The Association of Progressive Nigerians has appealed to the Central Bank to withdraw old and tattered naira notes from circulation as the country is battling COVID- 19 pandemic. The group made the appeal in a statement it issued in Lagos on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement was jointly signed by Alhaji Mohammed Bello, the group’s president and Mr Oluwole Aina, its general secretary. The group said the appeal became necessary as the continued recirculation of old, tattered naira notes, which had passed several hands, might lead to further spread of the pandemic.

“We hereby appeal to the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, to please withdraw these old and tattered naira notes from circulation as continued recycling of such notes may endanger public health and lead to the further spread of the dreaded Corona Virus. “We observe with sadness that what most banks are doing is to push out these dirty naira notes in endless recycling of what should have been withdrawn and replaced with freshly minted notes.

“It is more worrisome that when you withdraw from ATMs across the country, what you have on your hands are dirty, mutilated and tattered naira notes which ought to be rejected outright by all Nigerians lest they expose themselves to a health hazard,” the group said according to the pan-Nigerian group, such dirty notes, once received by banks, are immediately sent to the mint for replacement in advanced countries.

“We appeal to the CBN governor to ensure that the best international practices are observed in the handling of old naira notes. “Our naira notes should be seen as a national symbol and we should not diminish our country in the comity of nations”, the group added.(NAN)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that Nigeria has expressed interest to be part of the global solidarity trial of the vaccines being developed to tackle COVID-19 pandemic and efforts are underway to start the process in the country. The Officer in charge, WHO Nigeria and member of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Fiona Braka, said this on Friday in Abuja, at the 24th joint national briefing of the committee. She also said that 89 vaccines are being developed globally, including seven in clinical evaluation and several therapeutics in clinical trials to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. She said, “Nigeria has also expressed interest to be part of this solidarity trial and efforts are underway to start the process in Nigeria too.”

According to her, on the subject of vaccines and clinical trials for Covid-19, research and development is an important aspect of the response and researchers around the world are working hard on accelerating the development of vaccines and therapeutics for Covid-19. She said the WHO has launched various working groups to accelerate various aspects of vaccine development.

“Together with global health actors and partners, over the past week, WHO launched the Access to Covid-19 Tools ACT Accelerator, a global collaboration to accelerate development for equitable access to new Covid-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. “We have a total of 89 vaccines that are in development globally, including seven in clinical evaluation and several therapeutics are in clinical trials. WHO is committed to ensuring that as medicines and vaccines are developed, they are shared equitably with all countries and people.

“We do have the solidarity trial which is an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for Covid-19, launched by the WHO and partners. More than 100 countries have joined the solidarity trial and to date, over 1,200 patients have been randomized from the first five countries to evaluate the safety and efficacy full drug and drug combinations,” Braka said.

Kaduna State Government says it has sealed all entry points into the state to all travelers including those transporting food and other essential services between 6pm and 6am. The state government said it’s decision to shut entry points followed a security briefing that criminal elements were using night-time hours to infiltrate people into the state adding that the state government is compelled to take further measures to deter inter-state travel.

A statement issued by the state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan stated that: ”No interstate or intra-state travel is allowed at night-time even for essential services with effect from Friday, 1st May 2020.” Aruwan explained that the recent Covid-19 cases discovered in the state have been linked to inter-state travels which he said has implications in the rapid spread of the virus across state lines.

”Security agencies will respect the exemptions granted for the movement of food and other essentials in daytime hours. However, all entry points will be sealed to all traffic from 6pm until 6am daily. All vehicles that come after 6pm carrying food, petroleum products or other essentials must park at the entry point overnight.

Vehicles on essential duty will then be inspected after 6am by our health and security team, and will only be granted passage if the goods they are conveying are really essential, ” he said. The commissioner warned all passengers and private vehicles that the state government will ensure they are turned back to their original destination.

Enwhen:



me kake fada

raystar96:
See handsome men

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, on Thursday warned Nigerians against mistaking the eased restrictions for permission to act without care. Speaking in Abuja at a briefing of the task force, Mustapha said as the nation approached the commencement of the first of a three-phased easing of lockdown from Monday, Nigerians should receive and digest the implementation guidelines.

He emphasised that states, law enforcement agents, trade associations, employers, businesses and citizens should understand their roles, obligations and responsibilities. He said, “Above all, we must understand that this is still a war against an unseen and potent enemy. No one should mistake the easing of restrictions for permission to act without care. The security agents have been instructed to respect the rights of citizens while also ensuring strict enforcement.” The SGF disclosed that the high-level technical team sent to Kano State had submitted its interim report. The Federal Government had on Monday sent the team to Kano following the reported mass deaths in the state in the last few days.

Mustapha commended “the proactive leadership” of Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in the management of emerging challenges. He said the ongoing investigation into the causes of the reported high number of deaths in the state would be pursued to a logical conclusion. He assured all Nigerians resident in Kano that the Federal Government was with them and would do all possible to fight the spread of coronavirus in the state as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Kano is one of our historical cities and remains a backbone for the economy of this nation. The already established isolation and treatment centres with a holding capacity for 274 persons, the proposed establishment of additional facilities with capacity for 500, 2 sample collection centres along with 6 new proposed centres have provided a strong foundation for tackling the spread of the virus in the state,” he said. He said the military would establish an additional isolation centre, treatment facility, and a testing laboratory service in Kano State.

He said the task force, in the immediate, would further strengthen the state to scale up its response with the provision of necessary facilities and equipment, capacity building, improve stakeholders’ “inter-phase and guidance on any existing policy capable of diminishing the fight against the pandemic in the state.”

Plateau state has launched an investigation into the leak of coronvirus test results, insists anyone found culpable would be punished accordingly. The results and identities of two suspected cases of the COVID-19 patients went viral before the official announcement was made. The tests were conducted at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), testing centre in Vom.

The state commissioner of Information and Communication, Dan Manjang, in statement said government had commenced investigation of the circumstances surrounding the leak of the result. He said the act which was “unprofessional” did not only breach ethical medical standards, but also exposed them to “negative consequences including stigmatisation and discrimination”. He said “Government totally condemns this act which regrettably has the tendency of jeopardising its efforts at fighting the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the world.

In order not to allow that to happen, the Government has since commenced comprehensive investigations into the matter with a view to unraveling those responsible and applying the necessary punishment “. The commissioner further explained that the investigation would cover the entire process of the test from sample collection, investigation and result dissemination, assuring members of the public not to be deterred by the leak of the result as necessary measures have been taken to forestall a repeat.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has cautioned against any extension of a nationwide lockdown over COVID-19 pandemic. He warned that extending the cessation of movements would rather ignite major economic and security crisis that could hurt Nigerians, majority of whom depend on daily wages for sustenance.

The Senator, in a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, said extension would be counterproductive as the people seem totally worn-out in all ramifications to soak in further shocks. He, however, called for a cautious and guided lifting of the lockdown where the existing measures such as compulsory wearing of face masks, sanitizers, and other associated sanitary conditions and personal hygiene are enforced in public places. “Aside from the above, daily disinfection of halls, rooms, vehicles, vessels, surroundings must become the new normal.

Doing these would definitely tamp the hot air and guide our people to resume their normal life. “My fear is that majority of our people in the informal sector are daily earners hence their survival is predicated on their going out daily if they must survive. Our people operate mostly in the commercial sector, I have the feeling that further extension of the lockdown would hurt the people the more,” he said.

Senator Abaribe however, appealed to the authorities to seriously ponder on the economic and security implications of a further extension of the lockdown on the people and of course on the country as a whole.

Meanwhile, Abaribe applauded the police, particularly the Inspector General, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, for his prompt action in arresting the dangerous slide into major crisis in Abia State, over the reported cases of extra-judicial killings by men of the police force.