COVID-19: 67 Togo returnees detained in Seme, face 14-day quarantine [PUNCH]
- Lagos still tracing 2,293 contacts, battling local transmission
- Chinese doctors, nurses to undergo test, isolation on arrival – FG
- Eight fresh COVID-19 cases surface in Ogun, Kwara, Edo, FCT, Rivers
The Lagos State Government has sent no fewer than 67 persons, who wanted to enter the country through the Seme border, into quarantine.
The PUNCH on Monday gathered that security agencies at the border town on Sunday detained the 67 persons, who were coming from Togo.
It was learnt that the security agencies handed over the 67 persons to the Lagos State Government, which had put them in 14 days quarantine.
A top security source at the Seme border, who confided in The PUNCH, said the 67 persons, who were mostly Nigerians, attempted to enter the country on Sunday despite the closure of land borders.
It was gathered that samples of the 67 peoples would be taken for COVID-19 test and that they would be quarantined in Badagry for 14 days.
The security source, who spoke to The PUNCH, said, “The Lagos State Government has already got some hotel accommodation around Badagry. These people will be housed in hotels, which have no other guests. Their samples will be taken and they will be tested. They will be in quarantine for 14 days.
“Before the end of the 14 days, another test will be conducted on them. After 14 days, if they test negative for the virus, they will be allowed to go to their different destinations in the country. Anyone of them that tests positive will be moved to the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba for treatment.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Sunday James, said the service had no information that 67 persons were stopped at Seme border from entering Lagos
James, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said, “There is nothing like that. I have contacted my office at the Seme border and he said there was nothing like that. I have called the controller at Seme border and he said there was nothing like that.”
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had in a nationwide broadcast on March 29, ordered complete closure of land borders to human and vehicular traffic.
He ordered the lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states for 14 days. According to him, the country’s airports, which were earlier shut, should remain closed.
On Monday, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, defended the Federal Government’s decision to bring 18 Chinese doctors into the country.
Ehanaire, at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 press conference in Abuja, said Chinese doctors would come into the country despite the opposition of the Nigerian Medical Association.
The minister had on Friday said the Chinese team would come on board a Nigeria Air Force aircraft.
While objecting the plan, the NMA said the plan was demeaning to Nigerian health workers who had been in the frontline of the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
Chinese doctors, nurses to observe isolation, testing rules
Addressing some of the concerns raised by the NMA on the invitation of the Chinese experts, especially with regard to isolation of anyone coming to Nigeria from countries with high burden of COVID-19, the minister said that the Chinese would also be subjected to the national protocol guiding entry into Nigeria.
He said, “On Friday, I announced that an 18-man team of Chinese technical experts is expected in Nigeria with a consignment of globally scarce supplies to augment government effort and build capacity to curtail the outbreak.
“The equipment includes personal protective equipment and consumables, more than a million masks and intensive care unit ventilators. There is global competition for masks and ventilators with countries donating or swapping ventilators. It is gratifying that in the face of all these, we are able to get these supplies; even if we have the money, we would not have been able to order for them.
“The technical experts will comprise research doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and public health managers who will share their knowledge, skill and real life experience of fighting COVID-19 with Nigerian personnel.
“Anybody coming to this country will have to be subjected to the rules and regulations we have set. The experts coming, with all the valuable experience they are bringing and which we want to learn, will still be subjected to the rules we have established in the interest of our people. Even if they have done test in their country, we still have to do confirmatory test here.
‘NMA not left behind’
“We carry the NMA along. I am a member on the NMA and I have told the president that the door is open. All he needs to do is to knock, whatever I am doing, I will be ready to see him.”
UN donates $2m in supplies
The minister added that more isolation centres would be added to the one housing infected persons in Abuja. He said that the United Nations had promised to assist Nigeria with supplies worth $2m. The first batch of the material would arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday.
He said, “We have identified additional treatment centres in Utako and Mabuchi (area of Abuja) which will give a minimum of 400 beds. They are under renovation. We inspected them over the weekend. The Hospital Accreditation Committee has inspected and accredited three centres in Abuja.
“The United Nations has offered $2m worth of materials. The first batch of it is coming tomorrow (today). This does not mean that indigenous manufacturers (who want to manufacture response equipment) should withdraw. We need to look at the future. We don’t know how long this pandemic will last.”
The minister called on the aged to go into isolation because they were vulnerable to the virus attack.
FG reviews time for testing, result, isolation
Also at the briefing, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said Nigeria had reviewed its response timeframe to achieve quicker testing, result and isolation.
He said, “To improve the efficiency of the work being done, we have agreed on five targets for all the states actively involved. The targets are broad but they will be tightened every day to show that the time given by the President is worthy of the sacrifice Nigerians are making.
“The targets we are setting for teams in Abuja and Lagos are to make sure that collection of samples from individual symptomatic individuals happens within eight hours of notification of the state team.
“Secondly, the turnaround time for testing and result will be less than 24 hours. This is the case because samples come in late in the evening and result must come out the next day.
“The third one is that we plan to test 200 samples per day in Lagos and 100 in Abuja by the end of this week. The fourth one is to isolate patients in less than six hours after they have received their positive results. We plan to isolate every confirm case. We will measure ourselves with percentages of each of these indicators and use that to improve the effectiveness of the response.”
The NCDC boss said that 30 per cent of cases established in Nigeria so far were through contact tracing.
He said, “In addition to case finding, the second most important thing is contact tracing. This involves strenuous effort and it sometimes following tens of contacts of each individual. Each case has about 30 to 40 contacts to follow.
Ihekweazu said two laboratories in Kano and Kaduna would be activated on Tuesday (today) with two others to be activated in Jos and Maiduguri from Thursday.”
China offers Nigeria 1.3m masks, ventilators, others
The Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the press conference, said a Chinese construction company, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, had offered to provide 1,300,000 medical masks and 150,000 units of personal protective equipment.
The CCECC is in charge of construction of several ongoing railway projects across the country, including Ibadan-Lagos, Abuja-Kaduna, and Ibadan-Minna-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano
He said, “One major support that has attracted public commentary is the offer by the CCECC, a Chinese company, to import about 256 pieces of equipment and items in different quantities, notable among which are 1,300,000 medical masks, over 150,000 pieces of assorted PPEs as well as 50 medical ventilators.
“The company has also proposed and, on its own, suggested to sponsor public health experts to help strengthen our public health capacity and advise on processes and procedure.”
The PTF chairman also cautioned Nigerians against stirring what he described as unnecessary controversies that would distract the government from the fight against coronavirus.
Buhari’ll assess lockdown before extension – SGF
The SGF said the President would examine the success of the 14-day lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states before taking a decision on the next step.
According to him, 34 per cent of the infections are by returning travellers.
He added that 25 per cent was made up of contacts of the returnees, while 41 per cent were those whose source of infection were unknown.
“That is an indication that we are succeeding through the lockdown. The President will consider all issues in their ramifications before a decision can be taken as to where we go thereafter,” Mustapha said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in a statement on Monday, said that based on the concerns raised by Nigerians, the Chinese doctors and nurses would first be quarantined for 14 days.
Gbajabiamila said this decision was reached after he held a meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, and the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora.
Bauchi awaiting results of 305 contacts
In Bauchi State, the state government has said that it is tracing over 305 people that have had direct contact with the coronavirus cases in the state.
The contacts are in addition to the 96 direct contacts of the first, second and third cases, whose blood samples were taken for testing and their results came out negative.
The NCDC has confirmed six cases in Bauchi State, including Governor Bala Mohammed.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, at a press conference on Monday, said the state government planned to establish a testing centre in the state
He said, “We have been tracing all the contacts from our first index person to the last ones published by the NCDC. We have listed 305 contacts in all, we have listed all these contacts and we have contacted them and we have taken their samples.”
Kwara records two positive cases
The Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 on Monday confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye, who disclosed this in a statement, stated, “One is the wife of the UITH (University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital) patient, a UK returnee, who died last Thursday and the other is another UK returnee.”
The UNITH had on Sunday admitted that a professor of medicine in the hospital concealed the status of a patient, Alhaji Jimoh Muideen, who died of COVID-19 in the hospital last week.
Lagos still tracing 2,293 contacts
On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the state was still tracing 2,293 people who might have had contact with persons tested for COVID-19.
He said, “We have 2,645 passengers of interest that we are tracing, 352 of them have completed their 14-days isolation and we are still following up 2,293. In the next few days, most of these will exit their 14 days isolation.”
Abayomi added that about 80 per cent of those calling the dedicated hotline for COVID-19 were not serious callers.
We are now battling local transmission – Lagos commissioner
The commissioner said that the majority of the cases being treated in Lagos were local transmission, adding that more attention would be focused on the Alimosho Local Government Area.
“The number of cases without a travel history has increased from 45 per cent to 80 per cent; that demonstrate that there is more local transmission going on as importation of cases is decreasing.
“The reason we are paying attention to the Alimosho Local Government Area is because there has been a sudden rise from one case to four cases. That is not a big number but it is a trend, we are following our data, we can’t divert our precious resources to where we are not seeing trends.”
Lagos discharges two more patients
The state Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced that two more patients receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba have been discharged.
Sanwo-Olu, via his twitter handle, @jidesanwoolu, said, “Dear Lagosians, I have more great news for you from our Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba. Today, two more female patients have recovered fully and have tested negative for COVID19 twice consecutively. They have been discharged from the facility.
“With the newly discharged patients, we now have a total of 31 people that have fully recovered from COVID19 in Lagos and discharged to join the community. We are full of appreciation to the front line health workers, working hard during this difficult time.”
COVID-19 cases in Nigeria now 240
The NCDC on Monday night said six new cases had been recorded. It stated, “Six new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria: two in Kwara, two in Edo; one in Rivers and one in the FCT As at 09:30 pm 6th April there are 238 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Thirty-five have been discharged with five deaths.”
The centre, however, did not include the two cases announced by the Ogun State Government bringing the total to 240.
House party: Mixed reactions greet Funke Akindele, husband’s conviction [PUNCH]
- Actress, JJC Skillz sentenced to 14-day community service
- Ex- Lagos gov candidate, wife, Naira Marley in custody, to be arraigned
Actress, Funke Akindele-Bello, popularly known as Jenifa, and her musician husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello, alias JJC Skillz, were on Monday sentenced to 14 days of community service for violating the Lagos State Government’s lockdown order to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
This is just as the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party in the state in the 2019 gubernatorial election, Babatunde Gbadamosi, and his wife, who were among the guests at a birthday party for Abdul Rasheed on Saturday, reported at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, and were detained.
Earlier, a musician, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, who also attended the party, turned himself in at the SCIID and was detained.
The Attorney General of the state, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), vowed that all those, who attended the party, would be prosecuted.
Mrs Aje Afunwa of the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ogba, who pronounced the sentence on the Bellos, also imposed a fine of N100,000 each on the celebrity couple.
The magistrate, who also ordered that they should be placed in isolation, added that they must compile and submit the names and phone numbers of everyone, who attended the party.
The magistrate’s pronouncements followed the arraignment of the couple by the Lagos State Government for holding a birthday party attended by over 20 people in violation of the lockdown and social distancing order.
The one count filed against the couple read, “That you, (1) Funke Akindele and (2) Abdul Rasheed Bello, on April 4, 2020, on Gbadamosi Close, Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki in the Lagos Magisterial District, gathered at the aforementioned with over 20 persons, contrary to the social distancing directive of Mr Governor of Lagos State, made pursuant to Regulation 8(1)(a) and (b) and 17(1) (i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulation, 2020, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 58, Public Health Law, Cap P16 Vol. 9, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
When the charge was read to them, the couple told the chief magistrate that they had some clarifications to make.
When told that it was either they admit holding a party as alleged and plead guilty or deny holding a party and plead not guilty, they pleaded guilty.
Onigbanjo, who led the prosecution team, said in view of their guilty plea, the magistrate should sentence them according to the provisions of the law.
However, the defence counsel, Yomi Alagbada, urged the magistrate to temper justice with mercy, saying the celebrity couple were “first-time offenders, respectable members of society and have two little children, one of whom is ill.”
He said, “The first defendant (Funke Akindele) is an ambassador for Lagos State; she advocates that people should pay their taxes and she uses her talent to advance the cause of the state; she used to do it and will continue to do it.
“I urge my Lord to consider this relationship, which will continue after now, and I hope that my Lord will play a role in ensuring that the relationship between the first defendant and Lagos State continues.”
In her judgment, the magistrate scolded the couple, saying it was reckless and irresponsible of them to have organised such a party “when thousands have died or have been infected, and the whole world is mourning.”
Afunwa stated, “It is callous for an individual to throw such a huge party; while governments are paying millions to flatten the curve, the two defendants were strengthening the curve by throwing a party.
“Have the two defendants lived up to the expectations of the public and the teeming youths who look up to them? The answer is no.”
Pronouncing the sentence, the magistrate said, “The defendants shall pay a fine of N100,000 within three days from today (Monday). They are to serve community service for a period of 14 days for three hours, from 9am to 12pm daily, excluding Saturdays and Sundays. The community service shall be done in any public place in Lagos.
“The defendants shall be made to visit 10 important public places in Lagos State to create awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of non-compliance with the laws enacted to curb the spread of the disease.
“Each defendant shall provide the names, addresses and GSM numbers of every person, who attended the party within 24 hours.
“In order to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread, the defendants shall be immediately held in isolation for 14 days in a place only known to the Lagos State Ministry of Health.”
The trial of the couple and their sentencing, have, however, attracted mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some felt the drama surrounding the prosecution was unnecessary, others said the sentencing would serve as a deterrent to others.
A Twitter user, @FestusGreen, called for the arrest of the Imam of the Agege Central Mosque, where over 300 worshippers violated the ban on the gathering of more than 20 people and allegedly attacked enforcement officers.
He tweeted, “Who is the Imam of Agege Central Mosque? Why has he not been arrested for flouting the social distancing directives of @followlasg? Are our laws selective? Is @followlasg afraid? #funkeakindele #funkeakindelebello.”
Gbadamosi had in a video apologised to Nigerians for attending the party.
However, a Twitter user, @LordBenyem, wrote about Gbadamosi before he reported at the SCIID, “You went to greet Mr Bello because he and your wife share same birth month which is April is delusional. You hear social distancing and you are here saying this. Please I don’t want to vex today.”
Another user, @Oluhill, tweeted, “I like that his apologies were unreserved, but he was still wrong, he should also face the wrath of the law; if Funke was arrested, every adult in that party should also be arrested.”
Another Twitter user, @DidiBiggs , wrote, “I would not hold brief for him. He was out of line. Now that he is in self-quarantine, a fine should be given. All of them at the party need to self-isolate.”
@LadyFat59043142 tweeted, “Such a huge disappointment…No excuses whatsoever for visiting at this time. He shouldn’t even have been there no matter what and also should have left when it became a crowd. I haven’t been to my neighbours’ house since 14th of March. We chat on WhatsApp.”
A Twitter user, @Best_bets, wrote, “It would make more sense if his apology comes after a visit to Panti. Very reckless set of people. Whether his story aligns with Funke’s is not my problem, all I’m saying is he should face the full wrath of the law alongside other suspects.”
Another Twitter user, @OndoFirstBorn, however, called for the prosecution of corrupt politicians.
He tweeted, “Charged to court in less than 24 hours. If only the Government can keep the same energy they’ve used to go after Funke Akindele to go after corrupt politicians, Nigeria would be better. #funkeakindelebello.”
@its_Tobiloba, who alleged that the people present at the couples’ arraignment did not observe the social distancing arrangement, called for their arrest and prosecution.
He tweeted, “So I heard Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz were at court today and the number of people present at the sitting/on them entering the court were more than those at her party with zero social distancing; my question now is who will arrest and sue the judiciary?”
Another Twitter user, @dondekojo said, “Funke Akindele must now declare this criminal record before doing anything like Visa applications/political opportunities. What a way to get it.”
The police had on Sunday urged Fashola and others, who attended the couples’ party, to report at the SCIID, or be declared wanted.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, confirmed to one of our correspondents on Monday, that Gbadamosi and his wife reported at the SCIID and were promptly arrested.
He also said the couple were being detained and would be arraigned.
“Yes, it is true that Gbadamosi and his wife reported at the SCIID as directed. They are in custody and will be arraigned, but I can’t tell you when they will be in court,” he stated.
The PPRO had earlier confirmed the arrest of Fashola.
He said in a statement, “Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, is now in police custody. He will also be charged for violating the restriction order. The command has launched a manhunt for the other persons, who attended the party.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Hakeem Odumosu, expressed his profound gratitude to Lagosians and other well-meaning Nigerians, who spoke up against the violation. Together, we can stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Heavy traffic in Lekki as Lagos residents flout lockdown [PUNCH]
Despite the lockdown in Lagos State to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of motorists were on Monday stranded in a gridlock on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
Footage of the gridlock, which was trending online, showed hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic.
“No isolation anymore, no quarantine in Lagos State, from Jakande Estate to Agungi, full hold up is going on right now,” the person, who recorded the video, could be heard saying.
Some of the stranded motorists lamented having to spend hours for journeys that should have lasted minutes.
While some complained that the gridlock was caused by security agents enforcing the lockdown by scrutinising motorists plying the road, others said not all those stuck in the gridlock were rendering essential services and thus, were exempted from the lockdown.
A stranded motorist, who is a health worker, said on condition of anonymity that she had to abort her journey to a hospital in the Ikeja area of the state after spending three hours in the gridlock, adding that residents were not complying with the directive on the total lockdown of the state.
The medical personnel stated, “I spent three hours navigating through Igbo-Efon and Jakande roundabouts. I was on my way to work and driving out of Lekki when I ran into the gridlock around 10am. I was still in the traffic by 1pm and in that period, there was a heavy downpour, so, I had to turn back at the Jakande roundabout.
“I learnt that the gridlock was caused by security agents enforcing the lockdown as they were stopping motorists and asking them where they were going. However, some of the people on the road were essential service providers. People are not complying with the lockdown at all.”
A Twitter user, Chiekezi Dozie, condemned the development and questioned the effectiveness of the lockdown.
He wrote on his Twitter handle, @iChexo, “As if we are not mad enough as it is already this is Lekki Ezpressway 1 hour ago on a supposed lockdown. We really are a selfish bunch of people @Outsiderinside1 see ya people on lockdown. Please help me ask them where they are going today.”
When contacted, the General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Olajide Oduyoye, said, “There will be gridlock, because the police are all over the place checking that those who are supposed to be on the road are the ones that are allowed to be on the road and once that happens, there will be gridlock.
“The fact that there is a build-up of traffic doesn’t necessarily mean that people are violating the lockdown. However, it doesn’t change the fact that the number of vehicles on that road was a bit high, because I saw the footage too.
“But the government also said that markets could open between 10am and 2pm; the issue now is that a market is not at the junction of every street, so the people who are selling in the markets will need to be conveyed there and there is no purpose for the markets if people who need to buy cannot get there.
“So, that could also be a factor in terms of the increased number of vehicles on the road. People in the Lekki-Ajah areas are affluent and rely on their cars, and that was what, in my opinion, created what was witnessed on Monday morning.”
Chadian President to Shekau: surrender now or be killed [THE NATION]
100 terrorists killed as Deby leads onslaught
Shekau to fleeing terrorists: fight on
Chadian President Idriss Deby has issued a yellow card to Boko Haram terrorists’ leader Abubakar Shekau. He should surrender or be prepared to die.
President Deby, said Shekau risks death in his Dikoa hideout.
Deby issued the warning in a state address to Chadians, after he was said to have led the country’s military in an offensive against terrorists.
About 100 terrorists were allegedly killed during the raid on their hideout.
The President, who spoke in French, said Shekau has the option of surrendering or risk being smoked out of his hideout. He warned that Shekau will be treated the same way some of his commanders were killed.
After the seven-hour ambush during which Chadian troops lost 92 soldiers to terrorists recently, Deby had vowed not to accept defeat and launched Operation Wrath of Bomo to avenge the death of his men.
Named after the town where the Chadian soldiers were killed, the operation which commenced on Thursday saw the President leading the Chadian forces to battle at Kelkoua bank and Magumeri where they fired rockets and 12.5mm rounds ammunition on the criminals.
The troops were said to have also destroyed several terrorists’ bunkers, recovered cache of arms and arrested a top Boko Haram commander.
At Magumeri, a local government area in the northern Borno State, the Chadian troops were alleged to have set free some Nigerians held captive by terrorists.
According to reports, the Chadian troops have dealt the terrorists massive blow and have advanced into neighbouring countries with a vow to destroy them completely in few days.
Hours after the victories of the Chadian armed forces went viral, Shekau released an audio message where he urged his fighters to stand firm.
Shekau who spoke in Hausa said: “People of Chad, leave us alone, this operation is not approved by the Qur’an. It is not the will of the Prophet Muhammed, but if you want to continue, God will help us too because he is bigger than you. To my fighters, take heart. It is I, Abubakar Shekau, your leader.”
However, it was learnt that troops of the Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) have also sustained their onslaught against the terrorists, smoking out those fleeing from the mangroves border with Chad.
Contacted to ascertain if it was true Deby led his troops on such mission, the spokesman for the MNJTF, Colonel Timothy Antigha, said: “Clarification on whether President Idriss Deby led his troops in the operation against Boko Haram terrorists can only be made by the Chadian authorities. I do not have any authority to speak on their behalf.
“On the involvement of the MNJTF in the operation, Yes, Sector 2 of the MNJTF is actively involved in the operation. This is the much I can say.”
Funke Akindele, husband sentenced to 14 days community service [THE NATION]
Each to pay N100,000 fine
To submit identities of those at party
Naira marley for trial
An Ogba Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday found Nollywood multiple award winning actress, Funke Akindele a.k.a. Jenifa, and her husband, a music crooner and producer, Abdul Rasheed Bello a.k.a. JJC Skillz of the offence of social distancing over the birthday party she held last Saturday for her husband.
The party held by Funke for her husband last Saturday at their Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos residence in contravention of the lockdown order of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State order on social distancing which forbade a gathering of more than 20 people.
Chief Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa, in her judgment on Monday, convicted the couple of a one count charge brought against them by the Lagos State Government.
Chief Magistrate Aje-Afunwa sentenced Funke Akindele and husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello, to 14 days community service each, to start from 9.00 a.m. to 12 noon each day. They were also to go to 10 major public places in the state to sensitise the public on the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are also to pay a fine of N100,000 each after which they would observe the period for isolation.
The arraignment of the duo was the fall-out of the party held by Funke for her husband last Saturday at their Amen Estate Ibeju Lekki, Lagos residence.
Funke and her husband were represented by their counsel, Abayomi Alagbada.
The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN) who was the prosecutor, told the court that Funke and her husband Bello, flouted the directive of the Lagos State Governor when the gathered more than 20 people at their Lekki home.
The charge dated April 6, 2020, number MIK/A/43/2020 signed by the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) Yaquib Oshoala.
They both pleaded guilty.
Also, the Lagos State Police Command on Monday arraign a controversial singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, over his alleged violation of government’s restriction order to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus in the state.
Naira Marley was identified to be among the more than 20 guests, who attended the birthday party which Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, organised for her husband, in violation of government’s restriction order.
Following their guilty plea, Onigbanjo had urged the court to sentence the defendants as charged to serve as deterrence.
But defence counsel, Alagbada, in his allocutus, pleaded for leniency on behalf of Funke and her husband and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
“I plead for leniency on the following grounds. Both of them are first time offenders. They are respectable members of the society and have two young children to cater for,” he pleaded.
After taking their plea, Magistrate Aje-Afunwa stood the matter down for over one hour 30 minutes and went into her chamber to consider facts of the case and sentencing.
Among the dignitaries that attended the party included; Naira Marley, Rasheed Gbadamosi, a former Lagos State governorship aspirant among others.
The party, it was said, had in attendance more than the permissible number of people in contravention of the restriction order to contain COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of the public who watched the video had condemned their action.
Funke Akindele had apologised to the public through her twitter handle following outrage by members of the public who watched the video of the event.
However, Dettol Nigeria and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), have reacted to the arrest of Funke Akindele by the Lagos State Police Command.
In a statement posted on Twitter on Monday, Dettol Nigeria stated that it “does not condone any breach of the guidelines on Covid-19.” The company also said that Funke Akindele is not a brand ambassador for NCDC.
“We have been made aware through social media that Funke Akindele recently, acting in her personal capacity, had a celebration which is against the caution to the public on social distancing during the covid-19 pandemic.
“The NCDC partnered with Dettol on a public service message to educate our communities about preventive measures against COVID-19. Funke is not a brand ambassador of the NCDC.
“As a responsible organisation and brand, Dettol does not condone any breach of the guidelines on Covid-19. As an organisation, we are concerned at the turn of events.
“We will continue to support NCDC and the Nigerian govt to fight COVID-19.”
This is coming weeks after Akindele had emphasised the need for proper hygiene as well as social distancing in a coronavirus video campaign sponsored by Dettol Nigeria.
The actress and her husband Abdul Rasheed Bello popularly known as JJC Skillz had hosted a birthday party at their home in Ibeju-Lekki on Saturday, 4th of April, 2020.
The party which had a large number of people in attendance, as well as celebrities, was contrary to social distancing measure which the NCDC advised Nigerians to maintain in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in its response quoted Dettol Nigeria’s tweet and stated that it has not engaged brand ambassadors as part of its approach against coronavirus. The agency maintained that all Nigerians should practice social distance in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“As an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, NCDC has not engaged brand ambassadors as part of our response to #COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) have advised its members to observe all the directives of the Federal and state governments in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus in Lagos State and the nation.
Its President, Obi Casmir, gave the advice while reacting to Funke Akindele-Bello’s violation of the restriction orders by the Lagos State Government.
He said that Nigerians in general and entertainers in particular should always obey government’s law and order.
COVID-19: Chloroquine as a potential game-changer [THE NATION]
Even as signs of risks continue to mount, chloroquine is increasingly receiving an emergency-use designation for the treatment of coronavirus in many countries, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF
Without a cure yet, coronavirus continues to decimate the human race – leaving authorities in 208 countries and territories with the same challenge of how to contain the spread of a disease that has killed close to 70,000 people. As the race towards finding a cure lingers in laboratories, with global cases surging beyond 1,200,000, many are in a hurry to see the world enjoy a respite through a coronavirus vaccine or drug.
But with the situation of things, it appears the waiting game may not last forever, as chloroquine is being touted in many quarters as a potential remedy for managing coronavirus cases. Around the world, researchers, healthcare professionals and drug regulatory authorities are working hard to learn more about the efficacy of chloroquine for treating coronavirus. However, perhaps due to exigencies of the pandemic, drug regulators in many countries are giving the anti-malaria drug emergency approval for possible clinical trial treatment of the disease.
Things changed on a frenetic pace last month, when President Donald Trump of the United States threw his weight behind chloroquine, describing it as a possible “game-changer” in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The drug has since received an emergency-use designation from US regulators. The US Health and Human Services Department said it accepted 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine from Novartis AG’s Sandoz unit. Normally used to treat malaria, hydroxychloroquine yielded promising yet inconclusive results in a small coronavirus trial.
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are medications commonly used to treat malaria, a widespread disease that afflicts hundreds of millions of people around the world. Malaria is not caused by a virus; it is caused Plasmodium parasites that are carried by mosquitoes, which spread the parasites to humans when they bite. These drugs also inhibit the immune system, which makes them useful for treating autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, in which a person’s immune system registers part of the body as foreign and attacks it.
However, while Trump has said the drug is safe, health experts have warned that it does carry significant side effects. Some people have been sickened, with reported deaths in the US and France, after taking various versions to try to ward off the new illness. Trump said over 1000 patients in New York, one of the pandemic’s hot spots, were receiving treatment using hydroxychloroquine. “Let’s see how it works. It may, it may not,” Trump said in one of his daily briefings. Reports had it that some COVID-19 patients treated at French hospitals with hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine experienced fatal heart side effects. Australian health officials have restricted the use of the two drugs for the treatment of COVID-19; while the World Health Organisation Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has also cautioned against the use of unproven treatments against coronavirus.
NAFDAC ordered emergency chloroquine production
Last month, the Prof Moji Adeyeye-led National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) ordered the manufacturing of chloroquine for an emergency stock for possible clinical trial treatment of coronavirus. The agency said the anti-malaria drug was reported to function as anti-viral at both the entry and post-entry stages of coronavirus infection. Chloroquine has also been reported as a potential broad-spectrum antiviral drug, it said.
She noted that Lagos would begin a clinical trial of the drug to evaluate its effectiveness while calling on the public to desist from its use without the guidance of a medical doctor or clinician for cases of clinical trial treatment of COVID-19. “Chloroquine, an old anti-malarial, is being re-purposed for the clinical trial treatment of coronavirus 2019-nCoV. The drug was first tested in vitro (in the lab) using standard assays to measure the effects on the cytotoxicity, virus yield and infection rates of 2019-nCoV.
“The drug was reported to function as antiviral at both the entry and post-entry stages of 2019-nCoV infection. Chloroquine has also recently been reported as a potential broad-spectrum antiviral drug. In a very recent publication, chloroquine was reported in a press briefing by the State Council of China, indicating that chloroquine phosphate had demonstrated marked efficacy and acceptable safety in treating COVID-19 associated pneumonia in a multi-centre clinical trial conducted in China.
“The study involved 10 hospitals in Wuhan, Jingzhou, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Ningbo, and 100 patients. The investigators reported that chloroquine phosphate is superior to the control in inhibiting pneumonia associated with COVID-19, and shortening the course of the disease,” she said.
The DG of NAFDAC noted that chloroquine was discontinued in Nigeria many years ago for use as anti-malarial because of the resistance that the parasite developed against it. “Therefore, sourcing the raw material – active pharmaceutical ingredient- chloroquine phosphate could be difficult. About four weeks ago, I approached a local manufacturing company (May and Baker), a member of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, whose flagship product in the past was chloroquine, to make a batch of the drug for emergency stock. The company had NAFDAC approval for the production of the drug as anti-malarial many years ago before the discontinuation.”
Despite initial difficulty expressed by the managing director of the company (May and Baker), the hurdle was later removed, leading to the production of the drug with more to be manufactured, NAFDAC said. “He called shortly after that he was able to get the API and was asked to manufacture a batch for emergency stock just in case more people become exposed and infected with the virus. The batch has been manufactured and the company plans to make more batches if needed. NAFDAC is giving expedited provisional approvals for the manufacture of any commodities for preventing contracting the disease (sanitizers), and drug or medical device that could be used for the clinical trial testing and treatment of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The agency had reduced the 120 working days for approval to 10 days due to the crisis. Lagos State will be starting a clinical trial on chloroquine to evaluate the effectiveness. Chloroquine works by increasing endosomal pH from the acidic environment required for virus/cell fusion, resulting in the inhibition of infection of SARS-CoV. NAFDAC advises the public to desist from its use without the guidance of a medical doctor or clinician for cases of clinical trial treatment of COVID-19. It has side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, blurred vision, headache and pruritis (itching). The itching can be relieved by using an antihistamine. Prolonged use can also cause retinopathy or vision impairment,” NAFDAC boss said.
Following this, Lagos State Government announced two weeks ago that it would commence the clinical trial of chloroquine for treating COVID-19. Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, has remained the epicentre of the disease in the country. According to Prof Adeyeye, other researchers in France and the US have used the drug for the clinical trial treatment of COVID-19 and they reported the effectiveness of the drug. “Lagos State will be starting a clinical trial on chloroquine to evaluate the effectiveness,” she said.
NAFDAC said chloroquine works by increasing endosomal pH from the acidic environment required for virus/cell fusion, resulting in the inhibition of infection of SARS-CoV. It also interferes with the glycosylation of cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. This may inhibit the virus-receptor binding and terminate the infection. The antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of chloroquine contribute to the efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients, she said, explaining how the drug works in combating the disease. NAFDAC, however, emphasised the need for the public to “desist from its use without the guidance of a medical doctor or clinician for cases of clinical trial treatment of COVID-19”. The drug has side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, blurred vision, headache, and pruritis (itching). Prolonged use can also cause retinopathy or vision impairment, the agency stressed.
Fate of chloroquine in Europe
In Europe, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are also allowed to be used but only in clinical trials or emergency use programmes. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) admitted last week that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, two medicines currently authorised for malaria and certain auto-immune diseases, are being investigated worldwide for their potential to treat coronavirus infection. However, efficacy in treating COVID-19 is yet to be shown in studies, the agency added.
Experts have warned that it is very important that patients and healthcare professionals only use chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for their authorised uses or as part of clinical trials or national emergency use programmes for the treatment of COVID-19. However, both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can have serious side effects, especially at high doses or when combined with other medicines, EMA warned. To avoid complications, drug authorities warned that the two drugs must not be used without a prescription and supervision by a doctor; prescriptions should not be given outside their authorised uses except in the setting of a clinical trial or nationally agreed protocols.
Hopefully, the world may not have to wait for too long as large clinical trials are underway to generate the robust data needed to establish the efficacy and safety of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19. Such trials will enable authorities to give reliable advice based on solid evidence to healthcare professionals and patients. Considering the urgency and the pressure healthcare systems face to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries, including the US and France, have put strict protocols in place to allow the experimental use of these two medicines in patients with severe forms of COVID-19.
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are vital medicines for patients with auto-immune conditions such as lupus. It is important that such patients are still able to obtain them and do not face shortages caused by stockpiling or use outside the authorised indications. In some countries, prescribing of the medicines has been restricted to reduce the risk of shortages. Patients have been to use chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine only if they have been prescribed by a doctor or a doctor is supervising the treatment. As for healthcare professionals, EMA said chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine should preferably be used in the context of clinical trials for coronavirus. Outside clinical trials, the two drugs can be used following nationally established protocols. “Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine should continue to be used in chronic conditions. To prevent unnecessary strain on supply chains, patients should only receive their usual supply of medicines. Healthcare professionals should not write prescriptions that cover more than the usual duration,” EMA said.
Chloroquine was also among the first group of therapies Chinese scientists identified as being effective in curbing the new coronavirus. Clinical trials on about 130 patients demonstrated the drug’s ability to reduce the severity of the illness and speed up virus clearance, according to China’s Ministry of Sciences and Technology. Chloroquine phosphate was officially recommended on Feb. 19 in the COVID-19 treatment guidelines published by China’s National Health Commission, along with a few other drugs as antiviral treatments for patients.
The commission recommended no more than a 10-day course of chloroquine for adult patients. China’s recommendation to use chloroquine in treatment was quickly followed by a warning. Days after the treatment guideline update, health authorities in Hubei province, China’s worst-hit region where the outbreak started and which accounted for the majority of its cases, asked hospitals to closely watch for, and immediately report, any adverse side effects of chloroquine phosphate. The drug is known to have short-term side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea and tinnitus while long-term use can irreversibly impair eyesight. It’s forbidden for pregnant women as it can cause congenital defects in babies.
Will a COVID-19 vaccine be ready soon?
By merely according to coronavirus a pandemic designation, public health professionals are of the view that the WHO has helped to accelerate the prospect of a vaccine, since only a vaccine can prevent people from getting sick. Afterall, containment strategies have only been effective in slowing down the spread of respiratory disease in many countries.
Already, about 35 companies and academic institutions are racing to create such a vaccine, at least four of which already have candidates they have been testing in animals. The first of these – produced by Boston-based biotech firm Moderna – will enter human trials imminently. But as human trials begin, even if they go well and a cure is found, experts say there are many barriers before global immunisation is feasible. This unprecedented speed is thanks in large part to early Chinese efforts to sequence the genetic material of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. China shared that sequence in early January, allowing research groups around the world to grow the live virus and study how it invades human cells and makes people sick.
And the stage where any approach is most likely to stumble is clinical or human trials, which, for some of the candidates, are about to get underway. Clinical trials, an essential precursor to regulatory approval, usually take place in three phases. The first, involving a few dozen healthy volunteers, test the vaccine for safety, monitoring for adverse effects. The second, involving several hundred people, usually in a part of the world affected by the disease, look at how effective the vaccine is, and the third does the same in several thousand people. But there’s a high level of attrition as experimental vaccines pass through these phases.
It’s for these reasons that taking a vaccine candidate to regulatory approval typically takes a decade or more, and why President Trump sowed confusion when, at a meeting at the White House on 2 March, he pressed for a vaccine to be ready by the US elections in November. In the meantime, there is another potential problem. As soon as a vaccine is approved, it’s going to be needed in vast quantities – and many of the organisations in the COVID-19 vaccine race simply don’t have the necessary production capacity. Once a COVID-19 vaccine has been approved, professionals believe a further set of challenges or barriers to immunisation will surface: politics and economics. Reason: countries will be forced to compete with one another for medicines during a pandemic. But until then, medical experts say humanity’s best hope is to contain the disease as much as possible through the washing of hands and social distancing measures.
COVID-19: Row deepens over 18 Chinese doctors [THE NATION]
Gbajabiamila: they must be quarantined
SGF, ministers seek support for action
The row over the invitation of a Chinese medical team to help contain the spread of coronavirus has deepened.
The government said on Friday that an 18-member Chinese team is expected in Nigeria to give technical support.
It explained on Monday that the team’s visit would be at no cost to Nigeria and that the experts would build local capacity.
The Federal Government also clarified that the doctors were invited by a Chinese company in Nigeria which will pay the bill.
But, Senate Committee on Special Duties Chairman Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf said the pandemic’s effect had not reached the stage that requires the invitation of Chinese doctors.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also opposed the visit, saying the government should rather look inwards.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council wondered why Nigeria chose to invite doctors from China rather than India or Cuba.
House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said the Chinese doctors must first be quarantined for 14 days on arrival.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) described the invitation of the doctos as “ill-timed” and inappropriate.
NMA noted that “the spike in cases and the death toll from COVID-19 in Italy coincided with the arrival of the Chinese in the guise of offering assistance.”
Senator Yusuf, who represents Taraba Central Senatorial District, told reporters in Abuja that the timing of the Chinese doctors’ visit was not right.
“There are a lot of scepticisms about Chinese doctors, about Chinese products, including sanitisers.
“People think that there is connivance. For me, it is not the best time to allow the Chinese doctors to come in unless it has gone beyond our control, and in my view, the situation has not gone beyond our control.”
NANS, in a statement by its Zone B (Southsouth/Southeast) Coordinator, Comrade Jeremiah Ohomah, said Nigeria should rather invest in its health infrastructure and personnel than to seek external help from the Chinese.
“We wish to state that if the Federal Government goes ahead to welcome foreigners from China, the Nigerian students will not hesitate to parade the streets in the negation of such action by the government.
“There is a need to develop our own. Let’s train our own and build on what we have. This will promote independence, rather than dependence on external reach,” NANs said.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, in a statement by its President-General Okechukwu Isigusoro, and Secretary-General Nnabuike Okwu, said the invitation was not well-thought out.
The group feared that the Chinese personnel would “escalate the situation of the coronavirus pandemic.”
“We vehemently condemn the invitation of these ‘insincere’ Chinese doctors but insist that if we are in dire need for foreign medical assistance, the destination should be India or Cuba,” the group said.
Gbajabiamila, speaking at a meeting with the Minister of State for Health Adeleke Mamora and the House leadership, said the Chinese medical personnel must undergo the necessary checks on arrival.
He said: “There are a lot of complaints about why we are bringing in Chinese doctors.
“It is incumbent on us, as lawmakers, to intervene, following the concerns of our constituents to understand the issues and get the right information to them.
“We must protect the Nigerian people, and every opportunity to increase our knowledge will not be thrown away.
“Having listened to you, what we are taking away from this meeting is that Nigeria needs this intervention from the Chinese. But you have to make it mandatory that they observe all the protocols laid down for the disease.
“As you have explained that they won’t have direct contact with Nigerian patients, you have to make sure that they go through our official immigration laws and they have to get work permit waivers because they are coming here to work.
“Also, they have to be quarantined for 14 days as stipulated by the protocol, and you have to educate Nigerians about this to avoid misconceptions. We have laws and they must be complied with.”
Mamora explained that the Chinese doctors were mainly experts in molecular laboratory testing, adding that Nigeria currently has only two indigenous experts in the field.
According to him, the Chinese doctors were expected to help in setting up molecular laboratories around the country and to upgrade and reconfigure existing ones.
He emphasised that the Chinese medical personnel would not have direct contact with patients.
Clarifying that there was no financial implication to Nigeria, Mamora said there was little option than to accept the offer.
He said: “Case testing is the bulk of work because some people are asymptomatic, so we need faster and rapid test kits and processing. We are doing molecular testing that helps us know the viral load as well.
“We need to expand our testing labs across the country. Currently, we have two lab scientists in molecular testing, serving seven labs across the country.
“As we are expanding across the country, we need more people to be trained in molecular testing for faster results.”
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, at the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said the Chinese doctors were coming at the instance of Chinese companies in Nigeria.
He said: The Chinese experts “are expected to arrive in Nigeria in a few days with a consignment of globally scarce medical supplies, to augment government efforts and build capacity to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The donation by Chinese companies in Nigeria includes personal protective equipment (PPE), medical consumables, over one million surgical masks for health workers and even ICU ventilators, valued at over $100,000, all sourced in the face of the global scarcity of these items.
“The Chinese medical experts, comprising doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and public health managers will share their knowledge, skills and real-life experience of fighting COVID-19 with Nigerian personnel to strengthening management of COVID-19 cases, especially with regard to critical care,” he said.
Ehanire said the initiative would build the capacity of Nigerian healthcare workers at the forefront of fighting COVID-19.
“The much-needed PPEs and masks will protect our frontline workers and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the line of duty”.
UN Basket Fund mobilises $2m for Nigeria [SUN]
The United Nations (UN) mission in Nigeria through its Basket Fund has made available over $2 million for the procurement of essential medical supplies to support Nigeria in containing COVID-19.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the COVID 19 Basket Fund, would also be used to provide medical treatment to persons that have tested positive for the virus.
He said the fund would be used for the rapid procurement of equipment and consumables as well as in supporting socio-economic interventions, such as cash transfers or food distribution to vulnerable groups.
The fund would also assist in scaling up surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, provision of personal protection equipment for medical staff, disinfectants for medical facilities, risk communication, community engagement and clinical management of the critically ill. “We have the will, the people, the tools and now we have the financing structure,” he said.
Mustapha expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the UN in rallying partners to mobilise funds to support the nation’s efforts to fight the pandemic and the operationalisation of the One COVID19 Basket fund. He also expressed government’s appreciation to the Secretary General of the United Nations for commending Nigeria’s response to the pandemic and assured that it would spur the country to work harder.
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, described the intervention as a great relief and expressed the happiness that the first $2 million promised for commodities on March 23, when the national COVID 19 leadership of Nigeria met with the UN leadership and key bilateral donors to discuss the unfolding emergency, will start rolling in on Tuesday, April 7.
He said working together, all parties have the best chance of defeating the pandemic.
Ehanire commended the global fund for the latitude granted Nigeria to reprogrammed some of its funding request in other to be able to address COVID-19.
European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlen, noted that as individuals, “we do need to keep distances, but as a community we need to come together.”
“At this time of need, Nigeria is not alone, the European Union is committed to supporting the government of Nigeria in addressing the challenges of the pandemic. The COVID19 Basket Fund avails us with the opportunity to cooperate and act rapidly in the deployment of assistance that can help enhance the healthcare services and cushion the most vulnerable,” Karlsen said.
The UN Resident Coordinator and Representative of the Secretary-General in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, applauded the Nigerian government for the efforts and measures to urgently mobilise resources to address the impact of COVID-19.
“Government cannot do it alone. For the country to succeed in fighting back the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, we must all come together across all sectors to support the government at this time of great need,” Kallon said.
COVID-19: Chinese doctors coming with 1m masks [SUN]
- FG allays NMA’s fears, explains necessity of visit •Pledges to subject team to tests on arrival •Medical experts react
The Federal Government has said the medical team being expected from China would be of significant benefit to Nigerians as it will bring over a million masks and other scarce supplies.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, and Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, made the disclosure yesterday.
Ehanire’s announcement last Friday that an 18-man team of Chinese medical experts, including doctors, nurses and other medical advisers, would assist Nigeria in its fight against COVID-19 had sparked controversy.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had rejected the idea, describing it as an embarrassment to the association and other health workers “who are giving their best in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.”
But Ehanire said the Chinese team would be subjected to Nigerian rules, with the assurance that there was no cause for alarm.
“It is particularly gratifying that, in the face of all of this, we are able to get these supplies here, which, even if we had the money, we would not have been able to order. In addition, the technical experts will comprise research doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians, public health managers, who will share their own knowledge and skill and their real-life experience of fighting COVID-19 with Nigerian experts, to strengthen our own management of cases, especially with regard to critical care. As we all know, this country has had quite an experience with it.”
The minister said the initiative would build the capacity of resourceful Nigerian healthcare workers who are at the forefront of fighting the virus: “The most needed personal protection equipment (PPE) are masks; we also protect our frontline workers and mitigate the spread of this disease.”
He said Nigeria has a window of opportunity to strengthen response mechanism through lessons learnt from any country with experience and can “provide hands-on demonstration on how to deal with the outbreak and give Nigeria’s clinical workforce the opportunity of sharing global best practices.”
To buttress Ehanire’s position, Mustapha said the Chinese experts would not have access to Nigerian patients but only offer advice to their counterparts and assist in installing the equipment they would bring. The Chinese doctors are not accredited by the NMA so they cannot practice in Nigeria. “They would just share their experience on how the epidemic was contained in China,” he said. “They would also offer training and advice to our doctors because they are experts in this area. The world has become a global village. If you are not willing to share or you want to live in isolation, you would not make progress. They (the Chinese doctors) would not see our patients; they would not manage our patients; they would just share their experience with us. We should be careful not to allow unnecessary controversy distract the fight against COVID-19.”
He said the support from China was a corporate social responsibility initiative by the China Civil Engineering Contruction Company, a company with total value of infrastructure contracts worth $10 billion in Nigeria.
“One major support that has attracted public commentaries is the offer by CCECC, a Chinese company, to import about 256 equipment and items in different quantities, notable among which are, 1,300,000 medical masks, over 150,000 pieces of assorted personal protective equipment as well as 50 medical ventilators. The company has also proposed to sponsor public health experts to help strengthen our public health capacity and advise on processes and procedures.
“However, I wish to clarify that all countries of the world seek for and receive help in the fight against COVID-19.
“The professionals that have been invited from China are public health specialists and medical engineers that will support Nigeria’s capacity in managing the pandemic on advisory basis, when necessary, while drawing from the experience of the Chinese.
“In no way shall there be case management and interface with patients. They will train our manpower, advise on procedures and methods, install and test the equipment donated before handing them over. I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to our medical professionals to see the positive aspects of this gesture as an extension of development in the field of medicine.
“The PTF recognises and respects the competence and capability of Nigerian doctors and other medical personnel. This is a state of war against the coronavirus and time should not be devoted to unhelpful controversies.”
Notwithstanding the explanation, the national president, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Aliyu Sokomba, told Daily Sun, yesterday that the invitation of Chinese doctors was a complete disservice to Nigeria’s medical system.
He said: “For now, we don’t have full details of the roles they would play when they eventually arrive. We have read reports that they are coming with scarce medical supplies and other expertise that are needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, we would sit and observe carefully. Anything other than that would be strongly resisted by our members and we would make that known to the government.
“I have been informed that all stakeholders, including the Federal Government representatives, would meet very soon (hopefully Tuesday) to have extensive discussion on the matter and possibly iron out grey areas that concern the arrival of the Chinese doctors.”
Also, immediate past president, Postgraduate Medical College, Opubo Lilly-Tariah, expressed disappointment at the level of synergy between the leadership of the NMA and ministers of health, insisting that such “unhealthy relationship” could delay the victory against the pandemic.
He was, however, unhappy with the opposition of the plan by the Federal Government to invite Chinese doctors, describing it unacceptable in global health care services: “Few days ago, Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, accused NMA of not showing interest and support in the fight against the dreaded coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria. That’s unexpected given the critical role of doctors in such situation.”
He, thus challenged the NMA to look inwards and assess the readiness and capacity of its members to respond to the pandemic in the event that the figures rise beyond expectations.
“Besides, exchange of ideas and expertise is allowed anywhere in the world, in any profession. Before now, medical doctors entered Nigeria for one service or the other. The only condition is that the visiting doctors are given limited work permit and time to do their thing and leave. It’s global practice and Nigeria cannot be an exception,” he said.
NMA president, Dr. Francis Faduyile, strongly appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the plan, weigh all the options and consequences before taking action: “It’s extremely risky for Nigerian government to deal with individual Chinese businessmen instead of government to government, as being the global practice.”
COVID-19: Nigeria to drawdown N2.67tr IMF contribution, loans –Minister [SUN]
- Withdrawal inevitable –LCCI …OPS, others raise concerns
In a strategic move to stem the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government on Monday disclosed that Nigeria is seeking to pool over $7.05 billion from contributions and loans from multilateral institutions to strengthen is interventions .
Using the official dollar rate of N380/$1, the money translates to N2.679 trillion.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who made the disclosure in Abuja at a media briefing to intimate Nigerians on efforts made so far in tackling the pestilence, also said the government was prospecting an undisclosed amount of money in accruals from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), among others.
A breakdown of the fund being expected shows that $3. 4 billion will come from Nigeria’s contributions (savings) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while $2.5 billion will be a loan from the World Bank. Again, $1 billion loan is expected from African Development Bank (AfDB) while $150 million would come from the stabilisation fund domiciled with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
The N2.679 trillion being sourced is different from the N500 billion intervention package sourced locally from special accounts that have already been announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister noted that plans were afoot to create 1,000 jobs per local government area, saying that the programme would be done in conjunction with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
The Minister explained that the $3.4 billion IMF savings comes with no conditionalities being one of the windows the global Fund intends to use to support countries access more funding to battle coronavirus.
She said: “Nigeria has a contribution of $3.4 billion with the IMF and we are entitled to draw up to the whole of that $3.4 billion or less. We have in the first instance applied for that maximum amount, then in the process, when we negotiate, we might get the maximum amount or less but that is the amount of our contribution with the IMF and this is the provision that IMF has made for every member country that you can apply for between 50 to 100 per cent of your contribution to the IMF.
“Again, this is a programme that has no conditions attached. Up to date, we were told that up to about 80 countries have applied to draw from their contributions to the IMF.
“Again, we have requested $2.5 billion from the World Bank, $1 billion from the AfDB. Let me state that the request we’ve made from the IMF, to the World Bank, to the Islamic Development Bank, to the AfDB are request for the nation both for the federal as well as the states.
“For example, the request to the World Bank, $1.5 billion is for FG and $1 billion for states. That’s our request but during the process of reviews and negotiations, that proportion could change but the request we are doing is on behalf of the federation to all of this multilateral institutions”, she explained.
To address the emerging fiscal risks occasioned by COVID-19, the Minister said President Buhari has approved that $150 million be withdrawn from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Stabilization Fund to support the June 2020 Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursement.
“The Stabilisation such emergencies and is to be utilized for this purpose. We are also exploring other options to augment FAAC disbursements over the course of the 2020 fiscal year.
“On when the projected funds will be received, Ahmed said multilateral funds take a minimum processing period of six weeks.
On other efforts at creating palliatives for the country, she said; “The Federal Government has provided N102.5 billion in resources to be available for direct interventions in the healthcare sector. Of this sum, N6.5 billion has already been made available to the NCDC for critical expenditure.
NNPC won’t pay subsidy on petrol anymore – Kyari [LEADERSHIP]
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, yesterday declared an end to fuel subsidy in the country, saying the corporation will no longer subsidise pump price of premium motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol.
According to him, market forces will henceforth determine the price of the commodity.
Kyari who spoke on an AIT morning programme, MoneylinewithNancy, in Abuja said, “There is no subsidy and it is zero forever, adding that going forward there would be no resort to either subsidy or under recovery of any nature. NNPC will play in the marketplace; it will just be another marketer in the space. But we will be there for the country to sustain security of supply at market price.”
Maintaining that NNPC was a transparent organisation, he pointed out that the Corporation was possibly the only company in the world that publishes its monthly financial and operations reports.
Kyari said the Corporation is proud of the initiative, just as he guaranteed Nigerians of NNPC’s commitment and observance of transparency and accountability in all its transactions.
He disclosed that as at yesterday, Nigeria produced 2.3million barrels of crude oil, including condensates, saying that the plan was for the country to ramp up production to 3million barrels per day in no distant future.
The NNPC boss observed that Nigeria was endowed with premium crude oil grades which are supplied to Europe, Asia and India, stressing that despite the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected demand and supply fundamentals, all of Nigeria’s export terminals are still in operations.
„The key issue in crude oil business is market fundamentals of demand/supply. I believe COVID-19 will subside and countries will come back to life. I don‘t see oil price going below the $20 we saw last week. I‘m certain, all things being equal, oil price will bounce back,“ Mallam Kyari informed.
The NNPC’s helmsman assured Nigerians of ample supply and distribution of petroleum products, saying despite the Coronavirus pandemic, the corporation had in stock about 2.6billion litres of petroleum products that could service the country’s energy needs for the next two months.
He stated that the NNPC was collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the supply and distribution value chain is not disrupted to guarantee energy security for the country.
Speaking on contributions of the Oil and Gas Industry in curbing the Cronavirus pandemic in the country, Kyari expressed the sector‘s readiness to build a robust healthcare for Nigeria.
He said the industry is set to embark on the construction of at least two hospitals and a world class diagnostics center in each of the geopolitical zones in the country, in addition to the 250 temporary bed facilities that it offered to support government’s efforts in the fight against Coronavirus.
He noted that the hospitals and the world class diagnostics centers would be an addition to the regular corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of the Upstream and Downstream companies, as well as service providers operating in the Oil and Gas Industry.
A press release by the group general manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr Kennie Obateru, quoted Kyari as saying that all commitments from the industry would be collected in kind and handed over to the presidential taskforce for the control of coronavirus.
He added that the petroleum industry would use its clear and transparent governance framework, collection and distribution processes already emplaced in respective companies to support the country’s healthcare infrastructure in this troubling times.
The GMD stated: “We and all our partners, comprising the Upstream, Downstream and service providers, decided to come together to respond in three thematic areas. First is the provision of medical consumables such as facemasks and testing kits among others.
“Secondly, the medical logistics and patients’ support issues such as ventilators and oxygen generating plants. The third leg is provision of temporary isolation centres and the establishment of permanent medical infrastructure that will be of use during this period and after the pandemic is stemmed. We believe this pandemic will be eradicated.”
He hinted that the oil and gas industry in the country would liaise with the various state governments to emplace a sustainable and efficient governance structure to manage the health facilities established by the industry long after the COVID-19 pandemic had been brought under control.
“Nigerians will recall that last week, NNPC and our partners in the Upstream, Downstream and services sector launched an Industry-wide collaborative initiative in support of the ongoing Federal Government’s efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The total commitment to this initiative now amounts to N21billion and it is growing and potentially it is going to grow,” Kyari noted.
The NNPC GMD stated that the distribution of the committed items would be under the stated three-thematic areas of the initiative, adding that considering supply chain constraints, all committed items cannot be delivered and distributed all at once.
According to him, NNPC and partners have a streamlined programme for the distribution of these items on weekly basis to the nook and cranny of the nation from the three clearing houses in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
“This is the hallmark of ‘Good Corporate Citizenship’, which the Oil & Gas Industry is known for. We remain accountable to Nigerians and will continue to provide details of what has been collected, how it’s distributed and where it’s being delivered to, the helmsman of the Nigeria State Oil Firm enthused.
Crude Down By $3 As Supply Uncertainty Pervades Market
Meanwhile, crude prices yesterday fell 12 per cent when markets reopened for the week before paring some of those losses in volatile trading that reflected investors’ doubts.
Uncertainty had enveloped the crude market as to whether Saudi Arabia and Russia can reach a supply deal to repair some of the damage to the sector caused by their price war and the coronavirus pandemic.
Brent crude fell in early trading to just over $30, losing more than $3 a barrel but holding on to the bulk of the gains made last week when Donald Trump, the US president, sparked a rally after suggesting that Saudi Arabia and Russia would agree to remove 10m-15m barrels a day of oil supply.
Crude prices then recovered to change hands at around $33 a barrel by late afternoon in London yesterday after Dan Brouillette, the US energy secretary, said Saudi Arabia was trying to convene a G20 meeting on Friday to discuss new production cuts.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was trading at more than $26 a barrel, down almost 7 per cent for the session.
But producers remain far apart. OPEC’s meeting with Russia, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed until Thursday as a war of words between Moscow and Riyadh deepened over the weekend, with both accusing each other of sparking the price war to hurt the US oil sector.
Why We Need Chinese Doctors – SGF [LEADERSHIP]
The federal government has described the criticisms trailing the invitation of Chinese doctors to join the fight against COVID-19 as unwarranted because they will only serve as public health specialists and medical engineers.
The government explained that the doctors are coming on the bill of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made the clarification during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 in Abuja, yesterday.
Mustapha said that the Chinese health officials would support Nigeria’s capacity to manage the pandemic on advisory basis.
The SGF, who is also the chairman of the PTF, therefore, appealed to Nigerian medical professionals to see the positive aspects of this gesture as an extension of the development in the field of medicine.
He said: “One major support that has attracted public commentaries is the offer by CCECC, a Chinese company to import about 256 equipment and items in different quantities, notable amongst which are, 1,300,000 medical masks, over 150,000 pieces of assorted personal protective equipment as well as 50 medical ventilators.
“The company has also proposed to sponsor public health experts to help strengthen our public health capacity and advise on processes and procedures.
“However, I wish to clarify that all countries of the world seek for and receive help in the fight against COVID-19. The support coming from China is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by CCECC, a company with total value of infrastructure contracts worth $10 billion in Nigeria.
“The professionals that have been invited from China are public health specialists and medical engineers that will support Nigeria’s capacity in managing the pandemic on advisory basis when necessary, while drawing from the experience of the Chinese.
“In no way shall there be case management and interface with patients. They will train our manpower, advise on procedures and methods, install and test the equipment donated before handling them over.
“I therefore use this medium to appeal to our medical professionals to see the positive aspects of this gesture as an extension of development in the field of medicine.
“The PTF recognises and respects the competence and capability of Nigerian doctors and other medical personnel. This is a state of war against the coronavirus and time should not be devoted to unhelpful controversies,” he added.
He also reiterated the fact that the lockdown of the country is not punitive as it is meant to prevent the escalation of the spread, especially within communities.
Reps Give Conditions For Accepting Chinese Doctors
Meanwhile, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the Chinese medical personnel would only be accepted by the lawmakers if they undergo the necessary checks as provided by the federal government.
After a meeting between the leadership of the House and the minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and the minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Gbajiabiamila said that the demands were prompted by the need to take precautions and allay fears expressed by Nigerians.
However, the two ministers assured him that the Chinese doctors would not have personal contacts with Nigerian patients during their stay in the country.
The meeting was attended by the chief whip, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the deputy leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason, and the deputy chief whip, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Gbajabiamila said that the parley was conveyed because of widespread complaints that trailed the announcement of the coming of some Chinese medical personnel to Nigeria.
He said: ”There are a lot of complaints about why we are bringing in Chinese doctors. It is incumbent on us, as lawmakers, to intervene, following the concerns of our constituents to understand the issues and get the right information to them.
”Our duty is to protect the Nigerian people, and every opportunity to increase our knowledge, will not be thrown away. Having listened to you, what we are taking away from this meeting is that Nigeria needs this intervention from the Chinese, but you have to make it mandatory that they observe all the protocols laid down for the disease.
“As you explained that they won’t have direct contact with Nigerian patients, you have to make sure that they go through our official immigration laws; they have to get work permit waivers because they are coming here to work.
“Also, they have to be quarantined for 14 days as stipulated by the protocol, and you have to educate Nigerians about this to avoid misconceptions. We have laws and they must be complied with,” he stated.
Minister of Health, Ehanire, told the House leadership that the government did not officially invite the Chinese team, but that it was an offer arranged by a group of Chinese companies based in Nigeria as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Nigeria.
He said that being a novel disease that every country was trying to understand, Nigeria would benefit more from the gesture because the existing health facilities and personnel in the country to tackle the disease are inadequate.