Pandemic
Artist urges government to invest in tourism
Mr Femi Adegoke, an artist, has called on the Federal Government to invest more in tourism to diversify and boost the nation’s economy post COVID-19. Adegoke told newsmen in Ilorin on Saturday that the Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the fact that the nation cannot survive only on oil proceeds. He said that the nation was blessed with abundant natural sites, adding that government should try and revive the tourism sector. “I don’t know why tourism in Nigeria seems dormant. Every other nation of the earth harness their tourism sites to boost their economy.” “We have very beautiful natural sites in Nigeria, but I don’t know why the government is not developing them into world class tourist attractions.” “It seems to be the least funded and ignored sector in Nigeria. This should not be.” “Ar...
Nigeria warns recovered coronavirus patients not to reveal drugs used on them to stem self-medication
The federal government has told COVID-19 survivors to stop giving details of the drugs used for their treatment, so they don’t encourage self-medication. The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, made the plea at a press briefing in Abuja. This follows recent revelations by some high-profile survivors, who spoke about the drugs administered on them during their treatment. Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, expressed concern that some of the testimonies disclosing the prescription for treatment could encourage patients to indulge in self-medication instead of seeking help from health authorities. “The PTF congratulates and appreciates the testimonies of Nigerians who have recovered from COVID-19, which has given us more insights ...
PTF: Stop stigmatisation of coronavirus patients
Worried by the negative impacts on the society, the Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic has warned the public to desist from stigmatization of Covid-19 patients. This warning was given on Friday by Dr. Sani Aliyu, PTF National Coordinator, during the daily press briefing in Abuja. He lamented the growing cases of stigmatization of Covid-19 patients, saying that this state of affairs will not augur well for the fight against the pandemic in Nigeria. “Stigmatization of Covid-19 patients can only make many who have the disease to go underground and by that singular act the virus will continue to spread. When we stigmatize people who have contracted the virus it is obvious that many other people will be afraid to come clean. The carriers will be afraid to come forward fo...
POHAN: Ibrahim Gambari’s appointment’ll enhance synergy, cohesion
The national umbrella for Public Office Holders Association of Nigeria (POHAN) Thursday lauded the appointment of notable diplomat and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, as new Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. Gambari’s appointment followed the death of the occupier of the seat, Mallam Abba Kyari, as a result of the Covid-19 disease. Applauding Gambari’s appointment, POHAN, which is the umbrella body for public servants, political appointees inclusive, said the reconciliatory roles played under the aegis of the United Nations by the ex-minister at various times would come in handy, in curbing insurgency in the northern parts of the country. In a statement by the National President of POHAN, Comrade Deola Eseyin, issued to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun Stat...
Minister lauds NNPC, offers land for hospital
As the battle against COVID-19 rages, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT), Mr Muhammad Musa Bello, has commended the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for rallying the oil and gas industry to support the nation to defeat the pestilence. Speaking at the NNPC Towers during a courtesy call on the Group Managing Director on Thursday, the Minister said he was impressed with the quality of interventions coming from the NNPC-led oil and gas industry coalition. Bello, who also commended the GMD for his sterling performance since assumption of office, said the FCT Administration had been holding discussions with the NNPC Medical team on the possibility of developing a healthcare facility in Abuja for the benefit of all residents and other Ni...
Taiwan rejects China’s main condition for WHO participation
Taiwan’s health minister, on Friday, rejected China’s main condition for the island to be able to take part in the World Health Organisation (WHO) – that it accepts it is part of China – ahead of a key meeting of the body during a pandemic, Reuters reported. Non-WHO member Taiwan has lobbied to take part as an observer in next week’s World Health Assembly (WHA), drawing strong objections from Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces. Taiwan says the coronavirus pandemic has made it more urgent than ever that it be allowed proper access to the WHO. China says Taiwan can only participate under the “one China” principle, in which it accepts it is a part of China. China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party refused to do this, a...
Lab scientists fear coronavirus positive cases in Cross River
The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria, AMLSN, Cross River Branch, has predicted that there were possibilities of positive cases in the state, insisting that more tests must be carried out to ascertain the level of success. The Association also said that since the first case of the pandemic was reported in Nigeria, it was difficult to believe that there were no cases in the state when only 10 persons have been tested out of over 4 million Cross Riverians. The Chairman, AMLSN, Cross River Branch, Ndem Benedict, who said this while briefing journalists on Wednesday in Calabar added that the mode of transportation sample through public transport was appalling. His words: “We can only add that the best way to validate the success of state prevention strategy is testing, tes...
Nigeria’s coronavirus deaths jump to 158
Nigeria has recorded 158 Coronavirus deaths, with Lagos and Kano topping the chat. According to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Tuesday, Lagos and Kano both have 33 coronavirus deaths each. Borno recorded 16 deaths while Sokoto rakes in 13 deaths from the deadly pandemic. Katsina ramps up 11 deaths, while FCT has seven and Ogun and Zamfara have five deaths each. Others are: Edo and Osun, four deaths; Bauchi, Kaduna, Kebbi, Rivers and Delta recorded three deaths respectively; Jigawa, Oyo, Akwa Ibom recorded three cases each, while Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe, Ondo and Ekiti have recorded one case each. Get more stories like this on Twitter
Group task Anambra to provide for, protect orphaned children in care homes
A non-governmental organization, Greater Awka Allies International, GAAI has urged Anambra State government to ensure the protection of children in orphanages as the COVID-19 outbreak persists. The group said children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the novel Coronavirus, and that children living in orphanages are more vulnerable because they live in a place where they lack parental care. Leader of the group, Hon Chinemerem Oguegbe who stated this during a visit of his group to Model Community Children Orphanage Home charged the government to provide exceptional care for them. Oguegbe said the visit of his group to the orphanage was inspired by the need to show love to the children at a time when other children are kept out of school and securely at home with their parents becau...
Nigerian government warns against recycling of face masks
The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against the continued resort to recycling and sharing of face masks in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying such actions would only fuel more infections. The government equally tasked state governments on the need to align their policies with those at the federal level, reminding them that the virus does not respect boundaries or status. It also added that the recent rapid diagnostic test kits procured by the Kogi State Government have a high margin of error and are therefore unreliable. These were disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19. Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said except for fabric masks, every disposable mas...
Lagos university inaugurates financial sustainability committee
Lagos State University (LASU) has inaugurated a 21-man Financial Sustainability Committee to evolve strategies to create revenue sources and guarantee the financial sustainability of the institution after the coronavirus pandemic. Inaugurating the committee at a virtual meeting on Tuesday in Lagos, LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said the step became imperative in the light of financial challenges that were envisaged in the wake of, and aftermath of the pandemic. “As a management, we do recognise that our institution, like almost every other institution around the world, are already facing and will face serious financial challenges. “A lot will depend on how institutions chose to manage their affairs that is why the management of LASU felt the need to put in place strategi...
Toyota predicts 79.5% drop in profit
Agence France-Presse Toyota on Tuesday said it expected a 79.5 percent drop in its annual operating profit this fiscal year as it suffers “significant” fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The Japanese auto giant declined to give a net profit forecast for the fiscal year to March 2021 but noted that the impact of the crisis on its business was “wide-ranging, significant and serious”. The company now expects an annual operating profit of 500 billion yen ($4.6 billion), down 79.5 percent from the 2.44 trillion yen logged in the past year to March. Toyota forecast a near-20 percent drop in annual sales to 24 trillion yen, compared with 29.93 trillion yen achieved in the past fiscal year. The company’s net profit for the past year to March came to 2.076 trillion yen, up 10.3 percent on the y...
