Tag: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control

15Jan By dthataNo Comments

Health

New COVID-19 Variants Not Cause For Concern – Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC DG

Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, says the new variants or strains of the COVID-19 virus in the country are not a cause for concern because viruses mutate all the time. He said they could only be of concern when the new variants or strains are associated with increased transmission. He stated this Thursday during the World Health Organisation’s online news briefing on the latest COVID-19 developments on the continent. He said Nigeria had not announced new variants so far because there had been no increased transmission and morbidity. Ihekweazu said the Nigerian authorities had also ramped up production of oxygen and brought in the private sector . WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said it was important for countries...

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11Jan By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19: NIN Registration May Be Suspended – Minister Of State For Health

Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of State for Health, Monday said that the ongoing registration and National Identification Number enrolment may be suspended due to the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country. As at yesterday, 100,087 cases have been confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). 1358 are reported dead since Coronavirus stormed Nigeria on February, 2020. Also, about 80,030 persons have been treated and discharged. On Sunday 10, 2021, NCDC confirmed 1,544 new infections of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. This however is a wake-up call to all Nigerian that Covid-19 is real. In other to stem the spread, Mamora while playing host on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme today, said it would be wise if NIN enrolment and r...

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9Jan By dthataNo Comments

Education

Universities To Re-open On 18 January 2021 – NUC

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed vice-chancellors of universities to resume academic activities on January 18. This is in accordance with the directive of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. The directive was contained in a statement signed by NUC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Chris Maiyaki, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Professor Abubakar Rasheed. Maiyaki urged universities to safeguard lives by strictly adhering to the extant safety protocols and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines, which have been communicated severally to the Nigerian University System through NUC’s circulars. “I am to add that universities on resumption of academic activities, must under no circumstance violate the full cyc...

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25Nov By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19: Do Not Travel For Christmas & New Year Festivities – PTF

Boss Mustapha, chairman of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19, has asked Nigerians not to travel during the festive season to limit the risk of contracting the coronavirus. Speaking at the PTF media briefing on Monday, Mustapha said such trips should be put on hold because the transmission rate of the virus has become “astronomical”. He said new cases can emerge in places that have not been by affected if people travel and gather for festivities. “Ahead of the upsurge in travels for the Christmas and New Year festivities, we urge strongly that for this year, such trips should be put on hold firmly because of the risks involved. The transmission rate has simply become astronomical,” he said. “New clusters of cases can emerge in places that have so far been unaffec...

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8Nov By BobbyNo Comments

News

59 new cases of Coronavirus recorded in Nigeria

59 new cases of Coronavirus were recorded in Nigeria on Saturday November 7, as confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).   A breakdown of the new cases is as follows; Kaduna-28, Rivers-9, Ogun-8, Ondo-8, Kano-2, Niger-2, Kwara-1, Plateau-1.   There are now 63,790 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the country and 1,154 deaths have been recorded. 59,884 patients who recovered from the disease have also been discharged.  

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7Nov By dthataNo Comments

Education, Health

COVID-19 Hits Queen’s College Lagos As Students Test Positive

Lagos State Government has confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in a secondary boarding school on the mainland. A member of the school's staff was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 2' of November. Contact tracing has revealed that a student and four contacts of the staff member are positive for COVID-19. The staff member fell ill for a few days and received first aid at the school clinic. She subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday 2nd of November at the Lagos State Biobank. The Lagos State COVID-19 Incident Command System through the Emergency Operation Center is investigating the incident, and we would like to assure members of the public and stakeholders of the school that the situation is completely under control. Steps are being taken to contain the spread ...

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5Oct By dthataNo Comments

Health

With 58 New COVID-19 Infections, Nigeria Records Lowest Cases in Seven Months

Nigeria has recorded 58 new cases of COVID-19, making it the lowest single day infection since March. This brings to 59,345 the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria. Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Plateau recorded 18 new cases; Lagos, 15; Katsina, 10; Ogun, five; Kaduna, four; Edo, three; Ekiti, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ondo recorded one each. It said: “Nigeria has so far recorded 59,345 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 50,768 patients have been discharged, while 1,113 persons have died.”

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8Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Buhari, Family Under Fire For Breaching CBN Act, NCDC Guideline At Hanan Wedding

Many Nigerians have called out the first family for violating part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act at the wedding ceremony of Hanan Buhari, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari. Many also condemned the safety guidelines issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with regards to overcrowding and social distancing to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanan and Turad, son of a former lawmaker, Mahmud Sani Sha’aban, got married at the Aso Rock villa on Friday – a ceremony which was graced by top government officials, members of the diplomatic community and politicians. Pictures and videos from the wedding, including those shared on Instagram by the first lady, Aisha Buhari, went viral and trended throughout the weekend. One video cir...

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2Sep By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

Health

Nigeria Records 239 New cases of COVID-19, total now 54,247

Nigeria on Tuesday recorded 239 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said. The health agency revealed this in a late-night tweet. The country now has a total of 54,247 confirmed cases, with 42,010 persons discharged and 1,023 deaths. Plateau reported the highest number of cases with 116 while the Federal Capital Territory ranked second with 33 new infections. Other states with new cases include Lagos-19, Ekiti-12, Kaduna-11, Ogun-11, Ebonyi-8, Benue-7, Abia-5, Delta-5, Ondo-4, Edo-3, Imo-2, Osun-2, and Bauchi-1.

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13Aug By dthataNo Comments

Politics

FEC Approves N8.49b For COVID-19 Testing Kits Procurement

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N8.49 billion for the procurement of 12 items for the testing of coronavirus pandemic by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The virtual council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday, gave the approval after considering a memo presented by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on behalf of the centre at the Council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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22Jun By dthataNo Comments

News

SERAP Sues Health Ministry & NCDC Over ‘Failure To Account For COVID-19 Money’

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health and Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), over “their failure to account for the public funds and other resources so far spent and used to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.” In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/616/2020 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and compel the Minister of Health and the NCDC to publish details of the funds and resources from federal and state governments, and the private sector, as well as details of how the funds and resources have so far been spent and used to combat COVID-19...

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11Jun By dthataNo Comments

Health

Fifteen COVID-19 Cases In Bauchi Came From Infection-Free Calabar – Bauchi State Governor Says

Bauchi state Governor, Bala Mohammed, has cast aspersions on Cross River state’s COVID-19-free status. In a press briefing on Wednesday, Mr. Mohammed said 15 COVID-19 cases in Bauchi were people travelling from Calabar, Cross River’s capital city. He also threatened to lock down Bauchi city if the number of infections continues to rise. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Cross River state is the only region in the country without any confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. “I don’t want to join issues with anybody,” Mohammed said. “But I want to tell Nigerians that they are going to be accountable to God. “There is no need pretending that this thing is not there. We as leaders, we must come out and face the challenges. “We in Bauchi, we are not ...

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11Jun By dthataNo Comments

Health

104 COVID-19 Cases Were Discovered In One Company In Sagamu – Ogun State Health Commissioner, Tomi Coker

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health , Dr. Tomi Coker, on Wednesday said 104 out of the 108 new COVID-19 cases in the state on Tuesday were from one company. On Tuesday night, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said the state recorded 108 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 471. Coker told our correspondent in Abeokuta that the state had recorded 13 COVID-19 deaths. She said, “104 cases are from a single site and they are all asymptomatic. 108 new cases, 104 from Sagamu, three from Abeokuta South and one from Yewa South.” Also, the state government said there was no going back on its plan to reopen the religious centres despite the alarming 108 COVID-19 cases recorded in the state within 24 hours. The government said the latest figure, which was the highest f...

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9Jun By dthataNo Comments

News

NCDC Approves Testing Of Covid-19 Cases In Akwa Ibom State

Akwa Ibom State Government has broken another commendable record by securing approval for the testing of COVID-19 cases in the state by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. The approval followed the Validation visit to the Akwa Ibom State world class Isolation Centre with inbuilt Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory situated at the Disease Control Unit of the General Hospital Ituk Mbang. Disclosing this yesterday in Uyo, the NCDC Team Leader, Mr Bamidele Oluwafemi commended the State Government for single-handedly building the Isolation centre with the inbuilt Laboratory with Category 3 PCR Machine without the support of the Federal Government. Mr. Oluwafemi described the isolation centre with Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory as one of the best in the country, noting that wit...

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8Jun By dthataNo Comments

Health

Governor Ikpeazu Speaks From Isolation Center Over His COVID-19 Infection, Advice Citizen To Be Cautious

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who recently tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday has urge the citizens to he cautious. The governor said this while speaking from isolation where he restated his stance that testing positive to the virus is not a death sentence. Speaking on his health status, governor Ikpeazu said he is stable and in high spirits. In a statement made available by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka on Monday, the governor said “As your Governor, I have a responsibility to do what is right and keep our people fully updated about my health status.” Ikpeazu in the statement also urged the people of the State not to panic but continue to take issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. He also appealed to Abians to take all necessary precaut...

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5Jun By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19 Patients Without Symptoms To Be Discharged After 14 Days – NCDC

PATIENTS who stop showing Coronavirus symptoms —fever and respiratory, will be discharged without waiting for a laboratory negative test. Besides, those who fail to show symptoms after testing positive will be discharged 14 days after, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Thursday while unveiling the new treatment protocols. The NCDC said this followed new data from Singapore that showed that RNA detected beyond 10 days is no longer infectious as no viable virus is grown by a viral culture. Such patients will be asked to go home but advised to continue self-isolation one week after discharge. Director-General of NCDC Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who spoke at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, in Abuja, said: “There have been new science em...

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2Jun By dthataNo Comments

Politics

PDP Asks Yahaya Bello To Apologise For Misleading Residents Over COVID-19

The Peoples Democratic Party has asked Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to apologise to the people of the state for misleading them on COVID-19. In a statement on Monday, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbodiyan said Bello did not show the required seriousness in leadership in the fight against the pandemic in the state. He said the Kogi governor needed to apologise to the people for also not funding the committee he set up to fight the pandemic and for not providing palliatives to the people like was done in other states. Ologbodiyan, who is from the state, urged residents not to panic as Coronavirus was not a death sentence, adding that the disease shall soon be a thing of the past. Following a reported case of COVID-19 in Kogi State, Governor Bello o...

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31May By dthataNo Comments

News

‘No state is an island as far as COVID-19 is concerned’ – Boss Mustapha says

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation and chairman of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19, says no state is an island as far as COVID-19 in Nigeria is concerned. He said this on Sunday while responding to questions on the rejection of results announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for Kogi state. Kogi state had rejected the two index cases of the coronavirus reported by the NCDC last Wednesday. “Kogi State till this very moment is COVID-19 free. We have developed full testing capacity and have conducted hundreds of tests so far which have returned negative,” Saka Audu, the state commissioner for health, said in a statement last Thursday. However, Mustapha, who led the PTF to submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari...

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31May By dthataNo Comments

Health

How 7,276 Patients Contracted COVID-19 In Nigeria Unknown – NCDC

The source of contracting coronavirus in 7,276 cases in Nigeria is yet to be known, NCDC says. This was contained in the COVID-19 Situation Report 92 of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control published on Sunday. In the report, it was stated that 62,583 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria. Of the 62,583 samples, 9,855 are confirmed positive across 35 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. It also stated that 2,856 COVID-19 patients have been discharged in the country while 273 are dead. While the most affected age group is 31 to 40, more males have been infected than females. The PUNCH reports that 6,631, amounting to 67 per cent of those infected, are males, while 3,224 – 33 per cent – are females. While listing the provenance of the cases...

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30May By dthataNo Comments

Politics

COVID-19 In Kogi Is Real, I Know Patient – Dino Melaye Reveals

Senator Dino Melaye has claimed that there are indeed COVID-19 cases in Kogi State.His allegations came amid a face-off between the Kogi State government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), after the agency announced two cases in the state. Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kingsley Fanwo, insisted that the state remains COVID-19 free. However, Melaye in a statement on Saturday, said he knows one of the patients. “One of the cases is from Kabba and the victim is personally known to me. I cannot be part of those who will play politics with the lives of my people. “Kogi State government must come down from her imaginary high horse and start contact tracing to help curtail the spread,” part of the statement read.

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22May By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19: NCDC Validates Viral RNA Extraction

The country has blazed a trail in Africa with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) successfully validating the first phase of the viral Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction which should enable local production of cheap testing kits for coronavirus. The validation took place on Thursday in the laboratory of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) in Abuja. The Director-General of NABDA, Prof. Alex Akpa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the exercise that the success of the validation was important not only to Nigeria but Africa as a whole. “The success of this validation shall enable us to massively produce test kits so that more people would be tested for COVID-19, not only in Nigeria but in Africa. “The immediate aim is to produce reagents for rea...

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22May By dthataNo Comments

Health

Nigeria Considers Discharging Yet-To-Recover COVID-19 Patients – NCDC DG

The Nigerian government has said it may consider discharging COVID-19 patients earlier than their required treatment and isolation period, even though they are still positive. The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known at the daily Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Thursday. Mr Ihekweazu said new evidence shows that it is safe to discharge recovering COVID-19 patients even when the results are still positive. “New evidence is emerging that even when the test is still positive after that patient has been in care for a certain amount of time, it is possible and safe to discharge that patient to home isolation. ”So we are looking at the evidence and we might change our guidelines over time.I am s...

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21May By dthataNo Comments

Health

We Have Reduced The Number Of Tests Conducted On Persons Infected With Coronavirus Before They Are Discharged – NCDC DG, Chikwe Ihekweazu

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has disclosed that they have reviewed the policy on the discharge of Coronavirus patients in the country. Chikwe who appeared on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Thursday May 21, said the number of tests conducted on persons infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) before they are certified to have recovered from the disease, was reduced in the new policy. He said; “So, the discharge criterion at the moment is a single negative test in Nigeria. “We used to do two negative tests – 48 hours apart – but because of challenges of bed space capacity, we reduced that to a single negative test then discharge the patient to another one week of home isolation … that’s the policy at the mome...

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20May By dthataNo Comments

News

Zamfara State Demands Apology From NCDC For Recording 10 COVID-19 Cases Instead Of 2

The government of Zamfara state says there is an error in the number of new COVID-19 cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for the state on Monday. The NCDC in its release on new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria, stated that Zamfara had 10 new cases. However, in an interview with NAN, Alhaji Yahaya Kanoma, the state Commissioner of Health said the state has asked the agency to rectify the error and also tender an apology. “We were shocked and bewildered by this latest figure from the NCDC which said 10 new cases were confirmed when we know it was only two. Our records have shown that when results from the center returned, we had a total of 76 cases made up of 45 discharged persons, 26 in isolation and five dead, so we didn’t know where NCDC got the additi...

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18May By dthataNo Comments

Religion

“No Coronavirus In Nigeria, Politicians Using It To Eat Money” – David Ibiyeomie

Popular Nigerian televangelist, and founder and senior pastor of Salvation Ministries, in Port Harcourt, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, says, there is no Coronavirus in Nigeria, that politicians and other institutions are just using it to steal money. The renowned cleric stated this on Sunday while preaching at Salvation Ministries, Headquarters in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Pastor Ibiyeomie also said what Nigeria has is the normal malaria that Nigerians are seriously immuoned to and not Coronavirus. Making reference to the experience of the Founder of DAAR Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Ibiyeomie questioned the alleged treatment they were giving to Covid-19 patients and expressed serious doubts over the daily statistics issued by the Nigeria Centre For Diseas...

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13May By dthataNo Comments

News

COVID-19: Lagos Lockdown Online Vote

The Lagos State Government has subjected its proposed lockdown to a vote on social media. According to the state government, the decision was informed by the disregard for social distancing and other guidelines issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and health experts. In a tweet on Tuesday, the state government wrote, “Considering the level of compliance with government’s directives on limiting the spread of COVID-19 in Lagos State, should the state government impose another lockdown or not?” The government asked residents to vote yes, no or neutral. As of 12pm on Wednesday, over 53,000 votes had been cast. About 51.4 percent of respondents asked the state government to issue a fresh lockdown order while 37.2 votes against it. The remaining 11.5 percent of the...

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13May By dthataNo Comments

Health

Discharge Patients Who Test Negative Once — NCDC Issues New COVID-19 Guidelines

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reviewed its testing strategy for COVID-19 regarding the management of confirmed cases, MCI can report. MCI understands that the new strategy requires patients to be discharged after testing negative once for the disease, unlike it is usually the case. Emeka Oguanuo, spokesperson of the NCDC, confirmed the revision to MCI on Wednesday, saying the agency will soon publish the new guidelines with further details. Nigeria has so far recorded 4,787 cases of COVID-19 out of which 959 patients have recovered and have been discharged from isolation centres across the states. But before getting discharged, NCDC initially required that patients must test negative at least twice for their health status to be confirmed. It is not im...

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11May By dthataNo Comments

Religion

Catholic Church Donates All Its 425 Hospitals As COVID-19 Isolation Centres

The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has offered all its 425 health facilities across the country as isolation centres for COVID-19. Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), who disclosed this at the presidential task force briefing on Monday said state governments can now take advantage of the facilities. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had said no state in the country has enough bed spaces for COVID-19 patients, but with the recent donations, Mustapha who chairs the presidential task force on COVID-19, said these would add in the committee’s support for the state governments. “As part of efforts to support the states in the establishment of the isolation and treatment centres, I wish to remind our governors that the Cathol...

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11May By dthataNo Comments

Politics

COVID-19: Send NCDC Officials Back To Kogi With Full Security – Sagay Advises FG

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) on Sunday said the federal government should back up officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with security agencies and send them back to Kogi state to ascertain the COVID-19 status of the residents. The Kogi state government had alleged that there are attempts to declare fake COVID-19 cases in the state. When a delegation from the NCDC visited the state on Thursday night, Governor Bello asked the team to go on 14-day isolation or leave the state immediately. The team then returned to Abuja. However, speaking with Daily Independent, Sagay who described the action of the state government as an illegality, said Governor Yahaya Bello was behaving as if he will win a p...

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11May By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19: Nigeria Imports Shipment Of Madagascar’s Drugs For Testing

The Republic of Madagascar has offered its herbal drug – COVID Organics (COV) – to Nigeria and other African countries. The drug is for prevention and cure of Coronavirus. Nigeria’s consignment has been sent to Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja. For ease of transportation, African countries were divided into zones leading to the freighting of Nigeria’s consignments to Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria’s COVID-19 positive tally moved to 4,399 last night with 248 new cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Lagos recorded 81 cases, followed by Jigawa State 35 and Borno 26 cases to top the chart. Kano recorded 26 cases, followed by Bauchi with 20 cases. There is pressure on the Federal Government by different medical and scientifi...

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10May By dthataNo Comments

News

Nigerians Evacuated From Dubai Protest, Say They Are Treated Like Prisoners

Some Nigerians recently evacuated from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, have stated that they are being treated like prisoners. They told newsmen that the hotel where they are being quarantined in Lagos is surrounded by soldiers who do not allow them to even get fresh air or receive some sunlight within the compound. One of them, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being victimized, said, “Sincerely, we have not had it good since we returned from Dubai. We all tested negative for COVID-19 but we are being treated as if we have the disease. “We have been here for three days now but we have not been allowed to even breathe fresh air or even feel sunlight on our skin. It is as if we are in prison. Even the food we are being given is not good at all. We are just managing it.” ...

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9May By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Massive Outbreak Of COVID-19 In Azare, Bauchi — Ibrahim Baba Writes Buhari

Ibrahim Baba, a former member of the house of representatives from Bauchi, has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over the “massive outbreak of coronavirus” in Azare, a town in the state. In the letter dated May 8, 2020, Baba said Azare has recorded over 100 COVID-19 deaths in the last one week. He said this has resulted in panic and confusion among residents, appealing to the president to direct the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to visit the town. Baba said the proximity of Azare to Kano and Jigawa could be responsible for the rise in COVID-19 cases there. Both states have high cases of COVID-19, with Kano recording the second highest number of infections in the country. “Your Excellency, Sir, I write to draw your kind attention to the massive ou...

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5May By dthataNo Comments

Health

Coronavirus: Umar Farouk, Emir Of Daura Rushed To Intensive Care Unit

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, has been hospitalised at the Intensive Care Unit of the Federal Medical Centre in Kastina State. Daura is the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari. A palace source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that Umar was rushed to the hospital on Monday night in a critical condition. The emir is said to have contracted COVID-19 from Kastina State index case, Dr Aminu Yakubu, a Daura-based private medical practitioner, who died of the virus last month. SaharaReporters gathered that the late Yakubu was the personal physician of Emir Umar and had met with him and his first wife, Hajiya Binta Umar, shortly before he died. The wife also died two weeks after. “Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar, was last night rushed to FMC Katsina. Present...

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5May By dthataNo Comments

News

COVID-19: We Will Lock Down Again If Cases Rise — NCDC

The Federal Government says if there is an explosion of cases of coronavirus infections, it will be left with no choice but to ask all Nigerians to go back to their homes. Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this in Abuja yesterday at a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. He said initial reports on compliance with the guidelines on the implementation of the phased and gradual easing of the lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, which took effect yesterday were not too pleasing across the country He expressed concern that corporate organisations, especially banks, flouted the NCDC’s guideline for infection prevention and control. “When we say take responsibility this time, yes we’re ...

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3May By dthataNo Comments

Health, News

Nigeria Records 220 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Now 2,388

220 confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded in Nigeria, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2388 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known via its Twitter handle. 220 new cases of #COVID19; 62-Lagos 52-FCT 31-Kaduna 13-Sokoto 10-Kebbi 9-Yobe 6-Borno 5-Edo 5-Bauchi 4-Gombe 4-Enugu 4-Oyo 3-Zamfara 2-Nasarawa 2-Osun 2-Ebonyi 2-Kwara 2-Kano 2-Plateau 2388 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria Discharged: 385 Deaths: 85  

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2May By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Compulsory Vaccination, Others Inside House Of Reps Diseases Control Bill

When the house of representatives resumed plenary sessions on Tuesday, the lawmakers debated on a number of issues including the infectious diseases control bill which seeks to repeal the quarantine act of 1926 and provide for new regulations that would enable Nigeria adequately manage situations like the coronavirus pandemic. The bill, which passed for second reading on that day, has been a subject of controversy owing to some provisions which some Nigerians have argued infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens. Sponsored by Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker, alongside two other lawmakers including Pascal Obi and Tanko Sununu, the piece of legislation seeks to “make provisions relating to quarantine and make regulations for preventing the introduction into and spread in Nigeri...

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1May By dthataNo Comments

Health, News

Raymond Dokpesi Snr And 7 Family Members Test Positive For Coronavirus

The founder of DAAR Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and his daughter-in law along with six members of his family have tested positive for Coronavirus. This is coming 3 days after his son and Chairman of the board of the company, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr also tested positive for the virus. A test conducted by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on the Dokpesi family came out positive for eight members of the family. High Chief Dokpesi and the affected family members have been evacuated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to the isolation centre at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada where his son is already receiving treatment. Speaking on Friday shortly after the arrival of the NCDC Ambulance, High Chief Dokpesi said he is f...

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1May By dthataNo Comments

Health

“Donate Your Buildings As Isolation Centres” – Osagie Ehanire To Nigerians

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Thursday, appealed to Nigerians to donate their buildings as isolation centres. Ehanire made the appeal at the press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja. He said as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control aimed to test two million people in the next three months more buildings would be needed as isolation centres. The minister stated, “I have appealed to citizens to make their property available temporarily for this purpose. I am sure that after that, there are many property owners who will come up and donate to state governments for a period of time to be used for this function. “We are not out of space now but we are making the appeal ahead of time so that we have these facilities ready.” Ehanire said th...

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28Apr By dthataNo Comments

Politics

IMF May Approve Nigeria’s $3.4 Billion Loan Today

There are indications that the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund may approve the $ 3 . 4bn loan sought by Nigeria on Tuesday ( today ) . Although the Minister of Finance , Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed , had on April 6 , while announcing that Nigeria had applied for the loan , said the funds were expected within six to 12 weeks , Reuters and Bloomberg reported that the IMF would meet over the request today . The reports quoted unofficial sources in the IMF. If approved, the loan would be among the largest allocations by the IMF to an African country in response to the COVID - 19 pandemic . It is expected that the IMF Executive Board would approve the loan having already approved similar requests for several countries . According to the IMF, about 102 coun...

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28Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health

64 New Cases Of COVID-19 Recorded, Death Toll Hits 40

Nigeria on Monday recorded 64 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total infections to 1,337, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). According to the NCDC in a tweet via its official handle, 34 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos,15 in FCT, 11 in Borno, 2 in Taraba and 2 in Gombe. NCDC also said 255 coronavirus patients have been discharged so far with 40 deaths recorded.

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27Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19: Chikwe Ihekweazu Says NCDC Desperately Needs More Test Kits

Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, says Nigeria is desperately in need of more ribonucleic acid COVID-19 test kits. In a tweet yesterday, the NCDC boss said this became important as the country expanded testing for the virus. “We’re desperately looking for more RNA extraction kits as we expand #COVID19 testing. “Product: Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer). Manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc,” he said.

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27Apr By dthataNo Comments

Politics

House Of Reps Fixes Resumption For Tuesday Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

The house of representatives has scheduled its resumption for Tuesday amid the fight to contain coronavirus. Nigeria currently has 1,182 coronavirus cases out of which 222 persons have recovered and 35 have died. The lower legislative chamber had suspended plenary on March 24 when the country had 44 COVID-19 cases. But in a notice on Sunday, Patrick Giwa, clerk of the green chamber, asked members to take note of the resumption date. “This is to inform all Members of the House of Representatives that the House will now resume plenary session on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 10.am,” he said. “Members are advised to take note of the new date of resumption, please. “The Covid-19 Guidelines approved by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) ...

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25Apr By dthataNo Comments

News

Area Boys Demand Settlement Before Evacuation Of Suspected COVID-19 Patients

SUBAIR MOHAMMED walked through slums in Lagos State and reported situations making nonsense of social distancing regulation, which portends a new danger for government and people of the state. RESIDENTS of Willoughby Street, Okobaba, a thickly populated slum community located in the Ebute-Metta (East) axis of Lagos State were relieved with the sight of a siren-blaring ambulance from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) which was in their community to fetch three suspected coronavirus patients for treatment. What was seen as a respite soon turned to apprehension and commotion by the time urchins took over the scene, holding the three suspected COVID-19 patients hostage and preventing the NCDC officials from gaining access into the building housing them. They insisted mone...

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25Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health

Why NCDC Doesn’t Want To Lift The Lockdown

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, has explained why the lockdown measure should not be relaxed amid efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), had on March 29 ordered a lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states for 14 days to curb COVID-19 spread. Many states had also followed suit. But as the number of COVID-19 cases increased, the President on April 13 extended the lockdown for 14 more days. As of the time of filing this report, the coronavirus had spread to 26 states and the FCT, with 1,095 cases recorded across the country by the NCDC. While 208 patients had been discharged, 32 had died. The new cases were 80 in Lagos, 21 in Gombe, five in FCT, two each in Zamfara and Edo, and one each in Ogun,...

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25Apr By dthataNo Comments

Politics

COVID-19 APP: Yahaya Bello, An Embarrassment To Nigerian Youths – Ubani

Barr. Monday Ubani, a former 2nd Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on Friday said he is deeply disappointed by the utterances of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Ubani, in a chat with Daily Independent, said rather than be an ambassador to Nigerian youths, the governor is embarrassing them through his utterances and actions. The governor in a recent interview had said the state has developed an application that residents can use to ascertain whether persons with symptoms of coronavirus should report for testing. According to the governor “So far, we have established about three isolation centres in the state. As God would have it, we have not recorded any issue. What we did was to develop an app th...

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25Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health

Nigeria Is Not Yet At Its Coronavirus Peak Yet; We Still Have A Number Of Weeks To Go – NCDC DG, Chikwe Ihekweazu

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu has revealed that Nigeria still has some number of weeks to go before reaching its Coronavirus peak. Chikwe however stated the agency he heads is instituting different measures to ensure the nation’s health system does not get overwhelmed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He said on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’; “From our projection, we are not near the peak yet; we still have a number of weeks to go. “But we are trying to stretch out these weeks even further so we can push the peak a bit further out but make sure that the peak is not as steep as it would otherwise have been if no measures were put in place.” The NCDC DG who decried the limiting factors making the trans...

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24Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19: NCDC Advises Pregnant, Breastfeeding Women To Take Precautions

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has advised pregnant and breastfeeding women to take routine preventative actions to avoid the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of NCDC, gave the advice in an interview with Newsmen on Friday in Abuja. Ihekweazu said that the preventive measures were recommended in alignment with the Department of Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH). He listed the measures to include diligent hand-washing, avoiding close contact with people exhibiting symptoms of infection and covering sneezes and coughs. He said that it was not currently known if pregnant women were more susceptible to COVID-19 than the general public nor whether they were more likely to have serious illness as a result....

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24Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health

COVID-19: ‘We’re Running Against Time With No Laboratories, Ventilators’ – NCDC

The Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, has said that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 is running against time because Nigerians want to return to normal life. He also explained that Lagos State has more testing capacity than Kano State because the first COVID-19 outbreak happened in Africa’s largest commercial city. Ihekweazu spoke during a virtual press briefing by the World Economic Forum/World Health Organisation on Thursday. He said: “We will be transferring some of our knowledge from states to states. We are running against time because people are pushing to live normal life. “At the same time, we are confronted with the escalation phase of the figures. So how to balance this will be very a difficult decision to be mad...

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24Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health

Nigeria Records 108 New Cases As Total COVID-19 Infections Hits 981

Plateau state on Thursday became the 27th state with the novel coronavirus According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, “108 new cases of COVID- 19 have been reported; 78 in Lagos, 14 in FCT, 5 in Ogun, 4 in Gombe 3 Borno, 2 in Akwa Ibom, 1 in Kwara, 1 in Plateau. “As at 11:30 pm 23rd April there are 981 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Discharged: 197 Deaths: 31.”

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23Apr By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Governors Agree On 14-Day National COVID-19 Lockdown

Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governors of the 36 States of the federation on Wednesday “unanimously” agreed to the implementation of an inter-State lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 virus from State to State. The governors, operating under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), reached the agreement after receiving briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun States who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19. A communique issued by the NGF chairman and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, at the end of the sixth COVID-19 teleconference meeting said only essential services would be permitted. State governors called for the decentralization of the COVID-19 r...

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