COVID-19: FCT Minister Goes Into Self-Isolation [SUN]
Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Ramatu Aliyu, has gone into self-isolation while she awaits the result of her coronavirus (COVID-19) test.
She disclosed this in a tweet last night. The Minister said she had been in contact with persons who tested positive for the virus which necessitated her action.
“I have just given my samples to test for #COVID19… I feel well & have been in self-isolation since yesterday evening, because, I was in contact with people who tested positive for Corona Virus,” the minister tweeted.
“Please stay safe and observe all precautionary measures outlined by @NCDCgov Dr RTA. In self isolation, I am busy working and liaising with the 6 Area Council Chairmen in the Territory on prevention &sensitisation of people in the area Council& satellite towns.
“At the same time actively playing my role in the Presidential Taskforce on #COVID19 representing FCT. I have engaged market women leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, community & youth leaders at the grassroots and area council.
“We have produced and shared jingles and fliers to educate FCT residents and indigenous inhabitants. @OfficialFCTA #COVID19 #COVID2019.”
Air Peace Suspends Operations, To Resume April 20 [SUN]
Air Peace has announced the suspension of all its flight operations from Saturday as part of efforts being made to check the spread of the Corona virus, a move it described as in the nation’s best interest.
In a statement signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Toyin Olajide, the company said, “It is with a great sense of responsibility that we have decided, in the best interest of our nation, our passengers and workforce, to suspend scheduled flight operations for 23 days effective 23.00hrs on Friday (an hour before Saturday morning) March 27, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This difficult decision was reached in order to, not only, support the efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in curbing the spread of this virus in our nation but also to protect our teeming passengers and our staff from becoming victims of the pandemic.”
The airline said that it has to be equally noted that passenger traffic in the last three weeks has slumped drastically as a result of this pandemic, saying it would be very unwise to continue raking up avoidable costs it could ill afford.
“While the suspension is on, we are however, willing to do special flights both for the government and our people. Normal scheduled flight operations shall resume on April 20, 2020. We regret any inconvenience this decision may have caused our teeming passengers,” the airline also said.
This was coming as Aero Contractors yesterday suspended its operations in the interest of safety and Ibom Air reduced its capacity by 36 per cent as the COVID-19 impact worsens.
Meanwhile, Arik Air has announced a temporarily suspension of all scheduled commercial flight operations effective 11pm on Friday, March 27, 2020.
The management of the airline said it took this decision in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to its customers and staff, and hopes to resume services as soon as feasible.
Customers who have confirmed tickets have been advised that they could still use their tickets when the airline resumes flight operations. Such tickets could also be modified at no extra charge.
The Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu said: “The safety and well-being of our valued customers is paramount at this period of health emergency. We implore everyone to keep safe and abide by all directives issued by governmental authorities.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this suspension may have caused our customers.’’
Similarly Dana Air said it is also halting all operations from the midnight of Wednesday, March 25 for a period of two weeks just as he management of Azman Air has also announced the suspension of their operations and all flights within Nigeria from the midnight of Friday, March 27. This suspension will last for the next two weeks and will be reviewed afterwards.
Max Air in a letter titled Suspension of Operation, gave the same reason but stated that their suspension will commence from March 28, 2020 (Saturday).
The letter signed by the Station Manager, Bello Ramalan read,” Due to the global pandemic COVID-19 also known as coronavirus currently affecting the country, I am directed to inform you that Max Air has suspended its operation from 28th of March 2020 to 11th of April 2020. We look forward to inform you the next action taken.”
COVID-19: Kano Govt Shuts Borders, Bans Entry In And Out Of State [SUN]
Kano State Government has ordered the closing of all routes linking the state with the rest of the country as part of moves to check the infiltration of COVID-19 to the state.
A late-night statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of the state, Abba Anwar, said the border closure would take effect from 12 midnight, Friday, 27th March 2020.
According to the statement, from that date and time, all movements by air or by land borders, in or out of the state, stand banned
“Even those coming to Kano through the domestic wing of Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) will remain at the airport, without getting entrance into the city,” said the statement.
Quoting Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the statement explained that “this decision is hard, but absolutely necessary, as part of precautionary measures against the deadly COVID-19’s possible spread”
The statement said that while the borders would remain shut on the stipulated date, the state government would continue to study the situation and keep people abreast of any new development.
The statement directed all the relevant security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, Kano Command, Kano Roads Transport Authority (KAROTA), Hisbah Command, among others, to enforce the directive while calling on the public to cooperate with the security agents.
“We urge Kano citizens and all other Nigerians to bear with this difficult situation,” said the statement, which added that the state government would take all the necessary steps to safeguard the state against the deadly disease.
The statement, quoting the governor indicated that “people must cooperate with the health workers and all other stakeholders to make sure that our state is safe and the country in general.”
The statement urged the people of the state to adhere strictly to the advice of health officers, saying that social distancing and adhering to the stay-at-home instruction must be observed.
The statement also tasked the residents to wash their hands with running water and use hand sanitiser, emphasising that, “all that the health workers are doing is for the benefit of all, to have an improved healthy society with a healthy population.”
The statement urged civil servants to stay at home for their own safety and that of the society at large.
“All members of the public should stay away from going to markets, unless for essential needs,” the statement concluded.
As Buhari Resumes Work, Presidency Confirms Aso Rock On Partial Lockdown [SUN]
The Presidency has confirmed that the presidential villa in Abuja was on a partial lockdown.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, who made the revelation when he spoke State House correspondents in Abuja, yesterday, insisted that Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings were suspended indefinitely because more than 50 converge on the council chamber of the presidential villa on a weekly basis as against the restriction on large gatherings amid the coronvairus outbreak.
“The council was suspended because of the size. You have over 50 people seated in the council chambers whenever the meeting holds and that is not advisable at a time like this,” he said.
“But if there would be a very important decision to be taken, you can always summon the relevant people, three, four or five and hold a small meeting and arrive at a decision. It does not mean that one man is going to be taking all the decisions. Of course yes there are executive decisions but the ones that must pass through consultations of which must have a buy in of the federal executive council can always be discussed at a smaller meeting.
Addison spoke as President Muhammadu Buhari resumed work as normal.
A Presidency source confirmed that he was in his office working but no government functionary came for the usual briefing.
The source who did not say the exact time the president resumed at work, however, said as at 2.30pm when the inquiry was made, he was in the office.
In adherence with the directive by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, FEC meeting did not hold.
The Taskforce had on Monday announced the suspension of the council meeting until further notice.
On the situation of things at the villa, the presidential aide said: “Well, things are a bit on a low key, it doesn’t mean that the State House is shut down, it’s just that things are a bit on the low key just like the rest of the country. The rest of the country is also on a lowkey, there is partial lockdown in most parts of the country. So, what is happening at the State House can also be called a partial lockdown but not a complete lockdown.”
Currently, Nigeria has 46 cases of COVID-19 including one death.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and Bauchi State Governor. Bala Mohammed, are among Nigeria’s 46 confirmed cases.
The COVID-19 has killed over 15,000 people globally, the majority of them in Europe and China.
He assured that all those who tested positive to the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) would receive adequate medical attention, saying Coronavirus was not a death sentence.
He cited the recovery of the index case to buttress his point, emphasised that anybody that tested positive should not panic as the virus was curable.
“We also will pray along with the persons, give them our goodwill and best wishes and they will surely come out of it. Even the index case in Nigeria recovered and has been discharged.
“God that has shown us mercy thus far and will continue to show that mercy. Anybody that test positive is not a death sentence, they will be attended to, they will be tested and they will be fine,” he said.
On other measures adopted by the presidency to curtail the spread of COVID-19, Adesina said:“Of course, you know when you come into the State House you have about three, four, five spots in which your temperature is tested and you have to sanitise your hand.
“And if you come in and your temperature is way above a certain figure, then you will be advised to go for test and take care of yourself.
“So, I think so far so good. Before you will go into the general area you will meet about three areas of test and before you get into the President’s area you will meet like another two.
“I believe that a lot has been done to ensure that those who operate in the presidency are take care of.”
He cautioned Nigerians against panic, saying, “panic will not be the right thing to do because when you panic you are bound to make mistakes. When you panic you get agitated and the situation does not call for that, rather it calls for cooperation with government. When they give instructions lets abide with those instructions. And a number of things have been put in place to ensure that the well being of Nigerians is taken care of.”
- Lawan, Gbajabiamila meet ministers on planned 2020 budget review
The Leadership of the National Assembly,yesterday, met with some ministers and heads of Federal Government agencies to brainstorm on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian economy.
Ezrel Tabiowo, spokesperson to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawal, in a statement, said the meeting focused on plans to review the 2020 budget and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) passed in 2019.
Lawan, who presided over the meeting, in his opening remarks, said that an immediate review of 2020 budget and MTEF was imperative given the impact of COVID -19 on global economy.
“If we have to review the budget itself, we have to consider the MTEF/FSP, even in sickness, we need government to provide services. The impact of COVID-19 is well known to all of us in terms of health and the economy, we will be talking of revenues that we estimated to fund the budget 2020.
“Because the oil price has gone so low due to the impact of COVID-19, the Minister of State should be able to tell us where we will be in the next six months or so. We should have concepts that can deliver fast and are sustainable. Anything that we do that cannot provide succour and relief to our people will lead to catastrophe,” the senate president said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said the meeting was timely.
Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, explained that prior to COVID-19 and oil price decline, the Nigerian economy was already fragile and vulnerable.
According to her, due to the global economic downturn precipitated by impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, international oil prices plunged as low as $22 per barrel on the international market.
- CBN releases guidelines for operations of N100bn for healthcare
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released guidelines for the operations of N100 billion credit support for the healthcare sector following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
In a circular signed by Mr. Kevin Amugo, Director Financial Policy Regulation Department,yesterday, the apex bank indicated that indigenous pharmaceutical companies and healthcare practitioners that intends to expand or build their capacities would benefit from the scheme.
The CBN had announced the N100 billion intervention for the healthcare industry to strengthen the sector’s capacity to meet potential increase in demand for healthcare and services.
In the guideline, the apex bank noted that the scheme would provide credit to indigenous pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare value chain players intending to build or expand their businesses.
The CBN said the scheme was also expected to increase private and public investment in the healthcare sector, facilitates improvement in healthcare delivery and reduce medical tourism to enhance foreign exchange conservation.
- Atiku donates N50m to relief fund
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to take drastic measures to contain the spread of coronavirus, including a-stay-at-home order, devise modalities to distribute N10,000 as a supplement for foodstuff to each household, among its other palliative measures, with no one left behind.
Atiku, in a message posted on his Twitter page, yesterday, in which he pledged N50 million, reminded the government that the larger percentage of Nigerians survive through subsistence living and do not have the financial capacity to withstand long periods of self-isolation and a total lockdown of the country.
“As the coronavirus pandemic ravages the world, I applaud the various state governments who have proactively taken measures, such as issuing stay at home orders, and shutting down non-essential markets and other places of mass gatherings, while also giving guidelines for social distancing. However, we must accept the fact that much of the Nigerian public have a subsistence existence. A large percentage of our people do not have the financial capacity to withstand long periods of self-isolation and even lockdown.
“It is, therefore, incumbent on the federal and state governments to provide palliatives to the Nigerian people to enable them to survive, even as they abide by these necessary measures put in place for their safety. At an approximate 30 million households or thereabouts, the government should devise modalities to distribute N10,000 as a supplement for foodstuff to each household, among other palliative measures, with no one left behind.
“It isa time for the National Assembly to reconvene in an emergency session, perhaps by teleconference, in line with the demands of social distancing, to legislate on a Stimulus Package Act that will cater for all Nigerian citizens,” Atiku said.
He also called on Mobile Telephony Companies in Nigeria to urgently develop mobile money platforms so that the government can reach the unbanked with financial assistance.
“In addition to that, they should offer each of the 100 million mobile phone lines in Nigeria free credit of at least 1, 500 per mobile line, so that Nigerians who show symptoms, or those who just want information, can call the nearest available health facility, or even an ambulance service, as the case may be,” he said.
He commended individuals and corporate organisations who have, in one way or the other, provided some form of relief for Nigerians saying “this is what makes Nigeria great, when we help each other at such crisis times as this, irrespective of any differences.”
“I further call on more corporations and individuals with capacity, to assist the public in these trying times. To this end, Priam Group pledges N50 million on my behalf as my humble contribution to a relief fund that will form part of the stimulus package,” he said.
- PDP tackle Presidency for allegedly banning AIT from Aso Rock
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, berated the Presidency for allegedly barring some media houses from covering activities at the presidential villa, Aso Rock.The party in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the Presidency’s action was undemocratic and done in bad faith. The opposition party noted that the decision to exclude some media houses from covering activities at the Presidential Villa was against the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act as well as the rule of law. This is therefore not the time for unnecessary pettiness, victimisation and barring of media houses, a development which has sparked off suspicion in the public space as being designed to conceal certain facts from the public. It is indeed instructive for the Buhari Presidency to note that our nation is in dire need of hope and direction contained in timely information, especially from the government.”
Nigeria Cases Jump To 51 As NCDC Confirms Five New Cases [THE NATION]
Nigeria announced new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday night, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 51, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has disclosed.
The NCDC via its twitter handle said, “On the 25th March 25, 2020, five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 was recorded in Nigeria.
“Till date, 51 cases have been confirmed, two cases have been discharged and one death from COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria
“2 in FCT, 2 in Lagos & 1 in Rivers… 3 are returning travellers into Nigeria & 2 are close contacts of a confirmed case”
COVID-19: Governors In Self-Isolation As Ministers Undergo Test [THE NATION]
Buhari’s negative test ‘thing of joy’, says Presidency
Osinbajo, Oyetola test negative
Edo Speaker positive
Airlines suspend local flights
Cases now 51
Following the positive COVID-19 result for Chief of Staff to the President Mallam Abba Kyari and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, some of the governors who had contact with them have gone into self-isolation.
No fewer than eight ministers have also been tested to determine their status.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who self-isolated himself has tested negative to the virus. The Presidency on Wednesday confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari tested negative.
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his wife, Kafayat, both tested negative, the governor announced yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital.
Both Kyari and Mohammed attended high-level government meetings before the results of their test were received.
Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger) have gone into self-isolation.
Fayemi, who is the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chairman, said he took Coronavirus test despite not having any of symptoms of the virus.
He however did not say the outcome of the test in the tweet in which he explained that he opted to isolate in order to protect people that may have come in contact with him.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi said: “No cause for alarm, I just took this step as a normal precautionary measure.
“In the circumstance we find ourselves today, every citizen must engage in personal hygiene and take actions that can help us overcome this challenge and that is exactly what I have done.
“I had gone in contact with those having suspected cases and I felt I have to do this to help the situation…”
Adviser to Obaseki, Mr Crusoe Osagie said: “The governor has gone into self-isolation after the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, tested positive for Coronavirus.
“The governor met Senator Mohammed at the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and National Economic Council (NEC) meetings. He also visited Mr. Kyari.”
He explained that although the governor was not showing any symptoms of the virus, “he has taken the necessary precaution to self-isolate to protect people that may otherwise come in contact with him”.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu said Obaseki “avoided meeting with everybody, upon his arrival in Benin City from Abuja and he maintained social distance, before going into self-isolation.
Shaibu added that six persons had been isolated in the state while samples of five of them had been taken for test.
In Minna, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sani-Bello, Mrs. Mary Noel Berje, said her boss, decided to “embark on self-isolation considering the fact that as a public figure, he must have had contact with some confirmed contact cases of COVID-19 .
“Considering the fact that I(Sani-Bello) was in Abuja the whole of last week to participate in the APC meeting with the President, the NGF meeting, NEC meeting and the World Bank breakfast meeting, as a way of leading by example, I have placed myself on isolation and waiting to be tested, along with members of my family.”
It was learnt that the governor had directed all his close aides and cabinet members to seclude themselves.
The Disease Control Unit of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health said it had directed 27 persons (mostly aides of Governor Mohammed) to self-isolate.
Twenty Osun State judges and 22 officials of Yobe State Government are currently on seclusion after returning from foreign trips.
The Director-General of Nigeria Governors’ Forum Asishana Okauru also went into seclusion having met with Bauchi State Governor Mohammed.
Okauru urged all members of the NGF and the secretariat staff invited to the last meeting of the forum to also self-isolate.
Okauru said that his wife, a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Omoigui, and other members of his nucleus family, had also gone into self-isolation..
“I wish to inform the general public that my wife, together with my entire household, will be proceeding on self-isolation.
“We are taking this action following my exposure to His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who today (Tuesday) announced the positive outcome of his test for COVID-19.
“I attended different meetings of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigerian Economic Council last week, which were also attended by the Bauchi State Governor.
“Consequently, my wife and I would be undergoing COVID-19 testing this week.
“All members of NGF secretariat that were exposed will also be observing self-isolation. We encourage all those who were invited to the NGF meetings for presentations to also do same.
“By our actions, we hope to encourage others who are exposed and not sure of their status to undergo self-isolation and make themselves available for the test, where applicable,” he said.
20 Osun judges, returnee Yobe officials in self-exclusion
Osun State government said yesterday that 22 judges in the state are in isolation after they returned from the United Arab Emirates.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamontu, said the judges returned to the state after attending an 11-day international conference that ended March 20 .
He said: “The judges went into isolation immediately they arrived from the United Arab Emirates last weekend to ascertain their medical status. They are in self-isolation and we are monitoring them.”
Also, 22 officials of the Yobe State Government that returned from Dubai last week have placed themselves on a 14-day self-isolation
Some of the returnees said they tested negative for the virus on their arrival from the oil-rich Emirate.
One of them said, “We were subjected to all the screening procedures both in Dubai and at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. The good thing is that none of us was positive for the virus at the time we were all tested.
“Naturally, the global protocol requires our self-isolation and we have to undergo that before we re-unite with our families and friends. This is exactly what we are doing. We have to do that to disabuse the mind of the people of the state. The truth is that none of us will like to put our families or any citizen of the state in danger.’’
The Acting Head of the state civil service, Mohammed Nura; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic Education and Secondary Education, Yakubu Doskshi and the Special Adviser on Politics to Governor Mai Mala, Aji Yerima Bularafa, confirmed that the returnees had gone into self-isolation.
Akeredolu, Sule: we’re not in isolation
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule have denied reports that they were in self-isolation.
They said there was not nothing shameful in self-exclusion and therefore would not avoid it should the need arose
Akeredolu, who addressed reporters alongside Commissioner of Police Undie Adie said he would not have come out if he were on self-isolation.
The Director of Strategic Communication and Press Affairs to Nasarawa State governor, Mr Yakubu , said, “If indeed Engineer Abdullahi Sule goes into self -isolation, we shall make a formal statement to that effect.
“There is nothing to hide about COVID 19 in the entire world as also in Nasarawa State“
Lamai urged the public to disregard reports in some social media platforms insinuating that the governor had gone on self-isolation.
COVID-19: Health Minister Halts Daily Briefings [THE NATION]
- Osun gets case as victims now 51
There was growing anxiety on Wednesday over Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
This followed the minister’s failure to hold the routine daily conference on Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for two consecutive days.
He was also missing on the Federal Government team that received some tool kits for the management and treatment of COVID-19 at the Abuja Airport on Wednesday
The kits were donated to African countries through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the Jack Ma Foundation. They were brought into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Tuesday aboard Ethiopian Airlines Freighter ET-AVN from where a NAF plane ferried them to Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Abdullahi Mashi, was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the consignments on behalf of the Federal Government.
There were speculations that the minister might have gone into self-isolation.
An aide said the minister was busy attending a meeting. He, however, declined to give further information on whether the minister was in self-isolation or not.
On Tuesday, reporters waited for hours, only to be told that the briefing had been postponed because the minister was held up at the meeting of the Presidential Task Force on the Control of Coronavirus.
Also, on Wednesday, no updates were given on COVID-19. No briefing was done.
Dr. Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, Permanent Secretary Mashi and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director-General Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, have been holding daily news conference since Nigeria confirmed the first case.
Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed also attended the briefing.
But the NCDC has been consistent in giving updates on the COVID-19 across the country via its micro-website and social media handles.
The Centre debunked false information that it has approved the use of chloroquine and its derivatives for the management of coronavirus disease.
In its twitter handle, the NCDC said: “Please remember that the use of chloroquine and its derivatives for the management of coronavirus disease has NOT been validated and approved. Self-medication can cause harm and lead to death. Do not misuse drugs”.
Also, concerning a tweet by an account – Asthma Foundation NG (@asthmaNG), that there are over 34 cases of the coronavirus at Julius Berger Medical Services in Abuja, and that they have been calling the NCDC without getting any response, the NCDC said: “We have reached out to Julius Berger Clinic in Life Camp Abuja and they have no case as stated in this tweet. They also confirmed that they have access to us, and will inform us accordingly if there is a suspected case”.
As at Wednesday night, the NCDC said there were seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria: three in Lagos, two in FCT, one each in Rivers and Osun states.
It said: “Both cases are returning travellers to Nigeria in the last seven days. As at 07:00 am, 25th March, there are 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Two have been discharged with one death.”
Lagos has 32; FCT 10; Ogun (three); Ekiti, Oyo, Edo, Bauchi, Rivers and Osun states have one each, Ebonyi State government last night shut its borders.
London Party: Attendees Go Into Isolation As Two Guests Die [PUNCH]
- Okoya, Osoba, Abiodun, Shagaya, Obey, others at Justice Oguntade’s birthday
- Doctors obtain Abba Kyari’s medical records from British hospital
- Edo speaker tests positive, Obaseki, Fayemi, Sule in self-isolation
- Cases rise to 51, Rivers, Kogi, Oyo, others shut states’ borders
The number of people suffering from COVID-19 in the country rose to 51 on Wednesday from 18 on Thursday last week.
The National Centre for Disease Control, on its Twitter page on Wednesday morning said, “Two new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: One in Lagos and One in Osun. Both cases are returning travellers to Nigeria in the last 7 days. As of 7am 25th March, there are 46 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. Two have been discharged with one death.”
At 11:25pm, it said the cases had increased to 51. “Five new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: Two in the Federal Capital Territory, two in Lagos and one in Rivers State. Three are returning travellers into Nigeria and two are close contacts of a confirmed case. As of 11:25pm, 25th March, there are 51 confirmed cases, two discharged, one death,” it stated in its Twitter handle.
The centre had on Tuesday said there were 44 cases of COVID-19 in the country. Giving a breakdown of the 44 cases, it said there were eight in Abuja, one in Bauchi State, one in Edo State, one in Ekiti State, 29 in Lagos State and three in Ogun State.
The spread of the COVID-19 and possible contact with infected persons have made prominent Nigerians to go into self-isolation.
Those who have gone into self-isolation include the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki; an industrialist and founder, Eleganza Group of companies, Chief Razaq Okoya; as well as a former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba.
The Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr Asishana Okauru, has also gone into isolation.
Osoba, Okoya, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and his wife, Bamidele; a veteran musician, Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi; a popular businesswoman, Bola Shagaya and other prominent Nigerians attended the 80th birthday of the Nigerian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Justice George Oguntade, on March 10, 2020.
Osoba, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said it was true that two people, who attended the party, had died, but stated that unnecessary alarm was being raised.
On Tuesday, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and three of his aides became the first set of prominent Nigerians, who tested positive for the virus.
Both of them had two weeks ago returned from Germany, where they might have contracted the disease.
Kyari and the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, had on March 9 in Germany met with Siemens officials over an electricity supply agreement signed with the company.
The news of diagnosis of Kyari and Mohammed triggered fear among ministers and governors, who mingled with them at the Federal Executive Council meeting on March 17 and the National Executive Council meeting on March 18.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, top Presidential Villa officials and the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who had contact with Kyari went into isolation on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, disclosed that Osinbajo tested negative for coronavirus.
Taking to his Twitter handle, @Babafemi ojudu, he tweeted, “Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo tests negative.”
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, confirmed that the Vice-President tested negative.
Villa Coverage: PDP, CSOs Knock Buhari For Barring PUNCH, Others [PUNCH]
The Peoples Democratic Party, on Wednesday, said the banning of some media houses from covering activities in the Presidential Villa was unjustified.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, had in a statement on Tuesday restricted the coverage of activities in the Villa to 13 media organisations excluding AIT, Arise TV, STV, Ben TV and others.
Also barred were reporters from The PUNCH, ThisDay, Tribune, The Guardian, Vanguard, Daily Trust and other major newspapers, while few of them were allowed to send in their photographers.
In the statement, Adesina attributed the decision to part of the measures being taken to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
He explained that Channels TV, NTA, TVC, News Agency of Nigeria, Sun Newspaper, Voice of Nigeria, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and photographers of ThisDay, The Guardian, Leadership, Vanguard and Daily Trust, would remain to cover the Villa for a yet-to-be specified period.
However, in a statement issued, on Tuesday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, dismissed Adesina’s explanations.
He described the restrictions placed on media houses as a most heinous form of official victimisation executed in bad faith.
According to him, this decision by the Buhari regime is highly detestable, undemocratic and totally against the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Freedom of Information Act, as well as the tenets and guiding principles of rule of law.
Ologbondiyan said, “This is therefore not the time for unnecessary pettiness, victimisation and barring of media houses, a development which has sparked suspicion in the public space as being designed to conceal certain facts from the public.
“It is indeed instructive for the Buhari Presidency to note that our nation is in dire need of hope and direction contained in timely information, especially from the government.”
He warned that clamping down on the media, which is a critical stakeholder in the effort to defeat COVID-19, was completely at variance with national interest.
Ologbondiyan further said, “What our nation needs now is for all hands on deck, with those in power shelving their pettiness, parochial interests, pointless and unreasonable ego as we collectively seek for solutions.
“The PDP, therefore, charges the Presidency to, immediately and without any further delay, lift the ban on the affected media houses and allow them to discharge their responsibility to the Nigerian people, in line with the provisions of the law and their professional requirements.
“Moreover, the PDP frowns on the Federal Government cancelling its Tuesday media briefing on the COVID-19, thereby denying Nigerians very vital information in the process. The party urges the Federal Government to exert itself and seek more concerted efforts in the fight against the pandemic.”
No justification for barring free press – CSOs
Also, the National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association, Emmanuel Onwubiko, while speaking on the development said, “The restriction infringes on the constitutional obligations of the State to the people of Nigeria in line with section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
He challenged the regime to come clean because there is now a clear indication that it was uncomfortable with public scrutiny of its activities by the free press in Nigeria.
Onwubiko also said, “HURIWA hereby totally condemns this outrageous and grave threat to the constitutionally guaranteed media rights of citizens who are the owners of the sovereignty of Nigeria and have donated the legitimacy to government officials to exercise responsibility within the legal framework. We think the current administration is rapidly becoming a tyranny and totalitarian regime.”
Speaking in a similar vein, the Executive Director, Civil Societies Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Auwual Musa, said, “When we said there was a systematic attack on free speech and the freedom of the press supporters of this regime call us lairs and wailers now it is clear for all to see.
“This restriction which is clearly targeted at independent minded media organisations is further proof of this regime growing intolerance of alternative views. It is such a shame.”
Kyari: Buhari’s Governance Structure Has Collapsed, Says PDP [PUNCH]
The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday expressed apprehension over the alleged collapse of governance command structure of the Federal Government since the isolation of Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Kyari had tested positive to the deadly COVID-19.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement, also said the PDP was disturbed by heightening public anxiety over who controls governance machinery as Buhari had remained silent since Kyari, who was supervising ministers and other sensitive government officials, was quarantined.
He said, “The PDP is worried that Nigerians are now at a loss regarding who the cabinet ministers and other officials of the Federal Government currently report to, a development that has sparked apprehensions of a collapse of governance command structure at the Federal Executive.
“Already, there is heightened public apprehensions that the development could have been the reason behind the cancellation of Tuesday and Wednesday’s scheduled Federal Government’s briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic thereby denying Nigerians much needed update on issues relating to the coronavirus disease.
“The party notes that Nigerians are distressed that Buhari has remained silent on the spread of COVID-19 and has failed to address the nation since some Presidency officials, as well as some state governors and other high profile officials and individuals reportedly tested positive to the virus.”
He called on Buhari to immediately come out clean on who was in charge of the governance structure, since Kyrai had been quarantined.
Ologbondiyan said, “Our party wants President Buhari to note that, what Nigerians expect of him at this point in our history is to end his silence, be visible and take up the challenge of personally leading in governance, particularly in this fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, like other leaders across the globe.
“The PDP also counsels President Buhari to wake up and engage other world leaders, international bodies and global health sector stakeholders for solution.”
He called on the corporate bodies, international organisations, research and medical institutions and public-spirited individuals to rally with other members of the international community for solutions to check the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
Police Arrest Hackers Of Bank Accounts In Anambra [PUNCH]
The Anambra State Police Command, on Wednesday, said it had arrested members of a six-man gang suspected to be bank account hackers.
The suspects were said to specialise in stealing people’s telephones with the intent of hacking into their accounts.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this to journalists.
He said 23 telephones and N102,000 were recovered from the suspects.
The PPRO explained that one of the suspects had already withdrawn N851,000 from a victim’s account before he was arrested.
He gave the names of the suspects as Uche Louis, 21, from Mbieri, Imo State; Junior Abamu, 25, from Uromi, Edo State; Chinemelem Anugwam, 21, from Mbano, Imo State; Agaro Afo, 26, from Ideze, Delta State; and Abraham Patrick, 25, from Obubra, Cross River State.
Mohammed said the suspects were arrested following intelligence reports.
He stated, “Police operatives attached to the ‘B’ Division, Awka, arrested six suspected members of a notorious syndicate at the UNIZIK temporary site, Awka, who specialise in stealing phones from unsuspecting passengers in commercial vehicles and using the phones to hack into bank accounts of their victims to siphon their money.
“Their arrest was sequel to an earlier arrest of a member of the syndicate, one Nkem Emmanuel, 26, of Agbor-Obi in Agbor Delta, at Aroma with a Nokia 3.2 android phone valued at N37,000, which he allegedly stole from a co-passenger, one Ebere Okafor, while they were travelling in a commercial tricycle.”
Mohammed said exhibits recovered from the suspects included 23 mobile phones, 13 memory cards, dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, codeine syrup, assorted drugs and N102,000.
“Many victims were contacted and they have come forward to identify the suspects and their belongings,” the PPRO stated.
He said among the victims was one Ohaka Uchechi, whose Infinix Hot-8 phone was allegedly stolen by the principal suspect, Nkem, in a commercial tricycle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s temporary site.
“The victim had turned away his face when his co-passenger, the suspect, coughed repeatedly in his direction, oblivious of the fact that it was a ploy to distract him in order to steal his phone,” Mohammed stated.
He said the suspect later used the information obtained from the phone to withdraw the sum N851,000 from the victim’s bank accounts.
Mohammed added that the suspects had made voluntary confessional statements and would be charged upon the conclusion of investigation.
Coronavirus Spreads To 43 African Countries [LEADERSHIP]
The coronavirus outbreak has spread to 43 of the 54 countries in Africa and claimed 64 lives, with Nigeria accounting for one of the casualties. The continent has a total of 2, 417 cases, of which 203 have recovered in 14 countries.
At the last count, Nigeria has 51 confirmed cases while the other 42 countries share the remaining figure of 2,366 infections. Last night Nigeria, recorde another five cases to raise the total cases to 51from 46 earlier in the day.
According to statistics contained in the World Health Organisation (WHO’s) website, yesterday, over 427,940 cases have been registered in 181 countries and territories since the epidemic first broke out in China last December.
A breakdown of African countries with positive cases showed that Algeria has 264, Angola (2), Benin Republic (5), Burkina Faso (114), Cameroon (70), Cape Verde (3), Central African Republic (5), Chad (3), Congo (4), Côte d’Ivoire (73), Djibouti (3), DRC (48), Egypt (402), Equatorial Guinea (9), Eritrea (1), Eswatini (5), Ethiopia (12), and Gabon (6).
Others are Gambia (3), Ghana (53), Guinea (4), Kenya (25), Liberia (3), Madagascar (17), Mauritius (42), Mauritania (2), Morocco (170), Mozambique (3), Namibia (6), Niger (2), Nigeria (46), Rwanda (40), Senegal (86), Seychelles (7), Somalia (1), South Africa (709), Sudan (3), Tanzania (12), Togo (20), Tunisia (114), Uganda (9), Zambia (3), and Zimbabwe (2).
The 14 countries sharing the 64 deaths are Algeria (19), Burkina Faso (4), Cameroon (1), DRC (3), Egypt (20), Gabon (1), Gambia (1), Ghana (2), Mauritius (2), Morocco (4), Nigeria (1), Sudan (1), Tunisia (3), and Zimbabwe (1).
WHO also named the 14 African countries with 203 recoveries as Algeria (77), Burkina Faso (5), Cameroon (2), Côte d’Ivoire (3), DRC (1), Egypt (80), Ethiopia (4), Ghana (1), Morocco (6), Nigeria (2), Senegal (8), South Africa (12), Togo (1), and Tunisia (1).
As at Tuesday, Nigeria had 44 cases, which were increased to 51 yesterday by another recorded cases in Lagos and Osun States. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which disclosed this yesterday via its twitter handle, explained that both cases were returning travellers to Nigeria in the last seven days.
It said: “As at 07:00 am 25th March, there are 46 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. Two have been discharged with one death.“
Also yesterday, NCDC warned Nigerians against the use of chloroquine and its derivatives for the management of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The centre, which made the admonition via its twitter handle, said: “Please, remember that the use of chloroquine and its derivatives for the management of coronavirus disease has not been validated and approved. Self-medication can cause harm and lead to death. Do not misuse drugs.“
Prince Charles tests positive, Saudi shuts Riyadh, Mecca, Medina after second death
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, 71, has joined the rank of global personalities that have tested positive for coronavirus.
His status was confirmed by Clarence House. Prince Charles was tested on Monday while the results came out positive on Tuesday.
The Cable News Network (CNN) quoted Clarence House as saying that Prince Charles had been displaying mild symptoms “but otherwise remains in good health.”
The heir to the British monarchy has been working from home for a few days. His wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, has also been tested but does not have the virus.
Buckingham Palace said that the Queen last saw her son on March 12, but was “in good health.”
The palace said that the Duke of Edinburgh was not present at that meeting, and that the Queen is now “following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare.”
In a related development, Saudi Arabia has shutdown Riyadh, the country’s capital, Mecca and Medina, two of Islam’s holiest cities as well as extended curfew hours to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
The action was prompted by the country’s recording of the second death from the virus.
The authorities barred entry and exit from Riyadh as well as Mecca and Medina and prohibited movement between all provinces, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, yesterday.
Officials of Saudi health ministry said that the total number of infections had risen to 900.
Saudi Arabia, which has reported the highest number of infections in the Gulf Region on Monday began implementing an 11-hour nationwide curfew – starting at 7 pm – to limit the spread of the deadly COVID-19 illness.
The curfew hours were brought forward to 3 pm in the three cities, SPA said ,citing measures approved by King Salman that will take effect from today.
Authorities plan to implement the curfew for 21 days and have warned that violators will be fi
ned 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,663) and could face jail for repeated breaches.
FG takes delivery of medical equipment from Jack Ma
On its part, the federal government has taken delivery of its share of the medical equipment donated by Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundation, China, to help African countries fight coronavirus.
They were brought into the country on Tuesday from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Ethiopia.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday airlifted the medical materials donated by the Jack Ma Foundation, China, from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to the Nnmadi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, in fulfilment of its role of providing Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA).
In a statement issued yesterday by NAF director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, he said that materials, which consist of 107 boxes of medical supplies and equipment, comprising surgical masks, medical disposable protective clothing, face shields and detection kits, weighing about 3,000 pounds, were airlifted in a single mission using the NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft (NAF 913) and handed by the NAF Aircrew over to a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health led by the permanent secretary, Alhaji Abdulazeez Mashi Abdullahi, yesterday, at the NAIA, Abuja.
After inspecting the items, Abdullahi thanked the chief of the air staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for the timely deployment of aircraft to convey the items to Abuja.
He also expressed appreciation to the NAF officers and men who participated in the exercise for their professional conduct.
VP, Osun, Nasarawa Govs Test Negative
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has tested negative for coronavirus, the special adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has said.
In his twitter handle, yesterday, @Babafemi ojudu, he said: “Vice President Yemi Osinbajo tests negative.”
He did not say when the test was conducted, but Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, confirmed it.
He said, “Good morning sirs and ma: (I) have been inundated with calls on whether indeed the VP had undergone a COVID-19 test and the outcome. Yes, he has and result negative. An official tweet would follow. Thanks.”
The VP did not come to work at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Also, Osun State governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that he had subjected himself to a COVID-19 virus test following his recent travel to Abuja and had been confirmed negative.
Oyetola, who spoke with newsmen in Osogbo, the state capital on the report of one positive case of coronavirus and additional measures to curb the spread, said that his wife, Kafayat, because of her recent travel history, subjected herself to the test and came out negative.
NCDC had yesterday morning confirmed a case of novel coronavirus in Osun.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has also tested negative of coronavirus,.
A statement issued by the director-general, Strategic Communication and Press Affairs, Yakubu Lamai, he said that Governor Sule had gone into self-isolation, as a precautionary measure against exposure to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to him, the governor had earlier invited a medical team from NCDC to conduct comprehensive tests on him and had taken his samples.
While noting that, so far, all the results from the test showed negative, Lamai added that the public would be informed on new developments oin the health of the governor, as well as other government officials.
Govs Fayemi, Obaseki, Abubakar Sani Bello In Self-isolation
Three governors, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger) have gone into self-isoaltion.
Fayemi said that he had isolated himself, advised his colleagues in the other 35 states of the federation to do same.
The governor, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said that he had undergone the coronavirus test having been exposed to two persons who had tested positive for COVID-19.
In a tweet yesterday, Fayemi wrote: “I just took the COVID-19 test having gone into self-isolation since yesterday evening. I’m asymptomatic and feel well but I was in meetings with two people who had since tested positive.
“I look forward to an all-clear and I have encouraged all my colleagues to take the test,” he said.
Similarly, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has embarked on self-isolation. He said that as a public figure, he must have had contact with some confirmed contact cases of COVID-19.
The self-isolation is also due to Sani Bello‘s outing at the NGF meeting on 18th March which was also attended by his colleagues among whom is the Bauchi State governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed.
In a statement released by his chief press secretary, Mary Noel Berje, she said that the governor had gone on to isolate himself while tests would be run to know his status.
He said: „Considering the fact that I was in Abuja the whole of last week to participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) national meeting with the president, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting, National Economic Council (NEC) meeting and the World Bank breakfast meeting, as a way of leading by example, I have placed myself on isolation and waiting to be tested, along with members of my family.“
He acknowledged the directive of the NGF for all the governors that attended the above named meetings to go on self-isolation, including their close aides and people they had contact with
His Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, has also gone into self-isolation.
In a statement, the special adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that Obaseki had sent his samples for testing by the NCDC.
He said: “The governor has gone into self-isolation after the governor of Bauchi State tested positive for coronavirus.
“The governor had met Senator Mohammed at the NGF and NEC meetings.
Atiku Donates N50m, Seeks N10,000 Palliative For Each Household
To enable the executive arm of government adequately tackle the coronavirus pandemic, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly to reconvene in an emergency session to legislate a “Stimulus Package Act” that will cater for all Nigerians.
Atiku, who announced the donation of N50 million to the federal government’s relief funds, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the sum of N10,000 per household in Nigeria to cushion the effects of the endemic coronavirus
The former vice president, who said that the lawmakers could reconvene through perhaps by teleconference (in line with the demands of social distancing), advocated that government could devise modalities to distribute N10,000 as supplement for food stuff to each household, among other palliative measures, with no one left behind.
He also called on all mobile telephony companies in Nigeria to urgently develop mobile money platforms so that the government can reach the unbanked with financial assistance.
Atiku, in a statement he personally signed, yesterday, further charged the telecommunications firms to offer each of the 100 million mobile phone lines in Nigeria free credit of at least ₦1,500 per mobile line, so that Nigerians who show symptoms, or those who just want information, can call the nearest available health facility, or even an ambulance service, as the case may be.
He further announced a donation of N50 million to a relief fund that will form part of the stimulus package.
He commended individuals and corporate organisations which have in one way or the other provided some form of relief for Nigerians.
„This is what makes Nigeria great, when we help each other at such crisis times as this, irrespective of any differences. I further call on more corporations and individuals with capacity, to assist the public in these trying times.
„To this end, Priam Group pledges N50 million on my behalf as my humble contribution to a relief fund that will form part of the stimulus package,“ he stated.
Dangote Rallies Private Sector Operators Against Virus
In the same manner, African richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Access Bank Plc managing director, Herbert Wigwe, are spearheading a coalition of private sector operators to support the federal government‘s efforts to tackle the coronavirus (COVID-19) menace.
This gesture is in addition to the N200 million earlier pledged by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) to help curb the virus spread.
The initiative, which is called Coalition Against Coronavirus (COCAVID), will involve the erection of fully-equipped medical tents to house patients and serve as training, testing, isolation and treatment centres, with an additional facility also provided in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The COCAVID, led by Dangote Industries Limited and Access Bank Group in collaboration with Zenith Bank, GTBank, MTN, ITB and others, is tasked with the responsibility of mobilising the private sector leadership and resources, creating public awareness, and directing support to private and public healthcare institutions.
Giving details of the coalition, the president of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, explained that “ADF is pulling resources across industries to provide technical and operational support while providing funding and building advocacy through aggressive awareness drives.”
He said: “The coalition is working with Lagos State government to erect fully-equipped medical tents that will serve as training, testing, isolation and treatment centres. We are also providing an additional facility in Victoria Island, Lagos.”
He promised that the centres will be fully equipped with medical supplies and trained personnel to cater for patients who may become affected. “In addition, we will be bringing in experts from around the world to provide technical and training support,” he said.
Domestic Airlines Suspend Operations [LEADERSHIP]
In compliance to federal government’s measures to curtail the spread of coronavirus, domestic airlines in the country, including Dana Air and Air Peace and Arik Air, have concluded plans to suspend flight operations.
Dana Air announced halting of all its operations from the midnight of March 25 for the period of two weeks.
“In line with the precautionary measures by the Lagos State Government to stem the spread of the COVID-19, kindly note that all our flight operations will be suspended effective Wednesday, the 25th of March for two weeks,” the airline said.
For Air Peace, the suspension of all its flight services starts in the midnight of Friday, March 27 and would last for 23 days.
In a statement by its chief operating officer, Mrs Toyin Olajide, the airline said, “It is with a great sense of responsibility that we have decided, in the best interest of our nation, our passengers and workforce, to suspend scheduled flight operations for 23 days effective 23.00hrs on Friday (an hour before midnight on Friday) the 27th day of March, 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This difficult decision was reached in order to, not only, support the efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in curbing the spread of this virus in our nation but also to protect our teeming passengers and our staff from becoming victims of the pandemic.”
Air Peace noted that since passenger traffic, in the last three weeks, had slumped drastically as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it was very unwise to continue raking up avoidable costs that the airline could ill afford.
It continued: “Continuation of flight operations in the present circumstances we find ourselves as airlines, could lead to the total collapse of any airline hence the need to quickly stem the rising financial burden and costs of operations.
“While the suspension is on, we are, however, willing to do special flights both for the government and our people. Normal scheduled flight operations shall resume on April 20, 2020. We regret any inconvenience this decision may have caused our teeming passengers”.
Arik Air also announced temporarily suspension of all scheduled commercial flight operations effective from 23:00hrs on Friday, March 27, 2020.
The management of the airline said it took this decision in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to its valued customers and staff, assuring however that it would resume services as soon as feasible.
The airline in a statement issued yesterday said, “Customers who have confirmed tickets have been advised that they could still use their tickets when the airline resumes flight operations. Such tickets could also be modified at no extra charge”.
The chief executive officer of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, said, “The safety and well-being of our valued customers is paramount at this period of health emergency. We implore everyone to keep safe and abide by all directives issued by governmental authorities.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this suspension may have caused our customers.’’
Captain Ilegbodu added however that Arik Air would be available to support government emergency, humanitarian and charter flight requests during the period of suspension of air transport operation.
2020 Budget Review: FG Pegs Oil Benchmark At $30 Per Barrel [LEADERSHIP]
Apparently conceding to the current realities necessitated by the fall in oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has slashed its oil benchmark upon which the 2020 budget was predicated from $57 to $30 per barrel.
The decision was taken at a meeting between the executive and the leadership of National Assembly to review the 2020 budget and Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy had led to the recent crash of crude due to the demand shock as well as the supply shock from the Saudi-Russian oil price war.
But the $30 per barrel benchmark proposed by the federal government is a far cry from the OPEC price basket which as at Tuesday stood at $26.53 per barrel.
The proposal is however in tandem with global market analysis projections such as that of the London based financial institution, Barclays, which released its latest oil price estimates for the year on Tuesday.
Being the second in two weeks, the new Barclays crude oil forecast suggests that WTI Crude may average $28 per barrel in 2020, which is $12 lower than its earlier estimate posted.
The meeting between the executive and the leadership of the National Assembly specifically touched on the review of the 2020 budget and MTEF that was passed late last year.
The two chambers of the National Assembly had passed $57 per barrel in the MTEF and the Fiscal Strategy Paper which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, who presided over the meeting, noted that an immediate review of the 2020 budget and Medium Term Expenditure Framework was what the country needed in view of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global economy.
The meeting which lasted for almost four hours, according to Lawan, was summoned to “discuss the proposed review of the 2020 budget and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.”
A statement issued by media special assistant to the Senate president, Ezrel Tabiowo, quoted Lawan as saying: “If we have to review the budget itself, we have to consider the MTEF/FSP.
“Even in sickness, we need government to provide services. The impact of COVID-19 is well known to all of us in terms of health and the economy.
“Here, we will be talking of revenues that we estimated to fund the budget 2020. Because the oil price has gone so low due to the impact of COVID-19, the Minister of State should be able to tell us where we will be in the next six months or so.
“We should have concepts that can deliver fast and are sustainable. Anything that we do that can not provide succour and relief to our people will lead to catastrophe,” the Senate President warned.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the meeting was very timely.
”Taking a cursory look at some of the papers (presentations), I think this meeting is actually very timely and very important because we live in very unusual time and it’s time we start thinking outside the box to see how we can stabilise our economy and the direction it’s going to take,” the Speaker noted.
Also speaking, the minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, explained that “prior to COVID-19 and oil price decline, the Nigerian economy was already fragile and vulnerable.”
According to her, due to the global economic downturn precipitated by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, international Oil prices plunged as low as $22 (USD) per barrel on the international market.
She added that the impact of the pandemic which resulted in international crisis created a disruption in travel and trade, and put “increasing pressure on the naira and foreign reserves as the crude oil sales receipts decline and the country’s micro-economic outlook worsens.”
The minister said that in view of Nigeria’s economic realities, the Crisis Management Committee constituted by President Buhari in response to the COVID-19 and Oil Price Decline Crisis expressed concern that “the decline in international oil prices or domestic production may be magnified if a severe outbreak of the pandemic occurs in Nigeria.”
Accordingly, the Finance minister proposed a review of the 2020 budget using a $30 per barrel price benchmark as against $57 initially passed in December by the National Assembly, to prepare for the worst case scenario, as well as insulate the Nigeria economy against any form of unexpected crisis.
She also told the leadership of the National Assembly that budgeted revenues for the Nigeria Customs Service have been reduced from N1.5 trillion to N943 billion “due to anticipated reduction in trade volumes; and privatization proceeds to be cut by 50 per cent, based on the adverse economic outlook on sales of the Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and other assets.”
Similarly, Ahmed disclosed that the federal government has undertaken cuts to Revenue-related expenditures for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for several projects included in the 2020 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly in December, 2019.
“The federal government is working on Fiscal Stimulus Measures to provide fiscal relief for Taxpayers and key economic sectors; incentivize employers to retain and recruit staff during the economic downturn; stimulate investment in critical infrastructure; review non-essential tax waivers to optimize revenues; and compliment monetary and trade interventions to respond to the crisis,” she hinted.
She added that the federal government had made provision for health sector interventions by introducing import duty waivers for essential input for pharmaceutical firms; tax waivers on new equipment; and deferment of tax to increase production.
Ahmed further disclosed that the Federal Government would be releasing the total sum of N6.5 billion in two tranches (N1.5 billion and N5 billion) to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as intervention to assist in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 disease in Nigeria.
She further stated that the Lagos State government would receive financial support from the Federal Government to the tune of N10 billion to combat Coronavirus spread in the state.
The minister also informed the lawmakers that Nigeria had received a grant of US$18.2 million from Japan for strengthening seven centres of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) across the country.
She said that the sum of N1billion would be released by government to pharmaceutical firms in the country.
In his presentation, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, said, “While we would expect to see a decline in our expected growth projection for 2020 relative to 2019, the exact impact will be dependent on how well the corona virus is contained over the next few month, and how long low oil prices persist.”
Members of the National Assembly Leadership present at the meeting include deputy Senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege; deputy Speaker, Idris Wase; Senate leader, Yahaya Abdullahi; leader of the House, Ado Doguwa; deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice; Senate minority leader; Enyinnaya Abaribe; minority leader of the House, Tony Elumelu; Senate deputy chief whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; deputy minority whip, Philip Aduda.
Others are Senator Barau Jibrin, chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senator Uba Sani, chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions.
Members from the executive present at the meeting held at the National Assembly complex are minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba; minister of Petroleum Resources (State), Timipre Sylva.
Others are Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari and senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly matters, Senator Babajide Omoworare.