Sourcenews24/update.com

COVID-19 Palliatives: Family Members Can’t Receive Double Money, Says FG

By Peter Akpah

COVID-19 Palliatives: Family Members Can’t Receive

Double Money, Says FG

The Federal Government has made some clarifications about the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme currently ongoing in many states across the country.

According to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Farouq, members from the same family cannot receive money more than once.

Farouq disclosed this on Tuesday, while responding to questions at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19.

Addressing claims that two members of a family were paid N20,000 each recently, the minister said it was highly impossible for such to happen.

“This is near impossible because the process involved is a very tedious process, where all critical stakeholders in the community are involved.

“The community leaders and the faith-based organisations, the youths and women leaders in that particular community are the ones that come up with the list of poor and vulnerable ones in that community,” the minister said.

She, however, noted that the ministry would investigate the claims, even though it would be almost impossible for such to happen.

Meanwhile, she disclosed that the government is set to expand the social register for palliative distribution by employing digital models including the use of Bank Verification Number (BVN).

This, according to her, will be faster and make the distribution process more effective.

Farouq also addressed other issues such as the distribution of the 70,000 grains approved by the president to the three states that have been placed on lockdown, as well as other frontline states.

“So far, we’ve deployed 279 trucks of these grains to these three affected states (Lagos, Ogun and the FCT),” she said.

Covid-19 we’ve Denied Several Governors Flight Requests Says Aviation- Minister

By Peter Akpah

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the ministry has denied the flight requests of several governors, since the closure of the airports and the lockdown order by President Muhammadu Buhari as a result of the COVID-19.

He said this during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, while responding to questions about some ongoing flights.

The minister also stressed that governors are not exempt from the lockdown and no-flight orders.

According to him, 98% of any ongoing flights, are either essential flights relating to the COVID-19, or repatriation requests.

“Every single flight that you would see, every single flight that we would approve would be an essential flight and 98% of them would be connected to COVID-19,” he said.

“A few others, maybe 1% might be either a repatriation request from a diplomatic community which must go through foreign affairs or it might be repatriation due to illness of another kind.

“And those repatriations will also need the stamp of a teaching hospital.

“There is no exception to governors. I had denied several of such flights, including two governors from south-south and two from the south east and by the way, three of them are members of the APC and I think one is from north-central.

“Once you see a flight approved, it is diligently done and it must be essential, COVID-19-related or some other flights like essential cargo that would bring in medicines or equipment or something related to our well being like food,” Sirika added.

There’s Nothing To Suggest That COVID-19 Will Not Spread To All States – Fayemi

By Peter Akpah

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi on Tuesday suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to spread to all states of the country.

Fayemi, who is also the Governor of Ekiti State, made the remark in a Skype interview on the current situation of the Covid-19 management in the country.

Since February 27 when the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the country, the pandemic has spread to more states, including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

The virus has now been recorded in a total of 25 states.

Although several steps have been taken, including lockdowns and restriction of movement as well as gatherings in many states, Governor Fayemi believes the virus will continue to spread.

“From everything we’ve heard from NCDC, which is the specialist body in charge, there is nothing to suggest that it would not spread to all the 36 states,” he said. “So, we are in for a long ride.”

The trend and spread of the virus, which has now infected 665 people in the country and claimed 22 lives including that of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, has left governors worried.

“We are very concerned. If you look at the number of times we met over the last one month. We’ve had five meetings which focused almost exclusively on COVID-19 and its spread and the concomitant economic effects on the Nigerian citizens,” Governor Fayemi said.

As a result, he said governors are trying to use all their capacity to fight the pandemic.

To complement the actions of the government, he called on Nigerians to play their part and follow directives and protocols.

“I don’t think we have reached the peak yet. So, Nigerians need to take this very seriously. This is not entertainment,” he warned.

NORTHERN GOVERNORS MEET, INSIST ON MORE COVID-19 TESTING CENTRES AND BAN ALMAJIRI SYSTEM.

By Peter Akpah

NORTHERN GOVERNORS MEET, INSIST ON MORE COVID-19 TESTING CENTRES AND BAN ALMAJIRI SYSTEM.

For the second time in one month, the Northern States Governors Forum has met to discuss the region’s response to the Corona Virus pandemic and evaluate some of the measures adopted by each State to deal with the situation.
The meeting presided over by its Chairman, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State was convened via teleconferencing with 17 Governors participating.
The Chairman briefed the members on some of the issues discussed at their last meeting and the follow up developments.
He told them that based on their resolution at the last meeting, he had a discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari where he conveyed their concerns on the need for the region to access special funding, palliatives, testing centres and other forms of support to assist the region deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the President assured him of the support of the Federal Government within the context of Federal Government programmes both under the Corona Virus response and under other incentives to farmers and States.
The meeting further discussed the issue of COVID-19 Testing Centres within the Northern Region where it noted some improvement, but again insisted that all States in the region should have at least one centre in order to make the detection of the disease and its management easier and faster.
On border control and lockdown measures, the Northern Governors retained their earlier decision for the States to individually decide on the measure to adopt, but reaffirmed the need for border closures to stop inter-state spread of the disease, which is rising in the region.
The Governors also discussed the risk that Almajiri children are exposed to because of the Corona Virus disease where they unanimously decided to totally ban the Almajiri system and evacuate the children to their parents or States of origin.
They agreed to take a cue from Kano, Kaduna and Nasarawa States who have begun returning Almajiri children to families and States of origin, while those within their States who do not have parents are taken care of by the Government.
They vowed never to allow the system persist any longer because of the social challenges associated with it including the perpetuation of poverty, illiteracy, insecurity and social disorder.
The meeting also engaged the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Alhaji Muhammed Sabo Nanono on the incentives available to Nigerian Farmers and how those in their region can benefit. The Minister outlined all the agricultural programmes of the Federal Government including provision of farm inputs and fertilizers, cluster farming, training and deployment of extension workers, provision of rural roads, value chain addition, development of irrigation facilities, agro-mechanization and mobilization of agro-rangers.
The Governors also raised concerns about the challenges of insecurity especially the activities of bandits, Boko Haram insurgents, Kidnappers and other criminals who they say pose great threat to farmers who are afraid to go to their farms – a development that could result in food insecurity. They therefore resolved to engage relevant Federal Government Agencies and heads of security agencies to urgently address the problem.
The Forum also noted with dismay rapid deforestation in the region and resolved to take tougher measures to curtail the situation.
They also reiterated their resolve to turn the economic challenges posed by the Corona Virus Pandemic into opportunities for diversification and emancipation.
The Northern Governors also commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the loss of his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and prayed that God will grant his family and the Government of Borno State the fortitude to bear the loss.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State &
Chairman, Northern Governors Forum
21st April, 2020.

Covid-19 Bagos Lauds NCDC Approval of Plateau Testing Centre.

By Peter Akpah

COVID-19: Rep. Bagos Calls for Rapid Community Testing, Lauds NCDC Approval of Plateau Testing Centre

With over 2.4 million total cases and over 170,000 deaths recorded globally, the Member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency Plateau State, Rep. Dachung Musa Bagos has called for rapid community testing for proper contact tracing and possible isolation of carriers of COVID-19, if any to avoid mass spread.

He said considering the daily exponential increase in the number of confirmed cases across the Country and the porous nature of the Border entry points in Plateau State which have allowed people from States with confirmed cases unhindered access to the State, t is important to carryout rapid community testing.

Hon. Bagos said though the State is yet to record any confirm case, it is pertinent to take proactive steps to prevent spread of the virus.

The Federal Lawmaker also lauded the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for the timely approval of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau State as a molecular testing centre.

He said the centre should be able to conduct rapid community testing in order to trace contacts in good time.

He Lauded the DG NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu for being proactive and displaying high level of responsibility, diligence, integrity, professionalism and above all patriotism in the discharge of his duties.

Rep. Bagos called on government at all levels to provide humanitarian interventions as palliatives to alleviate the, sufferings of the people saying economic, social and religious activities have been adversely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

He admonished the people to remain law abiding, exercise total adherence to preventive and safety measures put in place by health experts as well as full compliance to directives laid down by government to prevent the spread of the virus.

Hon Mafeng Distribute Food Items Across The 17 Wards in Riyom.

By Peter Akpah

As part of measures taken against the lockdown Hon Mafeng Gwallson , the Management Committee Chairman of Riyom local government has distributed food items to citizens of the Riyom

Hon Mafeng who has earlier start it that they are working on some palliative to the people of his local government when our correspondent visited Riyom to monitor compliance and the fumigation exercise in the local government Hon Mafeng said soon now or later the people shall be given some relief materials to cushion the effects of the lockdown.
The Chairman distributed food items which includes 200 bags of Maize,rice,beans and garri, the items brought was shared across the 17 wards of the local government area through various counsellors as he has earlier started this the chairman siad is to reach down to the grassroots and the poor and vulnerable in the community.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the distribution at the Local Government council Secretariat , Hon Gwallson appreciated God Almighty insisting that as at today Plateau and the LGA has not recorded any confirmed cases of COVID 19 and they still remain focus to secure the borders and with the help of the CCTV cameras that government has put in place it Will go along way to assist them in tracking those coming in through other means.
He said that the dreaded pandemic which came with a lot of challenges has affected government, families ,individuals as well as businesses, and he felt there is a need for the Local government to provide an urgent responsive assistance that will serve as a palliatives to those affected, especially those at the rural communities while waiting on the state and federal government to bring forth their palliatives to the people at the rural communities.
The distribution was witnessed by the leader of the Legislative arm of the LGA,Supervisory Councillor on Social Services ,Director of Social services and Agriculture ,various ward councillors and members of the Press.
Hon Mafeng also distributed some food items to Internally displaced Persons IDPs in Riyom LGA which includes 40 bags of maize,rice,beans and garri .

The chairman encouraged farmers to go into aggressive farming as the rains are setting in .
He further advised the councillors of each of the wards that the food items presented are to ensure that it goes exclusive to those who are the most vulnerable.
He advised them to ensure fairness , transparency and accountable in the distribution of the items at the ward and district levels…Hon Mafeng Gwallson , the Management Committee Chairman of Riyom local government of Plateau state on Monday distributed food items to citizens of the council
Our correspondent reports that the Chairman distributed food items which includes 200 bags of Maize,rice,beans and garri and was presented to all the 17 wards across the local government area .
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the distribution at the Local Government council Secretariat , Hon Gwallson appreciated God Almighty insisting that as at today Plateau and Riyom LGA has not recorded any confirmed cases of COVID 19 .
He said that the dreaded pandemic which came with a lot of challenges has affected government, families ,individuals as well as businesses, and he felt there is a need for the Local government to provide an urgent responsive assistance that will serve as a palliatives to those affected, especially those at the rural communities while waiting on the state and federal government to bring forth their palliatives to the people at the rural communities.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leader of the Legislative arm of the LGA,Supervisory Councillor on Social Services ,Director of Social services and Agriculture ,various ward councillors and members of the Press.
Hon Mafeng also distributed some food items to Internally displaced Persons IDPs in Riyom LGA which includes 40 bags of maize,rice,beans and garri .
The chairman encouraged farmers to go into aggressive farming as the rains are setting in .
He further advised the counsellors of each of the wards that the food items presented are to ensure that it goes exclusive to those who are the most vulnerable.
He advised them to ensure fairness , transparency and accountable in the distribution of the items at the ward and district levels.

FOMWAN Commiserate With President Buhari, Family, Friends, Associates And Indeed the Nation on The Demise of Mallam Abba Kyari.

By Peter Akpah

FEDERATION OF MUSLIM WOMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS
IN NIGERIA
FOMWAN National Headquarters Complex, 12 Ekukinam Street, Opposite Chisco
Travels, Utako, Abuja. Nigeria
fomwank@yahoo.com

Condolence press release

We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. It is with a deep sense of gratitude to Allah the Giver and the Taker, the Comforter to mankind that
FOMWAN, its Board of Trustees and members, commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari, the family, friends, associates and indeed the nation on the demise of Mallam Abba Kyari.

As Muslims we know that every soul must tastedeath.

We are optimistic that our brother, Mallam Abba Kyari has died with iman considering his last words. Death is painful but a reminder that the world is a transit camp where everyone passes through. In the words of Shakespeare, “the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits
and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts….”. Late Abba Kyari has played his part in defence of national development, and upheld
those principles for which the President stood. It is our prayer that Mallam Abba
Kyari’s soul will be accepted in Jannatul Firdaus.

The pandemic we are experiencing is a test from Allah. While we believe in
Allah’s mercy to heal the world we call on all Nigerians to embrace precautionary measures to protect lives. May Allah in His infinite mercy ease our burden, remove this pandemic, have mercy on those that died as a result, & heal those infected.

There is no power nor strength except by Allah. Allah just says be and it happens.

May his soul Rest In Peace.

Signed
Hajiya Halima Jibril. Dr Sumaye Hamza
National Amirah National PRO

Fight Against Spread Covid-19 Plateau State Plant CCTV Cameras in All Borders.

By Peter Akpah

The director general PICTDA Mr David Daser in an interactions with sourcenews24 said the plateau government has taken a drastic measures to secure the borders by planting CCTV close circuit cameras for surveillance and monitoring the borders to ensure full compliance and checkmate intruders and entrances in to the state according to him the CCTV cameras are planted in all the borders of the state.

Mr Daser also said the CCTV will also help the situation room to monitor the activities that is going on across the borders and for security purposes it will also help, he said the governor is also monitoring it as well as the top security personnel in the state to also check the activities of their men he said this has also make the security and the borders check to step up in full compliance.

The governor who is the chairman of the covid-19 task force in the state, as recently directed that all entry points to the state and exist routes should be closed and measures will be put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in to the state, and also in his broadcast he said CCTV cameras will be put in all the entry points to ensure that the borders are closed and well checked.

Daser have also said that the next face they are building is a robust security handler and they are using the most popular app to achieve it, according to him the measures the have taken and the installation and planting of a CCTV cameras in borders in the state, plateau should be the first or the second if not mistaking Mr David Daser the pioneer Director -General of the newly established Plateau State Information Technology Agency (PICTDA) said the governor has been given them full support that is why they have achieved what they did so far and for the interest of the citizens and the state as a whole.

we have learnt alot from video feed , different posts and publications on how the border have been and the inflow of people and the best way is the CCTV cameras once any uncertain movement is notice around the borders they alert the security agencies to intercept such they have learnt that from the previous lockdown, and they have to take proactive measures to stop entry to the state through the borders as government can not afford to risk the lifes of the citizens do to some carelessness in the borders as coronavirus virus don’t move people move them and a free covid-19 plateau the better for every body.

Mr Daser also said in the coming days they would conclude on a proper security process while looking at the borders direct from the situation room, but currently that are monitoring individually and there is a need for it to be in the situation room but the monitor every of the activity and that is the best and surest way to enforce the border closure.

Covid-19 Governor Lalong Has Constituted A 25 Member Committee On Palliatives.

By Peter Akpah

Governor Lalong has constituted a 25 member committee for the Plateau State palliative, the committee is to take care of the distribution of the palliative as directed by the Federal government the deputy governor prof sunny Tyoden is to chair the committee and Dr Sumaye Hamza the special assistant to the governor on SIP and the focal person for social investment programme is to save as the secretary of the committee.

The deputy governor prof sunny Tyoden who chair the commitee brief the press on the terms of references of the commitee and their main mandate and responsibilities respectively the terms of references are as follows

I) . To source for donations and contributions from organizations and you individuals towards providing palliatives to the vulnerable and most needy citizens of plateau during the covid-19 era.

(II). To manage such donations and contributions both materials and money on behalf of the state task force on Covid-19.

(iii). To keep appropriate records for such contribution

(if). To create awareness on the receipt and disbursement of the funds.

(v) Any other related and relevant assignment that may be assigned to it by the chairman of the task force.

The committee on procurement is to be headed by the deputy governor and part of the target of the commitee is the orphans and widows to be among the main beneficiaries.

The committee has involved all the necessary persons and organization to help the commitee and as part of the commitee, according to the deputy governor the committee is very elaborate that is why it includes CAN, JNI, ALGON, PYC, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR WOMEN SOCIETY, PIDAN, THE DISABILITY RIGHT COMMISSION, 3 COMMISSIONERS, TUC, THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS, NUJ, AND 4 TRADITIONAL RULES

The various committees are to go and set up a structured for the distribution process and all of them will work closely for a positive result and to ensure that the palliatives get to the appropriate persons, and equally those who are beneficiaries of the SIP, are totally exempted from the palliatives according to prof Tyoden.

The governor in his broadcast on the 9th of April said the government is working on palliatives to reach out to the vulnerable and the poorest in the society and the social investment programme who is also target at the poor of the poorest in the society the governor said they are going to use the SIP for the palliatives, earlier the president have ordered for payment to the beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer one of the components of the social investment programme which payments have being going on, the decisions by the governor to use the social investment programme as part of the distribution processes is a wise idea by the governor as the SIP has a collective data of the vulnerable and the poorest in the society.

According to prof sunny Tyoden he said the palliatives are on the way and as soon as it arrived the distribution will commence.

BREAKING: NCDC Confirms 86 New Cases Of COVID-19 In Nigeria

By Peter Akpah

BREAKING: NCDC Confirms 86 New Cases Of COVID-19 In Nigeria

According to WHO the raising cases of covid-19 in Nigeria is alarming from the very first case of the covid-19 case in Nigeria the country has been recording new cases almost every day and that is a very bad sign several questions have been ask if the government health sector and the ministry of health has really step up campaigns against the fight of covid-19 according to some medical experts the reason for the increase are basically laxity on the campaigns as the continuous violation of the social distancing by even the government themselves.

They further said government put rules that they are violating it by themselves and want to force a common people to obey the said like the case of the burial of Abba Kyari look at how top government officials who are supposed to lead by example violated the social distance, and even the case of plateau state flaging off of the fumigation exercise by the governor social distancing was also violated and host of other and we want to win the fight against covid-19 according to them Nigeria are yet ready to fight the pandemic that is why we continue to hear of new cases every day.

Eighty-six new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), taking Nigeria’s total infections to 627.

The NCDC confirmed this late on Sunday via a statement on Twitter.

According to the agency, of the 86 new cases, seventy were in Lagos, seven in FCT, three in Katsina, three in Akwa Ibom, one in Jigawa, one in Bauchi and one in Borno.

Eighty-six new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;

70 in Lagos
7 in FCT
3 in Katsina
3 in Akwa Ibom
1 in Jigawa
1 in Bauchi

1 in Borno