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  • Governors beg WHO for intervention over UK, Canada’s travel ban on Nigerians

    Governors beg WHO for intervention over UK, Canada’s travel ban on Nigerians

    Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have condemned the travel ban imposed on the country by authorities in Canada and the United Kingdom over the report of confirmed cases of omicron COVID-19 variant.

    In a statement on Tuesday by NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, they described the action of both countries, as discriminatory and called for the intervention of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) wishes to draw the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the arbitrary stigmatisation that is caused by the recent banning of countries from visitation based on omicron spread,” said Governor Fayemi. “Only three cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus were detected in Nigeria less than a week ago, precisely on December 1st, 2021.

    “Canada and the United Kingdom have hastily included Nigeria among the Omicron present countries which must stay away from their shores, an action viewed by the NGF as precipitate, unfair and discriminatory.”

    According to the governors, omicron remains relatively unknown globally as it is not yet clear whether it is more transmissible from person to person, compared to other variants, including Delta.

    They stressed that it was very discouraging to note that several countries have reported cases of omicron with tallies similar to or higher than Nigeria’s, yet travellers there have not been banned from entering the UK and Canada.

    Confirmed omicron cases across some countries as of December 3, the NGF stated, included Nigeria (three), Australia (seven), Brazil (three), Germany (nine), Israel (four), Italy (nine), and Netherlands (16).

    “There is also no evidence that harsh, blanket travel bans will protect the countries that impose them,” said the governors. “It is ironical that this ban comes at a time when the DG of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has advised that ‘rational proportional risk reduction measures’ be taken by countries such as screening passengers prior to departure and/or upon arrival in a country or enforcing a quarantine period.”

    “The NGF, therefore, urges the WHO to intervene in this matter by setting uniform standards that are acceptable to all for banning countries across the globe. As we know, vaccine hesitancy is quite high and for many reasons, including disruptive announcements like this which could exacerbate distrust of the vaccine and heighten hesitancy.

    “World leaders and stakeholders in the West need to remember that with the COVID-19 pandemic until everyone is free, no one is free. Variants will continue to appear and spread across the globe as long as global herd immunity has not been achieved.

    “We call on countries to be guided by science and fairness in setting the criteria for updating their red list. We encourage both public and private stakeholders to continue to support vaccination efforts and address hesitancy. We encourage Nigerians not to be discouraged and to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

    “As a platform for the 36 democratically elected governors of the country, the NGF believes it reserves the right to speak for its people. Besides, the NGF was proactive and ahead in the Polio eradication program in Nigeria, in the country’s response to the Ebola virus, and lately in the response against the coronavirus pandemic. Finally, health is one of the core mandate areas of the NGF and has remained an item on its meeting agenda in the past several months,” the NGF added.

  • Omicron: Why Nigeria will not make ‘hasty’ decisions like UK, Canada, others did – Health Minister

    Omicron: Why Nigeria will not make ‘hasty’ decisions like UK, Canada, others did – Health Minister

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has expressed disappointment over the United Kingdom government’s placement of Nigeria on its red list following the detection of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

    “We were not very happy when six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa were placed on a red list and the WHO also advised against putting each on the red list.

    “From what we know about the COVID-19, there are many ways to manage it, and besides, not much is still known about the Omicron variant. We know, for example, that there have been no fatalities.

    “There have also been no reports of very severe illness. Actually, the rationale for being so hasty in putting countries on the red list is not something that is very helpful.”

    According to the minister who spoke on Sunday on a monitored Channels Television programme, the move was ill-advised as he noted that it would have multiple impacts on commerce, and disrupt activities during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

    “It is going to disrupt commerce,” he added. It is going to disrupt family reunions.”

    He explained that while Nigeria has detected the COVID-19 virus on travellers from the UK, the cases have not been confirmed to be the Omicron variant.

    While reiterating that the placement of countries on the red list will not help in the global fight against the pandemic, Ehanire said Nigeria is anticipating the fourth wave of the disease.

    “If every country were going to put other countries on the ban list, very soon you would have a large number of countries on your red list,” the minister said.

    “So, I do believe there are other ways of going about it. We in Nigeria do not regard banning flights and movements of people as particularly helpful and supportive.”

    The UK’s move, which came a few days after Nigeria detected the new strain, followed a similar decision by the Canadian authorities.

    “Foreign nationals who have transited or stayed in these 10 countries cannot enter Canada if they have been in those countries in the last two weeks,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a press conference.

    Aside from Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi were the other countries recently added to Canada’s travel ban list.

  • Omicron: Canada bans travellers from Nigeria, two other African countries

    Omicron: Canada bans travellers from Nigeria, two other African countries

    Canada on Tuesday banned travellers from Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi over fears of the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, bringing to 10 the number of African countries targeted by Ottawa.

    “Foreign nationals who have transited or stayed in these 10 countries cannot enter Canada if they have been in those countries in the last two weeks,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a press conference.

    The measure takes effect on Wednesday, the government said.

    Any Canadians or permanent residents who have been in any of the 10 countries will need to quarantine on arrival and take a COVID test.

    Duclos also said “in the coming days,” all air travelers arriving from outside Canada, apart from the United States, will now need to be tested for Covid-19 at their point of entry, and isolated until their test results are available.

    First reported to the World Health Organization less than a week ago after being detected in southern Africa earlier in November, the Omicron variant has appeared in well over a dozen countries, stoking global fears about a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than five million people and savaged economies worldwide.

    “The pandemic is not over,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra added. “Travel measures could change at any moment.”

    Canada on Friday banned entry to all travelers from seven southern African countries: Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

    And on Sunday, Canada confirmed it had detected its first cases of the new Omicron strain, in two people who had traveled recently to Nigeria.

    The WHO warned on Tuesday that travel bans will not prevent the spread of the new variant after some 50 countries put similar measures in place.

    Canada has reported a total of 1,791,902 coronavirus cases and 29,681 deaths.

  • FG counters Canada, insists no Omicron COVID-19 variant in Nigeria

    FG counters Canada, insists no Omicron COVID-19 variant in Nigeria

    The Federal Government on Monday insisted Nigeria is yet to record a case of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19, despite Canadian authorities’ claims that two passengers from Nigeria had tested positive.

    Speaking at the Presidential Steering Committee briefing in Abuja, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Ifedayo Adetifa, said there was no need to give in to speculations.

    “I do not encourage citizens to waste energy on speculating,” he said. “I think what we need to do is to focus on what we actually know. And what we know, for now, is that we do not have a case in Nigeria at the moment.

    “Now, we have a pipeline of samples that are in process, whose results will be ready tomorrow; so this situation, of course, can change.”

    Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said authorities were “adopting a watchful, waiting posture.”

    The Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa, is believed to be highly transmissible, but it is not yet clear how deadly it is to public health.

    The World Health Organization has listed Omicron as a “variant of concern” and countries around the world are now restricting travel from southern Africa, where the new strain was first detected and taking other new precautions.

    On Sunday, Canadian authorities said the country had detected its first cases of the new strain of in two people who had traveled recently to Nigeria.

    But members of the PSC said they were waiting on their Canadian counterparts for more details since there are no direct flights between Nigeria and Canada.

    Meanwhile, the WHO believes the world must study the wreckage of Covid-19 and say “never again” by striking a pandemic preparedness treaty.

    Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday said another disastrous pandemic was bound to happen unless countries showed the resolve to strengthen global defences.

    Nations are meeting in Geneva from Monday to Wednesday to discuss an international agreement setting out how to handle the next pandemic — which

  • Canada identifies two cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant from two travellers to Nigeria

    Canada identifies two cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant from two travellers to Nigeria

    Canada said on Sunday it has identified its first cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid in two people who had travelled recently to Nigeria.

    The government of Ontario confirmed that the two cases are in the capital, Ottawa.

    Federal and Ontario provincial officials said both patients are in isolation while public health authorities trace their possible contacts.

    “I was informed today by the Public Health Agency of Canada that testing and monitoring of COVID-19 cases has confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of concern in Ontario,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in a statement.

    “As the monitoring and testing continues, it is expected that other cases of this variant will be found in Canada,” he was quoted as saying by France24.com.

    But Federal Government had said that the new COVID-19 variant was not in Nigeria yet.

    The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said in a statement on Sunday that the centre is prioritising sequencing of recently accrued samples from SARS-COV-2 positive travellers from all countries, especially those from countries that have reported the Omicron variant already.

    The World Health Organisation has listed Omicron as a “variant of concern” and countries around the world are now restricting travel from southern Africa, where the new strain was first detected, and taking other new precautions.

    The WHO says it could take several weeks to know if there are significant changes in transmissibility, severity or implications for Covid vaccines, tests and treatments.

    On Friday, Canada banned travel from seven African countries over concerns about the spread of the Omicron strain. Nigeria was not one of them.

    The United States top infectious disease official, Dr Anthony Fauci told President Joe Biden on Sunday it will take about two weeks to have definitive information on the Omicron variant.

    Biden, returning to Washington following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, was briefed in person by his coronavirus response team on Sunday afternoon as officials expect the new variant to reach the United States despite an impending ban on travellers from Southern Africa, where it was first detected.

    Fauci said he believes existing vaccines are likely to provide “a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID”, and officials reiterated their recommendation for vaccinated Americans to get booster shots, according to a readout of the briefing.

     

  • I never got asylum in Canada- DJ Switch

    I never got asylum in Canada- DJ Switch

    Popular DJ, Switch has debunked claims that she got asylum in Canada amid the dust that trailed her participation in last year’s #EndSARS protest.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the self-acclaimed activist had been in the news since she recorded the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki tollgate by soldiers in October 2020.

    Switch, whose real name is Obianuju Udeh, had gone into hiding since the incident, having alleged threats to her life at the time.

    The location of the entertainer remained unknown since then, with many Nigerians suggesting that she was granted asylum in Canada.

    The speculations gained more attention after a video of the DJ testifying before a committee of the Canadian parliament surfaced online.

    But in a now-deleted post via her Instagram stories, Switch dismissed the rumours that she was given asylum in Canada, saying she is yet to travel out of the country.

     

    “To the people who know me so well, I don’t really share, except my craft, art comments on social issues that affect us all,” she wrote.

    “But let me say this.. news outlets and bloggers, I know traffic is the game but when you don’t really investigate properly and run with things that you don’t know for sure or have verified, you sincerely hurt and in some cases cause serious complications for people in ‘real life’

    “I’ve been cooked up in a house for months. I never got asylum in Canada. I didn’t even speak to anyone who claimed they spoke to me on the issue.

     

  • Women’s Olympic Football final: Canada edge out Sweden in penalty shoot-out

    Women’s Olympic Football final: Canada edge out Sweden in penalty shoot-out

    Canada beat Sweden on penalties to win women’s football gold at Tokyo 2020.

    It marks a first Olympic gold in the competition for the Canucks, who won successive bronze medals in London and Rio.

    The game went to extra time after Canada’s Jessie Fleming equalised from the penalty spot to cancel out Stina Blackstenius’ opener.

    Midfielder Julia Grosso scored the winning penalty in the shootout as Canada won 3-2.

    In a game of few chances, Sweden’s Blackstenius opened the scoring in the 34th minute, beating goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe with her low, first-time strike from Kosovare Asllani’s cross.

    But Fleming equalised from the penalty spot after veteran forward Christine Sinclair was fouled by Amanda Ilestedt.

    Referee Anastasia Pustovoytova initially waved away Canada’s appeals, but the Russian pointed to the spot after the video assistant referee showed the Canadian was kicked from behind as the pair challenged for a loose ball inside the box.

    With the scores level after 120 minutes, both sides looked nervous as they lined up for the shootout, which lacked real quality as seven of the 12 penalties either missed or saved.

    Nathalie Bjorn and Olivia Schough scored from the spot for Sweden, but Grosso won it for Canada after Fleming and Deanne Rose also converted their spot-kicks.

    Sweden have taken the silver in successive Olympic women’s football finals after their Rio 2016 loss to Germany.

    Canada midfielder Quinn is the first openly transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal. Canada and Quinn won bronze in Rio 2016 before Quinn came out in September 2020.

    The victory is a first major title for Canada boss Bev Priestman, who was born in County Durham and coached England’s women’s under-17 squad before becoming Phil Neville’s assistant coach with the senior team from 2018-2020.

    She was appointed head coach of Canada in October 2020 after previous spells coaching their youth teams.

    On Thursday, the USA beat Australia in a seven-goal thriller to claim the bronze medal.

  • U.S., Canada, EU, U.K. and Ireland condemn Nigeria’s Twitter ban

    U.S., Canada, EU, U.K. and Ireland condemn Nigeria’s Twitter ban

    The U.S., Canada, the European Union, the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland issued a joint statement Saturday condemning Nigeria’s government for banning Twitter.

    The countries made the call in a joint statement made available to journalists on Saturday in Abuja.

    “We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.

    “Banning systems of expression is not the answer. These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions,” they said.

    The governments noted that this was particularly important in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    They noted that the path to a more secured Nigeria lies in more communication to accompany the concerted efforts of Nigeria’s citizens in fulsome dialogue towards unity, peace and prosperity.

    “As Nigeria’s partners, we stand ready to assist in achieving these goals,” the statement read in part.

    The Buhari Government suspended indefinitely the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

    The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all over-the-top (OTT) and social media operations in Nigeria.

    The Minister also raised suspicion about the platform’s intention in Nigeria.

    “Twitter may have its own rules; it’s not the universal rule.

    “If Mr President anywhere in the world feels very bad and concerned about a situation, he is free to express such views.

    “The mission of Twitter in Nigeria is very, very suspect,” the Minister said.

  • Third wave: Lagos places USA, Canada, South Africa, 11 others on COVID-19 watch list

    Third wave: Lagos places USA, Canada, South Africa, 11 others on COVID-19 watch list

    The Lagos State Government has placed 14 countries on watch list as part of measures to prevent a possible spread of the new COVID-19 variant.

    Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi said the measure became necessary following the discovery of variants from banned countries within another country.

    He said: “The affected countries are Canada, USA, France, Germany, Netherlands, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Angola, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

    “Nigerians returning from lesser hajj would have to undergo a compulsory seven-day self-isolation.

    “The state will not hesitate to prosecute anyone, irrespective of status, who fails to comply with the directive.”

    Abayomi stressed some of the possible events that could trigger a third wave include general laxity, false sense of security and non-adherence to guidelines, religious holidays, COVID fatigue, entry of mutations and variants.

    He added: “The state has however developed a five-pillar strategy for curbing a potential third wave in Lagos.

    “These include ensuring that all travelers carry out COVID-19 tests while we also introduce PCR test to determine variants and mandatory seven-day quarantine.

    We will also utilise EKOTELEMED to monitor confirmed cases and provide telemedicine services.

    “We will be sensitising Lagosians on the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as handwashing, social distancing, thresholds for public gathering, as well as discourage super spreader events.

    “Our oxygen supply approach will be two-phased – outsource oxygen plants to private partners and PPP for 700 cylinder/ day oxygen plant, while we also increase the number of vaccine doses administered by leveraging the private sector.”

    The commissioner, who spoke on the successes recorded so far, said some isolation centres are currently empty.

    “Landmark, Agidingbi, Gbagada, FCC, Lagoon and Onikan isolation centres have been shut while Amour II and Gbagada Isolation Centres are being re-activated.

    “Of the 554 bed capacity, 550 beds are currently available. There is also a decrease in the number of patients who require oxygen therapy at IDH, Yaba. Following the reduction in number of positive cases, the use of oxygen has reduced from an average of 300 bottles per day in January 2021 to 60 bottles per day in April 2021,” he added.

    Prof. Abayomi said of the 58,611 cases confirmed, 54,049 recovered, 4,346 were admitted; 3,906 were discharged and 354 deaths were recorded. One confirmed case is current in isolation with three suspected cases.

  • Fayemi to youths: Kick APC out of power in 2023, instead of moving to Canada

    Fayemi to youths: Kick APC out of power in 2023, instead of moving to Canada

    Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has advised Nigerian youths who are leaving the shores of the country in droves for Canada to reconsider their plans and stay back to help make things work in their fatherland.

    Fayemi, who doubles as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), urged the youths to mobilise and organise themselves to “kick out” the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from office in 2023 if they are not satisfied with its governance style.

    Fayemi asked the youths to participate fully in politics by holding those at the helms accountable instead of engaging in what he termed “Twitter revolution.”

    He stressed that the resolve to change things politically made him and some others to foray into politics instead of shouting themselves hoarse on the sidelines.

    He was speaking at ‘The Platform’, an annual programme organised by Covenant Christian Centre.

    He said, “Even if your search is a regime change in a democracy, there is only one what for regime change in a democracy, you work towards it.

    “Another election is going to come if you do not like what APC is doing. Organise, stop agonising, organise against the party. Link up with others who are organising and then kick the APC out of office and put people that you think we do better not creating a situation of anarchy.”

    “The space is more liberalised now, not like what we fought against during the military regime. I’m not talking about the Twitter revolution. Many young Nigerians are cosying, giving it to governors and attacking ministers on Twitter and Facebook.

    “Go to the wards, go to the communities and challenge what they are doing there. Hold them accountable.” Fayemi added.

    Fayemi said Canada is not an Eldorado it has been portrayed to be as, unlike Nigeria, it has glass ceiling.

    “Don’t succumb to despondency, there is a lot to hail in this country. There is a lot to frustrate you, a lot to want to make you give up and pick that visa and go to Canada,” the governor told the youth.

    “I know it (Canada) is a popular destination but you know what? There is also a glass ceiling in Canada. When you get to the top of it, you will now discover there is a glass ceiling there. This is the place where there is no glass ceiling, let us work towards making it a better place.”