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

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 ...

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 ...

Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra Take Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine

11Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Transportation

Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra Take Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine

Enugu State Government alongside Ebonyi and Anambra States, took delivery of the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Wednesday. The vaccine for Enugu State, which arrived at the Enugu airport at about 2:50 pm, through Allied Air, were received on behalf of the state government by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ifeanyi Agujiobi, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr George Ugwu, and heads of Development Partners in the state, such as World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, among others. Speaking to newsmen, the Enugu State Health Commissione...

Ganduje Asks FG to Re-Open Kano Airport for International Flight

10Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Finance, News, Nigeria, Safety, Transportation

Ganduje Asks FG to Re-Open Kano Airport for International Flight

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has asked the Federal Government to re-open the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano, to permit the resumption of international flight operations. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar disclosed this in a statement issued in Kano. Ganduje made the appeal when he led a delegation of legislators, business, traditional and civic leaders to pay a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, in Abuja. The governor said that the continued closure of the airport has caused untold hardship to international travelers from the North, as well as negatively impacted on the ease of doing business in Kano. He said, “The closure of MAKIA has impacted negatively on the business environment in Kano, which is ...

55 COVID-19 Regulation Violators Arrested in Abuja

9Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria

55 COVID-19 Regulation Violators Arrested in Abuja

Fifty-five persons were arraigned before an Abuja Mobile Court on Monday, for not wearing face masks. The violators were summarily tried and convicted by the presiding Magistrate, Ebiwari Eremasi, after pleading guilty to the charges. They were fined N2,000 each with an option of engaging in supervised community service. However, one of the convicts, who attempted to obstruct the court proceedings was remanded in a correctional facility. The magistrate while sentencing the offender for contempt of court after exhibiting unruly behaviour within the court premises, also counseled other convicts on the need to follow the COVID-19 protocols religiously. Speaking with newsmen after the court sitting, the Head, Media, Publicity and Enlightenment of the FCT COVID-19 Regulations Enf...

Buhari didn’t suffer Side Effects after COVID-19 Vaccination – Presidency

7Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Buhari didn’t suffer Side Effects after COVID-19 Vaccination – Presidency

The Presidency on Saturday dispelled fears that President Muhammadu Buhari might have suffered a side effect from the jab of COVID-19 vaccine he received earlier in the day. A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said President Buhari had not experienced any discomfort as a result of the jab as was being rumoured in some quarters. The statement said the President had been going about his normal business since he took the vaccine. It, however, assured that there would be no need for any cover-up if there was any development, hoping that the fact the President had not reacted negatively would assure citizens of the country that the vaccine is safe and dissolve the fears breeding hesitancy. Shehu said: “In respon...

Don’t play Politics with COVID-19 vaccines – Gbajabiamila tells Nigerians

5Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

Don’t play Politics with COVID-19 vaccines – Gbajabiamila tells Nigerians

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has asked Nigerians not to play politics with the issue of Covid-19 vaccination as only a collective effort devoid of politics and conspiracy theories could guarantee a successful war against the virus A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi said the Speaker gave the admonition in Abuja on Friday at the National Flag-off of Covid-19 Vaccination in Nigeria. Lasisi quote the Speaker as saying that Nigerians must rally round the Federal Government in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, describing it as “an unseen enemy” causing havoc around the world. Gbajabiamila also appealed to the media to pass accurate information about the virus and the vaccines to the public, ...