Lalong Vows To Cut The Spread of Covid-19

By Peter Akpah

PLATEAU STATE GOVERNOR SPEAKS OF RISING COVID-19 CASES; VOWS TIGHTER ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS TO CUT COMMUNITY SPREAD.

As Covid-19 cases in Plateau State rise to 17, with one discharged, Governor Simon Bako Lalong is asking citizens of the State not to panic, but to continue to strictly adhere to regulations put in place to contain the disease and curtail community spread.
Governor Lalong while responding to the rise in the number of cases said the development calls for concerted efforts to achieve effective contact-tracing and stop community spread which is now the major challenge.
He said, “My message to the people of Plateau State is to commend them for complying with the regulations we put in place. If we had not taken the steps we adopted, the situation will have been more worrisome. This is the time to concentrate on contact tracing to be able to ascertain the magnitude of the pandemic on our people. The best thing is to check and address it instead of sitting and arguing. Already, the index case has been treated ad discharged while the others are doing well.”
He urged citizens of the state to continue to comply with the guidelines for restriction of movement, use of face marks, adhering to social distancing and observing hygiene and sanitation requirements.
“We are now going into aggressive enforcement of the regulations we rolled out as that is the best way for us to contain the rising cases. From all the cases we have, there is none that originated within the State. All of them are from people who sneaked into the State from our borders despite the closure. We will not allow this to continue especially at this time that we are doing contact tracing and working hard to curb community spread,” he said.
Governor Lalong also described as unfortunate the situation where some people violate laid down regulations aimed at tackling the virus and try to persuade others to disregard Government directives on the claim that covid-19 is not real.
“It is sad and unfair for people to take this position and try to instigate others to disregard our regulations. Covid-19 is real and for me, I lost two friends recently, one in Lagos and the other in Bauchi. They were both classmates and lawyers. Let us not put people at risk by not only being careless, but discouraging them from doing the right thing. I appeal to our people to take serious precaution and stay at home while observing all the regulations”, the Governor said.
Lalong also reminded the citizens of the State that the total lockdown in the State earlier relaxed resumes midnight of Sunday 10th May 2020, and violators will be arrested and prosecuted.
He also reiterated that all exempted motorists coming into the State will not be allowed in after 6pm until the next day 7am when they will be thoroughly screened and certified before entry.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director Press & Public Affairs to the
Governor of Plateau State.
10th May 2020.

As Covid-19 cases in Plateau State rise to 17, with one discharged, Governor Simon Bako Lalong is asking citizens of the State not to panic, but to continue to strictly adhere to regulations put in place to contain the disease and curtail community spread.
Governor Lalong while responding to the rise in the number of cases said the development calls for concerted efforts to achieve effective contact-tracing and stop community spread which is now the major challenge.
He said, “My message to the people of Plateau State is to commend them for complying with the regulations we put in place. If we had not taken the steps we adopted, the situation will have been more worrisome. This is the time to concentrate on contact tracing to be able to ascertain the magnitude of the pandemic on our people. The best thing is to check and address it instead of sitting and arguing. Already, the index case has been treated ad discharged while the others are doing well.”
He urged citizens of the state to continue to comply with the guidelines for restriction of movement, use of face marks, adhering to social distancing and observing hygiene and sanitation requirements.
“We are now going into aggressive enforcement of the regulations we rolled out as that is the best way for us to contain the rising cases. From all the cases we have, there is none that originated within the State. All of them are from people who sneaked into the State from our borders despite the closure. We will not allow this to continue especially at this time that we are doing contact tracing and working hard to curb community spread,” he said.
Governor Lalong also described as unfortunate the situation where some people violate laid down regulations aimed at tackling the virus and try to persuade others to disregard Government directives on the claim that covid-19 is not real.
“It is sad and unfair for people to take this position and try to instigate others to disregard our regulations. Covid-19 is real and for me, I lost two friends recently, one in Lagos and the other in Bauchi. They were both classmates and lawyers. Let us not put people at risk by not only being careless, but discouraging them from doing the right thing. I appeal to our people to take serious precaution and stay at home while observing all the regulations”, the Governor said.
Lalong also reminded the citizens of the State that the total lockdown in the State earlier relaxed resumes midnight of Sunday 10th May 2020, and violators will be arrested and prosecuted.
He also reiterated that all exempted motorists coming into the State will not be allowed in after 6pm until the next day 7am when they will be thoroughly screened and certified before entry.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director Press & Public Affairs to the
Governor of Plateau State.
10th May 2020.

[UPDATED]Nigeria Records 239 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Exceed 4,000

By Peter Akpah

Nigeria has reported 239 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the total number of infections in the country to 4,151 cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed the new cases in a tweet on Saturday night.

According to the agency, 97 of the cases were in Lagos, 44 in Bauchi, 29 in Kano, and 19 in Katsina.

Borno States had 17 cases, the Federal Capital Territory had seven cases, Kwara had six, Oyo had five, while Kaduna, Sokoto and Adamawa states had three cases each.

Kebbi, Ogun, and Plateau states each had two cases, while Ekiti had one new case.

Since February 27 when Nigeria confirmed its index COVID-19 case, the virus has spread with cases confirmed in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

Of the 4,151 people who have been infected in the country, 745 have recovered while 128 have sadly lost their lives.

Lagos remains the epicentre to the pandemic in Nigeria with 1,764 confirmed cases or 42.5 percent of total infections.

It is followed by Kano State, which has 576 cases and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja with 343 cases.

[ICYMI] COVID-19: Isolation Centres Are Running Out of Bed Spaces – SGF

By Peter Akpah

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has said that isolation and treatment centres in the country are running out of bed spaces.

He revealed this on Friday during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

The SGF, however, noted that efforts are being intensified to increase the number of treatment centres in the country.

“We have received reports from the states, which suggests that the treatment centres are running out of bed spaces. As we assess the situation, the PTF shall also begin to examine our peculiar circumstances, modify the strategies for care management, and consider viable alternatives, where necessary. At the appropriate time, the guidelines and protocols shall be unfolded,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also noted that as of Thursday, May 7, the country recorded the highest number of cases in a single day.

While admitting that the situation might be worrisome, he, however, noted that it is largely a function of the country’s improved testing capacity.

The SGF also added that the number of infections does not translate to an increased fatality rate.

Speaking about the level of compliance to guidelines on the easing of the lockdown, Mustapha said the PTF has met with heads of security agencies and asked them to ensure strict enforcement of the inter-state travel restrictions as part of efforts to curb the community transmission of the pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Called For Clinical Trials of Madagascar’s Covid Organics, a Herbal Drink.

By Peter Akpah

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday called for clinical trials of Madagascar’s Covid Organics, a herbal drink that is said to prevent and cure patients suffering from the novel coronavirus or COVID-19.

“We are advising the government of Madagascar to take this product through a clinical trial and we are prepared to collaborate with them,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, told a joint media briefing with the WHO and World Economic Forum.

“We would caution and advise countries against adopting a product that has not been through clinical tests for safety and efficacy,” Moeti said.

“We are concerned about the impact that COVID-19 will have on the ability of African countries to progress towards Universal health coverage,” she added.

There are over 51,000 confirmed virus cases in the African continent, with more than 17,000 associated recoveries and 1,900 deaths, according to the WHO.

“We know that to stop the spread of this virus, key public health measures need to be in place in every community… even where cases have not been reported, readiness capacities should be prepositioned,” the WHO official said.

She added that WHO was “working with countries to leverage the assets they have in place already, built in preparedness for Ebola and HIV, TB and polio program among others, as well as to scale-up coordination, mobilize people and repair supply chains globally and locally.”

“It’s not a matter of simply today we have lockdowns and tomorrow everything is opened up. It has to be gradual with the most essential parts of the economy being opened up first,” Moeti said.

Several African countries have lifted the partial lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the virus, but the ban on gatherings is still in place.

While educational facilities remain closed in most African countries, businesses have been allowed to operate conditionally.

African governments say there is need to resume economic activities with imperative to contain the virus.

Moeti said they have guidelines from WHO on “progressively releasing these measures

Covid-19 Plateau Recorded Another 10 Confirmed Cases As Nigeria confirmed 386 New Cases.

By Peter Akpah

Nigeria Records 386 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 3,91

A graphic created by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on May 8, 2020, showing the nation’s COVID-19 statistics.

The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), has confirmed 386 new COVID-19 cases in the country, taking Nigeria’s total cases to 3,912.

This is the highest number of new cases recorded in a day.

Of the 386, the NCDC said in a tweet, 176 were reported in Lagos, 65 in Kano, 31 in Katsina, 20 in the FCT, and 17 in Borno.

The NCDC also noted that 679 of the 3,912 cases have been successfully treated and discharged, while 117 cases have resulted in deaths.

Earlier on Friday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said that isolation and treatment centres in the country are running out of bed spaces.

“We have received reports from the states, which suggests that the treatment centres are running out of bed spaces,” Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said.

“As we assess the situation, the PTF shall also begin to examine our peculiar circumstances, modify the strategies for care management, and consider viable alternatives, where necessary. At the appropriate time, the guidelines and protocols shall be unfolded.”

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 271,780 people since the outbreak first emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1900 GMT on Friday.

More than 3,896,790 cases were registered in 195 countries and territories. Of these, at least 1,268,000 are now considered recovered.

The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.

Many countries are testing only the most serious cases.

Since Thursday at 1900 GMT, there have been 4,862 new deaths and 90,352 new infections recorded worldwide.

The United States recorded the highest number of new deaths with 1,257, followed by Britain with 626 and Brazil with 610.

The US also has the highest number of total deaths with 76,101 out of 1,271,775 cases. At least 195,036 have been declared recovered.

Britain now has the second-highest toll with 31,241 deaths from 211,364 cases.

It is followed by Italy with 30,201 deaths and 217,185 cases, Spain with 26,299 fatalities and 222,857 infections and France with 26,230 deaths and 174,791 cases — although French authorities did not update the country’s number of infections on Friday.

The country with the highest number of deaths compared to its population is Belgium, with 74 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Spain with 56, Italy 50, Britain 46 and France 40.

China — excluding Hong Kong and Macau — has to date declared 4,633 deaths and 82,886 cases. It has 77,993 recovered cases.

Europe has a total of 153,690 deaths from 1,681,558 cases, the United States and Canada have 80,754 deaths and 1,338,087 cases, Latin America and the Caribbean have 17,520 deaths and 324,309 cases, Asia has 10,163 deaths and 277,011 cases, the Middle East has 7,423 deaths and 212,644 cases, Africa has 2,105 deaths from 54,944 cases, and Oceania 125 deaths from 8,245 cases.

Please note that due to corrections by national authorities or late publication of data, the figures updated over the past 24-hour period may not correspond exactly to the previous day’s tallies.

Plateau PDP State Excos Get Tenure Extension as State Caretaker Committee As the tenure of the present Executives.

By Peter Akpah

Plateau PDP State Plateau PDP State Excos Get Tenure Extension as State the reconstitution of the present State Executive Committee Members into State Caretaker Committee.

This decision was contained in a letter addressed to the State Chairman of the Party, Hon. Gwott Yakubu Chocho dated 6th May, 2020 duly signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (Rtr).

The letter reads:

RECONSTITUTION OF ALL CURRENT STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS (EXCO MEMBERS) INTO STATE CARETAKER COMMITTEE IN PLATEAU STATE

I wish to formally informed you that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, on behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) has, pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) and 31(2)(e) of our great party’s Constitution (2017 as amended), approved the reconstitution of the current State Executive Committee Members of your State into State Caretaker Committee.

Accordingly, the current Exco Members upon the expiring of the tenure act as Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Party until a new State Executive Committee is elected; provided that they shall not serve in such capacity for more than 3 Months from May 10th, 2020.

You may recall that due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Country and the Federal Government’s Stay-at-Home directives, our scheduled State Congress in your State could not be conducted. Bearing mind that the tenure of the current State Exco will be expiring within the next few days and in order to avoid leaving a vacuum, the NWC considers it necessary and urgent to take this action on behalf of NEC.

Please treat urgent and acknowledge the receipt of this letter.

While thanking you for your cooperation and hard work, please accept the assurances of the NWC’s highest regards.

As the tenure of the present Executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State expires on 10th May, 2020, the National Working Committee of the Party has approved the reconstitution of the present State Executive Committee Members into State Caretaker Committee.

This decision was contained in a letter addressed to the State Chairman of the Party, Hon. Gwott Yakubu Chocho dated 6th May, 2020 duly signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (Rtr).

The letter reads:

RECONSTITUTION OF ALL CURRENT STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS (EXCO MEMBERS) INTO STATE CARETAKER COMMITTEE IN PLATEAU STATE

I wish to formally informed you that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, on behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) has, pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) and 31(2)(e) of our great party’s Constitution (2017 as amended), approved the reconstitution of the current State Executive Committee Members of your State into State Caretaker Committee.

Accordingly, the current Exco Members upon the expiring of the tenure act as Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Party until a new State Executive Committee is elected; provided that they shall not serve in such capacity for more than 3 Months from May 10th, 2020.

You may recall that due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Country and the Federal Government’s Stay-at-Home directives, our scheduled State Congress in your State could not be conducted. Bearing mind that the tenure of the current State Exco will be expiring within the next few days and in order to avoid leaving a vacuum, the NWC considers it necessary and urgent to take this action on behalf of NEC.

Please treat urgent and acknowledge the receipt of this letter.

While thanking you for your cooperation and hard work, please accept the assurances of the NWC’s highest regards.

Nigeria Records 381 New COVID-19 Cases, Including Plateau Total Infections Now 3,526

By Peter Akpah

Nigeria has recorded 381 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 3,526.

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control(NCDC), confirmed this in a tweet on Thursday.

This is the highest number of cases recorded in a single day in the country.

Of the new cases, 183 are in Lagos, 55 are in Kano, 44 in Jigawa while 19 each are in Zamfara and Bauchi.

11 are in Katsina, nine in Borno, eight in Kwara, seven in Kaduna, six in Gombe, five in Ogun, four in Sokoto, three in Oyo and in Rivers, two in Niger and one each in Akwa-Ibom, Enugu and Plateau states.

The latest figures come amid concerns about the level of compliance with the guidelines released by the Federal Government for easing the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory. There have also been concerns about the level of compliance with the interstate lockdown which is in effect.

President Muhammadu Buhari had announced the easing of the lockdown in all three places and imposed and interstate lockdown during his nationwide broadcast on Monday, April 27.

Many Nigerians have, however, failed to comply with the guidelines, prompting the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to warn that full lockdown could be reintroduced if violations continue.

During its briefing on Thursday, the PTF condemned what it said was the high level of compromise among some security officials in the enforcement of the night curfew and the ban on interstate travel.

The task force also asked state governments to improve security and welfare at the various isolation and treatment centres across the country.

The call was in reaction to recent protests and cases of patients escaping from some isolation centres because of alleged poor treatment.

Since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the country on February 27, 3,525 more cases have been confirmed.

So far, 601 people have recovered from the virus and have been discharged while 107 people have sadly died.

PLATEAU STATE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN RELAXATION: A REMINDER

By Peter Akpah

PLATEAU STATE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN RELAXATION: A REMINDER

Further to the Statewide broadcast by Plateau State Governor Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong where he announced the pattern for the total lockdown of the State and its relaxation in the fight against COVID-19, it is important to reiterate the following.
1. That the total lockdown shall be relaxed Midnight of every Thursday till Sunday midnight when it will resume. This pattern will apply until further review.
2. That inter-Local Government movement is restricted except for people on essential services.
3. All borders into the State shall remain closed except for essential services that have been exempted.
4. That the curfew announced by the Federal Government from 8pm to 6am will be in force during the period when the total lockdown is relaxed.
5. That the mandatory use of face masks in public places shall be observed and enforced.
6. That the requirements for use of sanitizers, hand washing, sanitation and hygiene shall continue to apply.
7. That all places of worship must adhere strictly to the gathering of not more than 50 persons while observing laid down regulations for sanitation and social distancing.
8. That all other directives regarding closure of social joints, ban on festivals and anniversaries, street hawking and transport regulations remain in force.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
7th May 2020.

Infectious Disease Bill Is Superfluous, Unconstitutional – Falana

By Peter Akpah

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, says there is no need for the Infectious Diseases Bill

The proposed Infectious Diseases Bill co-sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and two of his colleagues has been described as superfluous, illegal and unconstitutional.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, made this known in Wednesday that the efforts to replace the Quarantine Act was a waste of time as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Act of 2018 has taken care of what the lawmakers are trying to achieve.

Mr Falana, who spoke about the controversial bill during an appearance, via Skype, on Politics Today, said, “It is pertinent to inform Nigerians that in November 2018, a law was enacted in this country – the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Act, NCDC Act, which has taken care of infectious diseases in the country.

“So, it is not correct, in fact, it is misleading on the part of the House of Representatives to say that it is amending the 1926 Quarantine Act because there is already a development between 1926 and now. You had the 2018 Act which has taken care of the entire provisions of the new bill.

“The new bill, as far as the law is concerned, is superfluous. Its provisions are largely illegal and unconstitutional.”

A close look at some sections of the said Act shows that the legislation empowers the NCDC to prevent, detect, monitor and control of national and international public health importance.

The law also empowers the NCDC to develop and coordinate capabilities, measures and activities to control outbreaks and mitigate the health impact of public health disasters.

As Nigeria battles the raging COVID-19 pandemic, several measures have been implemented to halt the spread of the virus which has infected 2,950 people in the country and claimed 98 lives.

The introduction of the infectious disease bill has, however, proved controversial with many calling for it to be dumped.

On Tuesday, in reaction to the controversy surrounding the bill, Mr Gbajabiamila defended it, saying it was conceived in public interest.

Gbajabiamila while addressing his colleagues at the resumption of plenary noted that since the introduction of the Bill a week ago, it drew a barrage of criticisms against it, with allegations of sinister motives.

“None of these allegations are true. Unfortunately, we now live in a time when conspiracy theories have gained such currency that genuine endeavours in the public interest can quickly become mischaracterised and misconstrued to raise the spectre of sinister intent and ominous possibility,” he said.

“This House of Representatives will never take any action that purposes to bring harm to any Nigerian here at home or abroad. As we have thus far shown by our conduct, the resolutions and actions we take in this 9th House of Representatives will always be in the best interests of the Nigerian people who elected us, and no one else.

“In the recent uproar, certain fundamental truths have been lost and are worth remembering. Our current framework for the prevention and management of infectious diseases is obsolete and no longer fit for purpose.

“The current law severely constrains the ability of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to take proactive action to prevent the entry into Nigeria of infectious diseases and the management of public health emergencies when they occur,” he said.

NORTHERN GOVERNORS CONDOLE SOKOTO, ZAMFARA STATES; AND CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF.

By Peter Akpah

NORTHERN GOVERNORS CONDOLE SOKOTO, ZAMFARA STATES; AND CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF.

The Northern Governors Forum has condoled with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai, over the demise of his mother, Hajiya Hauwa Yusuf Buratai.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong in a condolence message described the death of Hajiya Hauwa Buratai as a great loss to her family, Borno State and the Nation in general.
He said “We share in this painful loss and deeply commiserate with the Chief of Army Staff who has devoted his career and energy to the fight against terrorism, banditary as well as other crimes that threaten Nigeria’s territorial integrity. We pray that the Almighty God will grant the soul of the departed matriarch eternal rest and comfort the family”.
In a related development, Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Simon Bako Lalong has sent condolences to the Government and people of Sokoto and Zamfara States over the death former civilian Governor of the old Sokoto State, Dr. Garba Nadama.
Governor Lalong expressed sadness over the death of Dr. Garba Nadama, who he said was not only a great historian, but remained a major source of inspiration and institutional capacity building for Governance in Nigeria.
Lalong said the nation will miss the great contributions of the former Governor who combined academics with politics in a refined manner that motivated others and enhanced good governance in the old Sokoto State during the second Republic.
While commiserating with the Governments of the two States, and the family of the deceased, Lalong prayed Almighty God to forgive the sins of the departed and comfort the family.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum.
7th May 2020.

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