued to assess the level of compliance with the guidelines which came into effect on 4th May, 2020. While emphasising ownership, we consistently shared some aspects of the assessment during our daily national briefings pointing in the general direction of non-compliance.

    11.​Nevertheless, we are pleased to inform you that measures put in place yielded sufficient progress that requires consolidation to ensure that the health system and economy are in a position to adequately respond to any potential outcomes in the future – including a secondary outbreak.

    12.​The gradual re-opening of the economy has been sign-posted by the controlled opening, and increased access to markets and supermarkets, Banks and other income

    yielding activities for the vulnerable population. Similarly, Corporations and Government offices partially opened their operations and services so as to facilitate the activities of other sectors.

    13.​Some manufacturing, construction and allied sectors also resumed. All these sectors ensured that adequate infection mitigation measures were put in place.

    14.​In recognition of the global impact of COVID-19 on economies and the need to stimulate and positively turn around our economy, the Federal Government has been implementing various stimulus packages offered to businesses and state Governments through the CBN. These include:

    i. Reduction of interest rates from 9 percent to 5 percent for all CBN intervention facilities;

    ii. Restructuring of loans to longer tenors for all companies whose businesses are adversely impacted by COVID-19;

    iii. N50billion facilities to household and businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19 through NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank;

    iv. N100bn facility to Pharmaceutical and health sectors companies to retool their businesses;

    v. N1 trillion facility to Agric and Manufacturing companies to expand and set up new factories; and

    vi. Suspension of repayment of all state government loans for one year to give states ample financing room to pay salaries.

    15.​Within the two weeks of phase One of the eased lockdown, the following accomplishments were also recorded:

    i. Increase in the number of laboratories in the COVID-19 network from 15 to 26;

    ii. Additional 15,558 tests were conducted in the country (with a cumulative total of 35,098 tests and the number of tests per million increasing from 50 to 154;

    iii. Increase in the number of trained personnel to 11,409 health workers thereby boosting capacity for case management;

    iv. Procurement and distribution of additional personal protective equipment and ventilators across the country;

    v. The doubling time of the virus has slowed down from 7 days to 11 days;

    vi. The number of beds available for isolation and case management increased from 3500 to 5000 beds nationwide;

    vii. The efficiency of the identification, testing, evacuation, and isolation process for confirmed cases has increased; and

    viii. progressive improvement in capacity of the health system to respond to the outbreak.

    16.​ In mobilising all sectors and communities to take individual and collective responsibility in the fight against the pandemic in our National Response, the PTF-COVID-19 remains highly appreciative of the efforts of the private sector, public spirited Nigerians, corporate organisations, the armed forces, intelligence and security community, the media, as well as the International Community for their unquantifiable support in the battle against the COVID-19. The response has been overwhelming and encouraging.

    17.​ Last week, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation introduced the transparency dimensions in the management of certain components of financial donations by publishing the receipts in the newspapers. I, in addition, explained the processes for other components so that Nigerians can be assured that accountability remains the hallmark of this administration and the PTF. All monies donated are safe and secure and would be judiciously utilised and accounted for.

    18.​ Ladies and gentlemen, the outcomes of the first phase of the eased lockdown have been mixed. While some objectives were met, our assessment showed that non-compliance was rampant but the PTF nevertheless continued to persuade the populace through its messaging and daily briefing, on the need to take responsibility.

    19.​ As I mentioned on Thursday, May 14th, 2020, the PTF briefed the Federal Executive Council and the National Security Council on the progress made and the challenges. It has similarly submitted its report to Mr. President at the conclusion of this phase on Sunday 17th May, 2020.

    20.​ The PTF considers it important to let you know that it has relied largely on science, statistics, lessons learnt from other parts of the world and an evaluation of our peculiar circumstances to draw its conclusions on the outcome of the last two weeks. For example, our surveillance, infection prevention and control activities identified nine high burden local government areas in the federation reporting high number of cases and accounting for 51% of the total number of infections in the country. All the nine are densely populated local government areas nationwide.

    21.​ We have also seen that though Nigeria’s caseload still lags behind several other countries, our large population and relatively high degree of mobility and urbanisation (50%) places us at an increased risk for high transmissibility. Therefore, our consideration of ease of restrictions has to balance lives and livelihoods and the slow and gradually phased approach should be science and data driven.

    22.​To arrive at our final recommendations to Mr. President, we objectively and frankly interrogated certain critical factors and wish to inform you as follows:

    i. Is the transmission of the virus under control: –

    Measures put in place have collectively slowed down the transmission of the Virus e.g. elongating the doubling time which has changed from 7 to 11 days;

    ii. Is the health care system equipped to detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every person who came in contact with a positive case: Health care system has been better equipped to detect, test, isolate and treat every case, and trace every person who came into contact with a positive case with the increase in the number of laboratories from 15 to 26; ramping up of testing to a cumulative total of 35,098;

    iii. Are outbreaks minimized in special settings like health facilities and Nursing homes: Though we have recorded infection of a number of medical personnel in our facilities, which is not peculiar to Nigeria, we have increased their training in care management and provided additional Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE);

    iv. Are there measures in workplaces and schools to prevent the spread of the virus: With the gradual reopening of workplaces, markets, schools, etc, prescriptions have been made for the prevention of infection and spread of the virus;

    v. Are the risks of importing more cases from outside the country being managed: The risks associated with importation has been seriously minimised with the ban flights, closure of borders and the mandatory 14 days quarantine for any one arriving Nigeria; and

    vi. Are local communities educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the ‘new norm’: Engagement with communities and other stakeholders has now become the new focus of our strategy.

    23.​The inevitable conclusion of the PTF, is that the fight against COVID-19 is long term as the virus is not likely to go away very soon. This is further underscored by the fact that no vaccine is expected till around the end of 2021. Nigeria is not where we wish to be in terms of control, ownership, infrastructure and change of behavior. We must do more.

    24.​ Last week we hinted about the refocusing of our policy on community ownership. Going forward, we shall intensify the mobilization of individuals, especially the communities to take ownership of this fight. This will be accompanied by a corresponding development of infrastructure and other Public health measures to be undertaken in every community and at every phase of the response. These include: surveillance, case finding, testing, isolation, tracing and quarantining contacts.

    25.​ Ladies and gentlemen, the reality is that in spite of the modest progress made, Nigeria is not yet ready for full opening of the economy and tough decisions have to be taken for the good of the greater majority. Any relaxation will only portend grave danger for our populace.

    26.​Advisedly, the current phase of eased restriction will be maintained for another two weeks during which stricter enforcement and persuasion measures will be pursued.

    27.​The two weeks extension of Phase one of the eased restriction is also to enable other segments of the economy prepare adequately for compliance with the guidelines, preparatory to reopening in the coming weeks. For the PTF, we share your pains but our future is in the hands of every Nigerian and future decisions will depend greatly on our compliance.

    28.​Based on the recommendations of the PTF, Mr. President has approved the following:

    i) ​The measures, exemptions, advisories and scope of entities allowed to reopen under phase one of the eased locked down, shall be maintained across the federation for another two weeks effective from 12 00 midnight today (18th May, 2020 to 1st June, 2020);

    ii) ​intensifying efforts to “tell (communicate), trace (identify) and treat (manage)’ cases;

    iii) ​elevating the level of community ownership of non-pharmaceutical interventions;

    iv)​Maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks;

    v)​ Imposition of precision lockdown in states, or in metropolitan/high-burden LGAs, that are reporting a rapidly increasing number of cases, when the need arises. This would be complemented with the provision of palliatives and continued re-evaluation of the impact of the interventions; and

    vi)​ Aggressive scale up of efforts to ensure that communities are informed, engaged and participating in the response with enhanced public awareness in high risk states.

    29.​ Specific implementation guidelines would be communicated by the National Coordinator during this press briefing and would be circulated through the conventional and social media.

    30.​ For sustainability of the gains recorded, the PTF shall continue to support states by developing guidelines to shape decision-making for future steps in the response and aggressively scale up efforts to ensure effective community information.

    32.​ It is believed that these steps will help consolidate the gains made so far, and position the country to effectively overcome the pandemic.

    33.​ In the interest of our nation, the role of the States and Local Governments remain critical to success. The PTF shall engage with the States on the effective implementation of these guidelines. This morning, I participated in a virtual conference between the President and the Nigeria Governors Forum and the subject of collaboration was robustly discussed.

    34.​ As contained in the address of Mr. President on 27th April, 202, State Governors are reminded to align their state specific measures with the guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force.​

    35​. The level of compliance has been reviewed and a specific directive has been issued to the security agencies to carry out strict enforcement of all measures. These include the nationwide curfew from 8.00pm to 6.00pm; the ban on interstate travels and the wearing of facemasks/coverings in public.

    36.​The security agents are however urged to be mindful of the human rights of citizens, while citizens are equally urged to recognize the dangers posed to self, their loved ones and the entire community if they fail to take responsibility.

    37.​Let me state categorically, that the exemptions allowed under the phase one are still in place. Particularly, Government remains conscious of the fact that we are in the rainy season and farming activities is critical to food and national security. It should therefore, not be hindered.

    38.​I therefore urge States and Security agencies to support, encourage and allow our farmers to carry out their activities.

    39.​We wish to appeal to all Nigerians to show understanding, demonstrate patriotism and take responsibility. Humanity is in great peril and we are all in danger. Most importantly, we repeat our call on all Nigerians to please STAY HOME and STAY SAFE​

    40.​I now call on the Hon. Minister of Health and the DG NCDC to update the nation while the National Coordinator presents the new guidelines.

    41.​I thank you for listening.

  • BREAKING: Trial of COVID-19 cure ongoing in Nigeria – Boss Mustapha

    BREAKING: Trial of COVID-19 cure ongoing in Nigeria – Boss Mustapha

    Five States in Nigeria are participating in an on-going World Health Organization (WHO) coordinated solidarity trial of a possible cure for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha made this known during the daily press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTFCOVID19) on Friday.

    In his remarks, Boss Mustapha said at the end of the trial, relevant health authorities will make statements on acceptable drugs for treating the COVID-19.

    He said the PTFCOVID19 remains firmly supportive of the development of a cure for the disease, stressing, however, that laid down protocols must be followed.

    Read remarks below​

    I welcome you to the National Briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 for Friday, 15th May, 2020.

    2.​When the COVID-19 Pandemic was declared, corporate bodies, development partners, individuals, groups, religious bodies , etc rose up massively to make donations in cash and kind. For effective coordination and accountability, the Office of the Accountant General published five bank accounts into which donations could be paid and swept into a CBN TSA account, daily.

    3. ​Consistent with the open government policy driven by transparency and accountability of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the PTF promised that details of all cash donations would be publicly provided. I am pleased to report that the OAGF has published the details of inflow into the FGN COVID-19 Eradication Support Accounts. As at 14th May, 2020, the sum of N792,121,613.89 (Seven Hundred and Ninety Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirteen Naira and Eighty Nine Kobo) has been credited into the TSA account from various in-country sources. I particularly want to commend the sacrifice of some ordinary Nigerians typified by the donations as low as One Naira, which for us comes from the purest of hearts.

    4.​As we progress in our battle against COVID-19, the PTF wishes to extend its appreciation to several other groups that have been supportive in the discharge of its mandate. We must recognize the support of the Nigeria Police leading the armed forces, the intelligence community and the para-military services in maintaining security, carrying out enforcement and staying in the front lines always.

    5.​I also wish to appreciate the Nigeria Airforce for providing the airlift logistics that has made it easy for the surveillance and surge support mobilization by the PTF and the NCDC even at short notice.

    6.​Mention must also be made of the offer by the Lagos Chapter of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) to make hotels available to the Lagos State Government for use as isolation centres. Similarly, we recognize some airlines such as Dana, AERO Contractors and Bristow Helicopters to provide support for the movement of logistics and supplies .

    7.​This morning, the PTF held consultations with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and his team to strengthen our coordination efforts with the United Nations System in Nigeria and building especially on their global reach in all aspects of the fight against the pandemic from the scientific, humanitarian and through supply chain management, in the recovery plans.

    8.​The PTF congratulates and appreciates the testimonies of Nigerians who have recovered from COVID-19, which has given us more insights and further strengthens the need to adhere strictly to guidelines issued. However, an emerging issue from all these testimonies is the issue of prescription for treatments. We should always remember that the symptoms of COVID-19 mimics some illnesses we already know but treating the symptoms Is not the same as treating the virus and for this reason, we strongly discourage self-medication. We shall continue to encourage all Nigerians that feel the symptoms to test and if positive, go into the isolation centres for care by experts. We still discourage management of this infectious disease by private hospitals due to the risk of infection.

    9.​On the issue of drugs for cure, I am pleased to inform you that five states in Nigeria are participating in the on-going WHO coordinated solidarity trial. At the end of this, relevant health authorities will make statements on acceptable drugs for treating the COVID-19.

    10.​Ladies and gentlemen, for some time now, public discussion has centred on the need to look inwards for a local cure. Particularly, the social media has been awash with various claims of treatment for treatment of COVID-19 using local herbs. The PTF remains firmly supportive of the development of a cure for this disease. However, we must follow laid down protocols . The NCDC has been mandated to publish some of these guidelines for public consumption. I do hope this would shift the conversation to the laboratories while we await results for the greater good of the nation. As additional information, I am pleased to inform you that the WHO recently coordinated a recent virtual meeting from 70 traditional medicine experts from countries across Africa to re-emphasize the recognition of the potency of traditional cure.

    11.​In providing leadership for the fight against this pandemic, Mr. President did encourage State Governments to adapt national guidelines as suitable to their state and expects that such adaptation should be informed by empirical evidence of progress made. The PTF, therefore, urges states that are lifting restrictions which allows for large congregation of people to weigh their consequences in relation to creating opportunities for more seeding of the virus thereby negating gains already made..

    12.​The PTF has received media reports about an extrapolated level of prevalence of COVID-19 in Kano based on the number of some foreign nationals that have been evacuated from Nigeria. The PTF team of experts are still on ground in kano and are working round the clock alongside the teams from the State based on scientific and statistical analysis. I urge members of the public to remain vigilant and seek authoritative information from the public health authorities at all times.

    13.​We have also noticed a marked reduction in the delivery of Non-COVID-19 related services in our hospitals. You will recall that the Honourable Minister of Health had on several occasions implored our health institutions not to jeopardise offering critical health services to patients who require attention. The PTF wishes to re-iterate this call and request that health service providers should help relieve the burden of disease in the country by offering the required services. As at present records show that we may be experiencing more unnecessary deaths because our hospitals are turning back non-COVID-19 related patients.

    14.​As we continue the countdown to the end of the first phase of eased lockdown approved by the President, the centrality of collaboration, especially with the citizenry, becomes very imperative. Our National Response has always being guided by the science of the pandemic as well the extent to which applied measures are helping to contain the virus without compromising basic elements of life-sustenance. Going forward, science and statistics shall play major roles in the decisions to be taken. Similarly, Community engagement shall become a strategy of focus for the PTF.

    15.​Finally, let me say that our preliminary analysis has narrowed down the over 51% of the total number of infected persons to 9 Local Government Areas across the country and all of them are densely populated. This indicates that a critical element of our taming this pandemic is to reduce opportunities for large gathering, sustaining the ban on inter-state movement, the nationwide curfew and complying with the measures prescribed (wash your hands as frequently as necessary; use hand sanitizers; maintain social distancing, use a face mask or covering in public places).

    16.​In the coming days, the PTF shall submit its recommendations to the President for consideration. Until a decision is announced, we advise you to please STAY HOME and STAY SAFE.

    17.​I now call on the Hon. Minister of Health, the DG NCDC and the National Coordinator to update the nation.

    18.​I thank you for listening.

  • COVID-19: Reopening of Nigeria will take 6 weeks; next phase of lockdown will be stricter – Boss Mustapha

    COVID-19: Reopening of Nigeria will take 6 weeks; next phase of lockdown will be stricter – Boss Mustapha

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, while stressing that the gradual reopening of Nigeria’s economy will span a total of six weeks, has said the next phase of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown will be stricter.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Boss Mustapha, who made this known on Wednesday during the daily press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said the six weeks gradual reopening of the economy would be broken into three tranches of two weeks each.

    “In line with Mr President’s directive in paragraph 34 to 41 of his broadcast, the presidential task force has developed sector-specific guidelines. The gradual reopening of the economy will span a total of six weeks, broken into three tranches of two weeks each.

    “The first strategy is designed to reduce the pains of socio-economic disruptions while strengthening our public health response, which would ultimately reduce the recovery of our current economy and provide succour to the poor and vulnerable.

    “To underscore the collaborative efforts with subnational levels of government, they are encouraged to provide leadership in engaging relevant associations responsible for various sectors, e.g., market associations and transport unions, for orderly and effective implementation.

    “Similarly, I want to emphasize the need for security agencies to strictly enforce these new measures that have been put in place.

    “Following the pronouncement of the President, it has become necessary for me to provide initial clarifications for Nigerians on some of the new measures such as the overnight curfew, inter-State travel and related matters. For the avoidance of doubt, the following clarifications are provided: the overnight curfew is applicable nationwide, inter-State travels are banned, except for the movement of goods, agro-products, petroleum products, essential services, etc, such as directed by Mr President,” Boss Mustapha said.

    The SGF further said the technical team of public health experts sent by the PTF to Kano has commenced evaluation of the situation in the State, stressing that fifty trucks of assorted grains have been sent to Kano and that the grains were due for delivery within the next 48 hours.

    “In furtherance of tackling the situation in Kano, the technical team of public health experts sent by the PTF has begun the evaluation of the situation in the State, working in collaboration with the State’s Team. I am pleased to also inform you that the operationalization of the laboratories in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Bayero University Kano, will considerably improve our response to the pandemic in Kano State.

    “Additionally, fifty trucks of assorted grains have been sent to Kano and due for delivery within the next 48 hours. The PTF appreciates the cooperation of the Governor and the medical team in Kano State,” he said.

    Meanwhile, paragraph 34 to 41 of President Buhari’s address during the 3rd COVID-19 nationwide broadcast reads: “34. We assessed how our children can continue to learn without compromising their health. 35. We reviewed how our farmers can safely plant and harvest in this rainy season to ensure our food security is not compromised. Furthermore, we also discussed how to safely transport food items from rural production areas to industrial processing zones and ultimately, to the key consumption centres. 36. Our goal was to develop implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These same difficult decisions are being faced by leaders around the world.

    “37. Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May 2020. 38. However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.

    “39. Furthermore, new nationwide measures are to be introduced as follows; a. There will be an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am. This means all movements will be prohibited during this period except for essential services; b. There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice; c. Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers; and d. We will strictly ensure the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene. Furthermore, the restrictions on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place. State Governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.

    “40. For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States shall remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th May 2020. 41. The Presidential Task Force shall provide sector-specific details to allow for preparations by Governments, businesses and institutions”.

  • Boss Mustapha’s unforced error, By Ehi Braimah

    Boss Mustapha’s unforced error, By Ehi Braimah

    The news media made headlines recently when Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and head of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, admitted – honestly, I dare say — that he didn’t know our healthcare system was completely broken and on life support; even the ventilators supplying the much needed oxygen were borrowed. It was like breaking news for the Big Boss who became aware of our unacceptable healthcare system on account of his current national assignment on COVID-19. Mustapha, according to news reports, made this revelation when he met with the leadership of the National Assembly on the global pandemic. “Nigeria needs to improve its healthcare system as developed countries were struggling to contain the global pandemic,” Mustapha counseled during the meeting.

    Our amiable SGF shouldn’t worry about the backlash that trailed his comments, especially on Twitter; that was expected from friends and foes alike who do not know Mustapha is a ‘home boy’ like the rest of us. I praise him for having the courage to speak truth to power which is very rare in government circles. As the head of a government bureaucracy in Abuja, his comments appeared like an ‘unforced error’ in tennis – that is when you lose a point by making a mistake in a situation where you should be in full control of the game – or an ‘own goal’ in football. Even in a game of cricket, the fans and players would have screamed ‘caught out’ and ‘howzat sir’ for his revealing comment and then look in the direction of the umpire for affirmation that the striker was out of the game — this situation arises when the batsman hits the ball and the ball is caught by the bowler or fielder before it hits the ground.

    When Mustapha said he was misquoted moments later over a harmless statement, I was surprised and amused at the same time, and he let down his numerous admirers. How could he have been misquoted when he hit the nail smack on the head? Mustapha was not saying anything new about the deplorable healthcare system in Nigeria – it is an open secret. The Twitter storm over his comment was understandable and I sympathise with the SGF. He created a negative impression in the minds of the general public and I’m sure that was not his intention. In our kind of society, when you serve in government, especially at his level, such comments are viewed as an attack on the government – a form of culture shock; his close friends and colleagues are likely to wonder if he was out of his mind but context is also important in this matter. On the one hand, Mustapha did the right thing by speaking the truth, and on the other, he was wrong as a government henchman. Mustapha was clearly between a rock and a hard place, and you truly cannot envy him in that situation but I maintain that he did nothing wrong.

    What COVID-19 has done is to open our eyes to the existential danger of neglecting our healthcare infrastructure which, unfortunately, gave rise to medical tourism to far flung places such as India, not even to other African countries. This is why we must salute the courage of Nigerian entrepreneurs such as Tony Elumelu and Aliko Dangote who are working round the clock to create wealth and prosperity across the African continent. When there is prosperity across Africa, diseases will be minimized. Strive Masiyiwa is another African entrepreneur from Zimbabwe who believes we can turn COVID-19 into a manufacturing boom in Africa – he’s thinking like a successful entrepreneur that he is and he’s seeing opportunities with multiplier effects.

    In his latest Facebook post, Masiyiwa said getting on top of COVID-19 requires millions of essential products like masks, personal protective equipment, disinfectants, chemicals, ventilators and other hospital supplies. In much the same way Mustapha lamented about our poor healthcare system, Masiyiwa said, “African healthcare systems are mostly in a big mess.” His view is that we now have a massive wakeup call from the COVID-19 experience, and he wants African leaders to learn from the experience and turn the crisis into an opportunity by creating a “Marshall Plan” on healthcare.

    “We can begin a massive manufacturing capacity building, even now as we build new hospitals for the future. African governments also need to liberalize the health sector and call for private investment,” Masiyiwa noted. He added that he belongs to a group calling for $15 billion to be released by institutions like the World Bank and African Development Bank to support a major investment drive in public health in Africa.

    My view is that COVID-19 pandemic will change our worldview in Nigeria and encourage the authorities to pay attention to primary healthcare. The massive investment in public health that Masiyiwa talked about should become a national emergency bearing in mind that ‘health is wealth’. Now that the SGF knows our healthcare system is in bad shape, we must be minded to deploy donations arising from COVID-19 pandemic — it offers us a chance for redemption and I believe he agrees with me — by very generous Nigerians including the support that would come from multi-lateral institutions wisely so that we can re-build our healthcare infrastructure within the shortest possible time. The government must take the additional step of keeping saboteurs and criminally minded elements at bay – these are the people who do not want public healthcare system to work in Nigeria.

    I would like to bring Mustapha up to speed by referring him to a recent commentary by Runcie Chidebe, titled “Nigeria’s unhealthy healthcare in the eye of coronavirus”, and published in The Cable, an online newspaper on April 4, 2020. As a Commonwealth scholar based in the UK and efficient healthcare delivery advocate, Chidebe’s research and insights on our broken healthcare system will be helpful as we all join hands to solve the problem. Chidebe’s lamentations and frustration essentially echoed Mustapha’s recent unsatisfactory findings in our healthcare system. “Now is the time for Nigeria to confront its healthcare crisis,” Chidebe advised. “The Nigerian government must accept its failure and our political leaders must brace up to their responsibility and seriously reflect on the problem their greed has brought to Nigeria. This is the time to invest in a result-oriented healthcare system which represents the foundation of any nation,” he added, obviously angry at our flip-flop policy.

    Before COVID-19, at least seven medical doctors were leaving Nigeria weekly for jobs in the UK in search of greener pastures. A Recruitment Fair was organised in Lagos last year by a team from Saudi Arabia and their mission was to entice Nigerian healthcare practitioners, especially medical doctors, with the smell of petro-dollars and lure them away to the oil-rich country. Apart from stemming the tide of medical tourism, we must also tackle the problem of brain drain in the healthcare sector.

    In a 2019 Healthcare Market Insight report on Nigeria by Medic West Africa, less than 90% of the Nigerian population (about 200 million people) live without health insurance; $1 billion (N380 billion) is spent annually on outbound medical tourism; average life expectancy is 52 years (South Africa is 57 years and Ghana is 61 years); patient-to-doctor ratio is 2,500:1; NCDs (non-communicable diseases) account for 29% of all deaths while spending on healthcare is expected to reach N5,762.061 billion by 2021. The report also stated Nigeria ranks poor on the incidence of tuberculosis (128 out of 138 countries) and the prevalence of HIV (123 out of 138) countries. In child mortality, the statistics are not any better – on under-five child mortality, our record is 89 deaths per 1,000 live births; a level far above the level of 64 deaths per 1,000 live births set in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The report – which will be a handy companion for the SGF — contains an analysis by the Oxford Business Group (OBG) which indicated that our healthcare challenges include limited public funding; a high communicable diseases burden; rising incidence of non-communicable diseases burden and elevated rates of infant and maternal mortality. In addition, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is concerned that, over the years, there has been high reliance on out-of-pocket (OOP) payments as a means of financing health system in the country. The expectation is that Nigeria will move closer to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustain it when it is achieved.

    The federal government, the report further noted, can make healthcare affordable and accessible with improved service delivery through strategies in reversing workforce migration as well as outbound medical tourism costing us a lot of money in foreign exchange. In addition, government should create a framework and policies that would encourage private sector participation in the healthcare sector – similar to Masiyiwa’s recommendation — as well as increasing technology adoption to drive growth and development in the sector.

     

    *Braimah is a public relations and marketing strategist based in Lagos

  • I was born in hospital where they don’t issue birth certificates – SGF, Boss Mustapha

    I was born in hospital where they don’t issue birth certificates – SGF, Boss Mustapha

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has described as misleading reports quoting him as saying he was not aware of the bad state of the nation’s healthcare system.

    Reports had on Thursday quoted Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as claiming to be oblivious of the state of the nation’s healthcare system until the advent of COVID-19, during a meeting with the National Assembly.

    However, during the PTF’s daily media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Mustapha said he was quoted out of context, adding that what had been spread in the media did not reflect his intent or what he actually said.

    According to him, his conversation with the leadership of the National Assembly was that his task as the leader of the PTF had made him fully aware of the state of the nation’s healthcare system.

    Mustapha affirmed he was not just an urban politician but one who had close contacts with his rural base in his home state and well informed of the daily experience of his people, even in terms of healthcare provision.

    “Yesterday (Thursday), I mentioned at the National Assembly that I became fully aware of the state of our medical system during the execution of this Task Force assignment. It has become clear that this has been taken out of context.

    “I must clarify that I am aware and has indeed been a champion for the reform and transformation of the health care system. However, this PTF assignment has afforded me the opportunity to dig deeper, interrogate and x-ray the system better.

    “So for anyone to think that I didn’t know the level of deplorable state of our healthcare systems, is a complete misrepresentation.

    “For the benefit of those who do not know me well, I come from rural Nigeria. I was born in a village almost 64 years ago that didn’t even have a hospital, it had small missionary dispensary probably with one midwife, no birth certificate was offered. So I don’t even have birth certificate, I have declaration of age.

    “A lot of you sitting here are privileged to have been born in a better and more equipped medical facilities. So from birth I know the state of our medical, healthcare, I am not a foreigner.

    “My statement was totally taken out of context because that was not the reflection of what I said. But having to serve in this committee gave me a further insight into what is happening.

    “Most of the things you see around as specialists, hospitals or clinics, you just see the buildings, you don’t know what is inside. But, being in this committee has given me opportunity of walking into these facilities, looking at what they have in relation to what they ought to have, my conclusion on that is that they don’t have what they ought to have.

    “I wanted to give this explanation so that most of you will not think I am an ajebota, no. I was born a rural Nigerian, I grew up in rural Nigeria, I went to school in rural Nigeria and I still live in rural Nigeria.

    “Yola is my home, I’m just on a journey here in Abuja. At the end of my work or whatever I am doing here, I will return home which is rural Nigeria and I am going to live with the facilities in rural Nigeria.

    “The truth of the matter is that this is not the time to be distracted with unnecessary controversies,” he said.

  • Coronavirus: We don’t know how long this will last –FG

    Coronavirus: We don’t know how long this will last –FG

    The Federal Government on Monday said it did not know how long COVID-19 would last in the country.

    The Secretary to the Government of Federation, Boss Mustapha, said this at a press conference he jointly addressed with the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja where the government revealed that the country had recorded its second COVID-19 death.

    The President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, on Sunday, ordered lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, and Ogun states.

    However, on Monday, the Ogun State Government said it had got the presidential permission to shift the lockdown to Friday.

    Buhari, had during a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, said the 14-day lockdown would enable the government to trace and treat those who must have contracted the virus.

    On Monday, the SGF, Mustapha, said, “We don’t know how long this thing will last. That’s the truth about it. I believe with sheer determination of all Nigerians, we will overcome these challenges.

    “We are doing everything to ensure conformity of policies with state governments. We will do everything within our power to stop the case.”

    He added, “Let me use this medium to appeal to all Nigerians, through you, for full understanding, unity of purpose and in the interest of humanity, to observe all measures put in place, remain vigilant and cooperate with security and other agencies who are toiling day and night to keep us safe and alive.”

    Ehanire said no country could boast of having enough ventilators, which he said were not required for all cases.

    He said, “The question of ventilators; yes we are addressing it. There is no country in this world that has enough ventilators. Of all the cases we have had so far only one requires a ventilator. Some require just Oxygen. Probably less than four per cent of the cases we are dealing with require ventilators.

    “Government is also taking inventory of what each state requires. The number of ventilators you have in the country does not decide your rate of survival.”

    Ehanire said the President had accepted that all retired but essential and able staff be recalled to service.

    He said the President had also issued directives for all Federal Government stadia, pilgrims camps and other facilities to be converted to isolation centres and makeshift hospitals.

    To increase access to testing, the minister said the Federal Government was working hard to open up as many testing sites as possible.

    He said, “We project that in three weeks, seven more laboratories in Abakiliki, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt and Sokoto will be added to this network to further expand testing capacity nationwide.”

     

  • Insecurity: Why Buhari can’t sack Service Chiefs – SGF

    Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has explained reasons why Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari cannot sack service chiefs now.

    He lashed out at those calling for their sack, saying that there are processes that must be followed to effect their sack.

    Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Mustapha admitted that the nation was in a very difficult time now and that everybody was needed to be on board.

    “We need synergy within intelligent community, within the military formations that will help fight this war. We are in a very difficult situation and when we begin to create cracks and divisions, who will be the beneficiaries? The adversaries are the ones that are going to exploit those deficiencies and further the cause of destabilising the nation,” he said.

    Mustapha, who spoke with newsmen after a book presentation titled: “CAN, Religion, politics and power in Nigeria,” by former General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Engr Samuel Salifu.

    According to him, what the government needed at this moment was for everybody to be on the same page, fight the battle of securing the nation for protecting lives and property and ensuring that every Nigerian had the opportunity to live a prosperous live.

    “I think that should be our main focus. You don’t sack people like that. There are processes and I believe that at the opportune time, those processes will be followed. You don’t just wake up and say sack people, it doesn’t happen like that,” he said