TheNewsGuru

Tag: Coronavirus

  • Private laboratory begins COVID-19 testing in Anambra

    Private laboratory begins COVID-19 testing in Anambra

    A private laboratory in Anambra, Accunalysis Diagnostic Centre Ltd., Nnewi accredited by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has started Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing in the State.

    Speaking to newsmen in Awka on Tuesday, Mr Chijike Agbaka, the managing director of the diagnostic centre disclosed that the centre had already carried out some COVID-19 tests last weekend.

    The centre, owned by Chief Calistus Okereke, is equipped to test 100 persons for chemistry, dermatology and molecular diagnosis daily.

    Agbaka said: “We are into laboratory testing in areas of chemistry, dermatology but our interest is centered on molecular diagnosis.

    “We discovered that it was difficult for researchers and students to carry out their researches in molecular diagnostics.

    “NCDC has been to our facility and has found us worthy as one of the testing centers for COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

    Agbaka commended Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra for creating the enabling environment for the laboratory centre to contribute its quota to the health sector of the state.

    The managing director said the centre had no political affiliation with any group as reported in some social media.

    According to him, the centre is owned by an investor, who is passionate about reducing medical tourism in the state.

    “There are some guidelines set out by the NCDC for testing; ours is to follow the guidelines which entails that samples are collected by the state government through the Ministry of Health and that our reporting format should go through the state,” he stressed.

    Agbaka said the private laboratory would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government over the partnership.

    “The procedures and guidelines of NCDC spells out that private laboratory must partner with the state, so that all reporting and samples will be received through the state.

    “We have an understanding with the state and very soon, it will be announced by MoU, duly signed by both partners,” he said.

    The laboratories at the Onitsha General Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, are other COVID-19 testing centres awaiting NCDC’s approval in the State.

  • Gbajabiamila inaugurates House committee on COVID-19

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has inaugurated an ad-hoc committee on the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    Gbajabiamila inaugurated the committee on Tuesday at conference room 231 of the House of Representatives.

    In his remarks, the Speaker said the 18 man committee reflects the intention of the House to engage the executive arm of government in a partnership that serves the best interests of the Nigerian people.

    Read Gbajabiamila’s remarks during the inauguration below:

    Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here this afternoon.

    Nothing defines a nation more than how its leaders and its people rise to the seismic crises that manifest, often without warning, and must be confronted and overcome one way or the other. We now face such a defining crisis. And we too will face the judgment of history. It is in our hands to determine what that judgment will be.

    The 18 man Committee we have come to inaugurate reflects the intention of the House of Representative to engage the executive arm of government in a partnership that serves the best interests of the Nigerian people as we join hands to confront and conquer the most severe challenge of our lives.

    Mr Chairman, honourable members of the Committee, you have a responsibility to ensure the operations of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, are conducted with a view to international best practice. Your role is to add value by serving as a link between the task force and the National Assembly, and with the Nigerian people whose interests we all serve, and to whom we are all answerable.

    It is also your responsibility to ensure that those of our citizens; doctors, nurses and all the health workers on the frontlines of the fight against Covid-19 in Nigeria receive the full protection they deserve, and the benefits they have so honourably earned. You have the rare opportunity to write your legacy in gold, and I am confident that you will meet that opportunity. I urge you to face this responsibility with a sense of urgency and the utmost integrity, rest assured of my support and the support of the entire House of Representatives.

    On that note, it is my honour to inaugurate this Ad-Hoc Committee on Covid-19 to the glory of God and the edification of the Nigerian people. Mr Chairman, honourable colleagues, I wish you Godspeed in this your assignment. We will support you to the fullest and as best as we can.

    I thank you all once more for being here this afternoon.

    God bless you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • COVID-19: Ali Baba hails Buhari’s govt, speaks on brain behind creative industry committee

    COVID-19: Ali Baba hails Buhari’s govt, speaks on brain behind creative industry committee

    Chairman of the newly set up post-Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) committee for the creative industry, Mr. Ali Baba has expressed appreciation to the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

    Ali Baba expressed his appreciation following the inauguration of the post-Covid-19 committee for the creative industry by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Tuesday.

    Speaking on why the committee was set up, Ali Baba said there was a need to know who is who in the creative industry and what each person is contributing to the industry as a whole, including how each of those services had been interrupted.

    “Thank you all for responding to the call by the #CreativeIndustryCommittee. The platform for the questionnaires has now closed. The interesting thing we found out, is that many people don’t like to share what will benefit others.

    “So, you are a Deejay, you filled as an individual, you know many other Deejays like you, but refuse to tell them to go do the same. But you will share with them jokes, videos, Instagram reposts… etc at the drop of a hat.

    “The Committee was set up because of the need to know who is who in the creative industry and what each person is contributing to the industry as a whole. Including how each of those services had been interrupted.

    “The other purpose of the mandate is also to enable us suggest to government how they can support the sector in the new way of going about its business, post COVID-19.

    “Many of the sub sectors, which form the whole industry, depend on each other to harness the economic value of all players. It’s an Ecosystem of connected chains, linked by services, platforms, creativity and value propositions, feeding off one another.

    “Musicians depend on radio and television to give them airtime. The broadcasters cannot use generator sound to entertain listeners. And no advertiser will come if they do not see your listeners and viewers.

    “Your journalists, photographers, reporters, presenters, keep your media empire alive. Writers need printers and publishers. Proofreaders and editors need writers to be in business.

    “What would gallery owners display if not creative works of artists? The artists also need the Galleries to showcase their works. Who covers events? Photographers and videographers. Journalists report the event.

    “Yet, Event planners will tell you they are the most important sector in the ecosystem and as such, they are the most hit by the pandemic. True that they have been hit. But the broadcast industry, has been hit, and they are still on air.

    “The creative industry is closely knitted together. That is why a holistic approach has to be employed, to curate the Covid-19 damage to all the sectors. We are still working to cover all. It’s less than 2 weeks to go,” Ali Baba stated.

    TNG reports Lai Mohammed inaugurated the post-Covid-19 committee for the creative industry on Tuesday with a call on all members of the industry to support the committee in the interest of the industry.

    “The Committee’s membership, as announced two weeks ago, has now been expanded to include as many sectors as possible. This is to ensure a fair representation.

    ”However, while the committee cannot accommodate all members of the

    industry, it is certain that all members will benefit from its work.

    “I therefore want to implore the entire industry to support this committee. This is no time for division. All hands must be on deck so the industry can rebound,” the Minister said while inaugurating the committee.

    Lai Mohammed described the creative industry as a very critical sector of the nation’s economy and a major plank of the economic diversification policy of this administration.

    He said that in view of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the creative industry, it has become imperative to have a collective and government-supported approach in dealing with the immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector.

    “Two weeks ago, I announced the establishment of this committee. In doing so, I said the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the nation, and that the Creative Industry has been particularly hard hit, considering the fact that it is an industry that has people-interaction at its core. I also said that instead of addressing

    these problems piecemeal, we should do so holistically for a more positive outcome,” the Minister said.

    While commending members of the Committee for their sacrifice and love of country, he urged them to do justice to the assignment, which will culminate in suitable recommendations that will help the industry to thrive and expand.

    The committee’s terms of reference are: assess the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general; advise the government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector as well as to create succour for the industry small businesses; suggest the type of taxation and financing that is best for the industry at this time to encourage growth and advise the government on any other measure or measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.

    Members of the Committee are:

    1. Ali Baba – Comedy, Film and TV (Chairman)

    2. Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim – Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria

    (BON) – Vice Chairman

    3. Bolanle Austen Peters – Film and Performing Arts

    4. Charles Novia – Television and Independent Producer

    5. Segun Arinze- Actor and Producer

    6. Ali Jita – Actor and Musician

    7. Baba Agba – Film Director

    8. Kene Okwuosa – Cinema and Distribution

    9. Efe Omoregbe – Record label and Collective rights management

    10. Prince Daniel Aboki – Radio and Film

    11. Chioma Ude – Streaming

    12. Olumade Adesemowo – Television and Platform (FreeTV)

    13. Dare Art Alade – Livespot Entertainment

    14. Oliver Enwonwu – President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA),

    15. Alhaji Saleh Rabo – President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria

    16. Bala Hassan – Booksellers Association

    17 Ali Nuhu – Kannywood

    18 Tajudeen Owoyemi – Hotels

    19. B.M. Dzukogi – Association of Nigerian Authors

    20. TY Bello – Photography

    21. Lanre Da Silva Ajayi – Fashion

    22. Anita Eboigbe – Secretary

  • Coronavirus: NCDC releases number of COVID-19 tests conducted for Kogi, Cross River

    Coronavirus: NCDC releases number of COVID-19 tests conducted for Kogi, Cross River

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has released the number of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests conducted for Kogi and Cross River States that are yet to report any confirmed cases of the disease.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NCDC released the data alongside the number of COVID-19 tests conducted per State published on its website on Tuesday.

    The Centre stated that the publication was part of commitments to ensure transparent reporting of COVID-19 data in the country.

    According to the publication, Kogi has conducted just one test so far and Cross River State has conducted 7 tests.

    A breakdown of the number of tests carried out by State
    A breakdown of the number of tests carried out by State
    Situation report of COVID-19 in Nigeria as at 18th May 2020
    Situation report of COVID-19 in Nigeria as at 18th May 2020

    Meanwhile, Director General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, had disclosed that the centre was working very hard to equip its network of laboratories to be able to achieve the target of testing in the country.

    He said the NCDC will collaborate with global partners to tackle bottlenecks. The DG said that the centre so far had 26 testing laboratories in its network for COVID-19.

    The NCDC Laboratory Strategic Group has set itself a target of testing two million people across the country in the next three months.

    The two million Nigerians will come to about 50,000 per state which the health agency noted was a very ambitious target.

    The NCDC said that this would cost a lot of money and also required a lot of collaboration.

    “We did put an ambitious target of hitting two million tests in three months, this is the beginning of week three if I’m not mistaken. So, we are not in the second month yet.

    “Sometimes, to drive improvement, you have to set out that target for yourself, and that is really what we’ve done.

    “There are many bottlenecks to this and that’s something throughout this week we are working with our global partners in terms of how to unbottle some of those supply chain challenges.

    “And some of those things are now going to yield fruit this week. I actually don’t want to name a date untill I have those reagents in the country.

    ”So, I’m hesitant to say this is when it will happen or that is when it will happen.

    “There is now a lot of momentum around the supply, we hope those reagents will really lead us to that,” Ihekweazu explained.

    Speaking on activation of laboratories in the country, he said that when building an institution, there were many things that were never visible to people.

    “So, when we come to NCDC four years ago, we realised that there were several pieces of laboratory equipment lying across the country that were not functioning.

    “Why were they not functioning, maybe for one small component or problem. And you’ll be wasting equipment worth millions of naira or millions of dollars.

    “So, we started looking for how to train our biomedical engineers. We found partner in Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA), and they started supporting us specifically in this regard.

    “We now retained two bio medical engineers over six months in Japan. Japan is well known world-wide for their capacity around things like this.

    “These two colleagues are leading a lot of the efforts on the equipment side of activating labs. Then we have our biomedical Laboratory scientists that are leading the training on Laboratory diagnostic science,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu said that the agency would send a three-man team comprising a biomedical engineer, a molecular Laboratory scientist and one new colleague “expert” to be trained in the process .

    “Two teams left today, one in Katsina and the other to Ilorin to do this. And as we continue to do this, we build the capacity of more Nigerians to do this,” he said.

    Ihekweazu said that the maintenance of medical equipment was one of the biggest challenges the health agency had.

    “We have persons on the Laboratory side, but anybody working in the health space will tell you the challenges that we have with very expensive pieces of medical equipment that often breaks down for one small problem and that’s the challenge we are trying to solve.

    “There is no magic bullet, you keep pushing, you strain,” he added.

    He disclosed that they had a workshop at NCDC where they trained local staff to do a lot of the maintenance.

    “What we call biosafety cabinet that are necessary, they have to be accredited every single year, they have to be checked whether they provide the safe environment to enable people work safely.

    “So, to do that, the pipe certifying them has to themselves be certified that they can certify the cabinet,” he noted.

    According to him, it’s a very diligent process in keeping our equipment working, because we know that the equipment is what ultimately leads us to have confidence in the result that we produce.

    “Yes, we have people doing this and we try to keep them within the public sector which is not always easy. But I think people are beginning to realise that there is benefit in working in the public sector and they can grow their career that way,” he explained.

    Meanwhile, the DG who spoke on self isolation, noted that very early in the outbreak, the agency had a policy on self isolation for people that traveled back to the country from one of the most affected countries.

    He said that but, since then, the policy had been institutional isolation, both for people being brought back through the evacuation processes at the moment.

    “We are constantly reviewing this policy but that’s the policy at the moment. Yes, other countries are doing different things , but this is what we have agreed to do between the PTF for now and that’s the policy of the federal government of Nigeria through the PTF.

  • COVID-19: Lagos, Abuja, PH airports get ready for reopening

    COVID-19: Lagos, Abuja, PH airports get ready for reopening

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has started fumigating the Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt international airports.

    FAAN disclosed this on Tuesday, stressing fumigation of the airports was part of preparations for resumption of operations.

    The three major airports were shut down in March to curtail the spread of the novel Covid-19 Pandemic.

    On May 6, the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 extended the ban on air travels by four weeks which implies that in less than two weeks activities may resume at the three international airports.

     

  • Coronavirus: NCDC sets to publish number of COVID-19 tests per State

    Coronavirus: NCDC sets to publish number of COVID-19 tests per State

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says all is set to publish the number of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests that have been carried for States of the Federation.

    Director General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, said this will be published so as to see that there are many States that don’t have a laboratory, but have tested an incredible number of people compared to the total figure.

    Ihekwazu, who told NAN that the centre was working very hard to equip its network of laboratories to be able to achieve the target of testing in the country, said the NCDC will collaborate with global partners to tackle bottlenecks.

    The DG said that the centre so far had 26 testing laboratories in its network for COVID-19.

    The NCDC Laboratory Strategic Group has set itself a target of testing two million people across the country in the next three months.

    The two million Nigerians will come to about 50,000 per state which the health agency noted was a very ambitious target.

    The NCDC said that this would cost a lot of money and also required a lot of collaboration.

    “We did put an ambitious target of hitting two million tests in three months, this is the beginning of week three if I’m not mistaken. So, we are not in the second month yet.

    “Sometimes, to drive improvement, you have to set out that target for yourself, and that is really what we’ve done.

    “There are many bottlenecks to this and that’s something throughout this week we are working with our global partners in terms of how to unbottle some of those supply chain challenges.

    “And some of those things are now going to yield fruit this week. I actually don’t want to name a date untill I have those reagents in the country.

    ”So, I’m hesitant to say this is when it will happen or that is when it will happen.

    “There is now a lot of momentum around the supply, we hope those reagents will really lead us to that,” Ihekweazu explained.

    The DG said that the other thing was how the NCDC would stimulate collection of samples from Nigerians.

    “Like I said, we will publish the number of tests per state. That we promise to do today, but we might end up doing it tomorrow.

    “But, this will be published so that you can see actually from those numbers that there are many states that don’t have a laboratory, that have tested an incredible number of people compared to the total figure.

    “So, we will discuss those numbers once we make them available either later today or tomorrow,” he stated.

    Speaking on activation of laboratories in the country, he said that when building an institution, there were many things that were never visible to people.

    “So, when we come to NCDC four years ago, we realised that there were several pieces of laboratory equipment lying across the country that were not functioning.

    “Why were they not functioning, maybe for one small component or problem. And you’ll be wasting equipment worth millions of naira or millions of dollars.

    “So, we started looking for how to train our biomedical engineers. We found partner in Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA), and they started supporting us specifically in this regard.

    “We now retained two bio medical engineers over six months in Japan. Japan is well known world-wide for their capacity around things like this.

    “These two colleagues are leading a lot of the efforts on the equipment side of activating labs. Then we have our biomedical Laboratory scientists that are leading the training on Laboratory diagnostic science,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu said that the agency would send a three-man team comprising a biomedical engineer, a molecular Laboratory scientist and one new colleague “expert” to be trained in the process .

    “Two teams left today, one in Katsina and the other to Ilorin to do this. And as we continue to do this, we build the capacity of more Nigerians to do this,” he said.

    Ihekweazu said that the maintenance of medical equipment was one of the biggest challenges the health agency had.

    “We have persons on the Laboratory side, but anybody working in the health space will tell you the challenges that we have with very expensive pieces of medical equipment that often breaks down for one small problem and that’s the challenge we are trying to solve.

    “There is no magic bullet, you keep pushing, you strain,” he added.

    He disclosed that they had a workshop at NCDC where they trained local staff to do a lot of the maintenance.

    “What we call biosafety cabinet that are necessary, they have to be accredited every single year, they have to be checked whether they provide the safe environment to enable people work safely.

    “So, to do that, the pipe certifying them has to themselves be certified that they can certify the cabinet,” he noted.

    According to him, it’s a very diligent process in keeping our equipment working, because we know that the equipment is what ultimately leads us to have confidence in the result that we produce.

    “Yes, we have people doing this and we try to keep them within the public sector which is not always easy. But I think people are beginning to realise that there is benefit in working in the public sector and they can grow their career that way,” he explained.

    Meanwhile, the DG who spoke on self isolation, noted that very early in the outbreak, the agency had a policy on self isolation for people that traveled back to the country from one of the most affected countries.

    He said that but, since then, the policy had been institutional isolation, both for people being brought back through the evacuation processes at the moment.

    “We are constantly reviewing this policy but that’s the policy at the moment. Yes, other countries are doing different things , but this is what we have agreed to do between the PTF for now and that’s the policy of the federal government of Nigeria through the PTF.

  • Turning off your WiFi will not protect you from COVID-19 – Minister

    Turning off your WiFi will not protect you from COVID-19 – Minister

    Australian Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher has warned Australians about misinformation linking the COVID-19 to 5G mobile technology.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Fletcher declared that there is no evidence that radio waves, used by mobile networks, have any harmful effects.

    Misinformation about 5G telecommunications networks has become prevalent online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless.

    “As the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has said, 5G does not cause the coronavirus and it does not spread coronavirus,’’ Fletcher said.

    He said that spreading this type of misinformation is irresponsible, dangerous and could be harmful to the community, citing the recent arson attacks on mobile phone towers in Britain and New Zealand.

    “Interfering or tampering with telecommunications facilities is a criminal offence.

    “The Australian government will not tolerate any vandalism of communications infrastructure and I urge Australians to report any suspicious activity to their local police.

    “Causing damage to mobile phone networks can cut vital connectivity, risking serious harm, even death, if a person is unable to contact Triple Zero.’’

    CMO Brendan Murphy has repeatedly ruled out any link between the technology and the spread of COVID-19.

    “There is no link between 5G and COVID-19. 5G does not cause COVID-19.

    “It does not spread COVID-19, nor does it increase the severity of COVID-19 or make people more susceptible to COVID-19,’’ he had said in a statement.

    “Turning off your WiFi will not protect you from COVID-19.

    “The best way you can protect yourself is to practise physical distancing and good hygiene and to stay at home if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms.’’

  • I91 Nigerians killed by Coronavirus as cases surpasses 6000

    I91 Nigerians killed by Coronavirus as cases surpasses 6000

    Nigeria’s Coronavirus cases have soared above 6,000, with the release of 216 fresh cases on Monday by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

    216 new cases of #COVID19;

    74-Lagos
    33-Katsina
    19-Oyo
    17-Kano
    13-Edo
    10-Zamfara
    8-Ogun
    8-Gombe
    8-Borno
    7-Bauchi
    7-Kwara
    4-FCT
    3-Kaduna
    3-Enugu
    2-Rivers

    6175 cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria
    Discharged: 1644
    Deaths: 191 pic.twitter.com/FbcGTJ06iE

    — NCDC (@NCDCgov) May 18, 2020 “>According to the NCDC, confirmed Coronavirus infections in Nigeria now stood at 6,175.

    As usual, Lagos topped the chat of new infections with 74 new cases, Kaduna, 33 fresh cases and Oyo, 19 new cases.

    Also, Kano recorded 17 new cases; Edo, 13 cases; Zamfara, 10 cases; while Ogun, Gombe and Borno recorded eight cases each.

    Others are: Bauchi and Kwara, seven cases each; FCT, four cases; Kaduna and Enugu, three cases each and Rivers, two cases.

    Nine deaths were recorded on Monday, taking the overall deaths to 191.

    The total number of patients who survived the pandemic so far and discharged stand at 1,644.

    How States Stand

    74-Lagos
    33-Katsina
    19-Oyo
    17-Kano
    13-Edo
    10-Zamfara
    8-Ogun
    8-Gombe
    8-Borno
    7-Bauchi
    7-Kwara
    4-FCT
    3-Kaduna
    3-Enugu
    2-Rivers

  • African pastor, Ndifor who claimed he could cure Covid-19 dies from virus

    African pastor, Ndifor who claimed he could cure Covid-19 dies from virus

    A popular African pastor from Cameroon, Frankline Ndifor has died less than a week after being diagnosed with Covid-19, leaving hundreds of his supporters worried as he had laid hands on them in an effort to “cure” them of the infection.

    Pastor Frankline Ndifor was also a candidate in the central African state’s last presidential election.

    According to Voice of America (VOA) news, Cameroon police used force to gain access to the pastor’s residence in the economic capital of Douala, as some of his supporters blocked entrances, praying for his resurrection.

    Hundreds of the pastor’s followers sang on Sunday morning at Ndifor’s residence that the man popularly referred to as “the prophet” was not dead, but on a spiritual retreat with God, and would return soon. Their singing and prayers were broadcast by several local radio stations.

    Ndifor died and was buried in front of his residence on Saturday by workers of Cameroon’s Covid-19 response team in the city.

    Doctor Gaelle Nnanga told VOA that the pastor died less than a week after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

    He said that some members of Ndifor’s Kingship International Ministries Church called him to come to the pastor’s aid when they found out Ndifor was in agony, and that when the medical team he leads arrived, Ndifor was having severe respiratory difficulties.

    He said the pastor died less than 10 minutes after being treated.

    The governor of Cameroon’s coastal region said in a release that he deployed police to force their way into Ndifor’s residence when his followers chased medical staff away.

    Ndifor follower Rigobert Che said the “prophet” last Wednesday prayed for him and several dozen people diagnosed with Covid-19, and some who suspected they were carriers or had symptoms.

    He said Ndifor’s death had brought panic to the hundreds of people who had been visiting him for prayers for a divine cure.

    According to Che, the pastor has been laying hands on the sick and claiming that he was able to cure Covid-19.

    “If you, the person that claims that you are curing Covid-19, you are dead, what about the fellow people that were affected by the Covid-19? Now that he is dead, I do not know how the people that he was laying hands on will be healed,” he told VOA.

    Medical staff have urged all the people who came in contact with the pastor to report to hospitals to be tested for the virus.

    Besides praying for Covid-19 patients at his home and his church, Ndifor was also donating buckets and soap to the poor to protect themselves from the virus. His last public outing was on April 20, when he ventured into Douala’s streets to distribute face masks.

  • I cannot write on Governors and the Coronavirus – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa

    It is not unusual for me to receive messages asking that I address particular issues in my twice weekly columns. Sometimes students ask that I write on particular topics they are being taught or conducting research on. But the amount of requests I have received in the last fortnight that I write on our governors and the coronavirus challenge is so unprecedented that I suspect a set up. So is an attempt by unpatriotic people and agent provocateurs to lure me into writing about members of Nigeria’s most powerful trade union, the Governors Forum.

    I refuse to take the bait because first, I have already made so many ‘enemies’ out there that I need to start making friends, especially amongst the powerful. Secondly, to write on one governor might be suicidal, to write on two, treasonable and to write on three or more is simply to commit suicide. Besides, it will be unpatriotic to write about strong, powerful, rich men who are ably leading us.

    I can easily and comfortably write volumes on Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the virus. It was his government, when the rest of the country was asleep, which woke us to the pandemic and has continued to lead both the Federal and state governments on COVID-19. In setting up a team of professionals and allowing them to lead the war, he gave us a model of leadership worthy to replicate.

    For instance, while many of his colleagues are hugging the limelight, he lets his Commissioner for Health, Professor Emmanuel Akinola Abayomi, who has experience in Africa and the West Indies on matters like cancer, sickle cell and diabetes, to lead the fight. This way, the state government can answer any question on the virus, no matter how technical.

    I can also comfortably write on Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who runs a close second to Sanwo-Olu in terms of effectively tackling the virus and its spread. My verdict, which can be appealed, is that: Sanwo-Olu by being non-offensive, civil, cool-headed, accommodating and result-oriented, has been far more effective than Wike.

    While Sanwo-Olu relies more on persuasion, procedures and processes, Wike’s strength is reliance on force and putting the fear of God in people even if that violates the law and the precepts set down by God. For instance, the Bible tells us that although God knew Eve had listened to the snake and along with Adam, eaten the Forbidden Fruit, he did not deal with them summarily; rather, He gave them fair hearing.

    However, Wike has no such patience. When told that two hotels: Edemete and the Prodest Home violated his COVID-19 rules, without giving the owners or management the right to fair hearing or their day in court, he moved in bulldozers to demolish the structures. I am sure he must have felt justified. So, as he personally supervised the bulldozing, he would not have felt any pang of guilt.

    Unfortunately, there was no official bold enough to have reminded Wike that the country is running short of spaces to isolate COVID-19 patients, so the hotels should rather, have been seized and handed over to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

    I am a fan of the governor, and in our Wike Fans Club, a member from Rivers State said he does not mind Wike locking the people down, his only worry is that as the governor hops from place to place, he might lose the key and the people will remain perpetually locked down. The Rivers people know that the fear of Governor Wike is the beginning of wisdom. In fact, I do not know who they fear more: Wike or COVID-19?

    I can also write on Gombe State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya who has been the most democratic so far, at least compared with Saudi Arabia. Given its monarchical nature, the latter thought the best option was to lockdown the country. Even when this was eased, and despite several appeals, Saudi Arabia maintains the lockdown on the Holy City of Mecca. In contrast, Governor Yahaya called a meeting with religious leaders in the state and the democratic consensus was that people should be allowed to congregate for religious activities.

    In a state-wide broadcast last Friday, Governor Yahaya announced the verdict of his referendum: “While majority supported the call, some cautiously approved of it. It is against this backdrop that government has resolved to gradually ease the restrictions in our dear state by re-opening places of worship.” This, of course, comes with guidelines which hopefully, will minimise casualties.

    But it is not on men like Sanwo-Olu, Wike or Yahaya people want me to write, it is about some of their other colleagues, especially those who have exhibited extraordinary brilliance, displays and uncommon toughness in combating the virus.

    They want me to write on youthful Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who in fighting the virus, vibrated so much on his seat that the frightened COVID-19, at his command, fled across the Nigerian borders into safer havens. Yahaya Bello, whom I love calling General Yahaya Jammeh, because of the striking characteristics he shares with the former Gambian President, is so tough on the virus that in a public admonition of visiting officers of the NCDC, he threatened to detain the federal officials in an isolation centre.

    I will also not be lured into writing about His Most Excellent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State who was asleep while Sanwo-Olu was combating COVID-19. But immediately the Federal Government allocated N10 billion to the latter, the whiff of the money woke Ganduje up, and one of his initial acts was to demand N15 billion to battle the virus. No, I will not write on Ganduje. Rather I will leave his pioneering work of expelling the Almajiri children to historians.

    I will also avoid the temptation of making further comments on His Excellency Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State. I recently wrote on his pioneering directives that anyone who tries to escape from isolation be shot summarily as the offence is a capital one. To comment on this again, will amount to plagiarising myself.

    As I earlier insisted, I will not write on any governor and COVID-19. Rather, I will commend the Governors Forum for drawing the attention of the House of Representatives to the fact that states are not carried along in its speedy attempt to pass a bill that may impose a regime of compulsory vaccination on Nigerians.

    In response, the House had dismissed the governors as mere “stakeholders” whose consent is not required to make federal laws. I suspect that this uninformed position was taken because Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his Green Chamber colleagues have not advised themselves on the powers of the Governors Forum.