Abia State Commissioner for Information, Mr John Okiyi, says the state plans to spend between N300 million and N500 million on interventions to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic into the state.
Okiyi said this on Tuesday in Umuahia while briefing newsmen on the modalities for the distribution of state government’s palliatives handed over to leaders of some churches and the Muslim community in the state.
He said that the state received N28 million from UBA, N5 million, 2,000 cartons of Indomie Noodles from a Lagos-based philantropist from Abia State, Chief Chris Igwe, and cartons of biscuits from a company in the state.
He conveyed the state government’s appreciation to the donors and appealed to other public-spirited and wealthy Abia indigenes and corporate bodies to emulate them.
He said that government decided to distribute the palliatives through the churches and mosques to ensure equitable distribution of the palliatives to the target group.
The commissioner admonished the church leaders and imams to ensure that the palliatives, which included rice, beans, yam, sanitisers, masks and cash, were shared among the poor and underprivileged.
According to him, the palliatives are not for salary earners, artisans, traders, leaders of women groups or those who can fend for themselves.
“They are targetted at the poor widows and vulnerable persons in the villages, who cannot afford to feed themselves, especially during the lockdown.
The commissioner said that plans had also been made to extend the palliatives to charity homes and physically challenged persons.
He said that there were plans to also use the traditional rulers to extend the gesture to other segments of society.
“We know that there are some of our people who are pure traditional worshippers, who do not belong to any church denominations, we intend to use the traditional rulers to get to them,” Okiyi said.
He said that government had a comprehensive plan to ensure that the palliatives covered at least 80 per cent of indigent Abia residents.
Meanwhile, a group, Civil Society Coalition Against COVID-19 (CISCAC), has called on the 35 senators who recently attended a three-day international training programme in London to go for Coronavirus test.
The coalition in a statement addressed by its Convener, Dr Nwambu Gabriel, in Abuja on Tuesday, demanded that the result of the test be made public in five days.
The group recalled that the 35 Senators, who were members of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream, attended the training organised by the Skills and Career Support Centre, London, between March 13 and March 15.
“These 35 Senators, even with the possibility of being infected with the dreaded COVID-19, found their way into the Senate chambers and continued plenary, thereby exposing other Senators to chances of contacting the global pandemic,” the group said.
It noted that, as at the time of the writing, these 35 Senators, who are public servants, had not undergone any form of test to ascertain their health status.
The statement, which was also signed by the Secretary of the coalition, Malam Ali Danjuma, said that the federal lawmakers have rather continued to endanger the residents of the FCT and other Nigerians.
“We demand that the 35 Senators who travelled to London be made to check their COVID-19 status and such test should be made public within five days.
“We might be compelled to mention the names of these Senators at the expiration of the above mentioned time limit,” it said.
The coalition also advised the FCT administration to avail the residents of the territory and Nigerians the information of areas where positive COVID-19 patients were treated.
Commending the government of Lagos State for the enlightenment of residents on the areas where persons who have tested positive for the virus are treated, it expressed concern that the FCT administration was yet to do same.
“This information essentially is to guide the residents subject to their vulnerability to this virus,” the group said.
It also underscored the need for Federal Government to integrate members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the management of monies donated for measures against COVID-19.
According to the them, this is important for effective accountability and transparency of the found.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Tuesday, confirmed 16 new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country, as Katsina and Delta States recorded their first case.
NCDC, through its verified Twitter account on Tuesday night, said that the 16 new cases of COVID-19 included 10 in Lagos, two in the FCT, two in Oyo, one each in both Delta and Katsina States.
Consequently, as at 09.30 p.m April 7, there were 254 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in the country, 44 have been discharged, while six deaths had been recorded, it said.
NCDC breakdown indicates 130 cases in Lagos; Abuja – 50, Oyo – 10 ; Osun – 20 ; Ogun – four; Kaduna-five; Enugu – two; Akwa Ibom – five ; Edo – 11 and Bauchi – six.
Others are Ekiti- two; Rivers -two; Kwara- two; while Benue , Ondo, Delta and Kastina have one case.
A medical doctor based in Daura, Katsina State, Dr Aliyu Yakubu, died just before being confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State announced this at a media briefing on Tuesday at the Government House in Katsina.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that chloroquine had been found in some tests to work in a test-tube to treat COVID-19.
He stated this in Lagos during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 in the country.
Ehanire, however, stated that it was not yet clear if Chloroquine would work as well inside the body.
He added that some people have said they have herbs and local cures for COVID-19, but the efficacy of medicine had to be proven before the government can recommend it for people to consume.
Few hours after the inauguration of a 60-bed isolation centre for Coronavirus (Covid-19) patients, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, says it has admitted four patients with the virus.
Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, the LUTH Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to him, they are three adults and one child.
“They are part of those already confirmed, but staying at home.
“Now they are under admission.
“They are stable and doing very well,” Adeyemo said.
The 60-bed isolation centre for Coronavirus (Covid-19) patients was inaugurated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 led by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health.
Prof. Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, had told newsmen shortly after the inauguration that “It is better for us to rise up to the occasion.
“With the help and assistance of the minister and Lagos government, we have been able to put together a block of four wards containing 60 beds altogether with enough personal protective equipment and all what we need.”
Bode said that admission would still be done through the pyramid structure and the hospital would be operating under the command of Lagos State government.
“We have a squad of 120 members of staffs, all warriors to combat this condition in LUTH.
”They have all been trained and are experts,” the Chief Medical Director said.