After Effect of COVID 19: FAAN Slashes Staff Salaries, Other Government Agencies May Follow Suit

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May 20, 2020

By Uche Mbah

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has announced the slashing of staff salaries into half due to the debilitating effect of COVID 19 on the Aviation industry, thereby fuelling fears that the country is in for a rough ride post-COVID 19. There have been dire warnings that Nigeria will slip back into recession, the worst that will be witnessed by the county in recent times. A former Minister under the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency has recently warned that Nigeria as currently constituted does not have what it takes to handle the post-COVID crisis.

In a memo signed by the Managing Director of FAAN, Hamisu Yadudu, the Authority said that owing to the COVID 19 crisis, FAAN had no option than to slash salaries into two for the staff, starting from May. He, however, said the accumulated half of the salaries will gradually be paid off as soon as things improve.

“This is to notify staff that due to the dwindling revenue generation amid COVID 19 pandemic, management may not be able to pay full salaries of staff as from May 2020. However, as soon as the revenue situation improves, the balance will be paid”, the memo stated.

The memo also said the measure is for the survival of the company.

There have also been palpable fears that the federal civil service may not be able to pay salaries starting from May until the economy improves. The debt burden of the Country coupled with the drastic decline in oil revenue will be blamed for this, even though skeptics will blame corruption for our empty treasury. They cite boldfaced attempts at feeding school children who are at home and the distribution of palliatives as being financial drain pipes.

Already, fears of Job loss loom at the horizon. Last month, Access bank disengaged over 20, 000 workers before the Bankers’ committee met and nullified any move by any Bank to sack workers. The result is an increase in arbitrary charges for Bank transactions.

Fitch Warns Of Dip In F/Reserves To $20bn, CBN Douses Tension

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Bayo Bernard

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May 20, 2020

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By Fola James

Fitch Ratings, a global credit ratings agency, has warned that Nigeria’s foreign reserves would dip to an all-time low of $23.3 billion by the end of the year.

The projection came on the crest of fear that the national currency (the Naira) could lose more value to reflect the size of the nation’s foreign exchange, which currently stands at $37 billion.

The foreign exchange, by the beginning of 2020 stood at over $42 billion but has dipped due to the crash in the crude oil price, which greatly narrowed earnings from the country major export.

The price of the commodity in the international market now hovers around $25 and $30.

Fitch therefore, warns huge loss from oil revenue could draw down the nation’s foreign reserves by at least $10 billion by the end of 2020.

The agency said on Tuesday “We expect outflows to materialise later in the year, which, alongside a significant current-account deficit and continued CBN resistance to overhauling the exchange-rate framework, will drive a fall in international reserves from $38.6bn at end-2019 to $23.3bn at end-2020.”

The credit agency further warned that the level of foreign direct investment, FDI will dip even as the country battle to contain the economic impact of the corona virus pandemic, adding that “the current account, which had been in surplus for much of the last 20 years, to record a deficit equivalent to 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2020 and 2.5 per cent in 2021.”

Meanwhile, the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele at the week end, doused fears that soon the current level of Nigeria’s FS will not be able to support her imports.

The apex bank governor insists that the forex is “robust to support the economy,” reiterating CBN’s “ willingness to provide foreign exchange to companies that required such for raw materials and machinery that could not be obtained in Nigeria.”
Emefiele appealed to the private sector to “support efforts aimed at growing the Nigerian economy and returning it to its glory days,” as the country makes more efforts to put the COVID 19 pandemic behind her and put the economy in full throttle.

COVID 19: Diya’s Family Debunks Claim His Wife Killed By Virus

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Bayo Bernard

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May 20, 2020

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By Fola James

General Oladipo Diya, former chief of General Staff has denied suggestions that his wife, Deborah Oladipo Diya died of corona virus.

Some reports have claimed that Deborah, who died on Monday, three days to her 67^th birthday died from the virus.

A statement from Diya’s family said his late wife died of natural causes.

Olawale Adekoya, Special Adviser on Media/Strategy to Gen Diya, said late Mrs Diya died on Monday.

According to the statement: “With grief in our hearts but gratitude to Almighty God, we announce the transition onto eternal glory of Chief Mrs Deborah Folashade Diya (JP), wife of His Excellency, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (Rtd); whose death occurred on Monday, May 18, 2020. She was aged 66.

Madam Deborah Folashade Diya was preparing and looking forward to her 66th birthday celebration on May 23rd 2020 (this week). But as man proposes, God disposes; six days ago, she took ill and was taken to the hospital, where she took her last breath on Monday, May 18.”

It said deceased left a legacy that cannot be easily forgotten, in terms of her social and religious commitment to her community and Nigeria at large.

The late “Otunba Folashade Deborah Diya dedicated her life to the emancipation of humanity and service of the Almighty God.

She was a devout Christian, a loyal and dedicated wife, a loving mother, an alluring grandmother and a passionate chorister at United African Methodist (Evangelical) Church, Abule Ijesha, Yaba, Lagos. She was a chorister who sang and danced for the Lord all the way.

Fondly called Mumsie, Chief (Mrs) D.F. Diya was a model of love, compassion and generosity until her very last moments. Her mission was one that made a great difference in the lives of many people.”

She was a silent operator who always made things work out positively: disciplined, focussed and straight forward.

In spite of her privileged position as the wife of a former Military Vice President in the country, she didn’t live the life of celebrity or ostentation. Rather, she adopted a humble life of dedication to God.”

Buhari Surprises Again, Appoints Yuguda SEC DG

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The Source

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May 19, 2020

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By Fola James

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally ended the two year crisis in the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC with his appointment of Lamido Yuguda as the Director General of the apex stock regulatory body.

There were initially speculations that the president will confirm Acting DG, Mary Uduk as the substantive boss of the agency, following a deluge of northerners appointed into crucial government positions in the last few weeks.

That suggestion has now been put to rest as Gwazo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN director, will now preside over SEC which for many months was without a substantive head after Kemi Adeosun, a former Minister of Finance sacked Mounir Gwazo, its former DG over corruption allegation.

The president, in a letter to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan said Gwazo’s appointment takes immediate effect.

Buhari also requested, from the Senate, the confirmation of three nominees as full-time Commissioners for the Commission.

Buhari said in the letter to the Senate: “Pursuant to Section 3 and 5(1) of the Investment and Securities Act 2007, I write to request for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of the following four nominees as Director General and Commissioners of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).”

Apart from Yuguda, Director General; Reginald C. Karawusa, full-time Commissioner; Ibrahim D. Boyi, full-time Commissioner; and Mr. Obisan T. Joseph, full-time Commissioner, the president requested should be confirmed as full-time commissioners.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that Uduak had lobbied top APC chieftains so that she will be confirmed as DG but “she did not get the job because Oscar Onyema, the Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE is from the south,” said a Ministry of Finance top official on Tuesday.

COVID 19: El Rufai May Allow Eid Prayers In Kaduna, Islamic Cleric Warns Him

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Bayo Bernard

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May 19, 2020

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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Amid speculations that Governor Nasir El –Rufai of Kaduna state could join his other counterparts to allow Eid prayers held in the state, a fiery Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi, has warned the state’s helmsman to bury the idea.

Governor El Rufai had met with some Islamic leaders in the state, who the magazine learnt begged that Islamic faithful in the state be allowed to hold the prayer, which normally holds a day after the end of the Ramadan fasting.

The governments of Borno, Yobe and Kano among others have already okayed the yearly congregational ritual prayer to hold.

But Gumi, told journalists in Kaduna that doing do will lead to more COVID 19 infections in the state.

The state had so far recorded close to 150 COVID-19 cases, one of the highest in the country.

According to the popular cleric, the governor should reject the pressure on him to sustain gains already made against the spread of the novel disease in the state.

He stated that it will be very difficult to control the congregants during the prayers on following government’s regulations on safety measures.

Gumi said “Once you allow people to come and pray, they are going to troop out in thousands you cannot control. And the point is that we have stayed for over two months under lockdown. We are afraid that one single day will come and spoil all the gains that we have had,” he said.

Kaduna is one of the states that has the least infection rates. We can see deaths in hundreds, in all the core-northern states like Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Yobe, Borno. But Alhamdulillah, because Kaduna had gone into lockdown earlier than all the states, we have less infection rates than the other states. Nobody can deny this fact.”

He said the governor should consult wide before taking such critical decision.

Governor El Rufai must consider it “important that political leaders consult other sectors of the society, religious leaders, traditional leaders, professionals, on issues that concern the state,” Gumi said before removing the lock down

Nigerian Brainwashed Leaders Responsible For Non-recognition of Our Anti-Coronavirus Products – Rev. Fr. Adodo

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The Source

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May 19, 2020

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A Roman Catholic Priest, scholar and an African Pioneer of Alternative Medicine, Rev. Fr. Anselm Gbenga Adodo, is blaming Nigeria’s leadership for the non- recognition of the country’s rich herbal medications as anti-Coronavirus. He also says that the Virus has always been with us, and is less dangerous than Ebola. It’s mortality rate is low.

Adodo is a Benedictine Monk and the founder of Nigeria’s first alternative medicine and research laboratory enterprise, Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories in Ewu, Edo State, It was founded in 1997.

He recently, announced that the Catholic Church Centre had discovered a clinical herbal drug for the treatment of COVID-19.

He, also, announced that an approval was being awaited to enable a mass production of the drug. But Pax seem to have been beaten to it by Madagascar.

The country’s researchers have already formulated a herbal concoction, allegedly, a cute for COVID-19.

The medication has already been distributed to some Afrcan countries.

Last week, Nigeria’s own portion was received by President Muhammadu Buhari, allegedly, accompanied by an invoice of €175,000.00.

But Father Adodo, who with others, run the

Pax Herbal Clinic & Research Laboratories, a Catholic Centre for scientific identification, cultivation, development and promotion of African herbal medicine, blames it on Nigeria’s leadership, in an interview. PAX is a project of the Benedictine Monks of Ewu, Edo State.

He is very proud of what Madagascar did by not waiting for WHO for validation.

The Monastery was founded in 1979, but Adodo initiated it, along with Fr. Vincent Mordi of blessed memory and Brother Michael, who is currently the overall manager.

Speaking during an interview with Opera News, he disclosed that: “There are more than 15 other monks working hard to keep things going here. I often make jest of them that they are doing the work while I am getting the credit.

“We have over 100 full-time workers, comprising microbiologists, biochemists, natural plants chemists, pharmacognosists and Plant biotechnologists.

“Over 50 science students from eight universities undergo industrial training in our centre yearly. Let me tell you the truth: The standard and level of research here in our Centre is far more than people even know.

“When an American Ambassador visited the Pax Herbal Centre some years ago, she was surprised that such a place exists in Nigeria and wondered why the Nigerian press has not been talking about it.

“So, as you can see, it is not just about my vision. It is the spirit of St. Benedict urging us on.

“Formally, I am trained as a philosopher and a Theologian. I also studied ethnobotany, ethnography and anthropology. My doctoral degrees are in management of technology and innovation and medical sociology.

” Informally, I am a farmer, drummer, poet and a wrestler.

“We have herbal medicines for many of the diseases that plague our people. For more than 25 years, we have been producing herbal medicines for diabetes, hypertension, asthma, malaria, prostrate problems, male and female infertility among others.

“For those 25 years, we have strived to maintain the same high standard and consistency. The only thing we are poor at is making noise about what we do. Those who use the products make the noise for us.

“NAFDAC does not certify whether a herbal product is efficacious or not. All they do is to screen your product and subject it to safety tests, after which they will give you a listing number.

“The listing number simply means that the product is safe for human consumption and can be sold to the public.

“That is why all NAFDAC approved herbal products bear a disclaimer, to notify the user that the claims in the product have not been verified by them. Verification requires clinical trials which take many years and very expansive.

“In Nigeria, it is easier and cheaper to be an importer and seller than to be a manufacturer. The challenges are part of the Nigerian system: weak infrastructure, poor road network and lack of electricity.

“Electricity is an excessively big issue for us, because we have laboratories where uninterrupted electricity is vital.

“For instance, we bought an incubator from China some years ago.

Each time it developed a fault, we were required to order for the faulty parts from China. So we decided to dismantle the incubator and see what was inside.

“We were surprised that it was just ceiling fan and some elements to generate heat, and a temperature controller. Since then we have been constructing most of our machines.

“We construct plant driers, conveyors, heaters and incubators. Most challenges are, for us, opportunities for growth.

“But there are other challenges that require external support, like the issue of further expansions to increase production capacity.

“Those who specialize in the study of viruses are virologists. It is a special field of study. Viruses have always been with us. Because they easily mutate and self-replicate, they are difficult to target for extermination.

“Regarding the issue of cure, at the end of the day, the body’s immune system is the real doctor.

“We have been managing people who have HIV, hepatitis B and tuberculosis for over 25 years. We have kept accurate records of the people treated.

“As you know, HIV has the problem of stigmatization, so it is a sensitive topic to discuss. I can count, at least, 150 people with very high viral load who came to us for treatment 20 years ago and who are still alive and well and active, and I know they are not using any western drug.

“What we said was that we have formulated herbal medicine with a potential to treat COVID-19. People will then ask if you have treated anyone with it and how did you know it cures?.

“There are procedures for drug formulation and application. You can easily test the efficacy of a drug first in animals to ascertain safety and also to develop the therapeutic dosage.

“We have done all those, and that is why we work with virologists, immunologists, parasitologists, clinical pharmacologists, pharmacognosists and many others. Coronavirus is not new to us. SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is also a coronavirus.

“Recently we had the EBOLA outbreak. COVID-19 is a less severe kind of coronavirus. Why it is shaking the world this way is strange indeed!

“My opinion is that every country should look inwards to find solution to their problems. They do not need WHO’s validation. I still find it difficult to understand why African countries are always looking to international agencies to validate everything they do, in economics, agriculture, politics and health.

“Have you ever seen the EU or USA waiting to get validation from African countries on any topic? That is why I like what is happening in Madagascar.

“They said they have discovered a cure, based on their own knowledge and validation system. And they are making use of what they have discovered.

“Maybe it’s not a perfect cure. But why do they need WHO to validate their contextual solution? Rather than blame WHO, I prefer to blame our brainwashed local leaders.

“Well, that sounds more like a dogmatic statement rather than a scientific statement. If WHO said that, then they need to open a theological unit in their headquarters.

“If some people in certain parts of the world want synthetic vaccine, they should have it. If some other people in other parts of the world prefer to have an oral vaccine, they should be allowed to have it.

“If they prefer phytomedicine instead of vaccine, so be it. From what I hear and see, majority of Africans prefer the latter. I hope WHO will respect their wish.

“The mess in which inhumanity finds itself today was caused by a wrong understanding of knowledge and its role in human development.

“Firstly, we were led astray by the myth that with enough knowledge and technology (computers, digital machines, satellites, buttons, etc), we can rule the earth and control it.

“But the complexity of the earth and its life systems can never be safely managed. We can never master the complex functioning of atoms, protons, eons, viruses and electricity.

“I hope that our scientists, politicians and the world in general will learn from this experience of COVID-19.

“As Pope Francis warns us in his encyclical, GAUDATO SI, we should ask ourselves if this is the kind of world we want to bequeath to our children, a world of crass individualism and limitless greed. My take is that COVID-19 is not just a health issue.

It also has a spiritual message for us.

“Once the drug gets the approval of NAFDAC, we will make it available to the public. But we will proceed with further research to isolate the active compounds and enclose them in soft gels. This will increase the efficacy.

It is not a matter of if, it is when, which should not be beyond June. To go into mass production, we will need bigger workshops, capsulation machines and full automation of our production process. We will do only what we can do and hope for the best until help comes.

“As I said, viruses have always been with us. They always remind us not to take our immune system for granted.

“We are working towards June 2020. All our products range between N500 and N1500.

“Our focus is Nigeria and Africa. This is our home. If WHO wants to come here we will welcome them. In order to be global, one must first be local.

“We have our sales outlets in many Catholic parishes across Nigeria, especially in Lagos. We encourage Catholic parishes to open outlets in their parishes. It is an important service for the people.

“Yes, the cost of production was going too high, and we did not want to raise prices. So, we just have to find a way to keep going.

“A good thing will sell itself. I think the Pax Herbal brand is very good and well trusted, and this has promoted trust among the people. The CBCN and the clergy will continue to support us so long as we make the Church proud.”

COVID-19: Dokpesi Stops AIT From Airing His Views

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The Source

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May 19, 2020

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By Gideon Njoku

Obviously under intense pressure, the founder of DAAR Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has stopped the airing of his views on COVID-19. DAAR is the owner of both the African Independent Television, AIT, and Ray Power, an FM Radio Station.

Dokpesi, his Son, Ray Dokpesi Jnr. who succeeded him as the Chairman at both the AIT and Ray Power, as well as other family members, had tested positive for COVID-19, and so taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Isolation Centre for treatment.

Dokpesi Jnr was the first victim, followed later by his wife, his father, two of his kids and a couple of other family members.

12 days later, High Chief Dokpesi and his two grandchildren were discharged from the Isolation Centre, hale and hearty. His son was discharged a day after his father’s discharge.

But Dokpesi did not arrive his house quietly. He triggered a big storm by throwing a bombshell. He cast a doubt on the existence of COVID-19. He questioned it, and asked to be educated on the difference between malaria and COVID-19.

He disclosed that all through his stay at the Isolation Centre, the only medications he was given were those for malaria, and nothing more. He also revealed that many of those who were isolated for the Virus, had before their isolation, gone to reputable laboratories and hospitals in Abuja for tests, and their results only confirmed that they had a large dose of malaria parasites in their blood. He then ended with a question which he aptly termed ‘food for thought’. “When did malaria become synonymous with COVID-19?”, he asked.

The next day when Dokpesi Jnr, was discharged, he added more twist to his father’s earlier comments . He said: “They said I was positive. But throughout my stay, I never got the result of any test. And I was not told of any.” He was tested three times.

Not a few people are of the view that, aside from the Governments of Cross River and Kogi states which said their subjects were being cajoled, and/or being forced/ bribed to admit to having the Virus, nothing has cast doubts on the real status of the Virus in Nigeria than the comments of the Dokpesis. Now, questions are being asked.

The comments carry a lot weight not just because of thier personalities, but because of the medium they control. Both the AIT and Ray Power have local and international reach and audience. So, there must have been some damage. There must have been consequences. Perhaps, questions must have been asked from high profile quarters. So, on Monday, May 17, High Chief Dokpesi tried to do some damage control.

He asked the AIT to immediately stop the airing of the comments he and his son made on COVID-19. He admitted to have come under pressure to stop the airing.

In a memo to Dokpesi Jnr, the GMD, and the MD of the company, he asked them to stop the airing so that it doesn’t look like a personal vendetta. AIT has been airing the comments since they were made. He told them he had been so advised by a number of senior citizens and elders. “Leave the fight for another day”, he told the AIT.

The senior citizens, he said, were of the view that it would have been better to raise his observations privately with the Presidency and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 instead of going public as “his public opinion may create doubt in the minds of the public.” He agreed with them.

Dokpesi: “I write to ask you to discontinue referencing views expressed by both the founder, High Chief Engr. A.A. Dokpesi and the Chairman, Chief Raymond Paul Dokpesi Jnr in all your news bulletins, and in fact, bring them down from all your official websites for now.

“Very senior citizens and elders have argued, and I agree with them, that I should have addressed a private letter to the PTF and the Presidency rather than cast aspersions on their method, thereby, creating doubts in the minds of the public. I also agreed to an immediate truce.

“We must never be construed to be using ownership to promoting our personal agenda or settling some scores with perceived opponents.

“I thank you all for your support and loyalty, but like gallant soldiers, let us leave this fight for another day. Kindly keep all the footages”

Analysts think that Dokpesi has the feeings that perhaps, in his own case, there may have been either, a mistake, or some other thing behind it. Otherwise, they point out, why say”, leave the fight for another day”, or talk about “settling of scores”?

More Confusion over The Whereabouts Of Chinese Experts As Stake Holders Sing Discordant Tunes

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Uche Mbah

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May 19, 2020

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By Uche Mbah

There is still no clarity on the issue of the present whereabouts of the Chinese experts that came with Air peace that brought COVID 19 equipment from China since many of those who should know are singing discordant tunes.

Recall that the Minister of health, Osagie Ehinare, was at the Airport to receive the Chinese at the Airport on arrival, saying that they are here to help health workers in the war against COVId 19. The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, had vehemently objected to the coming of the Chinese doctors. There is no evidence they were certified to be doctors by Nigerian Health authorities as demanded by International Best Practices. On arrival they were said to have been quarantined under controversial circumstances.

Suddenly they disappeared from the radar.

But Nigerians agitations lead to the question of their whereabouts being popped at the Health Minister, who said he does not like to be asked the question since some of them are not Medical Personnel.

(the medical Personel) are not guests of the federal government but that of the company”, he said.

But the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, claimed they are working at Isolation centers, though investigations show that they are not at any isolation center. According to him, they are helping the country to build capacity.

“The Chinese are doing well, they all teated negative to Coronavirus. As to what they are doing now, they are busy working at Isolation centers putting together and setting up the equipment they brought. They are helping our Doctors in capacity building in the centers. Like we said at the beginning, none of the Doctors will be treating any patient in Nigeria”.

But Michael Vigao, Managing Director, china Civil Engineering construction corporation, CCECC, says that the experts in question are in the care of the Company. “They are here with us and continue to teach our staff how to protect themselves because protection and prevention are more important than the treatment”, he said, adding that they have not gone back because there is as yet no flight out of Nigeria to China. The Airpeace flight is by special arrangement.

N119 Billion Financial Misappropriation: Buhari Orders The Probe Of Perm Sec

By

The Source

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May 19, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammed Bello, is in big trouble.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered his immediate probe over an alleged misappropriation of a whopping sum of N119 billion, traced to him while he was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He is being accused of financial misconduct, hence the order for his immediate probe.

In line with the order, a query dated May 11, 2020, has been issued to him by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, who wrote that the attention of the President has been drawn to alleged several misconducts by the Permanent Secretary, and the President’s order of his immediate Probe.

Bello was accused of not paying eligible contractors despite the budgetary release of N98 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture in 2018. He was, also, alleged to have used the entire 2019 first-quarter release of N7 billion to pay for the 2018 contracts that were already funded.

The query reads:

“The attention of Mr. President has been drawn to the acts of serious misconduct against you in your former post as the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on which he has given further directive.

“Specifically, it was alleged that in spite of the budgetary release of the N98,405,763,678.68 in 2018 (which represents 99.44 of 2018 appropriation), you did not take necessary action to pay the eligible contractors which led to the Ministry having an outstanding contractual liability in the sum 0f N48,429,543,895.72.

“Under your leadership as the Accounting Officer, the Ministry utilised the entire 2019 first-quarter release of N7,737,208,135.18 to pay for the 2018 contracts that were fully funded in 2018 which constitutes virement without authority.

“As Accounting Officer, you oversaw a transaction for the purchase of a building for the use of the Ministry at the sum of N7,044,746,264.06 without the conduct of the mandatory statutory structural and mechanical integrity tests; and prior approval of the FCDA Public Building Department; the building was eventually found to be an uncompleted carcass requiring billions of Naira to complete and make safe for occupation.

“Under your watch as the Accounting Officer, the Ministry procured seven deep drilling rigs for borehole at an average cost of N300,000,000.00 without recourse to the Federal Executive Council.

“And in April 2019, you gave out the seven rigs procured at over N1.3 billion to some individuals under fraudulent arrangements, without the approval of the Minister; and one of the rigs linked to you is yet to be returned despite several written reminders; and you misplaced the intervention funds approved for the purchase of strategic grains and the establishment of the Rural Grazing Area Settlements in violation of extant Financial Regulations.”

At the time of writing this, the magazine could not confirm if Dr. Bello has been placed under suspension. But in the Civil Service Rule, he would be given the chance to defend himself.

If his defence to the query is not satisfactory, and does not exculpate him, he is most likely to undergo an intense investigation which could mark an end to his career.

Covid-19: Groups Warn Against Neglect Of Primary Health Care

By

The Source

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May 19, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The outbreak of Coronavirus seems to have led to the neglect of Basic Primary Health Care. This has prompted a Non Governmental Organization, Community People’s Initiative Against Aids (COPEAIDS FOUNDATION), to express fears that many children may die in the face of growing neglect due to the increasing concentration on COVID-19 campaigns alone.

The Rights group advocated that all tiers of Government should not neglect, or brush aside the medical needs of over 20million children in Nigeria and a large number of pregnant women under the guise of channelling all health resources to COVID-19.

In a statement on Monday signed by its Executive Director, Feyisike Adeoye, the group said the strategy adopted for the COVID-19 fight disrupts routine services and threatens to weaken the health system of many vulnerable Nigerians.

The group called on Federal and State Governments not to allow the campaign against COVID-19 to take attention from primary health.

The group said authorities appear to have closed their eyes on primary health care resulting in consequences on children, pregnant women and the aged.

The estimate is based on an analysis by researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In its reaction to the report, UNICEF warned that these disruptions could result in potentially devastating increases in maternal and child deaths.

It lamented that COVID-19 has disrupted routine services and threatens to weaken the health system. UNICEF had said that globally, 6,000 additional children under five could die every day.

According to the group, most hospitals are refusing to attend to people who have symptoms similar to COVID-19 but may not necessarily be COVID-19 positive.

“High temperature, weakness of the body, loss of appetite are common symptoms of malaria. It is unfortunate that many private hospitals are sending many people back home on the basis of their symptoms which may not necessarily be COVID-19. We need to strike a balance. The health system should not be shut to Nigerians simply because of COVID-19 pandemic. We urge the State and Federal Governments to increase testing capacity and ensure Nigerians are not denied to necessary attention to their basic health needs because of the overwhelming focus on COVID-19.”

The group said that as COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, Nigerian authorities should pay attention to the warning from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) which says additional 950 Nigerian children could die every day from preventable causes over the next six months.

“If we allow COVID-19 battle to take away our attention from other primary health needs, more children will die and the lives of many Nigerians will be put at risk” Adeoye said.

Across the country, primary health has been neglected. treatment of children, infants’ access to preventive care, provision of necessary vaccine for children under five and the treatment of malaria are being sacrificed because of COVID-19. This has to change”, it concluded.