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FG Threatens Second Lockdown Over Low Compliance With COVID-19 Protocols

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The federal government yesterday warned of another lockdown if Nigerians continue to disregard non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19.

It also cautioned schools against demanding COVID-19 test results as a prerequisite for allowing in students, who resumed studies yesterday.

The resumption of schools was, however, characterized by low compliance with COVID-19 protocols in many states, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

Also, as the nation grapples with the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued a health advisory to all churches in the country to check the rising infection rate.

At its briefing yesterday in Abuja, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 urged Nigerians to do everything possible to avoid the second lockdown in Nigeria by ensuring strict compliance with the NPIs.

The Chairman of PTF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said this can be done by complying with the protocols released by the government.

He said: “Let me remind you that the pandemic is raging and all tiers of government and citizens must keep their hands on deck.

“We are in a difficult situation in which a balance must continue to be struck between lives and livelihood.

“We are considering all options while hoping that broad cooperation will be received.

“We must do everything possible to avoid the second lockdown in Nigeria.”

Mustapha raised the alarm that South Africa and Nigeria have continued to report the highest daily count on the African continent, adding that South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Algeria, and Kenya accounted for 76 percent of all cases on the continent.

Mustapha said one in every five persons tested last week was positive for the virus.

He added that Nigeria has moved up to the third position in the highest cumulative caseload while it remains second for new cases and fifth highest in cumulative deaths in the WHO African region.

Also speaking at the PTF briefing, the Coordinator of PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, said the federal government was ramping up testing for COVID-19 nationwide with a directive to all the 774 local government areas of the federation to test between 400 and 500 samples within the next three weeks.

Aliyu, represented by the National Incident Manager, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammed, stated that the federal government is working with state governors to ensure that funding and logistics arrangements are put in place for the exercise.

He added that though the task force has noticed substantial improvement in the level of compliance with the airport travel protocol by international travelers arriving in the country, the PFT will publish the list of another 100 persons who have defaulted by failing to book their second test.

“With regard to airport travel protocol, the PTF was forced to sanction defaulters of established protocols by placing them on a six-month travel restriction as a standard practice that public notices are issued by arms of government on important issues. The PTF after consultation with relevant agencies published the names of the first 100 defaulters and subsequently reached out to a large number of those affected with a view to resolving their complaints.

“We have started noticing a great improvement in compliance and testing following the sanctions that have been published. We will be publishing the list of another 100 persons who have defaulted. This time, these are people who have failed to book their second tests in the laboratories,” Aliyu said.

He added that the federal government has commenced activities in the maritime sector in order to have better control and containment in that area.

A special Task Team on COVID-19 for the Niger Delta and the maritime sector has been inaugurated to develop a protocol for implementation in both the formal and informal waterways.

The team includes all the states in the Niger Delta and the riverine areas. The membership includes Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ondo, and Bayelsa States.

It will be supported by government agencies including, NIMASA, NNPC, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and the Nigeria Navy Operations Delta Safe.

“With the implementation of these protocols, we hope to implement more testing on the waterway corridors with a view to identifying people who are coming without PCR test and to offer them the opportunity to test and to also have isolation,” he said.

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JUST IN: Chaos At PDP Caucus Meeting As Security Operatives Forcefully Eject Members [VIDEO]

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The caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned chaotic on Monday after security operatives forcefully removed some members from the national executive committee (NEC) hall.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at the NEC hall of the party’s headquarters in Abuja, with members already arriving at the venue.

Two individuals were ejected by security personnel following claims by some protocol officers that they had no authorization to be present at the meeting.

During the confrontation, a glass door was broken while the members were being dragged out.

“Are you NWC member?” shouted Chinwe Nnorom, national director of publicity, before the individuals were taken out of the venue.

Earlier in the day, security personnel had taken control of the PDP headquarters and stopped members of the board of trustees (BoT) from accessing the NEC hall for their scheduled meeting.

As a result, the BoT moved their meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre located in the central business district of Abuja.

In recent weeks, the PDP has been embroiled in increasing drama and new developments amid its internal crisis.

Watch VIDEO HERE

 

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Security Operatives Block PDP BoT From Meeting At Party Headquarters

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Security operatives have barred members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) from holding their meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The security personnel stopped the BoT members from accessing the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall where the meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday morning.

The BoT has subsequently relocated the meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja’s Central Business District.

 

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Nigerian Medical Student Hails “Inspiring” Encounter With President Tinubu, St. Lucian PM Pierre

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For Nigerian medical student Bob Chikwem Amadi, what started as a routine work assignment turned into an unforgettable experience with two world leaders — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia.

Amadi, currently studying medicine at the American International University in Saint Lucia, was part of the service team present during President Tinubu’s courtesy call to Prime Minister Pierre’s official residence on the second day of the Nigerian president’s state visit to the Caribbean nation.

Originally from Rivers State, Amadi has lived in Saint Lucia for ten years and recently completed the four-year basic phase of his medical education. He is now preparing to begin his clinical training.

Alongside his studies, Amadi also works part-time as a talent and brand manager with a local catering and entertainment company — a role that brought him close to the high-level diplomatic event.

During the visit, Prime Minister Pierre was informed by his aides that one of the staff members was a Nigerian student.

Taking a brief moment before his official engagements began, the prime minister introduced Amadi to President Tinubu.

The president, known for his engaging nature and interest in Nigerians living abroad, took time to speak with the young student, asking about his name, background, and academic journey.

Tinubu extended his best wishes and words of encouragement, praising Amadi for his dedication to his studies overseas.

Describing the experience, Amadi said it was “an inspiring moment” for him.

“Saint Lucia is an amazing island. I will describe it as a wonderful place. They are a very contented society and things are relatively calm”, he said.

The moment was capped off when Amadi was invited to join President Tinubu and Prime Minister Pierre for a group photograph — a symbolic and memorable close to a chance meeting with two major political leaders from Africa and the Caribbean.

Amadi also reflected on the strong historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.

“We have always hoped that there are many opportunities between Saint Lucia and Nigeria. We share similar food crops and culture, and the connection is deep”, he said.

President Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia marks the beginning of a broader diplomatic tour of the Caribbean and South America, focused on enhancing trade, cultural ties, and diplomatic collaboration between Nigeria and Caribbean countries.

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