Tag: COVID-19

Africa’s Covid-19 cases surpass 3.3m – WHO

Aminu Imam

The World Health Organisation,(WHO), Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, has said that there are over 3.3 million confirmed Covid-19 cases on the African continent. The UN health agency gave the update on its regional official Twitter handle, yesterday. It stated on its dashboard that there were over 3.3 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent, with more than 2.8 million recoveries and 82,000 deaths cumulatively. Meanwhile, in a statement posted on its website, the UN health agency said Africa needed timely access to safe and effective Covid-19…

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School Reopening: Kaduna gets Thurs. 22, Mon 25 tentative dates

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Kaduna. As the debate for the reopening schools rages with some state shifting from the January 18, 2021 directed by the Federal Government, Kaduna State where schools are still closed gets Thursday 21st January and Monday 25th tentative dates for reopening. The two dates were arrived at the end of a marathon meeting in Kaduna between the state ministry of education and school proprietors. The meeting had in attendance the Commissioner of Education and the Permanent Scretary of the Ministry, Commissioner for Health among others. The…

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Covid-19: Nigeria Governors Forum Meets Wednesday to take definitive decision

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Nigerian Governors Forum said alarmed by the intensity of the second wave of the Covid19 pandemic, and Nigeria’s tardy commencement of inoculation that is sweeping through countries globally, it may finally come up with a definitive pronouncement, as they will be meeting on Wednesday January 20 to find the way forward for the country. The meeting which will be the first this year, 2021, by the governors, will as usual, be virtual, in conformity with the Covid19 protocols. The meeting will be the 23rd of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum…

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Covid-19: Reps. oppose school resumption, propose three-month postponement

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has faulted the Federal Government for giving schools the go-ahead to resume today, Monday , despite the increasing cases of COVID-19. The House said government officials did not consult the relevant committees of the National Assembly, contrary to their claim that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before arriving at the January 18th resumption date. Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, disclosed these in a telephone interview at the weekend It, therefore, demanded postponement of resumption for three months, as…

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India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive hits bump due to app glitch

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive hit a bump on the first day due to glitches in an app called Co-Win. Co-Win is being used to coordinate the campaign, according to several officials involved in the immunisation programme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched what his government has described as the “world’s largest vaccination programme” on Saturday to rein in the pandemic in India. India has reported the second-highest number of cases after the United States. Co-Win, developed by the government, is supposed to help by alerting healthcare workers who are first in…

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Japan dismisses reports of possible Tokyo Olympics cancellation due to Covid-19

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Japan’s government on Sunday dismissed suggestions that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics scheduled for this summer could be cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic. “We have decided the venues and schedule, and the people involved are working on preparations, including infection control,” government spokesman Katsunobu Kato was quoted as saying. The statement came after reports quoted Taro Kono, the minister for administrative and regulatory reform, as saying that “anything can happen” and “it could go either way” with the Games postponed from last year. The government, local organisers and the International…

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Sanwo-Olu extends work-from-home for civil servants

Aminu Imam

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended the work from home order to civil servants in the State. Sanwo-Olu gave the order to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Following the resurgence of COVID-19, the State government had ordered workers from Grade Level 14 and below to work from home. But, workers across most sectors have been directed to resume on Monday, January 18, 2021.However, a tweet by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile reads: “Breaking: Gov @jidesanwoolu has extended work-from-home order for civil servants on Grade Level-14 and…

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‘No approved Covid-19 vaccines yet’ – NAFDAC

Aminu Imam

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday said that it has not approved any COVID-19 vaccine. It warned fake vaccines have started circulating in the country, urging the public not to purchase such drugs as they can cause COVID-19-like illnesses and can lead to death. It also urged government establishments, agencies and big corporations not to order COVID-19 vaccines without confirming from NAFDAC if the vaccine has been approved. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, made these known in Abuja during a virtual media…

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Covid-19: Schools in Edo to remain closed — Obaseki

Aminu Imam

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said that schools in the state will remain closed until  Feb. 1, as the state grapples with the second wave of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Obaseki stated this at a news conference yesterday in Benin, as most States  across the Federation gear up to re-open schools on January 18. According to the governor, in the last 46 days, the  State has recorded 493 new cases, 214 recovery and 12 deaths. He said that the non-compliance to COVID-19 safety protocols had been largely responsible to…

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Covid-19 second wave: FG approves Jan. 18 re-opening of schools

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government yesterday agreed that all schools should be re-opened on Monday, January 18 across the country. Recall that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had earlier said that the government would review the date of resumption and would get back to  the public as cases of COVID-19 moved up. Picture caption: Education Minister, Adamu Adamu However, yesterday, after reaching consensus with Governors, Commissioners and other stakeholders, the Federal Government gave the approval for re-opening of the schools nationwide. Adamu, who met with Commissioners of Education in Abuja, said…

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