₦airaland Forum

The Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has explained why he does not wear face mask during the joint briefings of the Presidential Taskforce Force (PTF) on COVID-19 like other members of the committee. Answering questions during the briefing, on Friday, Ihekweazu said the nation was yet to develop a policy on face mask wearing and also that the face mask should be for those infected or the medical frontline medical personnel attending the suspected cases or treating COVID-19 patients.

“This is a strategy we need to think about before we implement it. Before we implement a national strategy around mask wearing, we have to be sure we can provide it or at least enable access to it. We will allow for the risk assessment and as the evidence comes together, we will make a decision based on the evidence and ability to provide every Nigerian with access to mask,” he said. He however said on Monday that the agency will roll out a policy on face masks this week.

According to him, the NCDC is almost done with the face mask policy but the draft is still being looked at by the agency. He said, “Last week, I did say we would release a policy on face masks. That policy has almost been completed. In fact, the draft is now being looked at by various colleagues to make sure that we are all alive. By tomorrow or next, we would be releasing that policy for all of us to align with.”

The Enforcement Team on COVID-19 in Ovia South-West Local Government Council of Edo state, on Sunday, locked up no fewer than 13 churches that refused to adhere to the state government’s directive on social distancing. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Vice Chairman of the council, Mr Fred Aimienwanwu, led the task force team on the exercise.

Aimienwanwu said that the team took the decision to visit some worship centres in order to ensure total compliance with the state government’s order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in the state. NAN reports that the enforcement team was mandated by the council boss, Mr Destiny Enabulele, to enforce compliance and seal off the churches defying government’s order.

Aimienwanwu said that the team carried out the enforcement, acting on tip-off given by some individuals. “These observers reported that some churches directed their members to attend service in spite of the lockdown order by the federal, state and local governments,” he said. He further warned businesses and worship centres within the council area to adhere to the orders given by President Muhammadu Buhari, Gov. Godwin Obaseki and by extension, the local government chairman.

“There will be no hidden place for defaulters,” the vice chairman warned. Aimienwanwu was accompanied by other members of the committee, Secretary to the Local Government, Obateru Oladimeji and the Divisional Police Officer, Iguobazuwa division, Adenodi Bamidele, among others. (NAN)

* ‘We’re not bothered about washing hands, let’s get water to drink first’

Days after the lockdown order in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), residents who live on the lower rungs of the social ladder have begun to fret about how they would get food to eat and portable water. Most of Abuja’s suburbs do not have portable water and residents depend on vendors to get their supply from boreholes. Grace Ijeoma lives in a slum at Abattoir, Karu, a suburb of Abuja, with her three children. She is one of millions of Nigerians who live from hand to mouth, so the lockdown means that getting her daily sustenance is a big challenge.

“We are not talking about washing hands. Let us get enough water to drink and bath. In this lockdown we are afraid we might run out of resources, so we have to manage,” she said. Some of the vendors who supply water in the area said they could not comply with the lockdown because they had to meet residents’ water need, and at the same time, earn a living. They noted that water was getting scarce now that more people are at home and use more water. They added that some vendors who left for their home states before the lockdown had made it difficult for those of them who stayed behind to meet the high demand for water by residents.

“Because people are staying at home more than normal, they need more water, and the few of us cannot meet their demand. Some people just have to manage the water because they can’t get enough,” a vendor, Ahmad Sani, said. Tunji Adeboye also said, “This is the third day of the lockdown and we are already feeling the impact. I am afraid of what would happen in the next few days because we depend solely on what we earn daily. This will be tough for us.”

Daily Trust Saturday observed that businesses were also opened at Durumi III, Lokogoma and Utako village, Abuja’s prominent slum areas. Some residents who spoke with our reporters said they could not stay at home for 14 days and do nothing because they lacked a sustainable source of income. A welder at Durumi III said he had to open his workshop so that he could get money to feed his family. The man, who pleaded anonymity and operated without a signpost at his workshop, said he resided in the community and had no challenge coming to his workshop.

A vulcaniser at Lokogoma, who identified himself as James, said there would be nothing for him to eat if he did not work. He said the risk of disobeying the lockdown was worth it as his family could also risk going to bed without food if he stayed at home. At Utako village, a cobbler, Isah Abdul, said he had walked round the community and other places looking for customers, but business was not the same anymore. He, however, added, “The little I have made is worth it.”

Abdul, who spoke in Hausa language, was resting under a tree before a motorist parked to polish his shoes. There was a mild drama when Abdul insisted on collecting N100 for polishing a pair of black sandals while the motorist disagreed as he was ready to part with only N50. Abdul said the lockdown led to the increase in price as they later settled for N80.

A 35-year-old farmer and councilor representing Iwogu ward in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Ibrahim Kasimu Oboshi, also known as Ogah, has married two young women on the same day. He married Nazira Dahiru Ozegya and Rabi Isyaku Akose on March 28, 2020.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Trust Saturday, he said, “I am an orphan, self made farmer and now a councilor. As an orphan, I took up farming and school seriously. I made it in farming as I was able to take care of my mother and myself.

I later won election to represent my ward.” What gave me courage to marry two women same day He said that when many people heard he was planning to marry two wives on the same day, they wondered if he was a prince or son of a very rich man, but they were told he was a farmer. He further said, “I earned respect as a commercial farmer. I took farming more seriously than any other thing. Through farming, I earn a living and mingle freely with people.”

He said the most confusing challenge he had about his plan to marry two wives on the same day was how to inform his mother. But when he finally informed her, she asked if it was acceptable in Islam, his religion. She later enquired from imams and they told her that it is acceptable, so she gave her blessing. Asked how he met his brides, Oboshi said, “I started courting Nazira in our town, Keana.

She is kind and prayerful, so we kept planning for our future,’’ adding that he is really in love with her. Also, when he went to Obi Local Government Area, he saw Rabi and spoke to her and she accepted his proposal. He said when he told Nazira that he met another young woman and was planning to marry her as well, she did not object; rather, she prayed that it would be a blessing to them.

He also told Rabi that he wanted to marry her and another young woman on the same day and she said she was ready if he was serious. According to him, it was at that point that he had a rest of mind and started planning to marry them on the same day. He said people kept wondering if he was serious about his intention until he printed pre-wedding pictures with the two would-be brides. Oboshi said that because of his good reputation, parents of the brides did not query his plan to marry their daughters on the same day.

He said he was told that before he was born, two people in the town had married two women on the same date; hence his own marriage became the third. The first wedding fatiha with Nazira took place at Abawa compound in the Amiri area of Keana by 10am while the second one was conducted at the residence of Alhaji Ishaku Akose in the Odobu area of Obi Local Government at noon. Subsequently, the combined wedding reception took place in front of the palace of the traditional ruler of the town, the Osana of Keana, with the groom sitting between his brides.

Oboshi explained that though both wives moved to his house the same day, Nazira is the senior. Speaking on the number of guests he recorded during the events he said, “Many people who were invited from distant places did not attend because of the restriction of movement due to the cononavirus pandemic. But relatives and people of goodwill attended.

“I am praying that the pandemic would not come to Nasarawa State. Also, let God provide the cure and bring it to an end.” When contacted, the chairman of Keana Local Government, Alhaji Adamu Adigizi, did not comment on the wedding as he did not pick calls to his phone. But the member representing Keana in the House of Representatives, the Awe da Doma, Alhaji Abubakar Nalaraba said, “I want Ibrahim to know that he has now graduated to another level, where he has to lead with more wisdom.

He is not only a married man but a very responsible person who is to judge between himself and two women. He should ensure that there is peace in his house always.” The two wives said they were happy to be married with the man they love and that they would do all they could to make him happy.

The Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus (Covid-19), says it is yet to receive any money from the funds donated by the private sector towards the fight against covid-19 pandemic. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a member of the committee and the Minister of Information and Culture, disclosed this on Friday when he appeared on News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum to give update on the activities of the task force in the fight against the pandemic. Mohammed expressed dismay over reported calls by some Non-Governmental Organisation seeking the probe of the task force over the deployment of monies gathered from the donations. “We have not received even one kobo; people want us probed for how we spent monies we have not even seen.”

NAN reports that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party had, similarly called for the disbandment of the task force to be replaced by Eminent Nigerians Group to manage the donations from the private sector and palliatives from the federal government.

Mohammed said that such criticisms were unfounded. “I can say without any fear that as of this moment, the task force has not received a kobo from anybody. “The only money we will be able to account for is whatever money we receive from the federal government.

“The Nigeria Economy Group-led private sector has said it is not going to give a penny to the task force; it says it will only raise the money and ask us what our needs are,” he explained. Mohammed said that the task force had already compiled the needs. “We have asked for more equipment and facilities, especially for those who might test positive to the virus. “We anticipate a spike in the number of people that will test positive but there should be no cause for alarm.

“What we need now are equipment and bed facilities where those who have tested positive can be admitted because we do not want a situation where there will be no bed space. “When people test positive, it depends on the stage. If it is mild, such persons do not need to go to hospital. It can still be managed at the isolation centres.” The minister said that apart from the equipment such as the testing machines, ventilators and personnel protective equipment, the task force is working on ramp-up training of personnel to handle the equipment.

He said that in addition to the existing covid-19 testing centres set up by the task force, two had been newly opened in Ibadan and Abakaliki while that of Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Kano would join soon. The Minister added that in about a week’s time, two private concerns would also set up their laboratories to start running the test which would increase testing capacity to 5,000 per day. He said that Nigeria was also expecting the new technology that would increase testing capacity to about half a million per day.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recently said that monetary contributions by the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) had totaled up to about N15 billion so far. According to its spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, the fund, domiciled in an account set up under CACOVID, has so far received donations from 37 donors including individuals, banks and other corporate organisations.

Details of the contributions showed that the CBN and Aliko Dangote Foundation contributed N2 billion each. Abdul Samad Rabiu (BUA Sugar Refinery), Segun Agbaje (GTB), Tony Elumelu (UBA), Oba Otudeko (First Bank), Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank), Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank) and Femi Otedola of Amperion Power Distribution donated N1 billion each to the relief fund.(NAN)

* 3 test positive, 13 negative
* 39 ministers silent
* It’s a moral burden to declare – Lawyers CSOs react

The COVID-19 status of 20 out of the 36 states governors in the country is not known, findings by the Daily Trust have shown. It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had advised his colleagues to go for the test because of their exposure. The governors that are yet to make their status known are those of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Enugu, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Lagos state. The rest are those of Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, Kwara, Benue, Ebonyi, Kogi, Imo and Abia. However, three governors have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and made their status known using different platforms

They include Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna; and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. Nigerians from across the divide had commended what the three governors did, saying declaring their status was a good example and will encourage many people to go for the test.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had reportedly written to all the governors to self-isolate after undergoing test for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure. Daily Trust tally revealed that the results of thirteen governors who subjected themselves for the novel coronavirus test came out negative. They are the governors of Kebbi, Katsina, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Bayelsa, Ogun, Ondo, Nasarawa, Niger, Cross River, Anambra and Borno.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, alongside his aides, on Sunday joined the worship at Aso Villa Chapel online in compliance with social distancing rules as Nigeria continues to contain the spread of coronavirus. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in Abuja.

The vice president and his aides have been working under the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control precautionary directive. “Today, we just finished Sunday worship at the Aso Villa Chapel via live streaming service (online), as worshipers joined from the comfort of their homes. “As the Lord lives, we shall beat COVID-19,” Akande said. (NAN)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s long awaited address on the COVID-19 pandemic came empty and failed to address the salient demands of the impact of the scourge on the nation. The party in a statement Sunday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan noted that outside the social distancing and isolation, which Nigerians had already imposed on themselves, Buhari had no new solutions to offer the nation.

The PDP said that the address did not touch on the real necessities of the majority of Nigerians who reside in the states where Buhari had ordered a lockdown. “It is unfortunate that Mr. President failed to respond to demands on hope for medications, direct social palliatives, cut in taxes as well as reduction in the pump price of fuel even with the cut in the price of petroleum and crude oil in the international market.

“Our party notes as saddening that even in areas where Mr. President announced an ambitious intervention, such remained largely cosmetic as there are no clear palliative content but moratoriums on loans with no clear data for implementation. “Mr. President is reminded that already, the COVID-19 had affected the performance of those loans. Granting them moratoriums is therefore of no consequence to the capital and interest on them.

It is rather unfortunate that Nigerians had to wait this long for an address that came out empty and failed to respond to anxieties. “Moreover, Nigerians expected Mr. President to articulate an across-the-board and far-reaching strategy that would have captured the need of each state of the federation as they were today, instead of a parochial approach to a national anxiety.

“President Buhari should therefore go back, listen to the nation, retool his policy framework and implementation strategy to properly address the fears as well as the needs of Nigerians, including health safety measures and the real remedies that meet the anxieties of our nation at this critical time,” the party said