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Coronavirus: Nigeria Can’t Cope With Explosion, NMA Warns
The President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Francis Faduyile, has disclosed, yesterday, that 70 per cent of Nigerian hospitals have no running water which is critical in the containment of COVID-19 and other epidemics.
Aside that, NMA said its members and some other health workers are not financially motivated and also not adequately prepared and provided with the necessary equipment/kits to respond outbreak of the epidemics.
Faduyile who appeared on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, yesterday, said that sanitary situation in public hospitals in Nigeria could be counter-productive to the efforts of the Federal Government to contain the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
He was particularly unhappy with the non-involvement of NMA in all the committees and other plans of the Federal Government as regards response to the increasing cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
He said: “It will be unwise and Coronavirus when he or she has no adequate kits to respond to that. You have to be alive to save another.
“However, our members would continue to do their best within the available resources and equipment to offer quality medical services to Nigerians irrespective of the situations.”
Similarly, the Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan, has asked senators who just returned into the country from foreign trips to go for the Coronavirus test.
Senate’s Spokesperson, Godiya Akwashiki, disclosed this while briefing reporters after yesterday’s plenary.
The Red Chamber went into about two-hour executive session, after which it announced the suspension of all public hearings and shutting of its gallery to visitors as part of measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
According to Akwashiki, the Senate President, during the closed-door session, told the affected lawmakers to undergo Coronavirus test from tomorrow.
Though he didn’t give the names of the affected Senators, Daily Trust learnt that they were at the chamber today.
Akwashiki said, “He (Lawan) urged those that just returned from foreign trips to go and test themselves from tomorrow because as leaders we should show example to others.”
On Senate’s Wednesday resolution urging President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation on the situation of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Akwashiki said it was “too early for us to question why the President has not addressed the nation.”
He, however, said, if the president didn’t address Nigerians “in the next one week”, the leadership of the Senate would engage him.
“You know that there are procedures for the president to address the nation. I want to believe in the next one week, if he didn’t address the nation, the leadership of the Senate will engage the Executive arm of government because it is a serious issue.
“The disease does not know a Senator or President or a farmer. Once you catch it, you are going. I want to ask for a little patient with the president to address the nation,” the lawmaker said.
Akwashiki also said some senators, during the closed-door session, wanted the National Assembly shut down today, but the Senate President cautioned against such move.
“At the end of the discussion, the Senate President said we cannot just wake up and shut down the complex.
“We all came through election, if we are closing down the National Assembly, there are ways to do it.
“So, we decided that we should avoid public hearings because public hearings will bring in a lot of people and shaking of hands.
“The influx of people into the complex should be limited. We only want the Senators, media and the aides,” he said.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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