INSTANT NEWS

Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, yesterday disclosed that he has tested negative for COVID-19.

The governor who had tested positive for the virus on March 30, said yesterday evening via his Twitter that he now tests negative for the virus.

He said he received his second negative test for the virus yesterday evening while appreciating those who supported him with prayers during the intervening period between when he tested positive and negative for the virus.

“I am deeply moved by your prayers and support throughout this period. I am so thankful. This evening, I received my second negative test result for COVID-19. I especially thank Prof Temitope Alonge, who acted in my stead as Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force.

“I am also grateful to all members of the Task Force for their cooperation during this time. I will be resuming my responsibility as Head of the Task Force from tomorrow,” he tweeted.

In a bid to ensure that the toll-free 3-digit National Emergency Number, 112, is being put to effective use in this critical time of Coronavirus pandemic, and national objective of enhancing security of lives and properties, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, paid surprise visits to the Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) in Kano and Kaduna yesterday.Danbatta’s visits were informed by his realization that, with Coronavirus spreading across the globe and more people living in isolation, the NCC’s 112 toll-free number could play a crucial role of providing effective alternatives for people to reach out to relevant agencies with a view to securing help in times of emergency.

During his visits to the two centres, Danbatta had extensive interactions with the personnel on ground, as he asked various questions bordering on the incoming call traffic volume and how the calls are effectively dispatched to various emergency response agencies (ERA) connected to the centres for a prompt response, especially the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC).

He also took his time to find out if the centres were facing any challenges that needed to be addressed for their optimum efficiencies and effectiveness towards delivering on their mandates.

The EVC urged the personnel on duty at the two ECCs to see their work as national assignments on saving the lives of fellow Nigerians in terms of emergencies.

“As you all are aware, the country in on lockdown in Lagos, the Ogun States and FCT, and I will, therefore, enjoin you to always ensure you don’t miss any call that comes into the centre. You will also be expected to ensure prompt dispatch of calls received to the relevant emergency response agencies so that there is no any dereliction of duty that will result in loss of lives and property to our fellow Nigerians, who may even be our close relatives,” Danbatta urged the excited personnel.

Speaking further, the NNC boss advised the personnel to observe sanitary measures like hand washing and social distancing at the centres.

In both Kaduna and Kano centres, the managers told the EVC that they had been receiving coronavirus-related calls.

The personnel also appreciated the visits of the EVC to the centres which they variously described as ‘a morale booster’, ‘a good regulatory oversight’ and ‘an encouragement’ for them to be more committed to their assigned roles at the emergency communications centres.

As NCC project mandated in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, the implementation of the ECC got a boost when Danbatta became the country’s telecoms regulator-in-chief in 2015.

Till date, 18 of the centres have been built and are operational in all 17 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Each of the ECCs is equipped with 11 Workstations (10 for call taking and one for the Supervisor); a server system that receives and processes 112-calls from members of the public and then dispatches the calls to the appropriate Agency that has responsibility to attend to the specific emergency.

Facilities in the ECC also include power supply mix consisting of public power supply from the national grid, two (2) units of 100KVA generators; and two (2) units of 20KVA UPS powered by 160 units of 100AH inverter batteries and a 10KVA UPS powered by 16 units of 100AH inverter batteries; and six dispatch workstations for the Response Agencies.

The significance of the ECC project was underscored by President Muhammadu Buhari, on March 19, 2020, when unveiled the 112 National Emergency Number and ECC for the FCT, describing it as a project that will complement the Federal Government’s efforts enhancing the security of lives and property in the country.

Today, states, relevant agencies of governments and individuals Nigerians are making use of the 112 Number to seek help during emergencies, and more importantly, at this critical time when the government is working round-the-clock to curtail the spread of  COVID-19 pandemic.

In December last year, the NCC and Danbatta received separate awards of ‘Corporate Social responsibility Award in Security and Emergency Management’ and ‘Nigeria’s Goodwill Ambassador for Security and Emergency Management’ respectively during first-ever Security and Emergency Management Awards (SAEMA 2019) held in Abuja by the Emergency Digest, in conjunction with the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).

The Captioned Photo: The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Danbatta,

WITH advice to Lagosians against stigmatisation, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has confirmed the discharge of an additional five patients who previously tested positive for COVID-19.

The governor broke the news through his verified Twitter handle @jidesanwolu yesterday in Lagos.

He called on members of the public to collaborate and support the discharged patients to get over their experiences as fast as possible.

Sanwo-Olu twitted: “Today, I am happy to inform you that five more patients, comprising two males and three females, including a 10-year-old girl have tested negative twice to #COVID-19.

“These five patients have been discharged to reunite with their families.

“This brings to a total of 29 the numbers of patients who have fully recovered and have been discharged from our facility at Yaba.”

“I need to reiterate that the result of tests conducted by our health workers on the recovered patients is a confirmation that they pose no threat to the community.

“I will like to use this opportunity to advise Lagosians against stigmatising the discharged patients as this act could bring feelings of shame, hopelessness and despair. We need to do all we can to support them in whatever form to get over the memories as soon as possible.”

The governor thanked the frontline health workers who have been taking care of patients and members of the Lagos State health family and the Emergency Operation Centre for their kindness and flexibility in managing the patients and checking the spread of the disease.

“As the disease ravages countries all over the world, Lagos State will continue to do what is necessary in terms of responding to emergencies in an effort to ensure the health and wellbeing of our people.

“We will do our best to make sure that other patients at the facility receive the best of care and attention so that they can return home to join their families and the community soonest.

“In order to contain the spread of the disease, I strongly advise you to continue observing social distancing. Let us remain indoors and shun the temptation to breach the presidential restriction that has been placed on our state so that the gains recorded so far are not eroded.

“You should regularly, and thoroughly, wash your hands with soap and clean, running water and where water is not readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser can be used.

“It has come to our notice that some of our youths still engage in sporting and related activities, this is very unfortunate. This act could jeopardise our efforts and the laudable intention of the lockdown. I therefore advise you to adhere strictly to our instructions so that together we can win the battle,” the governor advised.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had earlier announced the death of a 36-year-old patient (Nigerian). The man died of COVID-19 in the state.

Announcing the death through his Twitter handle Prof. Abayomi said the death marked the second COVID-19 patient recorded in the state.

He said: “We lost a #COVID-19 patient; a 36-year-old Nigerian, male, who died in a private facility on April 4, 2020. The total number of #COVID-19 patients who have died are now two.”

Abayomi, however, did not give further information about the patient’s medical history.

The Management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) said one of the three patients, who was confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19, has died.

The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, stated this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday in Benin.

“The two surviving patients are currently being cared for by our dedicated staff in an isolation ward, with restricted access.

It is no more news that one of Nigeria finest entrepreneur, business mugul, media influencer and a father to a talented Musician in the country – Femi Otedola, has been showing his patriotic, philanthropic and generosity towards his country.
The recent Covid-19 19 Outbreak has gone further to prove the above assertion.

He announced he was donating 1 billion Naira with other well meaning Nigerians such the former vice president of the country Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu etc.

As a man who keeps his word, he has proven to the people again that his word is his bond. The Billionaire in dollars took to his Instagram handle to show proof he has redeemed his pledge. Nigerian are undoubtedly thankful and grateful to this well meaning Nigeria.

The central bank of Nigeria CBN, released the number of people who have redeemed their pledge donated for the fight against Coronavirus which has infected more than 1 million people in the world.

Nigeria has recorded 224 infected cases and 5 dead across the country.
There is no medicine or vaccine to cure the disease or reduce its spread yet. Scientists are working hard around the world to find a lasting solution.

The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of N5000 to over 1millioin indigents across the country.

The disbursement came following the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the conditional cash transfers for the next two months be paid immediately to beneficiaries.

The disbursement was done on Wednesday in Kwali Central Area Council of FCT by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq.

The Minister disbursed N20,000 as payment for four months to over 100 beneficiaries at the payment point in Kwali.

Speaking during the disbursement, she said: “The exercise commenced about five years ago and it is geared towards supporting the poor and vulnerable households of our society.

“We give them monthly stipends of N5000 every month and now that we have these restrictions, Mr. President has directed that we give them two months advance payment and we are here today to carry out that directive of paying the two months advance payment.”

On the number of beneficiaries, Farouq said: “We have over a million people across the country. For the FCT and this particular area Council, we are giving about 5000 households in this area.”

On how the beneficiaries were identified, she said: “It is a very long process and many people like religious leaders, community leaders and different groups all came together to identify poorest and vulnerable households in their community.”

On the claim that the beneficiaries were members of a particular political party, she said: “it is untrue and you can confirm from the beneficiaries of the process of selection.”

Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, says it is illegal to deploy soldiers during the lockdown over coronavirus.

In a national broadcast on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered a lockdown of Ogun, Abuja and Lagos from 11pm on Monday.

But Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, said he succeeded in convincing Buhari to extend that of his state till Friday to enable food supply.

There had been criticisms over Buhari’s decision to restrict movement in those areas because, according to some lawyers, there was no legal backing.

But the president later signed quarantine regulations on lockdown. Femi Adesina, his spokesman, said the regulations, effective March 30, 2020, “gave legal backing to the various measures outlined in the President’s National Broadcast on March 29, 2020, such as Restriction/Cessation of Movement in Lagos, FCT and Ogun State and others toward containing the spread of the pandemic in the country”.

In a statement, Falana said while the president has the powers to adopt any measures to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, the plan to deploy troops should be reconsidered.

“Following the national broadcast of President Buhari on the COVID-19 pandemic, some lawyers have questioned the constitutional validity of the restriction of locomotion of people in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states. No doubt, the President is empowered to adopt any measures deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease but such measures have to be spelt out in a Regulation made pursuant to section 305 of the Constitution or under the Quarantine Act. Otherwise, the presidential order on the restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police,” he said.

“However, while the nation’s armed forces should be commended for making their medical facilities available to members of the public in the fight against the highly dangerous virus the plan to dispatch armed soldiers to the streets to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines should be shelved because it is illegal.

“For the umpteenth time, I am compelled to draw the attention of the military authorities to the case of Yussuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR (Pt ) where Salami JCA (as he then was) held that “It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarized. This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious steps should be taken to civilianise the polity and thereby ensure the survival of and sustenance of democracy.”

Falana advised the military to focus more on the war against insurgency in the north-east while the police and allied security agencies should be allowed to enforce the COVID-19 regulations and guidelines.