The governor was reacting to rising calls by stakeholders for a total lockdown in Oyo State as part of measures to curb the spread of the COVID- 19 in a telephone interview on
Fresh 105 . 9 FM , Ibadan .
Explaining that total lockdown might plunge a section of the public into crisis of survival, the governor said the option was at the bottom of the list by his administration .
The governor, who stressed the need for a logical approach to the issue, said , “Everything that can be done to prevent the spread of COVID- 19 in Oyo State is on the table . We will continue to assess the situation and take additional measures where necessary .
“ Lagos can be on lockdown , Ogun can be on lockdown ; Oyo State , yes , people have been saying should have a total lockdown and then I have been asking them questions . What will be the benefits here ? Are there alternative courses of action for us to take?
“ If you ask people not to come out , you lock down the market places , there are people whom the profit from today ’ s activities is what they will eat tomorrow . There are plenty of people like that within our environment . So , are there alternatives available to us ? Can we do selective lockdowns ?
“ I think, everything is on the table but it has to follow a logical pattern and it will need the input of experts . We are not just going to lockdown because everyone is locking down . ”
THE federal government, Wednesday, began the disbursement of N5,000 to one million indigent Nigerians in the country.
But the beneficiaries the money said to be from the Conditional Cash Transfers Scheme, were paid N20,000 each covering four months.
The action was in line with a recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the conditional cash transfers for the next two months be paid immediately to beneficiaries.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, performed the disbursement at Kwali Local Government Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to over 100 beneficiaries.
“The exercise commenced about five years ago and it is geared towards supporting the poor and vulnerable households of our society,” the minister said while carrying out the exercise.
She added: “We give them monthly stipends of N5000 every month and now that we have these restrictions, Mr President has directed that we give them two months advance payment and we are here today to carry out that directive of paying the two months advance payment.
“We have over a million people across the country. For the FCT and this particular area Council, we are giving about 5000 households in this area.”
Describing the process leading to the identification of beneficiaries as rigorous, she said: “It is a very long process and many people like religious leaders, community leaders and different groups all came together to identify poorest and vulnerable households in their community.”
While the coronavirus ravages the earth, six of the 54 countries in Africa have not reported any case of infection.
Although many are superstitious about it, experts express fear that the virus might be incubating and/or absence of testing in some of the ‘spared’ countries.
South Sudan
The East African nation is barely emerging from six years of civil war and with high levels of hunger, illness and little infrastructure, observers fear the virus could wreak havoc.
Doctor Angok Gordon Kuol, one of those charged with overseeing the fight against the virus, said the country had only carried out 12 tests, none of which were positive.
He said the reason the virus has yet to reach South Sudan could be explained by the low volume of air traffic and travel to the country.
“Very few airlines come to South Sudan and most of the countries affected today they are affected by people coming from abroad.”
He said the main concern was foreigners working for the large NGO and humanitarian community, or people crossing land borders from neighbouring countries.
South Sudan has shut schools, banned gatherings such as weddings, funerals and sporting events and blocked flights from worst-affected countries. Non-essential businesses have been shuttered and movement restricted.
The country can currently test around 500 people and has one isolation centre with 24 beds.
Burundi
Another country in Africa is Burundi, which is gearing up for general elections in May. Authorities thank divine intervention for the lack of cases.
“The government thanks all-powerful God who has protected Burundi,” government spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye said on national television last week.
At the same time, he criticised those “spreading rumours” that Burundi is not capable of testing for the virus, or that it is spreading unnoticed.
Some measures have been taken, such as the suspension of international flights and placing handwashing stations at the entrances to banks and restaurants in Bujumbura.
However, several doctors have expressed their concerns.
“There are zero cases in Burundi because there have been zero tests,” a Burundian doctor said on condition of anonymity.
Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe— a tiny nation of small islands covered in the lush rainforest — has reported zero cases because it is unable to test, according to World Health Organisation, WHO, representative Anne Ancia.
However “we are continuing preparations,” with around 100 people in quarantine after returning from highly-affected countries, and the WHO keeping an eye on cases of pneumonia.
With only four ICU beds for a population of 200,000 people, the country is desperate to not let the virus take hold and has already shut its borders despite the importance of tourism to the local economy.
Malawi
Malawi’s health ministry spokesman Joshua Malango brushed aside fears that Malawi might not have registered any COVID-19 cases due to a lack of testing kits:
“We have the testing kits in Malawi and we are testing.”
Dr Bridget Malewezi from the Society of Medical Doctors told AFP that while “we may not be 100 percent ready”, government was gearing up for the arrival of the virus.
She suggested it may only be a matter of time before the pandemic hits Malawi.
“It’s only been in the past few weeks that it has been rampantly spreading across Africa so most people feel it will get here at some point…,” she said.
Malawi has asked people coming from hard-hit countries to self-quarantine, which Malawezi said had helped “safeguard the country from any possible spread of the virus”.
Tiny Lesotho, a kingdom encircled by South Africa with only two million inhabitants, went into national lockdown on Monday despite registering zero cases.
Until last week the country had no tests or testing centres and received its first kits thanks to a donation by a Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma.
Authorities had reported eight suspected cases that they had not been able to test and the first results are expected soon.
Comoros
The Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros, situated between Madagascar and Mozambique, has yet to detect a single case of the virus, according to the health ministry.
One doctor in the capital Moroni, Dr Abdou Ada, wonders if it may not be because of the wide use of the drug Artemisinin to treat malaria.
“I believe that the mass anti-malarial treatment explains the fact that Comoros is, at least for now, spared from COVID-19. it is a personal belief that needs to be confirmed scientifically.”
The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, and Medical Guild have raised the alarm over an alleged “ undue” harassment of health workers by men of the Nigerian Police Force .
The NMA in a release signed by its Chairman , Dr Saliu Oseni , said the statement made by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police , Hakeem Odumosu , was “ unfortunate ”.
The Lagos NMA Chairman added that the statement by the CP was exposing its members and other healthcare workers to unwarranted harassment by the police .
“ The attention of the Association has been drawn to the comments made by the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State pertaining to the movements of health workers in the state against the background of restriction of movement informed by the fight against the spread of the COVID- 19 disease in the country.
“ The comments were aired on TVC News on March 31 , 2020 . The CP said , amongst other things , that health workers , in addition to carrying valid means of identification , must show evidence of being on duty whenever they move around the state .
“ Is the CP suggesting that health workers engage in ‘ illegal duty ’ or wander about aimlessly ? Perhaps , the CP underestimates the enormity of the work at hand. For the avoidance of doubt , all hands are needed on deck at this critical time . Several countries have already called thousands of health workers out of retirement . ”
In a related development , the Medical Guild leadership said its members are being harassed by the Police on their way to attend to sick patients in the hospitals
The Chairman of the Guild, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, said , “ The Medical Guild wish to call on Lagos State Government to prevail on the security operatives to allow all health care workers through the roads to provide services in our hospitals .
“ We strongly urge the Commissioner of Police to retract his directive which will lead to loss of lives of members of the public unnecessarily. ”
The Federal Government night reduced the price of petrol from N125 / litre to N123 . 5 / litre.
Current petrol price indicates a reduction of N1 . 5 on every litre of petrol purchased nationwide .
It announced the reduction through the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency , after a whole day meeting with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector in Abuja .
Announcing the reduction , the Executive Secretary of the PMS pricing regulator, Abdulkadir Saidu, said , “ PPPRA, in line with the government approval for a monthly review of Premium
“ Motor Spirit pump price hereby announces guiding PMS pump price of N123 . 50 per litre .
“ The guiding price which becomes effective 1 st April 2020 , shall apply at all retail outlets nationwide for the month of April 2020 . PPPRA and other relevant regulatory agencies shall continue to monitor compliance to extant regulations for a sustainable downstream petroleum sector . ”
It added , “ Members of the public and all oil marketing companies are to be guided accordingly. ”
The spokesperson for PPPRA, Kimchi Apollo , had told our correspondent at 7 . 30 pm that stakeholders had been meeting on the new price since Tuesday Morning .
Officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria , Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , oil marketers and labour unions , among others, who constitute the petroleum products price modulation committee attended the meeting .
On March 19 , 2020 , a day after the Federal Government announced the pump price of N 125 /litre for petrol , the PPPRA declared that there was the possibility of a new price regime for the PMS beginning from April 1 , 2020 .
It explained that the N 125 /litre price might last till the end of March , as a new cost for petrol might be introduced on April 1 .
Saidu had told journalists that the PPPRA would be undertaking a review of the PMS price and would announce a new price for the product on April 1 ( today ) if there were changes in the parameters used in determining the N125 / litre pump price.
The Federal Government said by next week , Nigeria would be testing 1 , 500 people for COVID- 19 every day .
The Director – General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Chikwe Ihekweazu , who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja , said the country, as of last week, was conducting 500 tests per day .
Ihekweazu said this as some states , including Oyo and Edo, on Tuesday complained that they were facing a shortage of testing kits for the virus .
On its part, the Bauchi State Government appealed to the Federal Government to set up a COVID- 19 testing facility in the state .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), on Sunday , as part of efforts to increase contact tracing and treat Nigerians , who might have contracted the virus , ordered lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states .
Although Nigeria recorded the first coronavirus case on February 27 , the figure shot up to 131 on Monday night amidst complaints that the country was not testing many people with suspected cases of the virus .
Prominent Nigerians , who have been diagnosed with the disease include the Chief of Staff to the President , Abba Kyari; the Bauchi State Governor , Bala Mohammed ; his Kaduna State counterpart , Nasir El – Rufai and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State Ihekweazu , at the press conference , said the NCDC would only test specific persons whose case definition fitted into that of the centre .
He stated , “ As of last week, we were testing about 500 per day , or we had the capacity to test 500 per day . By the end of this week, we will be at 1 , 000 per day , and next week we plan to take it to 1 , 500 per day , just by increasing the number of labs .
“ We are managing and improving the supply sides , but at the same time , we need to reduce the demand side to those that really need it. So , in Lagos , there is a big problem with a lot of anxiety and everybody wants to get tested . We need you to help us give this message to people. We have a case definition for COVID- 19 ; either you have respiratory symptoms plus travel ; plus contact with a confirmed case or respiratory symptoms of unknown explanation .
“ This is an important message because the more people force themselves into being tested the less we have the capacity to test those that really need it. These people that really need it will be transmitting it into the community and more people will get infected .
“ So , there is a consequence, not just for you as an individual , but for the rest of society . So , we need to get to those we need to get to . And by testing those that don ’ t need it, we block the system from those that need it, and the outbreak continues . So , there is a price to pay for testing all these asymptomatic individuals .
Saudi Arabia’ s hajj minister asked Muslims to temporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic .
Earlier this month , Saudi Arabia suspended the year- round “ umrah ” pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to Islam ’ s holiest cities, an unprecedented move that raised uncertainty over the annual hajj .
“ Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and umrah seekers , ” hajj minister Mohammad Benten told the state – run Al – Ekhbariya television .
“ But under the current circumstances , as we are talking about the global pandemic … the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before doing (hajj ) contracts until the situation is clear . ”
Saudi authorities are yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year ’ s hajj , scheduled for the end of July.
The pilgrimage – which last year attracted 2 . 5 million people – is a key revenue earner for the kingdom. But it could be a major source of contagion as it packs pilgrims closely in religious sites .
Earlier this month , Saudi Arabia suspended prayers inside all its mosques except the two holiest sites in Islam as it increased efforts to contain the new coronavirus.
The announcements risk riling fringe Muslim hardliners , for whom religion trumps health considerations .
Saudi Arabia is scrambling to limit the spread of the disease at home . The kingdom’ s health ministry has reported 1 , 563 coronavirus infections and 10 deaths from the illness so far .
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission says there will be a 3 -month delay in the implementation of the proposed electricity tariff in the country.
The regulator had earlier announced that there would be an upward review of electricity tariff across the country effective April 1 .
But Minister of Power , Sale Mamman , in a statement in Abuja , said that the suspension in the implementation of the new tariff was one of the measures taken by the regime of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) to support Nigerians in this difficult time when COVID- 19 is disrupting the nation’ s economy .
Tyson Fury says he will never be tired of beating Deontay Wilder in anticipation of his third fight against the American heavyweight, even though his potential all- British showdown with Anthony Joshua is on hold for now .
Following a controversial draw in December 2018 , Fury overpowered Wilder in Las Vegas in February , beating him in seven rounds .
Wilder has activated the rematch clause in his contract , delaying the possibility of a hugely anticipated unification bout between WBC champion Fury and Anthony Joshua , who holds the WBA , IBF and WBO titles .
It is now hoped Fury and Wilder will meet for a third bout later this year after the original date of July 18 was scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I ’ ll be obliged to give him a bit more, ” Fury told the Good Morning Britain television programme . “ You never tire of beating Deontay Wilder . It’ s one of those things you take great pride in doing .
“ I really did what I said I was going to do and not many people , in boxing especially , say something and then do exactly what they were going to do . ”
Fury , unbeaten as a professional , added : “ So I was quite proud of the performance and I ’ m really looking forward to getting all this coronavirus out of the way and the world getting back on track and getting back to my job . ”
With regular training not possible due to a lockdown in Britain , Fury has been working out alongside wife Paris and his five children in fitness sessions broadcast on Instagram Live .
“ It helps me stay in shape and helps many , many people out there who join in from all over the world , ” said the 31 – year- old.
“ I ’ m very, very grateful that I can have an input on helping people with their fitness and mental health problems during these lockdown times .
“ I ’ ve got Paris here and the kids . Everyone goes nuts in the front room while we ’ re working out . ”
The National Coordinator , Nigeria Sex Workers Association, Amaka Enemo , says sex workers in the country have been forced to suspend activities, especially in Lagos and Abuja due to the lockdown caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic .
Enemo told newsmen that although sex workers offer “ essential services” they will remain indoors because their services involve “ substantial bodily contact” .
She said the association had been able to sensitise its members to the dangers of COVID- 19 .
The national coordinator said , “ There is sensitisation across the country including within our network . Sex workers also offer essential services . However , there is no way sex workers can do their work without body contact . So , they are staying at home to watch what happens .
“ The government has announced a lockdown and as law – abiding citizens , we will not flout the law . If the government says sit at home, we will all obey because nobody wants to die .
“ We fall under essential services but ours is peculiar because of the nature of body contact . You cannot compare it to doctors because the doctors are not making full body contact with people the way we do . ”
When asked whether only ‘ street operations ’ had been suspended and if private home services could continue, Enemo said the decision of the association was that “ all activities be put on hold ” .
The national coordinator said , “The lockdown affects street workers and those at home equally . For the sake of their health , they should all stay at home and avoid bodily contact . So , we stay at home but we are sharing materials that will keep them safe . ”
When asked to evaluate the financial impact of the lockdown on sex workers , Enemo said it was the same effect artisans were facing .
She , however , said it was better to protect one ’ s health .
Enemo added , “ Of course it is going to affect them financially but sex workers are not the only ones that make money on a daily basis. It is the same for commercial drivers . Of course , they might have their savings but that does not mean it will not affect them. It is affecting everybody so sex workers are not exempted . ”
The national coordinator said her association would accept donations from the government or private sector as this would reduce the impact of the lockdown on members.
“ If they are willing to help , we will accept it. It is lockdown . Our business is affected, ” Enemo added .
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