Buhari, mourns Nigerian doctors killed by coronavirus

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of Nigerian doctors killed by COVID-19.

A statement on Saturday by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, disclosed that Buhari has sent his condolence to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) over the loss.

The Nigerian leader said their death was painful because they risked their lives in order to save others.

“Our health workers are making maximum sacrifices for the country in line with their humanitarian calling, and this administration will leave no stone unturned in order to ensure their needs are met.

“Let me say without any fear of contradiction that no reward is too much for the sacrifices of our health workers in the country, and this administration will give their welfare the priority it deserves,” Buhari added.

Garba said the President also mourned the demise of the Galadiman Lokoja, Godwin Ajakpo, and the chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd), a former military Governor.

UK COVID-19, variant hits Spain, Sweden

 Spain and Sweden have recorded the coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom.

Four cases reported in Madrid all arrived from the UK recently.

Regional government’s deputy health chief, Antonio Zapatero, made the disclosure to reporters on Saturday.

“The patients are not seriously ill, we know that this strain is more transmissible but it does not cause more serious illness,” he said.

Three others suspected cases have been tested, and results will be available on or before Wednesday.

Similarly, Sweden said a traveler from Britain fell ill on arrival and tested positive.

On Saturday, Sara Byfors, a health agency official, told the media that the individual kept isolated after, and no further cases yet.

Spain, Sweden, among dozens of other countries, have imposed travel restrictions on passengers from the UK.

Boko Haram 6 killed, 11 abducted in Adamawa

 

Six people including a police officer were reportedly killed in the aftermath of an attack in Garkida town of Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State in northeast Nigeria.

It was also reported that eleven youths were abducted by the attackers who looted food and medicine stores in the town.

The attackers also burnt down construction vehicles and houses during the onslaught.

According to residents, they were forced to flee the town into the mountainous areas.

A resident who identified herself as Rebecca disclosed that the insurgents stormed the town when the people were making last minutes’ preparations for Christmas.

“We could see them from afar in our hideouts as they continued to loot, ravage houses, pharmaceutical stores even as domestic animals were not left out,” she stated on phone from the area.

Another resident who shared his experience said, “I departed Yola on the 24th of December to celebrate the Christmas in my sweet home of Garkida. Little did I know a bitter experience awaits me.

“I had a safe drive to Garkida, but on entering the town, I was welcomed by an Army truck filled with armed personnel speeding towards the entrance of the town. stopped by the market, trying to enquire what was happening, to my dismay, everyone was running for his dear life.

“I managed to stop someone and asked, his answer sent a paralysed feelings down my spine, “they are coming again”. Without much ado, I knew it was Boko Haram.”

Residents of Garkida said they hid in the mountain and watched the terrorists engage in fierce battle with the Army and the vigilantes. “We could see them also packing cartons of drugs from the hospital store. Moments later, we saw fighter jets dropping bombs and neutralising them.

According to residents, “The following morning, 25th, we began counting our losses. A police officer was shot dead. 5 other corpses were later found, two of which are believed to be workers of the ongoing water project, and the others, youths.

“Trucks belonging to road project contractor were all raised down, hospital pharmacy was broken and all medications looted, hospital ambulance was vandalised, cars belonging to people were burnt, 11 of our youths were taken into captivity. ”

There has been no official confirmation from the police or the military, but sources said that three air force fighter jets have been on routine bombardment of the areas as they continue to attack the insurgents.

Cleric lists challenges Nigeria faced in 2020

 

Timothy Yahaya, the Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, Anglican Communion, has observed that the year 2020 will not be easily forgotten with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic that threatened human existence.

He also noted that kidnapping, banditry, farmers/herders clashes and other security challenges made the year 2020 not easy to be forgotten especially by Nigerians.

The Archbishop made the observation while speaking to newsmen in Kaduna on the significance of Christmas celebration.

He stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented effect on the economic hardship the human race has to battle with but thanked God for His grace upon the life of man to have sustained him to date.

Bishop Timothy Yahaya explained that the celebration of the birth of Jesus, whose name ‘Emmanuel’ means ‘God is with us’ has made man to overcome every challenge of life.

The Archbishop added that because of the presence of God in the affairs of this country, the outbreak of the COVID-19 coupled with its effects on the economy and insecurity, the country is what it is today.

He stressed that the birth of Jesus Christ is evidently clear that God is in the affairs of the country without which, it would be impossible for Nigerians to be what they are presently.

He expressed confidence that with God in the affairs of the country, it would overcome all security and economic challenges.

Bishop Timothy Yahaya used the message of Christmas celebration to call on all Nigerians to obey the COVID-19 safety measures, saying that Christians are people who obey the law of God and man.

The Archbishop called on Nigerians to stop being agents of spreading the COVID-19 pandemic, rather help to curb it.

COVID-19 second wave, Lagos govt issues fresh directives for churches, weddings, travelling

 

The Lagos State government has once again urged residents to comply with the restrictions on various activities, as the country battles the second wave of COVID-19.

In an infograph posted on its official Twitter page, Lagos government listed 13 guidelines to be adhered to.

These include making it compulsory for intending couple to obtain clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), before weddings can take place.

Churches and mosques have also been reminded to ensure COVID-19 protocols were strictly followed and attendance must not exceed 50 per cent of the maximum capacity of the venue.

The government also asked clinically extremely vulnerable people to stay at home while bars, night clubs, and pubs must remain closed.

See the guidelines below:

Meeting friends and family – Maintain adequate social distance.

Bars and pubs – All bars, night clubs, and pubs are to remain closed.

Retail – Retail shops can open but should ensure COVID-19 protocols.

Work and business – Some staff must work from home to reduce crowd in workplace.

Education – All schools are to remain closed until further notice.

Exercise – Maintain safe distance.

Entertainment – No carnivals/ concerts or street parties and jamborees.

Personal care – Wash your hands regularly, use alcohol-based sanitisers, maintain social distancing.

Overnight stays – The midnight to 4am curfew imposed by the Federal Government remains.

Wedding and social gatherings – Must not exceed 300 people with prior clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission.

Places of worship – To follow COVID-19 protocols and not exceed 50 per cent of the maximum capacity for attendance.

Clinically extremely vulnerable – Are advised to stay at home.

Travelling – All non-essential travels are seriously advised against.

Igbos are truly marginalized – Archbishop Ibezim

 

The Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, and Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Grace, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim has lamented that the state of marginalization of Igbo People in Nigeria today was such that anything that came to them is looked upon as a gift.

He said it should rather be about equity and competence of the Igbo man when sharing positions and other things in the country, rather than being a gift.

Ibezim who spoke to journalists on Saturday on the Igbo presidency of 2023 project said it is very clear to everyone who knows Nigeria well, that the Igbo people were being marginalized.

He listed the imbalance in the number of states in each zone in the country, non-representation at the nation’s security council and the inability of any Igbo man to have ruled Nigeria before as some of the reasons to believe that the Igbo people were deliberately being marginalized.

“Well, there is no need of talking too much about it. Anybody that is a good Nigerian knows that an Igbo man is marginalized. We have been marginalized for long, and so anything that comes to an Igbo man is like a gift. That is why some people are talking about restructuring Nigeria today.

“It is not an individual affair but a collective pursuit. It (presidency) is not about being an Igbo man or not, the main thing is to maintain equity and justice so that people in the land will be happy,” he said.

Speaking on the Anambra State governorship election coming up in 2021, Ibezim said his church has been praying for a peaceful poll, and that a very competent person will emerge.

“Of course, in Anambra State, we have been praying for a competent leader to emerge. We also want equity in the election. Anambra State is our state, so everything about this must be done holistically so that no group of people will feel marginalized either religiously, politically or otherwise.

“What we are praying for is for equity to be in our state. Competence should be the climax of the election. Competent leaders should be elected to govern the state,” he said.

Bill Gates wonders why number of COVID-19 cases, deaths are not high in Africa

 

Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), has said that he does not understand why coronavirus numbers have not been as high as predicted in Africa.

Recall that Gates and his wife, Melinda had in more than one occasion, warned that there will be dead bodies all over the streets of Africa if the world does not act fast enough.

Melinda said her heart was in Africa, adding that she is worried that the continent might not be able to handle the devastating effect of the virus.

But in his end of the year note, Bill said he was happy his prediction about Africa has not happened, “One thing I’m happy to have been wrong about—at least, I hope I was wrong—is my fear that COVID-19 would run rampant in low-income countries. So far, this hasn’t been true,” he wrote.

In most of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, case rates and death rates remain much lower than in the U.S. or Europe and on par with New Zealand, which has received so much attention for its handling of the virus.

“The hardest-hit country on the continent is South Africa—but even there, the case rate is 40 percent lower than in the U.S., and the death rate is nearly 50 percent lower.

“We don’t have enough data yet to understand why the numbers aren’t as high as I worried they would get — but gave probable reasons Africa was not as affected as expected.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria is currently fighting the second wave of the coronavirus.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had last week announced a second wave of the dreaded virus.

The Federal Government on Tuesday directed civil servants from grade level 12 and below to stay at home.

They are to remain at home for five weeks following the second wave of the COVID-19 disease in Nigeria.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Friday stated that COVID-19 related deaths now stands at 1,246.

Nigeria currently has a total of 82,747 confirmed cases in the country.