The Hood – Hearing from your neighborhood

Nigeria COVID-19 cases surpass 36, 000 with 653 new infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 653 new COVID-19 cases in the country as total infections from the virus rise to 36, 107.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle late on Saturday.

The health agency said that as of July 18, 653 new confirmed cases and six deaths were recorded in the country.

It said that the 653 new cases were reported from 27 states and the FCT.

According to the agency, only nine states did not report a new case of the disease in the past 24 hours.

The NCDC added that Lagos state reported the highest number of infections with 115 new cases, while Kwara reported 85 new infections.

Amongst others were Enugu with 80 cases and the FCT with 78. Rivers had 36 cases, Ondo – 35, Oyo – 30, Katsina – 28, Kaduna – 19, Abia – 19, Nasarawa – 18, Plateau – 17, and Imo – 16.

Four states, namely: Ogun, Ebonyi, Benue, and Kano reported nine more infections with Delta, Bauchi, and Ekiti having eight, seven, and six new cases respectively.

NCDC said that Gombe, Bayelsa, Adamawa, and Osun also recorded four more cases while a case of the virus was recorded each in Cross River, Yobe, Borno, and Zamfara states.

According to the centre, this brings the total number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in country to 36,107 out of the more than 200,000 tests conducted.

The health agency, however, said that 305 recovered patients were discharged from various isolation centres across the country after undergoing treatment.

According to it, Nigeria now has 14,938 recovered cases of COVID-19 with the death toll still at 778.

It said the major reason for the delay of COVID-19 test results was not the testing per se, but the process of getting results to individuals.

“We’re working on a new platform to improve the system of communicating results.

“COVID-19 is not malaria. If you have COUGH or FEVER and one of these symptoms: Loss of taste/smell, difficulty in breathing, diarrhoea, catarrh, fatigue, shivering, body pain, headache, and sore throat, call your state hotline: covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/contact/,” it stated.

The agency stressed that observing physical distancing helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“Avoid contact with droplets when an infected person sneezes/coughs. And Take Responsibility, wear a face mask, observe physical distancing and wash your hands frequently.”

You have 12 days to meet COVID-19 guidelines – FG tells School Operators

The Federal Government has given school owners till July, 29 to meet specific guidelines for safe reopening of schools.

It said schools are expected to undertake self-assessment and send feedback to State Ministries of Education, not later than 29th July, 2020.

The government said an official date for safe reopening of schools will be announced once these guidelines are in place.

Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, stated these on Friday in Abuja.

Nwajiuba said the the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), having consulted widely, has in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Education in Emergencies Working Group, developed and circulated guidelines for the reopening of schools.

In a statement on Friday by the Director of Information, FMoE, Ben Goong, the minister said school owners are expected to prepare and comply with the guidelines.

“Thereafter, consultations with relevant stakeholders will be held to review the situation and decide on a specific date for reopening or otherwise.

“Furthermore, the Minister said, having taken the painful but necessary decision not to reopen schools without necessary preparations to ensure the safety of students and teachers, the Federal Ministry of Education has continued consultations with stakeholders, and a mechanism to assess and monitor compliance shall be put in place,” the statement said.

The minister said the ministry has consulted with Commissioners of Education in the 36 states, the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria,(APSON), National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools,(NAPPS), Provosts of Colleges of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Vice Chancellors of Universities, some State Governors and development partners since Tuesday last week.

On WAEC, Nwajuiba said: “we met with WAEC on Monday and have agreed to further consult with four other countries on a new examination date.

“We appreciate the concern shown by all stakeholders and note the divergent views expressed on the matter.

“Parents should be rest assured that the safety of our students and teachers is paramount as we work assiduously towards speedy reopening of our schools for the exit classes to take external examinations.”

Aare Gani Adams calls for proper investigation on Arotile’s deaths says death suspicious

Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams,has urged the Federal Government to properly investigate the gruesome murder of Nigeria’s first female combat Helicopter Pilot,Totulope Arotile, saying the death was suspicious.

Adams, in a statement on Thursday, by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, described the late Arotile’s death as a personal loss, especially, to the Yorubas.

While condoling with the family of the deceased, Iba Gani Adams also urged the International Community, the United Nation,European Union, United States and Britain to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the young and promising girl.

“Nigeria has lost one of its best brains in the military in such a suspicious circumstances. The late Tolulope Arotile’s short span in life was remarkable with a track record of being the first female combat helicopter pilot. The best we can do as a nation is to get to the root of the circumstances culminating in her death”

“As far as I am concerned, reports of her death still remained suspicious to me because her death has raised many questions”

“How would such a promising, young girl be killed by a reversing car within the premises of the barrack? Who drove the car? What was his or her name? Where was the suspected killer at the moment? And what is the present situation? We will like to know, and that is why I am charging the International Community to investigate and look into the circumstances surrounding her death”

Adams, however,said the death of such a promising, young girl has exposed the nation as a country that never values the lives of its citizens, especially, the best and exceptional citizens”

“I take an exception to believe the story surrounding her gruesome murder. Her achievements speak volumes and many in the system may see her rising profile as a threat to the establishment,mostly with her passion towards ending the threats of the dreaded Boko Haram and bandits terrorising the North-west and the rest of the country”

” I feel the pain of a father whose daughter’s shining light went dim unexpectedly.The sadness of losing a promising girl like Totulope was eternal to her family, because of her talents and dedication to duty, so it should not go the usual way, where our best brains died without any investigation being carried out”

“Tolu’s father said he spoke with his daughter, by 1pm and by 5pm, a few hours later she was reportedly killed by a reversing car and was in the mortuary.That story needs to be investigated because her case is one out of the many deaths of great Nigerians that made positive impacts toward making Nigeria great, and that is one of the reasons people of excellent and exceptional brains find it difficult to serve the country,and they are all over the world doing great”

” I have traveled across the world,and I see many Nigerians doing wonderfully well in their respective disciplines, but they always feel reluctant to come back home,because of the way we treat our best brains, I think this is too bad for the development of our nation. More so, I share in the grief of the family as I pray God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss”. He said.

Call to Glory: Mama Aderinokun lived a fulfilled life – Adebutu

The Chairman, Federal House of Representatives’ Committee on Rural Development at the 8th National Assembly and founder, Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation, Hon. (Dr) Oladipupo Adebutu, has sent a message of condolence to a staunch member of Ogun PDP, Hon. Olumide Aderinokun over the death of his mother, Chief (Mrs) Olabisi Adunni Aderinokun whose death occurred on Monday, 13th July 2020 at the ripe age of 81.

In a statement by Afolabi Orekoya, Media Consultant, Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation, Adebutu described Mama Aderinokun’s transition as though painful but a glorious exit.

The billionaire farmer, admonished Olumide, his siblings and the Aderinokun family to take heart and have solace in the fact that mama lived a fulfilled and committed life of service to God and humanity.

“Chief (Mrs) Olabisi Aderinokun lived a fulfilled life. She was a disciplinarian and mother who made the education of her children priority. Not only that, she was highly spiritual and ensured she instilled the teachings of God in her children who are now doing well in their various fields of endeavour.”

While desiring the soul of mama Aderinokun to rest in perfect peace, Adebutu also prayed that God grants the children and family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

School Resumption: Order partial reopening of schools, Reps tell Buhari

The House of Representatives has called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to order a partial reopening of schools to allow pupils sit for the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.

The House made the call at the plenary on Tuesday following a unanimous adoption of a motion moved by a member, Nnolim Nnaji.

The Committee on Basic Education and Services had earlier on Friday faulted the decision by the Federal Government to suspend the plan to partially reopen schools for pupils in final classes to take external examinations.

The committee had particularly criticised the decision to disallow Nigerian pupils from sitting for WASSCE to be conducted by the West African Examination Council for the 2019/2020 academic session.

Schools at all levels have been shut since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had earlier in June said the Federal Government, in what it called “safe reopening of schools,” had approved the resumption of pupils in graduating classes, including Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 and the Senior Secondary School 3.

In approving the resumption of graduating classes, the government said water must be provided in schools for hand-washing and both pupils and teachers must wear face masks while observing social distancing.

Later, the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, had during the press briefing by the PTF announced that the 2020 WASSCE would hold between August 4 and September 5.

But the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the President last Wednesday said all federal schools would remain closed until it was safe to reopen them.

Adamu also urged state governments that had announced schools’ resumption plans to rescind such.

The minister stated that WAEC could not determine the resumption date of schools for Nigeria. He alleged that the council announced the date of examination while the government was still consulting stakeholders on what to do.

Buruji loses appeal on Judge’s withdrawal from Ogun PDP Cases

The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta on Tuesday, 14th July, 2020 maintains the court’s proceedings and orders of 9th June, 2020 where the Judge recused himself from suits FHC/AB/CS/24/2020 and FHC/AB/CS/44/2020.

The counsel to the applicants, Barr. Ifeoma Essom addressed the court based on the motion on notice dated 10th June, 2020 requesting the court to set aside all proceedings and orders made by the court on the 9th of June, 2020. She submitted that the applicants and counsel were not available in court.

In his response, the Counsel to the 1st defendant (PDP) Barr. Muyiwa Obanewa established the fact that the applicants can not choose and decide for the court, their non appearance on the said date was a matter of the applicants’ choice since all parties were duly informed ahead of the date of court’s sitting.

The 2nd defendant’s Counsel, Mrs N. A Tairu told the court that INEC did not file any process on the matter because they do not see where a court can sit on an appeal of its own judgement and therefore leaves the decision to the court.

After the adoption of processes and addressing the court by Counsels, Justice Abubakar Shittu thereafter gave the court’s position which upholds the decision of the court on 9th June, 2020 and declared as quoted “for the avoidance of doubt, I maintain that both cases are to be transfered to the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge. This court therefore declares that the notice filed by the applicants lacks merit and hereby dismissed”.

Justice Abubakar also added that the applicants did not address the real reason for the court’s decision that bothered on lack of confidence in his court expressed by the defendant.

COVID-19: PTF conducts mid-term review of national response strategy

Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has conducted a mid-term review of National Response Strategy on the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak in the country.

Mr Boss Mustapha, the PTF Chairman, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), made this known on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Mid-term review was attended by legislators, Chairmen of relevant Committees on Health in the Senate and House of Representatives, the Office of the Vice President, Ministers, Diplomatic Community and development partners.

Mustapha said that the objectives were to review the PTF’s achievements, challenges and opportunities for improvement of COVID-19 response efforts from its inception to June 30.

He said that the med-review was also to engage key stakeholders in developing the way forward on COVID-19 in the PTF’s response efforts.

The SGF said it was expected that at the end of the two-day meeting, key resolutions would have been taken covering actions PTF intended to take in the areas like focussing on having enough oxygen nationwide as the numbers of hospitalised people increased.

“Establishing one sample collection centre per Local Government Area (LGA) and focussing on high burden LGAs with precision interventions, including increased risk communication.

“Increase community engagement, including religious leaders and state ownership by increasing state engagement and collaboration, as well as strengthening ownership at the state and local government levels.

“Institutionalise IPC policies in healthcare facilities and take step to increase compliance of non-pharmaceutical measures (use of face masks, hand sanitisers and physical distancing).

“Increase engagement with the private sector, industrial development as a gain from the pandemic and support local production of PPE and other critical supplies.

“Communicating that anyone above 60 years or persons with morbidities (such as hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancers etc.), should stay at home and avoid social events as they are at highest risk of infection and mortality.

“Government meetings/Board meetings should be conducted virtually until further notice and all unnecessary travels for meetings by government officials should be suspended till further notice,” he said.

Mustapha said that the task force would also develop an exit strategy beyond September 2020, the life of PTF.

He said that an enhanced Risk Communication Strategy would be designed to educate the citizenry on the virulence of the virus, individual and collective roles, but more importantly, to tackle the deliberate mis-information being bandied around, especially in the social media.

“An enhanced Risk Communication strategy becomes inevitable when we realise that within the last 24 hours, the world witnessed the largest single day cases of 230,370, while in Nigeria, last week we recorded the highest weekly fatality of 70 deaths.

“The rising fatalities in Nigeria is not unconnected with denial and delay in seeking help,” he said.

The SGF supported the foregoing position with an insightful quote from Dr Michael Ryan, WHO Executive Director of Health Emergencies Programmes, on the rhetorics of denial and the need to take responsibility.

“Every person needs to look at your own risk. You need to be aware of what is the local transmission.

“You need to know what the transmission in your area is. We do this, everyday in our lives as human beings. We manage risks, we decide when we cross the road.

”We decide when we fly. We decide when we have an operation or not have an operation.

“Why we need is information to make those risk based decisions. We need to gain the knowledge to be able to make good decisions. We decide on our proximity to other individuals.

“We decide on the intensity of our social engagement. We decide on how long we stay in that environment.

“We can be advised by government. We can be advised by science, but in the end, it comes down to personal motivation and personal choice.

“But in the end, it comes down to individuals and it comes down to communities. If it does not feel safe, it is not safe for you,” he said.

Mustapha noted that PTF was also encouraged by the compliance messages that had gone viral on the social media.

He said: “One of those that caught attention gave three major reasons why COVID-19 is spreading fast.

“They are: My colleagues, So, I can speak without a Mask. They are my close friends, so I can speak without a Mask. They are my relations, so, I can speak without a masks.”

According to him, this message is so poignant that if we juxtapose it with the fact that crowded places and closed spaces create environment for the spread, we should behave more responsibly.

He, however, thanked the author of the above and other related messages.

UNGA president blames rising hunger on flawed food systems

Tijani Muhammad-Bande UNGA President

President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande has blamed the global rise in hunger on “deep structural flaws” in food systems.

Muhammad-Bande spoke at the launch of the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 on Monday.

The UNGA president, who is Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, described the situation as “a scourge unbefitting of our era’’.

“Malnutrition continues to surge at alarming rates with obesity, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency affecting communities, and in particular, low-income groups around the world.

“Women and children are disproportionately affected.

“One in three women of reproductive age suffer from anaemia as a result of malnutrition.

“Moreover, more than one in five children under the age of five is stunted.

“This is a scourge unbefitting of our era and demonstrates the deep structural flaws in our food systems in a world where about one-third of all food produced is wasted or lost,’’ PGA said.

According to the report, no fewer than 687.8 million people suffered hunger in 2019, up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years.

It warns that the COVID-19 pandemic could push 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of 2020.

Muhammad-Bande highlighted measures countries should take to address the situation, including strengthening of food supply chains.

“Indeed, it is critical to focus attention where the risk is greatest.

“We must preserve critical humanitarian food supplies, expand social protection measures and prioritise nutrition assistance programmes for the most vulnerable.

“We must proceed in a sustainable manner, ensuring a pathway toward efficient land use, biodiversity and climate change mitigation.’’

The Nigerian envoy also underscored the need for transformation of food systems “into equitable, efficient, resilient and sustainable systems which are fit for purpose’’.

“As a result of rapid urbanisation, multinational corporations, traders and retailers have gained a crucial role in food supply chains.

“I trust that governments will forge new partnerships and deepen existing connections with the private sector and other stakeholders to develop synergies and enhance the outreach and health impact of our food systems,’’ Muhammad-Bande said.

Responsible journalism is key to success of democracy- Pantami

Dr Isa Pantami, Minister for Communications and Digital Economy at the Digital Skills training for ICT Reporters in Abuja.

Dr Isa Pantami, Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, on Monday said that responsible journalism was key to the success of democracy.

Pantami said this at the opening ceremony of the training of National Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja.

The theme of the five-day training programme focused on “Digital Skills in News Reportage for ICT Journalists.”

Pantami said that the training was in line with one of the pillars of the National Digital Economy for Digital Nigeria which focused on building digital skills, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in Nov. 2019.

“Digital Nigeria cannot be achieved without training people that will play key role in ensuring the digital economy.

“Reponsible journalism is key to the success of democracy in Nigeria and the world and that has to do with journalism based on fairness, and all the components of journalism.

“If journalists understand their work and do it professionally, they will be in the forefront of catapulting democracy and good governance, if not they pull down democracy,” Pantami said.

The minister added that current journalism was beyond being in print form but had migrated to multimedia which was all encompassing, consisting of pictures, video, audio, among others.

He further said that ICT reporters needed to acquire the expertise required for conveying real time information, adding that they should engage internet search engines for enhanced work.

He also said that the Federal Government (FG) would build digital skills among rural dwellers who could read and write, farmers, disabled people, public servants and many more to ensure the digital economy.

Pantami added that the FG also launched the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 to ensure cheaper data plans and accessibility to citizens.

According to him, if the government is serious about its digital economy strategy, it must put policies in place, cheaper data and security of internet infrastructure for the masses.

Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA said that ICT was a sure way of escaping the COVID-19 pandemic and the training was important towards achieving digital economy.

“Digital skills can open new opportunities for you because there are challenges everywhere but less opportunity, so when the skill you have created the opportunity, you grab it,” he said.

Dr Abimbola Alale, Managing Director, Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited, said digital skill was required of every professional journalist, adding that journalists should not allow the social media override the responsibility of the mainstream media.

Mr Blessing Olaifa, President, NITRA commended the Minister for championing the training and urged journalists to appreciate it, adding that some journalists had lost their jobs during the period of COVID-19.

Olaifa said that the training would open new opportunities for participants and pledged that the trained journalists would ensure the efforts of the Federal Government through the ministry, were projected.

Mr Peter Oyeneye, Chief Executive Officer, Advanced Management Academy, while facilitating the training, said reporting in the COVID-19 pandemic era was the new normal and journalists should acquaint themselves with the changes.

According to Oyeneye, journalists as change agents, should use their mediums to educate their audience using ICT facilities.

He added that there were more than 100 human activities going on online and they engender digital economy.

“Despite the benefits of digitalisation, the challenge of change remains potent and people prefer to stick to the known than the unknown.”

He said that media organisations should embrace change in the stlye of communication, sponsor roadmap, train journalists on the new normal, and be ready to build resistance management.

Oyeneye advised that journalists should lead the change, sell benefits of digital economy, research into challenges of digitalisation, base their stories on their research and do comparative analysis of Nigeria’s digital economy to others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 47 journalists from different media organisations participated in the training and were supported with computers to aid their job.

Ladi Adebutu wakes Ogun State Government from slumber on flood disaster

The former member of the 8th Assembly of House of Representatives who represented Remo Federal Constituency, Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu has advised Ogun State Government on what to do to prevent flood disaster in Ogun State. The advised was contained in a press release personally signed.

“As a concerned citizen of Ogun State and a critical stakeholder in her open spaces and political landscape, I wish to trigger a critical assessment and consequently encourage all the relevant authorities, institutions of Ogun State to develop a wholistic plan to mitigate the recurring devastating experiences of flooding and erosion”.

“Several decades of human activities have continued to alter the natural functions in the environment. Land development for the purposes of Urbanisation and Industrialization promotes deforestation, and the lack of vegetation encourages water to flow over the surface rather than infiltrate into the soil thus increasing surface runoff”.

“Increasing population and the attendant waste generation, the housing and transportation requirements including roadways has continued to facilitate the replacement of permeable soil layers with impermeable paved surfaces, through which water cannot infiltrate. This perhaps reveals why rivers are being made out of our roadways often influenced in part by improper waste disposal into existing drains”.

“As rising water levels occasioned by climate change cannot be wished away, our natural water courses also needs to be considered. We will need to plant more trees and protect our wetlands. We will need to install more permeable pavements and several other means of achieving a more balanced ecosystem. It will seem as though nature is beginning to make demands as Man needs make up for decades of alterations in the environment. Achieving a tolerable rate of surface runoff is no mean feat”.

“However, it is only responsible to give back to the environment that sustains us before it consumes us. Whilst sympathetic to the plight of the victims of the recent floods in the State, I urge every stakeholder, public and private to rise up to this all important task of safeguarding our environment and securing the lives and properties of our people”.

“To this end, an enhanced waste management strategy should be developed, implemented and communicated to the general public to actively discontinue the use of public drains as dumpsites”.

“The existing channels should be structurally controlled through residential areas and up to the main catchment using reinforced concrete drains, culverts and basins where necessary along the water courses. This action will reduce if not totally eliminate the need for the demolition of existing properties in proximity to the existing channels and will also help to reclaim lands for real estate and agricultural purposes”.

“Relevant agencies should also be contacted to immediately provide aids for residents who have been adversely affected by the flood even amidst the sour economy occasioned by the pandemic”.

“I have instructed my team to reachout to the affected areas to assess the relief materials required in the interim to alleviate the sufferings of our people in hope that we will be able to galvanise resources to meet these urgent needs”.

“I implore well meaning individuals and corporate bodies within the metropolis to extend a helping hand to the affected communities at this time”.