Category: Covid-19 - Page 5 - African News Today

Where’s Your Faith? Pst Chris Oyakhilome Queries Christian Receiving COVID-19 Jabs

30Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Religion, Safety

Where’s Your Faith? Pst Chris Oyakhilome Queries Christian Receiving COVID-19 Jabs

The founder and pastor of the LoveWorld Incorporated, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has called into question the faith of Nigerian Christians taking the AstraZeneca Vaccine against COVID-19. The clergy urged Christians to trust more in the word of God rather than the vaccine, stressing that they are healers. He chided the Nigerian Government for asking pastors to convince their members to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Oyakhilome in a video released on Monday said, “What happened to you? Where is the word of God in your mouth? Do you realise if you believe in the word of God the way you believe in this vaccine, there will be power in your mouth? He made us healers. What’s wrong? What happened to you? When did we start making such recommendations to God’s people? For God’s sake, think again!...

FG Warns against Fake COVID-19 Vaccines from China

28Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Africa, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

FG Warns against Fake COVID-19 Vaccines from China

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians over fake COVID-19 vaccines currently in circulation in Africa. It stated that about 3,000 of the fake vaccines, which were Africa-bound from China, have been intercepted on African soil. The Director of Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, made these known in a letter dated March 26, 2021, to the Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Health Institutions. She said: “The ministry is in receipt of a letter from the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 regarding the arrest of about 3,000 doses of fake COVID-19 vaccines which were Africa-bound from China. “The report further indicates that the fake COVID-19 vaccines are already in circulation in Africa. “To preve...

There’s no COVID-19 in Kogi – Lawmakers Express Doubt Over Taking Vaccine

21Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

There’s no COVID-19 in Kogi – Lawmakers Express Doubt Over Taking Vaccine

Federal lawmakers from Kogi State have said they are indecisive on whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Ahmad Lawan, the President of the Senate receive a jab of the vaccine on Tuesday and senators to have the vaccine. But the leader of the Kogi lawmakers’ forum in the National Assembly, Smart Adeyemi, in an interview with Punch, said they have not reached a decision on the issue. According to Adeyemi, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, all the 12 National Assembly members from the state were solidly behind the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who has been insistent that there is no COVID-19 in the state. He said the only consideration that could make them go for the vaccination would be to prevent them from infecting their constituents in the state...

CAF Approves 10,000 Spectators to Watch Nigeria vs Lesotho Game

19Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Sports

CAF Approves 10,000 Spectators to Watch Nigeria vs Lesotho Game

The Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, has rectified an appeal for about 10,000 spectators to watch the crucial AFCON qualifying match between Nigeria and Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos. CAF approved the request after the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, had appealed to allow fans to be allowed to watch the match in Lagos on March 30. It, however, warned that strict COVID-19 guideline will be implemented at the stadium. CompleteSports quotes an NFF source to have said, “We are returning the Super Eagles to Lagos for the first time in 20 years and we felt it would not be fair to play in an empty stadium hence we applied to CAF to allow us to admit fans into the Teslim Balogun stadium for our game against Lesotho later this month. “Fortunately for us, CAF obl...

President John Magufuli of Tanzania is Dead, Opposition Claims his Death Was COVID-19 Related

18Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Tanzania

President John Magufuli of Tanzania is Dead, Opposition Claims his Death Was COVID-19 Related

President John Magufuli of Tanzania has died aged 61, the country’s Vice-President disclosed. Magafuli reportedly died on Wednesday from heart-related complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, the Vice-President, Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an address on state television. The President had not made a public appearance for more than a fortnight, and speculations were rife about his state of health. Last week, opposition politicians claimed he had been diagnosed with COVID-19, but this has not been confirmed, BBC reports. In his announcement, Hassan said, "It is with deep regret that I inform you that today... we lost our brave leader, the president of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli." She said there would be 14 days of national mourning and flags would fly a...

North-East Requires Fresh $1billion to Tackle Boko Haram Crisis – UN

17Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, Covid-19, Infrastructure, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism, United Nations

North-East Requires Fresh $1billion to Tackle Boko Haram Crisis – UN

The North-Easter part of Nigeria needs fresh $1 billion to tackle the Boko Haram-induced humanitarian crisis affecting more than six million people in 2021, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said. It disclosed this on Wednesday noting that a combination of escalating conflict, displacement, and disruption has impacted livelihoods worsened by COVID-19 restrictions resulting in hunger for at least 5.1 million people. The UN Agency remarked that the figure of displaced persons is the worst outlook in four years. It said, “Ongoing conflict continues to be the main driver of humanitarian needs in northeast Nigeria, where millions of people have been displaced. Longstanding insecurity and violence, compounded by climate change, and the impact of ...

COVID-19 Vaccine: Enugu Govt Prioritizes Heath Workers

13Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

COVID-19 Vaccine: Enugu Govt Prioritizes Heath Workers

The Enugu State Government kicked off the COVID-19 vaccination in the state, commencing with frontline health workers at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Teaching Hospital Isolation and Treatment Centre, Parklane, Enugu on Friday. A statement by an aide to the governor on media, Amoke Louis, quoted the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. George Ugwu, to have said that the decision to start with frontline health workers was in line with the protocol of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to give priority to those health personnels working in the isolation and treatment centres. Dr. Ugwu confirmed that the Enugu State government received 65,410 doses of Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, foll...

FG Directs Continuation of Vaccination as Eight Countries Suspend Rollout

12Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

FG Directs Continuation of Vaccination as Eight Countries Suspend Rollout

The Federal Government has said it would continue to administer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine despite its suspension by eight European countries over concerns of possible fatal side effects. The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, in an interview with Punch in Abuja, noted that suspending the vaccine at this point would amount to a fire brigade approach. A prominent virologist, Prof. Oyewale Tomori also said in an interview with Punch that there was no need for panic. It comes on the heels of the reception of the vaccine by the Federal Government on Tuesday last week from the COVAX facility, an initiative co-anchored by the Vaccine Alliance, GAVI and the World Health Organisation. However, fears were raised on Thursday by an international news channel. Franc...

UAE Prolongs Ban on Nigeria Flights to March 20

11Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Transportation

UAE Prolongs Ban on Nigeria Flights to March 20

The United Arab Emirates has announced an extension of the ban on Nigerian flights till March 20, 2021. This was contained in a statement issued by the public relations firm for Emirates made available to newsmen which stated that travellers from both Abuja and Lagos would not be accepted for travel prior to or including this date. The statement read in part, “In line with government directives, passenger services from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) to Dubai are temporarily suspended until 20 March 2021. “Customers from both Abuja and Lagos will not be accepted for travel prior to or including this date. Passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not allowed entry into the UAE (whether terminating in or connecting through Dubai).” The statement,...

Anambra Govt Appoints New CMD COOUTH Less Than 24-Hours After Death of CMD

11Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

Anambra Govt Appoints New CMD COOUTH Less Than 24-Hours After Death of CMD

The Anambra State Government has announced the appointment of the former Commissioner for health and present Chairman of governing Council, Anambra State College of Health Technology Obosi, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, as the new Chief Medical Director, CMD, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka less than 24-hours after the death of the Chief Medical Director, Late Dr. Basil Nwankwo. The appointment was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to Anambra State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu on Wednesday. Late Dr. Basil Nwankwo allegedly died in the early hours of Wednesday from an ailment suspected to be heart-related. The statement added that the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi has been ...