Covid-19 Morning Update for Sunday, 29 Mar 2020

Situation Report this Morning

Lagos continues to report majority of the cases so far announced by the NCDC. As at this morning, Lagos has 59 reported cases, followed by the FCT (16), Oyo (7), Ogun (3), and four states (Enugu, Edo, Bauchi, and Osun with two (2) cases each. The states that reported one (1) case each include Ekiti, Rivers, Benue, and Kaduna.

NCDC sets up testing lab to the South East

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced that it will today 29 March set up in the South East a laboratory with capacity to test for Covid-19.

The Agency tweeted yesterday that the laboratory is located in Abakaliki.

Also yesterday, NCDC added the Virology Laboratory of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan to the list of laboratory it has set up to test samples.

GIG gifts buses for NCDC staff movement

NCDC  has announced that a local transporter, GIG Motors, has provided their staff with buses that will be used to transport their staff across the three campuses they maintain in Lagos and Abuja.

We are incredibly grateful for this support, as we continue to work very hard to protect the health of Nigerians, the Agency said in a tweet. #Covid19, #CoronavirusInNigeria

Lagos sets up temp Food Markets in Schools

The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture has set up sites for food and agricultural produce in selected schools across Local Governments in the State.

Agric Commissioner, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal said government will use the the markets to provide Lagosians access to food supplies during the stay-home restriction period to prevent panic buying following directive to close markets and stores trading in non-essential commodities.

Local Government areas where agricultural markets are being set up include Mushin, Alimosho, Surulere, Ikeja, Apapa, Lagos Mainland, Eti-Osa, Surulere and Ifako-Ijaiye.

The Food and agricultural Markets are located in the following schools – Bishop Aggrey Primary, (Ilasamaja), Ajenifuja Primary (Ilupeju), Papa Ajao Primary (Mushin), Ladipo Street (Mushin), Akin Ogun Primary (Mosan), Meiran Community Primary (Meiran), and Animashaun Primary School (Ijeshatedo).
Others schools include Ikeja Primary, Opebi Primary, Anglican Primary School (Marine Beach), St. Jude’s Primary (Apapa), St. George’s Boys Primary (Ebute- Metta), Community Grammar School (Falomo), and in Surulere, Obele Secondary School (Adelabu); Fagba Junior Grammar School (Adelabu), and at Stadium High School (Ifako-Ijaiye).

Lawal assured that safety guidelines have been provided by Agric and Health Ministries at each of the markets and asked potential shoppers to strictly obey safety measures, especially social distancing between visitors to the specified locations.

Nigeria Police and Neighbourhood Watch have been coopted to maintain law and order at the markets, he said.

Anambra launches stimulus package for the aged

Anambra State Government will from Wed., 1 April 2020, commence the distribution of rice to citizens aged 70 and above to help them cushion the economic impact of Covid-19.

The programme will start with 200 bags of rice each to 179 communities, a total of 35,800 bags to the seniors.

The rice gifts will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

The State is therefore asking natural rulers, town union presidents, and ASATU Women Leaders to compile and quickly forward a list of qualified beneficiaries jointly signed by them to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Hon Mark Okoye, said other stimulus package “is already been worked”.

“The economic team is currently working tirelessly on this. The key objective will be to ameliorate the impact of the loss in economic activity on the state and its people, especially the poor and vulnerable,” he said.

Kaduna Governor self-declares

Yesterday, Governor Nasiru el Rufa’i of Kadune State issued the following four-paragraph statement to announce that he tested positive:

“Earlier this week, I submitted a sample for the Covid-19 test.

“The result came in this evening, and I regret to say that it is positive.

“According to the protocols for managing Covid-19, I am in self-isolation as required by the case management guidelines of the NCDC for a someone that is no showing symptoms. 

“I wish to appeal to the people of Kaduna State to continue to closely observe the preventive measures already announced. 

“It is most important that everybody should do their utmost to stay safe, stay home and stay alive.

“The Deputy Governor is chairing our Covid-19 Taskforce and will continue to issue statements from time to time.”

Editor’s Note: We commend the Governor’s leadership and candour by self-declaring and wish him speedy recovery from the affliction.

… CG Immigration too

Muhammed Bandele, the Comptroller- General of Immigration has also announced that he caught the virus after testing himself on return from the UK, the Punch has reported.

Bandele said he returned from the UK a week ago via British Airways.

He requested immigration officers and Nigerians to pray for him.

“It is a very difficult time but we can’t change what God destined for us,” he told the newspaper.