TheNewsGuru

Tag: Coronavirus

  • COVID-19: Reason why govt is not reopening schools yet – Minister

    COVID-19: Reason why govt is not reopening schools yet – Minister

    The Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Uwajiuba, on Monday said that no date had yet been fixed for the reopening of schools across the country.

    Uwajiuba said this at the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 daily news conference in Abuja.

    The minister said that the rumours making the rounds that schools would reopen on June 21 is fake and did not emanate from the ministry.

    He added that any news about the reopening of schools would be communicated through the PTF, adding that it was not possible to release a date without the input of the PTF.

    He said that the reopening of schools would involve the advice of experts on when it would be safer to reopen schools, stressing that government would avoid the mistake of “shipping the students in and out of school.”

    The minister said that the ministry would not lead Nigerians into danger because it was in a hurry to reopen schools, adding that it would only reopen them when it was convinced that it was safe to reopen schools across the country.

    “Of all the things I will love to do, is that l will not want to experiment with our children.

    “What we are planning is to bring those that will be exiting from Junior Secondary to Senior Secondary and those who will be writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to come for their examinations.

    ” We are, however, looking at when the inter-state lockdown will be reopened so that the students can move to their schools to write their exams , ” he said.

    He said that the ministry was studying the time-table to know when it would be convenient as soon as there was ease on inter-state lockdown.

    He urged students and parents to be wary of fake news peddlers.

    He said that once the ministry is convinced that it is convenient for the students to move to their schools to write their examinations , it would communicate the date to their parents and the public.

  • Rivers State: Reason why people are dying in Bonny

    Rivers State: Reason why people are dying in Bonny

    Finally, the mystery behind the unexplainable number of deaths reported in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State has been unravelled.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalled that Awoiyeala Samuel Allison, President of the Bonny Graduates Forum had raised alarm to the unpalatable incident in May.

    Since then, suspecting Coronavirus disease, officials of the State Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) collected samples for testing to determine what is responsible for the strange occurrence.

    On Monday, the State Governor, Nyesom Wike called a meeting to address the situation where some tests conducted so far and with briefs from the State Ministry of Health paints the picture that Bonny is becoming an epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.

    Governor Wike said the Government might consider a possible lockdown of the Bonny kingdom after due consultation with the Amanyanabo of Bonny.

    He stated that the highest number of people testing positive to the COVID-19 in the kingdom are oil workers, which he said accounts for 60 percent of cases recorded so far.

    He said the situation has vindicated his position on the need for oil companies to cooperate with the State Government to fully implement the COVID-19 preventive protocol.

    “Nobody is against anybody carrying out oil exploration activities. All I have always argued is that if you are bringing people from outside the State, which is like an interstate movement, there is a need for us to know so that we are able also to take precaution and make sure that they follow the protocol put in place by the NCDC.

    “Nobody will want to stop oil exploration because that is the mainstay of the economy of this country. But people have to be alive before you can use the revenue. If you make the money from the oil sector and human beings are not there, what will be the essence of making the whole money.

    “Money is to be used to advance economic life but man’s well-being is more important. So we felt that there is a need for us to work together so that we will be able to reduce this pandemic in the State,” Governor Wike said.

    The Governor urged the oil companies to provide basic hygiene items like hand sanitisers and water at strategic places in Bonny communities.

    On the issue of denial pervading the community, the Governor promised to engage the traditional institution and community development committees to enlighten the people on the reality of the pandemic.

    Meanwhile, three international oil companies have expressed interest to collaborate in establishing a 30-bed COVID-19 treatment centre in Bonny.

    TNG reports the companies are the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas company (NLNG), the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and the Exonn Mobil Producing Unlimited Company.

    The companies, which were part of the meeting called by Governor Wike at Government House, Port Harcourt, agreed to upgrade and equip the Bonny General Hospital in a treatment centre. The treatment centre is expected to be prepared and equipped within the next four weeks.

    The Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Ltd, Tony Attah appreciated the bold measures taken by the Governor in dealing with the pandemic and pledged the company’s continued support.

    The Deputy Managing Director of SPDC, Simon Roddy, pledged that his company would support all measures taken by the Government to keep the State safe.

    In his own remarks, the Executive Director of Exonn Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Udobong Ntia also said they are fully committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the State.

  • Covid-19 funds: You must appear before us or get arrested, Reps threaten Accountant General

    Covid-19 funds: You must appear before us or get arrested, Reps threaten Accountant General

    …We received N22bn from FG, spent N164.9m on returnees – PTF

    …As NCDC lament low level of testing on people’s refusal to come forward

    The House of Representatives joint committee on Public Accounts, Health Services and Anti Corruption on Monday threatened to issue a Bench Warrant against the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris if he fails to show up before its investigative panel on June15, 2020.

    The lawmakers in session passed this resolution in reaction to his deliberate refusal to appear before the joint committee, to explain the status of funds mobilized by the federal government for the purpose of fighting the covid-19 pandemic.

    Rep. Oluwole Oke, the lead chairman gave the ruling following realization that the primary focus of the hearing which is on procurement and expenditure from mobolized resources could only be actualized using details provided by the Accountatnt General’s office.

    Lawmakers, upon engaging with the team, found that none of the agencies embedded in the PTF has control over the federal government covid-19 intervention funds domiciled in the CBN.

    But the Accountant General who is said to have all the details was conspicuously absent from the hearing despite invitation to that effect.

    This was as the Presidential Task Force on covid-19 has disclosed that the sum of N22,123,130,411.00 has so far been released to it from the Central Bank of Nigeria to help its operations in curbing the spread of the pandemic.

    The PTF however informed the joint panel that out of the said amount, only N164,929,475.96.00 has been spent to provide isolated accommodations and feeding for Nigerian returnees who were airlifted in from different countries during the global lockdown.

    Addressing the joint panel on Monday, the Permanent Secratery at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adeyemi, who led the team to the House said resources were mobilized through donor partners and that the resources are not just handed over to the PTF, as all donor fundings went straight to the CBN.

    “N22,123,130,411.00 has been released to the PTF operations account, and we are bound by the procurement Act and Appropriation just as the PTF is determined to ensure accountability and judicial utilization of the fund”, Adeyemi told lawmakers.

    He said the sum of N164,929,.96.00 has been spent out of the money to evacuate Nigerians stranded abroad from March to date.

    While informing that the balance is intact in the account, the Permsec also disclosed that the Nigeria Air Force has assisted in donating aircrafts and personnel for the evacuation of equipment from one point to another where they are needed.

    Asked what is the actual balance left in the account, he said every detail is with the Accountant General’s office.

    Chairman Oke who led the proceedings said there was need to have the Accountant General explain and confirm the information.

    He ruled that the committee ahould also write to the CBN governor, Godwin Emfiele to furnish it with the account statement of the PTF.

    Asked if there was any fund given as assistance to states and why they did not reflect in the report, the PermSec said the PTF only provides leadership in the fight against covid-19 and doesn’t collect donations nor grants from donors.

    Addressing the issues of low level testing in Nigeria compared to other African countries, such as Ghana, South Africa and Rwanda, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), attributed the development to the refusal of Nigerians to make themselves available for testing.

    Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who is the Director General of the Centre told the joint panel that there is community transmission of the virus going on, but many have refused to utilize NCDC facilities nearest to them to ascertain their status.

    He said such trend is the reason why the number of confirmed cases still stands at 11,000 after 3 months in a country of over 200 million population.

  • BREAKING: Abia Governor, Ikpeazu tests positive for COVID-19

    Reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) can authoritatively confirm that Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has tested positive for the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] disease.

    The state commissioner of information John Okiyi Kalu, confirmed the governor’s status in a statement on Monday after the governor dropped samples twice for the test.”Recall that on Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test. On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020. The result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative,” Kalu said.
    ”On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive, he added.

    ”As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.”

    Recall that Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi also earlier tested positive for the virus but recovered in couple of weeks.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Sunday night announced 260 new positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 12,486.

    According to the health agency, Abia State recorded the highest number of infections for the day with 67 cases while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos State had 40 and 38 cases respectively.

    A further breakdown of the new cases showed that Ogun State has 19 infections, Gombe (16), Edo (14), Imo (9), Kwara (8) and Katsina (8).

    Others are Nasarawa (8), Borno (8), Kaduna (6), Bauchi (5), Ekiti (4), Niger (2), Ondo (2), Plateau (2), Kano (2), and Sokoto (2).

    Of the number of positive cases in Nigeria, 3959 persons have fully recovered and discharged with 354 deaths, according to the latest figure from the NCDC.

     

  • Okowa’s CPS defends COVID-19 surge in Delta State

    Okowa’s CPS defends COVID-19 surge in Delta State

    Chief Press Secretary to Governor of Delta, Mr Olisa Ifeajika has said the surge in confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the State was due to increased community testing.

    According to Ifeajika, the increased community testing is occasioned by the recent establishment of a testing laboratory in Asaba.

    He said the mobile laboratory testing centre has contributed immensely to increased detection and treatment of cases of the virus in the State.

    Ifeajika said the establishment of the testing centre in the State was part of pragmatic steps taken by the Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in providing needed facilities and personnel to combat the pandemic.

    “Before now the entire South-South states were going to Irrua in Edo to test samples, and you can imagine the queue that was there then; it was so until about a month ago when we acquired one testing laboratory in Delta.

    “It has given room now for testing more numbers, which as at today, we have tested no fewer than 900 cases,” Ifeajika said in an interview with Arise News Television monitored.

    He further stated that when other States were still grappling with what to do about the pandemic, “Delta was proactive in putting necessary things, including personnel in place, and of course, you know that our Governor is a medical doctor and a proactive one at that.

    “Twelve holding centres and six isolation and treatment centres, with all equipment and personnel needed are in place, and you will recall that the Director General of NCDC was here some time ago and commended Delta for the facilities put in place.

    “Some organisations have also supported us as a government to put other equipment in place, especially in the setting up of two new fully-equipped isolation and treatment centres”.

    The spokesman acknowledged that the relaxation of the lockdown in the State to a considerable extent may have contributed to the rising number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State.

    According to him, the Governor in his wisdom relaxed the lockdown in response to the people’s yearning to return to their businesses because of the seeming hardship the restrictions engendered.

    Ifeajika, however, disclosed that schools, night clubs, bars and lounges were still locked down, adding that the closure of the state’s boundaries ordered by the governor before the Federal Government’s ban on inter-state movement, was in force.

    He said that aside from the directive that all prescribed protocols for stemming the spread of the virus must be observed, wearing a face mask in public places, including worship centres and markets, was compulsory in the state, adding that there were penalties for defaulters.

    “There are task forces in the markets and other public places and even the police, to enforce compliance with the directives, including the inter-state lockdown.

    “There are also mobile courts for that purpose, but largely, Deltans who are aware of the dangers of the virus are comporting themselves and abiding by the rules,’’ he said.

    On insecurity and herdsmen menace, Ifeajika stated that it was a challenge in Delta, though it was not peculiar to it as other states were also experiencing the same situation.

    He said that Governor Okowa was determined to nip the challenge in the bud, with the establishment of “Operation Delta Hawk” as it had become obvious that the situation was overwhelming the security agencies, especially the Police.

    “The governor looked inwards and felt that indigenous policing will help; it will complement the federal agencies in contending with the menace.

    “That is the whole essence of Operation Delta Hawk. It is entirely indigenous and its activities will be domesticated so that people will own the security of their territories.

    “It’s still in the works; a committee is in place to midwife the process so that it will come out properly,” he stated.

  • COVID-19: Lockdown will be over soon – Pastor Adeboye

    COVID-19: Lockdown will be over soon – Pastor Adeboye

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has said the lockdown emplaced to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) would be over sooner than later.

    Pastor Adeboye, who stated this in his sermon on Sunday during the June edition of the thanksgiving service of RCCG, commended the efforts of the government in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The popular cleric, who said the lockdown would be over sooner or later, prayed it would be a blessing to everyone who served and worshiped God.

    He also prayed for every problem troubling the world to be over before the end of the month.

    He thanked God for what the government had been doing to tackle the spread of the virus to its barest minimum through the lockdown initiative.

    “We thank God for what the government has been doing. For some people, the lockdown will be over sooner than later. If you learn to worship God, you will see the lockdown becoming an asset rather than a problem,” he said.

    In the thanksgiving sermon entitled, “Flying Over Mountains,” Adeboye enjoined everyone to wait on the Lord.

    “For you to fly over your mountain, you have to wait on the Lord; read Issiah 40: 28-31, John 19: 28 and Psalm 132: 7-8.

    “By waiting on the Lord, you have to invite and offer Him water, give Him food which is worship and treat Him with honour by offering Him praises till He is satisfied.

    “By waiting on Him, you can fly over the mountains of failure, poverty, barrenness and physical lockdown,” he said.

  • First Sunday Service After Lockdown: Abuja residents turnout en masse at various churches

    First Sunday Service After Lockdown: Abuja residents turnout en masse at various churches

    … social distancing observed

    …checks of temperature observed at entry points

    …we appreciate FG for re-opening worship centres-Pastor Sani

    … borders of FCT manned by soldiers, police, civil defense, PTF officers

    For over two months religious activities were put on hold in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun major cities in Nigeria after President Muhamnadu Buhari announced a total lock down on March 29th, incidentally on a Sunday to curb the spread of COVID-19.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that most churches across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, showcased a massive turnout of worshipers who observed the guidelines of NCDC.

    All the churches TNG crew visited in Kubwa, Nyanya, Dutse, Sabori, Maraba,Orozo had worshipers in attendance.

    At the Omega Fire Ministries, Maraba, the social distancing, wearing of masks guidelines were strictly followed.

    In a chat with a pastor of the church, Sule Sani thanked the Federal Government for opening worship centres that it was a welcome development.

    “We really appreciate the government re-opening centres and we thank God for this wonderful opportunity to worship as a church.

    Worshipers spotted in all the Catholic churches in Kubwa wore face masks and the availability of santisers for members to use.

    Temperatures of worshipers were also checked at the various entry points of the churches in Kubwa, Dei Dei, Sabori and Dutse.

    Inside the churches a modest of social distancing was also observed in chuches with large centres like the Anglican and Catholic worship centres.

    At the Abaji border between FCT and Kogi State, soldiers, police, civil defence, officers of the Presidential Task Force, PTF were seen manning the border post.

    Also at the Nasawa entry point all the security operatives were seen checking temperature of humans, occupants of vehicular objects to ensure the lockdown on inter-state movement which has not been lifted.

    Recall that the lockdown has undergone various reviews on a bi-monthly basis since it was imposed.

  • COVID-19: Lufthansa offers ‘return-flight-guarantee’

    German airline Lufthansa will offer passengers a “return-flight guarantee” during the coronavirus pandemic, CEO Carsten Spohr told German media.

    “Anyone who wants to go back to Germany, we’ll bring them back,” Spohr told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper’s Sunday edition.

    “Be it because they are not allowed to enter the destination country due to recording a high temperature, they have to be quarantined there or because the virus has broken out.

    “In all these cases there will be a guaranteed return flight,” Spohr said.

    He did not go into details, but additionally expressed confidence that demand for private travel would return very quickly.

    Lufthansa had come under severe pressure during the coronavirus pandemic, as nearly all flights were grounded for months.

    Now that some countries are lifting travel bans, Lufthansa wants to entice passengers back on board.

    Thousands of jobs are now at stake in the group, which employs about 138,000 people.

    The company is in the later stages of agreement with the German government over a bail-out agreement worth around 9 billion euros (10.1 billion dollars).

    Spohr also called for consideration of “government incentives for new aircraft” and also spoke of an “innovation premium”.

    “A new aircraft needs up to 25 per cent less fuel and to generate 50 per cent less noise than its predecessor. The jump is enormous.”

    If more new aircraft were purchased, it would help “the environment, the aircraft manufacturers and the airlines,” Spohr said.

    Lufthansa is negotiating with Boeing and Airbus on taking delivery of planes later than agreed.

  • VIDEO: Index case takes COVID-19 campaign to streets in Delta

    VIDEO: Index case takes COVID-19 campaign to streets in Delta

    The Delta State Government has designated one Chief Austin Eruotor as Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ambassador in the State.

    According to the State Government, Chief Eruotor, who has started a campaign to sensitize the people of Delta on the reality of the pandemic, is the index case of COVID-19 in the State.

    At a news conference on Friday in Asaba, where the Commissioner for Health in Delta, Dr Mordi Ononye, confirmed that a two-month-old baby was among the 116 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State, Eruotor and the fourth victim of the pandemic in the State, Mr Jerry Azinge, gave an account of their ordeals with the virus.

    They called on Deltans to observe all health protocols so as to flatten the pandemic curve as well as an end to stigmatization. They said it was important for early diagnosis and for those affected to get early treatment as COVID-19 came in different forms and symptoms.

    Watch sensitization video below (press play):

     

  • NYSC sends important message to serving, prospective Corps members

    NYSC sends important message to serving, prospective Corps members

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said agitations by Corps members regarding the reopening of orientation camps would be addressed as soon as the interstate lockdown is lifted.

    The NYSC made this known in a statement on Friday, stressing that the suspension of the biometric monthly clearance still stands.

    According to NYSC, payment of stipends for the foregoing months shall be effected without giving consideration to biometric clearance.

    The statement reads: “Management of the National Youth Service Corps hereby conveys to all Corps Members that the suspension of the biometric monthly clearance still stands, and shall remain in force for the months of June and July, in keeping with the rules of social/physical distancing; and avoidance of crowd.

    “Accordingly, payment of stipends for the foregoing months shall be effected without giving consideration to biometric clearance. Area Directors, State/FCT Coordinators had been notified of this directive for strict compliance.

    “Corps Members are once again advised to ensure good personal hygiene, social distancing, avoidance of crowd, use of hand sanitisers and face masks in order to guard against falling victim to the virus.

    “Management is not oblivious of the agitations by the 2020 Batch “A” Stream One Corps Members who want to know when they will be recalled to the Orientation camps, which is expected; likewise the 2020 Batch “A” Stream Two Prospective Corps Members who are desirous of knowing when they shall be moving into the camps for Orientation Course.

    “The questions and many others shall be addressed as soon as the interstate lockdown is lifted and Government gives a nod for the Scheme and other institutions to resume full activities.

    “As usual, you are advised to always stay tuned to the NYSC traditional and social media platforms to keep you updated. With correct and responsible behaviour, we shall defeat COVID-19. Stay safe”.