COVID-19
COVID-19: The Unending Lockdown in Nigeria – Ya’u Mukhtar
COVID-19: The Unending Lockdown in Nigeria – Ya’u Mukhtar
Ever since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection which emanated from Wuhan, a city in Hubei province of China and subsequently leads to the current pandemic and unending lockdown, the disease has been travelling and fast spreading across various nations of the world.
By March 11th, 2020 the number of countries involved with the infection hit 114, with more than 118,000 cases and over 4000 deaths. This prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) through its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to declare the disease a pandemic status. Currently the world is facing dark days that the humanity doesn’t witness since that of Spanish Influenza which occurred between 1918-1920.
As of 11th June, 2020, the total contaminated cases in Nigeria hit 13,873 (out of which 9,140 are still active) while 4,351 has been discharged with 382 deaths. On account of that, governments are warning people, especially those at high risk to be particularly stringent in observing social distancing measures, wearing face masks and in some cases total or partial lockdown protocol of a province(s) were put in place as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates globally. This is because if they become ill they are more likely to need critical care including ventilation, and may even leads to death.
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Currently, there is no special vaccine for this virus yet and only supportive therapy is the treatment strategy followed by health professionals. This includes administration of antipyretic and analgesic, maintenance of hydration, mechanical ventilation as respiratory support and uses of antibiotics on the patients.
However, researchers claims that; it is possible that some people can even counteract the virus thereby becoming infected and subsequently get recuperated automatically without any medical intervention due to their strong body’s immune system.
According to an unpublished data pulled out from a recent survey study conducted in Madobi town, Kano state to assess the recurrent prevalence of possible novel coronavirus symptoms among the inhabitants during the period of April to May, it was found out that 96% out of the 50 respondents interviewed have suffered from one or more common COVID-19 symptoms (i.e. fever, headache, cough, loss of smell, loss of taste, fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and shortness of breath) including catarrh/common cold. Interestingly, 87.5% recoveries of these cases were reported mostly without even medication.
The global fast spread of this virus is imposing new rules on our life, our relations and our activities. As a result of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, most countries across the world were in total or partial lockdowns so as to prevent its transmission leading to the ban of religious gatherings, while markets, schools, restaurants, hotels, companies, malls and host of others remain closed.
This lockdown protocol which is without reasonable success is inflicting countless damage on populace especially those in developing and undeveloped countries, because there has been halt on socio-economic, cultural and political activities. This behooves me to ask this question; is the government really on a right track regarding imposition of this lingering lockdowns protocol?
Unfortunately, upon all these measures put in place, the villain virus has keep on spreading with no sign of stoppage in a near future and it seem that the virus is going to be with us for the foreseeable future and nobody wants to continue having lockdowns as we have at the moment.
Because this unending lockdown may do more harm than good as a result of its effect to the people and economies of nation at large. Sequel to that, a number of countries including China, Iran, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, South Africa, Ghana, et al eased their lockdowns and in most cases have since resumed their normal activities while a host of others are on the process of developing guidelines and protocols of following the same suit.
Recently, there was a call by Dr. David Nabarro, the Special Envoy to World Health Organization and its Director-General on COVID-19 in which he opined that government should prepare a COVID-Ready society in which people will learn to live with the virus instead of this unending lockdown as a preventive measure having produced no vaccine or cure for the virus. It is obvious that, the Envoy has no doubt spoken the minds of millions of people round the globe.
According to him, establishing a COVID-Ready state requires the full and willing participation of people, a high level organization within communities, public health services as well as COVID-Ready hospitals and other health care facilities. Additionally, COVID-19 tracing, containment and neighborhood health watch will be necessary even when the present wave of outbreak is gone and still unending Lockdown.
Although younger people appear generally at lower risk, for now, everyone must adhere to government restrictions to protect the millions of people at higher risk due to age or serious comorbidities (history of underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, cancer, kidney or liver diseases etc.).
Nevertheless, it is hoped that the governments as a matter of urgency will review its guidelines and protocols towards containment of this pandemic so that the world can quickly regain back its fitness and continue to enjoy unending peace. Lastly, more testing centers especially in remote areas should be established and mode of contact tracing be enhanced as this will greatly facilitate and expedite the fight against this devilish novel virus so as to finally lay it to rest.
Ya’u MUKHTAR writes from Madobi, Kano State.
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Author: Abra Iruoghene.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, received a customised generator and a bus on behalf of the Service from the Chairman of the Trade Modernization Project (TMP), Saleh Ahmadu, on 5 July 2024, at the Project Management Office domiciled at the
Nigeria Customs Service Management Quarters in Abuja.
CGC Adeniyi expressed appreciation to TMP for the equipment presented to the Service. He said, “On behalf of all officers and men, I appreciate this gesture that TMP has done for us through the presentation of the 250KVA generator and the 13-seater 2024 Toyota Hiace bus.”
Adeniyi disclosed that the Service is aware of TMP’s efforts in providing tools and equipment needed to drive the modernisation program. He said, “We know that computers alone will not work by themselves; they will not effect the desired modernisation that we need.”
He added, “It will require human input, and the working environment of these elements is very important as well as those tools. So, we therefore appreciate these efforts you put in place to help us enhance the working environment and also improve the welfare of these officers.”
Furthermore, he applauded the Trade Modernization Project for being a worthy and dependable partner in their modernisation drive. He noted that the equipment delivered would be put to good use to bring added value to NCS operations.
Additionally, Adeniyi encouraged the officers, from the rank of Assistant Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller, undergoing special training by the TMP in preparation for the management duties of the Service, to be attentive and acquire the necessary knowledge to discharge their responsibilities and take up the task ahead of them professionally.
Mr Saleh Ahmadu, the Chairman of the Trade Modernization Project (TMP), who handed over the equipment, said the bus was for the effective movement of personnel between the headquarters and the TMP office, while the generator was for constant power supply to the management quarters of the NCS. He acknowledged the CG for his continuous support and collaboration.
…As Operation Whirlwind Records Tremendous Victories
Author: Iruoghene.
In a bid to conquer the war against the smuggling of petroleum products in Nigeria, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi has reassured his commitment to reinvigorate the existing collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to effectively combat the smuggling of petroleum products outside Nigeria.
In a meeting with the delegates from NNPC on Friday 5, 2024, at the headquarters of the NCS in Abuja, CGC Adeniyi stated that smuggling constitutes a severe national burden on the Nigerian economy. He said the current habitual that exists in the prices of fuel between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries creates a very huge incentive for smuggling, and that is why NCS, through ‘Operation Whirlwind’ is working with other stakeholders to intensify their efforts in ensuring that smuggling of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) is brought to the barest minimum.
He said, “The operations that we have done have thrown up a number of issues, but despite them, I am happy we have made fantastic seizures from different parts of the country, and we saw the ingenious ways in which smugglers take supplies from depot and place in their stations. The stations might look empty from the front. Still, directly behind, they have linked the hoses through some artificial holes created in their walls into waiting jerrycans and vehicles from where they take them across the borders”.
Still speaking, he said, “It is an act of economic sabotage, and those that we have seen, we have arrested them, confiscated the product that were seen, we sealed up the filling stations, and we have handed them over to the regulatory authorities to handle. Some filing station operators tactically devise means to smuggle fuel in a way that is not noticeable.
Adeniyi disclosed that fighting the heinous crime is a significant operation, creating a considerable burden on NCS resources, but it has been a very rewarding exercise for NCS. He said, “We felt that we could have a very good partnership with NNPC for us to sustain this operation over a period of time”.
Expressing his excitement, the CGC said, “We are happy we had a secondment from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). But customs need a situation room where we get data that speak on the issue of enhancing our capacity. Also, our personnel will be motivated and taken care of, so they won’t be in a situation of compromising”.
Also, the Coordinator of ‘Operation Whirlwind’ Comptroller of Customs, Hussein Ejibunu, stated that the operation started 5 weeks ago and has recorded great victories. He said, “There is no operation that does not have challenges, and we have been able to put them aside with the help of the CGC. We have tackled fuel smuggling not only in Adamawa but across the nation. We recently showcased about 79000 litres of fuel that was about to be smuggled out of Kebbi state. This is an indication that we are desirous to do the job, but we need absolute support of the border communities and other agencies”.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, stated that the Smuggling of PMS is a major National challenge for the country, and he requested the CGC’s help to minimise the smuggling of PMS outside Nigeria.
He revealed that the volume of fuel smuggled has reduced drastically due to the establishment and efforts of ‘Operation Whirlwind’. He said, “We are available to provide any necessary support to combat this crime in our borders. We are happy to work with you, and we appreciate you for the enormous impact of your collaboration so far”.
The World Health Organisation’s Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, Ayoade Alakija, has called for an investigation of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health over the required COVID-19 PCR tests for inbound passengers to Nigeria.
Alakija, in a tweet via her official Twitter handle, @yodifiji, wondered why the PCR tests were done with no reagents.
According to reports, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Ifedayo Adetifa, had earlier insisted that Nigeria would not scrap COVID-19 tests for inbound passengers into the country.
Adetifa had said the country was reporting a high rate of COVID-19 cases from inbound passengers, hence the need for the insistence of the tests.
Alakija, reacting to a tweet by a journalist, David Hundeyin, tweeted, “It’s a scam. The entire thing is a criminal enterprise and should be exposed. “Diagnostic tests to enter a country where the government officials have interest in Dx test centres. PCR tests with no reagents? NCDC and MOH should be investigated. It is a scam, period.”
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