COVID-19: Another lockdown looms
…Governors to meet January 20
…Imo govt raises alarm over rising cases
…as FG releases N10bn for domestic vaccines production
By Ayo Fadimu
As the 36 State governors in Nigeria set to hold a virtual meeting on Jan. 20, to discuss issues relating to the second wave of COVID-19, there is growing apprehension that the governors may declare another set of lockdown to arrest the growing cases of spread of the pandemic.
Making the disclosure of the Nigeria Governors Forum meeting is the Head of Media and Public Affairs,of (NGF) Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo in Abuja.
Bello-Barkindo said that the meeting would commence at 2p.m, adding that the focus will be on the second wave of the pandemic.
He said that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, heading NGF Committee charged with the responsibility of liaising between the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the forum, would brief the meeting on COVID-19 vaccines and the way forward.
According to him, Okowa is expected to give a panoramic view of the second wave of the pandemic.
He added that NGF Chairman, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, would also brief the forum on his meeting with the President.
“Fayemi will update the forum on all pending matters that have remained inconclusive, flowing from the previous year’s meetings,” he said.
Bello-Barkindo said that the meeting would also discuss other issues like Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) deductions, external debts reconciliation (2002-2018) among others.
“The governors will also be updated on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) implantation in 2020,” he said.
Bello-Barkindo said that the meeting would be in conformity with all COVID-19 protocols
In the meantime, Imo State governor Hope Uzodinma has raised alarm over what he described as devastating effects of the second wave of Coronavirus pandemic in Imo, calling for urgent presidential intervention to check the menace.
Uzodinma made the call while addressing State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.
“The number of people testing positive and dying now are on the increase and the State Government alone cannot, as a matter of honesty, summon the capacity and resources to address this menace (COVID-19).
“So, I also pleaded and Mr President has promised that he would intervene,” he said.
The governor disclosed that already he had signed an Executive Order meant to check the spread of the deadly virus in Imo, saying the State Government had introduced sanctions for people refusing to wear face mask in compliance with the Presidential Task Force’s protocols on COVID-19.
According to him, a Task Force on COVID-19 has been put place in the state and measures are being taken to reduce the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of all citizens.
He said, “Few days ago I issued an Executive Order to make not wearing mask a crime in Imo State. So, any moment from now, we will begin to arrest people refusing to wear mask.
“I have given a 14-day ultimatum for those coming into Imo to wear their face mask and comply with NCDC protocol or be arrested.
“I have created six mobile courts to handle that. We don’t joke. It is better we offend people than to allow this disease to continue to spread in Imo State.
“I have in place a Task Force on COVID-19 chaired by Prof. Maurice Iwu, the former Chairman of INEC, and they have done well.
“We have in place four isolation centres, fully equipped and the government partnering with the private sector has also equipped an additional isolation centre at the University Teaching Hospital Orlu.
“But the number is growing daily and those testing positive are also on the increase. So I think we need to prepare more grounds; build more isolation centres, get more medications, get oxygen and also try to have respiratory support equipment for those who have difficulty in breathing after they have been infected.”
The governor frowned at the attitude of some Nigerians who deliberately refused to comply with non-pharmaceutical protocols so as to check the spread of the virus.
“It’s not easy honestly, because, knowing the attitude of our people, they are so stubborn, you continue to plead with them to see reason with you because you can only be stubborn if you are alive.
“We’ve seen how people are dying every day, in everywhere, even in Imo because of this ugly monster called COVID-19.
“So, our people are invited through this medium to please respect and comply with NCDC protocols for this COVID-19, so that at least we will be alive,’’ he added.
In a related development, the Ministry of Finance has released N10 billion to support domestic vaccines production to tackle COVIDc-19 pandemic in the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the disclosure at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) COVID-19 briefing on Monday in Abuja.gg
Ehanire said: “The Ministry of Finance has released options for licensed production, in collaboration with recognised institutions. We are also exploring the option of local production of the vaccines in the country.”
He urged Nigerians to ignore claims by some people that they had COVID-19 vaccines for sale in the country.
“I advise all citizens to disregard these claims, as they are criminal. There are procedures for vaccine acquisition and use, which include appropriate regulations and certification by National Agency for Food and Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“I advise against fake vaccines, as there is no one approved for use in the country. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is the only authorised vaccine administrator in Nigeria,” he said.
Ehanire stated that the number of new COVID-19 cases had continued to rise in the country, such that 10,300 confirmed cases were reported from just 50,750 samples tested in one week, translating into 20 percent positivity rate.
“It means one out of every five persons tested in the last one week turned out positive, compared with the previous week which recorded a positivity rate of 14 percent.
“Nigeria’s total number of confirmed cases is 110,387 out of a total of 1,172,234 samples tested, with a cumulative positivity rate of 9.4 percent. 1,444 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, with sadly 77 deaths in the past week and total fatality of 1,435.
“It is instructive of the second wave that all cases recorded so far this January is more than 20 percent of all confirmed cases in Nigeria, more than the whole of December, barely halfway through the month.
“There is no doubting the fact that we are deeply into the second wave of the pandemic which requires that PTF and FMoH review our strategies to respond to the challenge.
“The federal ministry of health has outlined three approaches to confront the pandemic. These are: infection mitigation, therapeutics and vaccines,” he said.
Ehanire reiterated that reducing infection rate for COVID-19 remained the easiest and cheapest objective of the government.
According to him, government’s main effort is to ensure social mobilisation for testing, strengthening surveillance activities for early detection, active contact tracing, isolation and treatment.
He, however, added that implementation of critical non-pharmaceutical measures required the cooperation of the public.
“This includes much more adherence to wearing masks, social distancing, use of sanitiser, etc than we are seeing today. Of special concern are the so-called ‘super spreader activities’ that involve congregational settings, which must be reduced, restricted or prohibited in the interest of the common good.
“With regard to therapeutics, we must strive to reduce mortality from this disease by ensuring adequate stock of supplies and strengthening our case management capacity.
“In this regard, the ministry of health is working to expand oxygen availability across the country to address shortages, which has been a challenge globally, and also to review the value of various pharmaceuticals and protocols proposed for COVID-19 treatment.
“Clinicians are also urged to work out guidelines for participating in clinical studies,” the minister said.
