Category: Covid-19 - Page 8 - African News Today

21Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Govs Disown Yahaya Bello COVID-19 Claim

Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have dissociated themselves from the reported claim by Kogi Governor Yahaya that coronavirus vaccines are meant to kill people and reduce population. The Governors, in a communiqué at the end of their virtual meeting on Wednesday, said their decisions and actions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic would be guided by science and informed opinions. “On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the forum, regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, in a national daily, the forum (NGF) totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement. “The forum will continue to be informed and guided by science and will ensure that every decision it takes retains public and professional trust and is not compromised by conflicts of interest.” ...

Insecurity Deserves More Attention Than COVID-19 – Bafarawa

21Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

Insecurity Deserves More Attention Than COVID-19 – Bafarawa

Dalhatu Bafarawa, erstwhile Governor of Sokoto State has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to channel the proposed N400bn for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to tackle the deteriorating insecurity in the country. Bafarawa asked the Buhari administration to show more concern on insecurity than the pandemic that had led to the death of 2,000 people. The former governor in a statement issued on Wednesday said northerners and indeed all Nigerians are not happy with the security situation in the country. He said, "The government appears to have abandoned the situation and channelled all its effort to a pandemic that has taken barely 2000 lives in the country. "When I see that things are not going well, I cannot keep quiet. If I keep quiet, other parts of the country would accuse...

PTF Urges Nigerians to Avoid Second Lockdown

19Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

PTF Urges Nigerians to Avoid Second Lockdown

Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, PTF, has admonished Nigerians to intensify efforts to avoid a second lockdown due to COVID-19 in the country. He disclosed this on Monday during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-10 in Abuja. Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said this can be done by strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines released by the government. He also said that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had been authorised to immediately implement the 450 tests per local government plan. He said, “We are considering all options while hoping that broad cooperation will be received. We must do everything possible to avoid a second lockdown in Nigeria.” According to Mustapha, the PTF would pu...

Nigeria Has Adequate Facilities to Store COVID-19 Vaccine – NPHCD Boss

19Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

Nigeria Has Adequate Facilities to Store COVID-19 Vaccine – NPHCD Boss

Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, has said Nigeria had adequate facility to store the 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine which the country is expecting to receive. This was contained in his speech during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-10 in Abuja on Monday. Shuaib debunked claims that the doses being expected would be wasted as a result of lack of storage facility. He said, “I want to reiterate that the first set of vaccine expected in the country is the Pfizer Biotech vaccine and the equipment required to store them – the ultra-cold chain equipment – are available at the National Strategic Cold Store of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.” According to Shuaib, it was the decision of...

Reps Propose Three-month Postponement of School Resumption

17Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Safety

Reps Propose Three-month Postponement of School Resumption

The House of Representatives has frowned at the decision of the Federal Government to allow schools to resume on Monday despite a spike in cases of COVID-19. The Green chamber alleged that the Federal Government failed to consult the relevant committees of the National Assembly, contrary to their claim that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before arriving at the January 18, 2021, resumption date. The house, therefore, asked the federal government to postpone the resumption of schools for three months, pending implementation of safety measures against COVID-19. This was disclosed by Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services in a telephone interview with The Punch on Saturday. He said, “They did not consult us; at least in my c...

COVID-19: NYSC Ignores Osinbajo Report, Mobilises Corpers to Camps

16Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Safety, Youths

COVID-19: NYSC Ignores Osinbajo Report, Mobilises Corpers to Camps

Despite the rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, the Federal Government has once again ignored the recommendation by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led Economic Sustainability Committee and approved the re-opening of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camps nationwide next Tuesday. The committee had in June 2020 report recommended that while the NYSC programme could go ahead, the three-week orientation camp should be suspended for two years. The report partly read, "Consideration will be given to suspending the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp exercises for at least 24 months while allowing deployment to places of primary assignment. This will ensure that there is no backlog in the national service placement pipeline." It was learnt that when th...

Breaking: FG Directs Schools To Resume Jan 18

14Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, Nigeria

Breaking: FG Directs Schools To Resume Jan 18

The Federal Government has asked schools to resume on January 18, 2021 after “due consultation” with stakeholders. The decision was reached after a meeting with stakeholders, including Governors, Commissioners of Education, Proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students. The Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, in a statement on Thursday, said the consensus at the meeting was that the resumption date of 18th January should remain, while parents and respective institutions ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols. The meeting however insisted on the compulsory wearing of facemasks by all students, teachers and workers in all schools. Other measures arrived at during the meeting included compulsory temperature che...

COVID-19: Is Veteran Broadcaster Bisi Olatilo Dead? (VIDEO)

14Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

COVID-19: Is Veteran Broadcaster Bisi Olatilo Dead? (VIDEO)

Veteran broadcaster, Bisi Olatilo has debunked speculations that he died of COVID-19 complications, African News Today has gathered. Olatilo made the clarification in a video posted online where he said he was in the hospital receiving medical attention. This comes after reports in social media said the 67-year-old had died of COVID-19 related complications. The broadcaster while thanking his wife and pastor in a video recorded in the hospital, commended the efforts of medical doctors taking care of him. He said he plans to celebrate 40 years of marital bliss with his 63-year-old wife, Sade Olatilo this year. https://youtu.be/5oXhbnFcb_I

13Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, Nigeria, Safety

ABU Announces Resumption Date

The Senate of the Ahmadu Bello University has approved Monday, January 25th, 2021 as the resumption date for academic activities in the university. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs of the ABU, Mallam Auwal Umar, noting that the date was subject to review by the Federal Government. According to the statement titled, ‘Ahmadu Bello University fixes January 25 for reopening,’ the resumption date was ratified by the University Senate at its 501st meeting on Tuesday. The statement partly read, “The 2019/2020 academic session would be completed based on the adjusted calendar as approved by the Senate. “The decision to reopen the University followed the suspension of ASUU strike, and the directive by National Universities Commission based on th...

Osimhen Returns Second COVID-19 Positive Result After Fresh Test

12Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Sports

Osimhen Returns Second COVID-19 Positive Result After Fresh Test

Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has returned a second COVID-19 positive result after a new coronavirus test was conducted on him on Monday, Napoli confirmed. The Italian side disclosed this on their official Twitter handle. The 22-year-old Nigerian who was a record-signing for the Italian giants first tested positive for COvID-19 upon return to the club on New Year’s Day, after he had spent time in Nigeria, where he allegedly attended a birthday party and contravened COVID-19 safety protocols. Osimhen was captured on camera dancing without a facemask, while his guests also breached COVID-19 protocols, which elicited condemnation from Napoli coach, Gennaro Gattuso and the club’s fans. However, the Nigerian remains positive after spending 10 days in isolation. Napoli wrote o...