Nigeria Chief of Armed Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (seated in the middle), leading troops to frontally conquer, and take over the camp of the terrorist leader, Abubakar Shekau in Borno State.
General Buratai had earlier vowed not to return to the nation’s capital city of Abuja, the army headquarters where he has his office, until terrorists are finally defeated.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie EhanireMinister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has warned hospitals that are not accredited to treat coronavirus cases patients to desist from doing so or risk closure.
“I shall use this opportunity to again strongly advise health professionals against private or secret management of people who have COVID-19 outside of accredited health facilities. We cannot afford avoidable morbidity and mortality.
“Private facilities must obtain accreditation to treat this highly infectious disease. Practitioners engaging in unauthorised treatment of COVID-19, run the risk of being shut down for decontamination.”
Dr, Ehanire, who spoke to news men today, April 16, said that the focus now is to carry out more community testing and social mobilisation at the grassroots to ensure physical distancing.
He said that government will push out more messages and advisories on the use of masks or improvised face coverings like handkerchiefs or scarves for the mouth and nose, to reduce risk of transmission.
Photo cfredit: ABC NewsThe United States of America has announced the extension of lockdown for the purpose of controlling the spread of coronavirus to May 15, even as the United Kingdom extended the nationwide lockdown to three weeks.
The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, who announced the extension of the lockdown today, April 16, said: “non-essential workers must continue to stay home. Social distancing rules remain in place,” Cuomo tweeted, saying the extension was “in coordination with other states.”
Speaking at a daily news conference, the governor said the state continued to make progress in containing the spread of the virus thanks to social distancing policies.
“We’ve controlled the beast. We brought the rate of spread down.”
Cuomo said he is encouraged by the decreasing rate of hospitalisations, ICU admissions and intubations.
“What happens after then? I don’t know. We will see depending on what the data shows,” he said of the May 15 extension.
He said that the first step to reopening New York’s economy was “don’t let that infection rate go up.”
The state also needed to strengthen the health-care system and conduct widespread testing and contact tracing, for which “we need the federal government to work with us,” Cuomo said.
He said that 606 more people died of the virus, bringing the death toll to more than 12,000 in the state, the epicentre of the pandemic in the U.S.
New York City, which is particularly hard-hit, is set to use 11,000 empty hotel rooms, initially meant to serve as temporary hospitals, for people who need to quarantine, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
He said the city will offer the rooms to those in overcrowded homes and hard-hit neighbourhoods, health-care workers and the homeless.
This is even as the United Kingdom announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown for three weeks to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
Dominic Raab, who is deputizing for Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, that is recuperates from coronavirus complications, said that the order was to prevent new outbreaks of the virus.
“Relaxing any of the measures currently in place would risk damage to both public health and the economy.”
The UK has the fifth-highest official death toll from COVID-19 in the world, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France.
The announcement, which had been widely expected, means Britons must stay at home unless they are shopping for basic necessities or meeting medical needs.
Citizens are allowed to exercise in public once a day, and can travel to work if they are unable to work from home.
Source: NAN.
Photo credit: UNICEFUNThe United Nations (UN) has announced that it had received for delivery to Nigeria, among others, some amount of vaccines to support the fight against coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Others, described as vital health supplies, on a flight funded by APM Terminals, are 10,000 test kits, 15 oxygen concentrators, and various personal protective equipment (PPE); IEHK/PEP kits, aimed at providing support to the Nigerian Government’s coronavirus Response Plan and UNICEF’s work with children and families in Nigeria.
A statement today, April 16, by the Chief of Communications, United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria, Eliana Drakopoulos, did not disclose the number of the vaccines and what are the functions of such vaccines as well as where they were being brought from, but said that the supplies will support the Government of Nigeria, through the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), to prevent and respond to coronavirus pandemic in affected states across the country.
“The supplies are co-financed by the European Union (EU) and IHS Nigeria, the Nigerian subsidiary of IHS Towers.
“Additional COVID-19 response supplies are expected in a UN joint flight to be delivered to Nigeria in the coming days.
The statement explained that the personal protection equipment (PPEs) will protect medical personnel and ancillary staff who are the first responders in the frontline, providing care and treatment to people affected by the virus.
“The test kits will enable healthcare workers to test those who suspect they may have the virus to verify their health status, so they can get treatment and protect their families and communities.
“We know that to limit the spread of the virus, it is important to test as many people as possible, especially those with recent travel history and those who came into contact with travelers. These test kits will support Nigeria’s drive to control the transmission of COVID-19 infections and support the Government’s ongoing strong efforts to protect the country from an escalating pandemic.”
The statement also quoted the UN’s Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, as saying that since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Nigeria in late February, the UN has been supporting the Government of Nigeria to respond to the pandemic through risk communications and community engagement, infection prevention and control, epidemiology/surveillance and management of coronavirus cases.
“Working with government and other partners, the UN is developing and disseminating messages, infographics, and audio-visual material informing the public about the risks of COVID-19 across the country, and how to protect oneself.
“Working closely together with the Government and other partners, including the private sector, is the surest way of preventing and containing the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for the support of the EU and IHS in getting these vital supplies to strengthen the UN’s efforts in helping the Government of Nigeria to address the COVID-19 challenge,” said Edward Kallon.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has raised the hope of Muslims that want to perform the 2020 pilgrimage in Makkah and Madinah but are scared that coronavirus pandemic might push the Saudi Arabian authorities to cancel it.
A statement today, April 16 by the Commission’s spokesperson, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, quoted the chairman as telling Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), in an interview that he is optimistic that from what he is getting from the Saudi Ministry of Health, the Kingdom will hopefully witness a decline of coronavirus in the country from April 21st and possible its eradication by May 2020.
“This therefore gives the Commission hope that there is a tendency of the Hajj taking place if the Almighty wills it to take place. This explains why NAHCON has not stopped preparations towards 2020 Hajj.”
The Chairman said that he and senior management staff have been reporting to the office and deliberating on every development as a result of the pandemic.
Alhaji Zikrullahi Hassan encouraged intending pilgrims not to feel reluctant in making Hajj fare deposits as a situation may arise where number of pilgrims may be reduced as a strategy towards managing coronavirus pandemic.
“Should this happen, slots will be offered to intending pilgrims on first come first serve formula.”
The chairman therefore asked Muslims intending to participate in the 2020 pilgrimage to pray and imbibe all the necessary physical, mental and spiritual readiness towards performing the Hajj.
The NAHCON boss assured that all arrangements entered with Saudi Arabian service providers are legally backed and that the Commission does not anticipate any monetary losses on its side.
“Though a 5 percent commitment has been made from the Commission’s purse prior to Saudi Arabia’s directive to keep Hajj preparations on hold, however, this does not affect intending pilgrims nor their funds.”
He assured that pilgrims who made deposits will be fully repaid if Hajj 2020 is cancelled and if such depositors request for a refund.
“They may also choose to keep their deposits lodged with the Commission until the following year’s Hajj. Whichever option the intending pilgrims choose, the Commission is fully prepared.”
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is believed to have performed wonder for the first quarter of 2020, by generating a total sum of N1,203,310,372,900.34 which is
The Hausa/Fulani Development Association in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has appealed to the federal government to remember them in the distribution of the palliative package proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari, especially the one for the capital city.
President Muhammadu Buhari in practical social distancing mode with his guests and aides at the Presidential villa, Abuja, in this era of coronavirus pandemic.
A medical doctor, Chugbo Emeka has been confirmed dead of coronavirus at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
