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COVID-19: NCDC begins community testing in Abuja
COVID-19: NCDC begins community testing in Abuja
The NCDC has started community testing in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The move is seen as part of the struggles of the Federal government to hinder the spread of the disease through community transmission. Analysts say mass-testing is capable of stopping the potential of spreading COVID-19 cases across Nigeria.
The Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC) has commenced community testing for the COVID-19 in Abuja. This is as the federal government scales up attempts to restrain the spread of the disease, especially in rural areas and city suburbs. In a tweet on Tuesday, April 14, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said that the agency(NCDC) had increased its testing capacity.
According to the NCDC boss, the agency is planning to test one thousand (1000) samples daily in Abuja and other parts of the country.
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“The target is to test 2000 samples in Lagos, 1000 in Abuja and in the rest of the country daily, of the right people who meet the case definition,” the NCDC boss said. “Our laboratories are ready and have the capacity to test. We must all push harder than we have.
“The responsibility lies with the government as well as with citizens. We can pull through if we stay together,” he added.
Before now, some Nigerians had questioned NCDC’s capacity to do mass testing capacity. Some had suggested that mass temperature check is conducted from house to house, pending when NCDC can reach them for further investigations.
There are also fears that the lockdown may be extended due to the slow testing. Several calls have been made to the NCDC to deploy as many resources and personnel for mass-testing to ambush this potential of a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.
Globally, rapid mass testing is seen as a better alternative especially in the face of no vaccine, or cure for COVID-19. Some have also said a lockdown without the mass testing measures in place will be futile in Nigeria’s battle to defeat coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the NCDC recently activated a COVID-19 test centre at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, Kano. The centre is expected to serve the northwest zone of the country. While inspecting the facility, the deputy governor of Kano, Nasiru Gawuna said henceforth samples of suspected cases will no longer be taken to Abuja but tested in the state.
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Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, has approved the implementation of N30,000 as minimum wage for the workers in the state.
The secretary to the state government, Folashade Ayoade disclosed this on Tuesday after an extensive meeting with the organized labour in Lokoja
She blamed the delay in the implementation on the inability for the committee to meet regularly due to the covid-19 pandemic which has been overcome.
The SSG equally commended the organised labour for their understanding and patience, which she said has resulted into the signing of the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Read Also: FCTA Set to Implement Minimum Wage for FCT Workers
Author: Eunice Johnson, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has put Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on notice that it will stop selling forex to them by the end of 2022. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele made this known in Abuja on Thursday at the end of the Bankers’ Committee Meeting where he also introduced the RT200 Programme.
Emefiele said the time had come for the banks to go out there and source for forex by funding entrepreneurs with ideas. The CBN, Emefiele said, will support the banks by granting rebates and other support until the banks find their feet in sourcing their forex by themselves.
He also disclosed that the apex bank’s policies and measures have led to a significant improvement in diaspora inflow from an average of US$6 million per week in December 2020 to an average of over US$100 million per week by January 2022. He added that the CBN would be reviewing these intervention programmes going forward to ensure that they continue to achieve the desired results.
He said international bodies, including some embassies and donor agencies, have been complicit in illegal forex transactions that have hindered the flow of foreign exchange into the country.
Read Also: CBN Encourages Nigerians to Accept E-Naira
Author: Gift Wada, Abuja
The Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) has approved the deployment of 37 Comptrollers to various Units, Departments and Commands across the country.
This was disclosed in a release signed on Tuesday by the Customs Deputy National, DC Timi Bomodi for the Comptroller General of Customs.
Among those deployed are the present National PRO of Customs Comptroller Joseph Attah who will assume the office of Area Controller of Kebbi Command, Comptroller AAS Oloyede who shall be moving from ICT/MOD to Tin Can Island Port Command, while Comptroller SI Bomoi to FCT Command. Other postings are Comptroller BA Jaiyeoba to Oyo/Osun Command, Comptroller A Dappa-Williams to Eastern Marine Command, Compt. MA Umar Kano/Jigawa, Compt. KC Egwuh ICT/MOD, Compt. LM Mark Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi, Compt. T Tachio CTC Kano, Compt. AA Umar Western Marine, Compt. M Dansakwa North Eastern Marine, Compt. AC Ayalogu T & T and Compt. KD Ilesanmi will assume duty as Comptroller Board among others.
Ali in postings released on 7th of February, charged the newly posted Comptrollers to justify the confidence reposed in them by NCS Management by bringing to bear their years of experience and training in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling activities on their new assignment.
Given the enormous expectations of government regarding revenue generation in the current year, the Comptroller General reiterated the need for all Area Controllers and Unit heads to take full charge of the affairs of their Commands by ensuring absolute compliance with extant fiscal policies while leveraging on the efficient management of data to optimize trade facilitation and revenue collection.
Furthermore, the CGC directed all officers to be extremely vigilant in protecting the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians by ensuring the full fortification of our borders against the incursion of smugglers and other cross border criminals.
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