Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Abujah Racheal
The Federal Government has extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by four weeks to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is coming after the extension of the second phase by one week to accommodate the Sallah celebration.

Speaking at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha said:

I am pleased to inform you that the PTF team met with the President on Wednesday 5th August, 2020 to apprise him of the situation on COVID-19 and the next steps.

Suffice it to state that the recommendations made to the President have been borne out of diligent evaluation of the situation in Nigeria as well as regional and global experiences.

The virulence and novelty of the virus has made it compelling for humanity to work together to put in place strategies to contain its spread and ensure that the delicate balance between dealing with the pandemic as a public health concern and guaranteeing livelihood is maintained.

After due consideration of the recommendations, Mr. President approved the following:

Maintaining the current phase of the National Response to COVID-19 for another four weeks in line with the modifications reflected in the Report;

Partnering with States and Local Governments to improve community sensitisation and engagement to the COVID-19 response;

Mandating State authorities and the FCT, to enforce non-pharmaceutical guidelines, primarily the use of face masks in public appearance and places;

Encouraging State Governments to collaborate with Local Government Authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots mobilisation and risk communication; and

Strengthening of collaboration with other mandate groups at Federal/State levels to harmonise the countrys COVID-19 response, on the short, medium and long-term basis.

Mustapha also explained that our assessment has also revealed that the foregoing accomplishments and plans notwithstanding, the following challenges continue to pose considerable concern:

Increased non-compliance with non-pharmaceutical prevention measures;

Lack of enforcement of necessary guidelines issued to preserve lives; Insufficient engagement by some states with the national response; and a lingering concern about the gap between identified cases and the actual burden of disease.

Apathy, fatigue and disbelief combining to challenge public enlightenment, compliance and behaviour change.

The SGF said that to address these challenges, the PTF decided that it was important to ensure that restrictions were not completely relaxed in order to control transmission.

He noted that it was also important that at this Community Transmission Phase of the pandemic, sub-national governments should step up to take more responsibilities by owning the response.

To sustain gains already made, therefore, the PTF recommended to the President, the retention of the current phase of the response with minor changes to address economic, socio-political and health concerns.

Source: NAN News

Religious, traditional leaders pledge support to fight rape, violence against women

By Franca Ofili

Traditional and religious leaders across the country have pledged their support to fight against rape and violence against women.

They made the pledge on Thursday at a Virtual Roundtable Conference on Eliminating Gender Based Violence and Harmful Traditional Practices against Women and Girls.

They confirmed the rising cases of rape in the country, adding that both religion and culture regard the act as evil and unacceptable.

The Most Rev. Fubara Manuel, President, Christian Council of Nigeria, said that all the traditional churches were aware of the dangers associated with rape and violence against women.

According to him, the council has started a programme tagged Black Initiative to create awareness on the ills of rape and other vices.

He said that the need to continue to condemn the act and create awareness about it cannot be overemphasised.

He added that we must speak effectively on these issues to help create change, anything that hinders dignity of human must be condemned because human dignity is very important.

A traditional ruler, Bashorun Ojorma, said that creating awareness among rural communities should be paramount.

He said that with great awareness, victims could speak out and appropriate punishment would be given to offenders.

He assured that when schools reopen, the community will take awareness to schools to educate the younger ones on the dangers of rape and violence against women.

Representative of the Ubong of Calabar, Mr Frank Edet, said there must be synergy between government and traditional rulers in fighting gender based violence.

He said that the idea of carrying both the religious and traditional leaders along in the fight was a step in the right direction.

We need to be proactive in this to help bring an end to the situation. Parents also need to speak out when their children are molested.

We must ensure that the Child Right Act is domesticated in all states of the federation.

Bishop Theophilus Ajose, representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said that the National Assembly must make a law that would help to end the menace.

He also called for national prayers as many who had been caught in the act of rape always confessed to be influenced by devil.

We will support all efforts to end rape and all forms of violence against women because it is evil, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Pauline Tallen, Women Affairs Minister

By Franca Ofili

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting efforts in ensuring that rape and other forms of violence against women are eliminated in the country.

Tallen gave the commendation during a Virtual Roundtable Conference with traditional and religious leaders on Eliminating Gender Based Violence and Harmful Traditional Practices Against Women and Girls on Thursday.

The conference was jointly organised by UN Spotlight Agencies under theEU-UN Spotlight Initiative, an ambitious multi-year partnership to eliminate all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in September 2017.

The EU offered initial seed funding of 500 million Euros, inviting donors and partners to join the Initiative to broaden its reach and scope.

Public participation, ambitious political action that are built on evidence-based policies, as well as increased resources and knowledge generation are all vital to the Initiative.

The minister of women affairs, therefore, said that rape and other forms of violence against women were unacceptable crimes that must be condemned by all.

She added that the high rate of rape cases in the country made her to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council on June 10, noting that the move had received the full support of the president.

She said the President has directed the minister of justice to put in place an inter-ministerial gender group made up of Cos and other stakeholders.

The President also directed the inspector general of police to ensure zero tolerance to rape in the country.

The minister noted that the support was a great boost to the fight against the menace, saying that the ministry was engaging the police to ensure a stop to the situation.

She commended the Nigerian Governors Forum and the governors wives for their support and the declaration of state of emergency on rape.

She stressed that the National Assembly (NASS) hit a milestone with the passage of the bill to prohibite sexual harassment on students.

This will bring sanity in our higher institutions of learning and deter lecturers from such evil act.

Tallen called for the support of religious and tradition leaders as the ministry prepare for an advocacy campaign on Gender Based Violence.

She said I want to state that we cannot achieve our aim without the full support of the traditional and religious leaders.

They play critical roles in achieving government policies at the grassroots. We will not pretend; we need you to break this rape and gender violence issues.

She further called on other leaders and stakeholders to join in the fight against rape and harmful practices against women.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said that issues of rape and gender violence must be treated seriously because it affects the society.

He said it is unfortunate that only about 10 states in the country have legal framework that protects the interest of girls and women.

Represented by Mrs Yomi Onanuga, the speaker said that the alarming rise of rape cases in the past few months called for urgent action.

He said that his office was engaging with state and non-state actors in domesticating the Child Rights Act and follow up action and prosecution as response to gender violence.

He explained that as government, we need to create awareness among men and boys on injustice to women.

Our office is developing gender budgeting framework through the annual budget to address gaps to support programmes across various government activities to ensure gender mainstreaming.

He commended the support of the European Union and the UN mission in Nigeria toward ending violence against women and girls through the Spotlight Initiative.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, said that the act of rape was uncivil and must be condemned.

He added that Islam as a religion condemned the act and condemned anyone that maltreats his wife or women.

Represented by the Emir of Arugungu, Sumaila Muhammad, he said that violence against women was shameful and unacceptable.

He assured his support in the fight against rape and all forms of violence against women in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Boss Mustapha. PTF Chairman,

By Abujah Racheal

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enforce the use of face masks in public places across the country.

The Chairman, Presidential Task force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, made this known at the daily briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

Mustapha, while reviewing the activities of the committee, said the president also approved that the current phase of the National Response to COVID-19 should be maintained for another four weeks, but with some modifications.

President Buhari also asked the PTF to partner with states and local governments to improve community sensitisation and engagement to step up response to the COVID-19 response.

He also encouraged state governments to collaborate with local government authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots mobilisation and risk communication.

He also ordered that collaboration with other mandate groups at federal/state levels to harmonise the countrys COVID-19 response be strenghtened on the short, medium and long-term basis, he said.

Mustapha warned against stigmatisation and skepticism among Nigerians in the fight against COVID-19.

I wish to remind all Nigerians that this fight is for every one; everyone must take responsibility.

Disbelief and skepticism will further complicate our situation; we should not stigmatise anyone infected. Our communities should own the response and educate our citizens, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Nigeria has been on the edge due to the brinkmanship of those charged with the constitutional leadership.

We must, as a nation, not escalate the already tense atmosphere in our polity.

What is happening in Edo is a threat to constitutional order nationwide.

I strongly urge belligerent forces to reign in their proxies, and abide by the rule of law.

As I have previously said, without the rule of law, there will be no rule at all.

The current goings-on portend grave danger, not only to law and order in that state, but to the coming Edo elections.

The people of Edo should be allowed to choose who they wish to govern them, and that choice is to be made on Sept. 19.

Source: NAN News

Dr Chris Ngige

By Joan Nwagwu

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) said they would proceed on strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government immediately the universities reopen.

Mr Samson Ugwoke, the Chairman, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions said this while addressing newsmen on the resolutions reached by the unions on Thursday in Abuja.

The resolutions were signed by the SSANU National President, Mr Samson Ugwoke, and the General Secretary of NASU, Mr Peters Adeyemi.

The unions grievances included the lingering Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) debacle, non payment of arrears of earned allowance and minimum wage.

Others are the alleged lack of seriousness by the Babalakin Committee renegotiating the 2009 FG/NASU, SSANU agreements, neglect and poor funding of state universities, absence of visitation panels, among others.

According to Ugwoke, long after many other sectors had been paid the arrears of the national minimum wage and consequential adjustment, university workers are yet to be paid.

We find this development totally unwholesome and very unhealthy.

Given the time lag of over a year since it was implemented in other sectors, members of the public would agree that we have been patient enough in the university system, he said.

He pointed out that in spite of the series of letters by the unions to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) Office since February, their members were still confronted with many challenges, including salary payment.

Ugwuoke also said that their members, whose monthly salaries were being paid in the second week of the following month in the past seven months, were suffering as a result of the difficulties posed by IPPIS.

He argued that as responsible unions, they had avoided the planned action, adding that the unhealthy situation had made it inevitable.

Ugwoke said: We have again cried out to the general public with a view to inviting stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to correct the anomaly of IPPIS.

Pay us the arrears of both earned allowances and minimum wage, among others.

He warned that the unions would have no option than to embark on strike effective from when universities would reopen after the COVID-19 lockdown.

If by the time schools are asked to reopen and the needful is not done, it means hope is lost and the avoidable industrial conflict becomes inevitable.

This is what we seek to avert, hence this outcry and call for governments positive and timely response, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs,

By Lizzy Okoji

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied suggestions that it was frustrating the evacuation process of Nigerian students in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson for the ministry, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that claims to that effect were totally false.

Recalling that students had accused the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consul General of Nigeria in Jedda of refusing to facilitate their evacuation, Nwonye described the allegations as unpatriotic.

He said that the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia had been engaging relevant host authorities to facilitate the evacuation of Nigerians from the Kingdom.

The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a misleading video in circulation, fabricated by some misguided, unpatriotic and ungrateful Nigerian students in Saudi Arabia.

There are also attendant media reports alleging that the Government of Nigeria, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jedda, have deliberately refused to facilitate their evacuation to Nigeria for holiday, since May 15, 2020.

The group further alleged that the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jedda refused to issue permits to students to travel home.

It further alleged that government failed to secure flight clearance and landing permit for the Saudi Arabian Airlines to airlift Nigerians from the Kingdom.

The ministry wishes to state that the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia, in line with guidelines for the evacuation of Nigerian Nationals stranded in different parts of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been engaging relevant host authorities to facilitate the evacuation of Nigerians from the Kingdom.

Nwonye said that though the Saudi Airlines fixed July 8 and Aug. 1 respectively, the Airline never informed the Embassy of the dates or sought for approval of the proposed dates from Nigeria.

Neither the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh nor the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jedda was informed, which is against the spirit of established diplomatic protocols, hence the inability to operate the said flights, Nwonye said.

He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wanted the record strengthened that the Embassy officials did not demand for any commission or graft from the Airlines as insinuated by the misinformed students.

He added that their allegations had since been condemned and refuted by the leadership of Nigerian students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The spokesperson recalled that the Embassy of Nigeria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia successfully facilitated the evacuation of 117 Nigerians from the Kingdom.

Nwonye specifically recalled that the Nigerians were evacuated via Azman Air Services Limited, Flight No: ZQ381, on July 19.

He said the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia was committed to ensuring that the right processes and established guidelines were adhered to, in the evacuation of Nigerian Nationals.

The unfortunate allegation by the misinformed students is absolutely false and should be disregarded, Nwonye declared. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) says it will collaborate with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to propel innovative driven economy and technology advancement in the country.

The President of the NSE, Babagana Mohammed, said this during an officialvisit to DICON headquarters in Kaduna on Wednesday.

He said that the NSE would stand firmly behind DICON in achieving its set goals and objectives.

The NSE president said it was important for the Society to work with organisations like DICON that has excelled in the areas of reaserch and development.

Mohammed called for more support for DICON so as to grow and develop technological capacity in Nigeria.

DICON has been doing Nigeria good and proud since its establishment in 1964 by promoting national defence and enterprise.

I commend the successive leadership and management of the corporation since its inception for the commitment to the mandate for which the corporation was set up.

The President affirmed that the NSE values the cordial relationship between it and DICON, and commended the Director General, Maj.-Gen Victor Ezugwu for his regular support to the NSE branch in Kaduna.

Also many of your staff here are our members and we receive reports of your generous sponsorhip of their training and conferences.

Which speaks volume about the premium this organisation put on capacity building, which is also a cardinal tenent in the vision and mission of the NSE.

DICON is an engineering entity, we acknowledge that you have done much for our nation.

But we also know that there is still a lot more grounds to covere in terms of innovation and enterprise management.

As a professional body and stakeholders in Nigerias growth and development projects, we owe our fatherland a duty to continually drive debates and discourse on issue of national development.

He appealed to DICON to consider proper placement of engineers in its fold based on the recently approved enhanced entry point Salary Grade 9 for graduate engineers into public service and subsequent advancement to Grade Level 10 after two years pupilage.

Responding, theDirector -General of DICON, said that the organisation would continue to meet its mandate as the countrys foremost engineering outfit particularly in military engineering.

Ezugwu welcomed the visit by the NSE and offer of collaboration in the area of civil engineering and promoting national economic development.

He assured that DICON and NSEwould work together toward enhancing local content especially in the area of military hardware that will help in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other security challenges.

We are hopeful that the collaboration will be mutually beneficial to all parties, Ezeugwu said.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 457 new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 44,890.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Wednesday.

According to the health agency, 17 more people had died from the disease.

The NCDC said that the 457 new infections were recorded in Lagos, FCT and 19 other states of the federation.

It stated that Lagos topped the list with 137 cases while FCT came second with 76 fresh infections.

Five other states with high cases include Plateau 40, Rivers 35, Enugu 34, Oyo 25 and Abia 23.

Others are Delta 12, Edo and Ebonyi 11, Cross River and Kwara 10, Kaduna 9, Anambra 7, Ogun 5, Imo and Bauchi 3, Osun and Nasarawa 2, Kano and Ekiti 1, it said.

The health agency further said that 314 people had been discharged in the last 24 hours after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of discharged cases to 32,165.

It said that till date, 44,890 cases had been confirmed, 32,165 cases discharged and 927 deaths recorded in 36 states and the FCT.

The NCDC noted that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, would continue to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

The health agency further said that home care for COVID-19 patients who were asymptomatic or have mild symptoms must be based on the recommendation of a clinician and not on self-assessment.

It is recommended that clinicians recommend the use of designated treatment areas, according to severity and acute care needs, to care for confirmed COVID -19 patients.

Home care should only be recommended in patients after an appropriate risk assessment has been done and following appropriate counselling and patient information, it stated.

The NCDC said that patients could be recommended for home care if hospitalisation was not feasible.

It noted that clinicians should consider home care for such patients with no symptoms, mild symptoms or for those without concern for rapid deterioration as determined by a managing physician.

Home care may also be considered when in-patient care is unavailable or unsafe (e.g. capacity is limited, and resources are unable to meet the demand for health care services).

Contacts should be advised to monitor their health for 14 days from the last possible day of contact.

Health care personnel should review the health of contacts by phone, and in person if feasible. Provide instructions to contacts on what to do if they become ill.

If home care is provided, ensure follow-up and care by a family member; If and where feasible, a communication link between the patient and health care provider and/or public health personnel should be established, it said.

The NCDC also said that clinical judgment should be used and informed by an assessment of the patients home and environment by a trained health care worker, if and where feasible.

Educate patients and household members about personal hygiene, infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and how to care for the patient, it said.

The health agency added that patients in home care should remain isolated and in limited contact with people, including household members, until all symptoms had been resolved while patients had repeated negative test and/or a healthcare worker had cleared the patient.

Stay in a well-ventilated single room; limit movement in the house or minimise shared space.

Ensure shared spaces are well ventilated; follow cleaning and disinfecting guidance at home and limit the number of caregivers.

Seek care urgently if there is a change in your condition, NCDC said.

Source: NAN News

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) says it is committed to boosting agriculture in Abia.

Mr Paul Ikonne, Executive Secretary of NALDA, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Tope Ojeme, the agencys Director of Communications.

Ikonne gave the assurance when he led a delegation to the Government House in Umuahia.

He expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the state government to resuscitate the Ogwe Golden Chicken farm.

Ikonne said that the mandate of the agency was to ensure availability of food, adding that it had rolled out the Back to Farm and National Young Farmers Schemes.

Ikonne stressed that Abia had been selected as one of the pilot states for the schemes in the country.

He gave an assurance that NALDA would provide technical support, training and inputs to encourage farmers to produce enough food for the country.

The executive secretary, however, urged communities to make land available for farming,

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, on his part, said that the state was willing to partner with NALDA to revive the Ogwe Golden Chicken farm.

Ikpeazu noted that his administration was building cottage industries in the 17 local government areas of the state.

He also said that his administration was working toward making the state a major food processing hub.

The governor added that he was already mainstreaming agriculture for job creation and provision of raw materials.

He pledged to work with NALDA in critical areas that would ensure value addition.

Ikpeazu, however, called for urgent intervention to tackle the gully erosion increasingly ravaging arable lands in the state.

Source: NAN News