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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.

BIG STORY

Nigerian Firm Codix Bio To Begin Production Of Malaria, HIV Test Kits Amid USAID Fund Cutback

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Codix Bio Ltd, a Nigerian company, has announced plans to manufacture millions of HIV and malaria test kits at its new facility for use both locally and across the region.

As reported by Reuters on Thursday, the initiative aims to fill the gap created by funding reductions at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a US donor body.

Former US President Donald Trump had initiated a suspension of funding for HIV treatment in developing nations under an executive order concerning foreign aid.

These executive orders also disrupted the activities of USAID and other US-funded foreign aid programmes.

Speaking to Reuters, Olanrewaju Balaja, general manager of Codix Bio, said the plant located in Ogun state will begin distributing the test kits later this month.

He explained that the production will be done in partnership with SD Biosensor, a pharmaceutical firm based in South Korea, and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to him, the facility initially has the capacity to produce 147 million test kits annually, with potential expansion to over 160 million.

“From the statistics of what is supplied (by USAID and PEPFAR) for a specific programme year, and looking at what we have currently in capacity for Nigeria, we have enough capacity to meet the demand,” Balaja said.

He also indicated that the firm is prepared to expand its services to “West and Sub-Saharan Africa, including other African countries”.

“The focus was for us to be able to play in the field of supply of rapid diagnostic test kits for donor agencies, which particularly USAID was at the forefront,” Balaja added.

Balaja stated that both the Nigerian government and donor organisations such as the Global Fund are expected to source test kits from Codix Bio.

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BIG STORY

Benue Killings: We Are Starving, Dying, IDPs Cry Out

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Displaced persons from Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, affected by coordinated attacks by suspected armed herders, protested on Thursday over poor living conditions in their camp.

The IDPs, currently staying at the International Market in Makurdi, the state capital, took to the streets and blocked major access routes leading to the temporary camp situated on George Akume Way, Makurdi, to express their frustration and the hardship they’ve faced since arriving at the facility.

They accused officials of the state government of diverting relief materials donated by well-meaning individuals and humanitarian groups, which they said has deepened their suffering.

One of the displaced persons, Fidelis Igban from Yelwata, described the conditions at the camp as unbearable due to starvation and a poor environment.

He stated, “Imagine, people would come to the camp and donate food items and other relief materials to us(IDPs), and once those items were handed over to the officials, it will end up not reaching us.”

He added, “Just few days ago, secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume came to the camp and donated some items for onward distribution to IDPs. Up till now, we have not seen anything.”

He also said, “The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, came here and donated materials for our consumption, yet nothing gets to us. We are starving and dying here. We want to go back to our homes.”

He lamented the reality of being forced from their homes due to herdsmen attacks, only to face new hardships in the camp after losing loved ones.

“There’s no food, our children are starving, we sleep on the floor, and mosquitoes are almost killing us. We are suffering, and people are dying. officials overseeing camp management were hoarding and diverting donated materials,” he said.

Erdoo Targa, another IDP, said she was six months pregnant when she arrived and has struggled to access medical attention.

She said, “Government brought us here and abandoned us. No food, no medical care, hunger is telling us, we are starving and our children are getting sick day by day”.

She explained that the protest was to call the attention of the government and concerned individuals to their plight.

She urged the state government and relevant humanitarian bodies to investigate the alleged diversion of supplies and ensure fair distribution of aid.

Efforts to contact the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Aondoaseer Kude, and the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr James Iorpuu, were unsuccessful as they did not respond to calls or text messages.

The agency’s information officer, Tema Ager, said he was not authorised to speak on the protest.

He said, “Kindly get across to the Head of Administration of SEMA or the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management. They are in better position to speak to journalists, thanks”.

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BIG STORY

Road To 2027: President Tinubu Has No Rival In Kaduna — Speaker Abbas

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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said that residents of Kaduna State do not see any other option besides President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential race.

He explained that the president has significantly impacted the state “In very practical terms” by initiating “A wide range of federal infrastructure projects that directly impact” its citizens.

According to Abbas, because of these efforts, the people of Kaduna are ready to surpass the votes President Tinubu received in the state during the 2023 elections.

He made these remarks during President Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna on Thursday to commission several projects carried out under Governor Uba Sani’s administration.

Among the projects inaugurated were the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, Soba, and Samaru-Kataf; a 300-bed hospital in Kaduna Millennium City; the 24km Kafanchan Township Road; the Tudun Biri Road; the 22km Kauru-Pambegua Road connecting Kauru and Kubau LGAs; a Vocational and Skills Training Centre in Tudun Biri; and the deployment of 100 Compressed Natural Gas buses.

Abbas noted that Kaduna remains central to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and said Tinubu’s visit “Reflects a leadership that engages directly, listens attentively, and responds with action.”

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas was quoted as saying, “Kaduna has no reason to vote for anyone else in 2027. My belief is strengthened by your administration’s commitment to Kaduna in very practical terms. You have initiated a wide range of federal infrastructure projects that directly impact the state of Kaduna.

“Mr President, Kaduna has long been at the centre of Nigeria’s national conversation, politically, economically, and historically. In the 2023 presidential election, the APC received about 30 per cent of the valid votes cast in the State. While that outcome is significant, it leaves room for growth.

“Therefore, on behalf of our governor, our party, and our communities, I assure you that Kaduna is determined to do more. Our goal is to double that margin and secure at least 60 per cent of the vote in 2027. This is not merely a political ambition; it is a coordinated objective backed by a united political structure and a population that believes in your leadership.”

He also praised the president for initiating the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Federal Highway reconstruction, noting it “Was flagged off by Your Excellency in April and reinforced by substantial budgetary approval from the Federal Executive Council.”

He described the $2.8bn Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project, which had reached 72% completion by Q1 2025, as another milestone.

He added, “We also acknowledge with deep gratitude your vow to complete the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project, which will further reinforce Kaduna’s role as a transport hub.

“Other significant projects under your administration include the recent establishment of the Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan and the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia. For the people of Southern Kaduna, these developments are not merely about access to health and education; they are, more importantly, about federal presence, institutional recognition, and long-overdue inclusion.”

Abbas said Zaria has also benefited under the current administration, stating, “We have also seen measurable progress, made possible by your support and federal backing. Through consistent legislative engagement and collaboration with your administration, we have secured significant federal investment in institutions of higher learning.

“These include the upgrade of the Federal College of Education, Zaria, into the Federal University of Education. Support has also been strengthened for the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“Federal funding secured under your administration is helping to expand their infrastructure, modernise their facilities, and increase their capacity to serve Nigeria more effectively.

“Mr President, these are not abstract achievements. They are deliberate outcomes made possible through political will, budgetary support, and executive collaboration,” he added.

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