Nigeria Can Only Boast of A Few Ventilators

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has produced the first made in Nigeria ventilators. The development is aimed at combating the COVID-19 disease in the country.

According to a notice released by NASENI spokesman, Segun Ayeoyenikan, on Monday, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, would unveil the devices on Tuesday (today). NASENI has equally produced mobile sprayers, which are to be used to disinfect Nigerian cities and homes. 

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Nigeria reportedly has just a few ventilators, a development which has been attributed to the neglect of the country’s health sector over the years. The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, recently begged for ventilators from an American billionaire. The government eventually withdrew the plea, which was widely seen as a national embarrassment.

Some of the country’s major health institutions, including the high profile State House Clinic, located in the Presidential Villa, the seat of power, lack basic equipment and drugs, even though they receive billions of naira in allocations annually.

 The global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and its severe impact in most of the advanced countries, has forced Nigerian leaders who contracted the disease to seek treatment within the country. Hence the need to produce ventilators to cater to the country's needs. 

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First Nigerian-made Ventilators to Be Unveiled Today

Following her arrest for flouting the Lagos State lockdown order and ban of gatherings of persons numbering more than 10, popular actress, Funke Akindele has been arraigned before a Lagos Court. The Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, arrested popular actress, Mrs. Funke Akindele-Bello for hosting a party to celebrate the birthday of her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz on Saturday in contravention of the lockdown order in Lagos State.

On Saturday, April 4, 2020, the actress threw a party that had over 20 people in attendance to celebrate her husband's birthday. 

Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley and Akindele-Bello's friend, Eniola Badmus were also at the party. Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, a businessman and politician, who was the Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2019 election was also at the party. Following the arrest of the actress, Gbadamosi took to his Twitter page to apologise, saying he had gone to the Bello's residence thinking he would only meet the family and their staff.

Thousands of Nigerians on social media called for the arrest Akindele, popularly called ‘Jenifa’.

READ ALSO, COVID-19: Inviting Chinese Doctors Is Suicidal-NARD

The actress later apologised over the incident, saying most of those who attended the party were colleagues, who were living temporarily within the estate and could not return to their home states because of the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The actress stated that none of her guests violated the lockdown order. Disclosing this in a video, Funke said she would never mislead anybody, noting that she practices what she preaches.

“It was my husband’s birthday. Both of us run a studio which is located in Amen Estate where we live. When the pandemic started, we stopped all productions including our new projects. But before the lockdown was announced by our President, some youths have been in the boot camp here in Amen Estate – majority of the youths were those you saw in the video.

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“Naira Marley came in here before the lockdown. And when the lockdown was announced, he said he would love to stay back, saying he loves this environment. Then my husband’s birthday came up. And we all came together as a family.

“Everybody in that video had been in Amen Estate some months before, weeks before and days before the lockdown. Nobody came from their houses to party with us. I am sorry if I have misled you. I appreciate your concerns and I promise to always practice what I preach.

“I promise to always support the government in creating more awareness to eradicate this pandemic.”

Recall that Police had instructed Naira Marley and Funke’s husband to submit selves for interrogation or risked being placed in the forces wanted list, for violating social distancing order.

Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media had severely criticised Akindele for hosting a house party during a lockdown in the state.

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Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband, AbdulRasheed Bello popularly known JJC Skillz have since then, been arraigned before a Lagos court.

She was arraigned in court for defiling the orders of the Lagos state government which had ordered Lagosians to stay at home. After reading the charges brought before them by the Magistrate, Yewande Aje-Afunwa, Akindele and her husband both pleaded guilty.

The Lagos Infection Diseases Regulations, 2020 (the Regulations) prescribes a jail term of one month or N100,000 fine or both for persons found guilty of hosting gatherings or flouting the lockdown order.

Funke Akindele And Husband Arraigned for Flouting Lockdown Order

Massively Employ Qualified Nigerian Doctors and Healthcare Workers Instead 

Resident Doctors Will Be Withdrawn from Every Public Health Facility 

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has released a statement accusing the federal government of championing illegality for its intention to invite Chinese nationals to help tackle the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

The statement which was released by the NARD president, Sokomba Aliyu, read, “We find it rather curious that our government would contemplate to throw open her international borders to Chinese nationals having watched how similar action in Italy proved socio-economically suicidal.” 

“The crafty Chinese scientists should be the last group of friends to trust at this time given how unreliably and covertly they have managed the information around the pandemic beginning from the data around its origin, characteristics, and other virulence features to help the nations yet to experience the surge to be better prepared. We should not lose sight of the fact that conspiracy theories have it that COVID 19 is a possible tool for both sociopolitical and economic manipulation and domination.

READ ALSO, Chinese Medical Team Will Arrive in Nigeria Soon — Health minister

“Nigeria is too important in the African continent to act any carelessly in the face of this emerging but portent threat to the human existence.

“The attempt to import Human resources for Health from China into Nigeria where many qualified medical doctors and other cadres of health workers are yet to be gainfully employed is the height of insensitivity and disservice on the part of the Federal Government and their advisers.

“The challenge at hand would have been sufficient marker to agitate the FG to the direction and timing for massive employment of medical and other health care workers to provide enough hands in the industry to battle the COVID 19 as other nations are doing. Some countries even went ahead to accelerate the graduation of their final year medical students.

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“They did not turn to China. If the FG had completely employed the available qualified doctors and other healthcare workers before turning to China for medical manpower to fill any persisting gap; it would have being less suspicious. ,” it said in the statement.

Reiterating that it condemned “the planned importation of Chinese doctors into Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Health to fight COVID-19”, NARD said it wished “to holistically cross-examine the intent and purpose of the importation of 18-man Chinese team of medical experts including doctors, nurses and those with sundry expertise to assist Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19.”

“The association is in indeed puzzled that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health would be contemplating such an adventure without first discussing it with the key and relevant stakeholders like the Nigerian Medical Association; our parent body; and all her relevant affiliates that parade some of the world’s best hands in all fields of endeavour,” it said in the statement.

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According to NARD,” The Federal Government cannot be championing illegality. All doctors coming into Nigeria are supposed to be licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Am sure these ones are not.”

“Nigeria is about one-fifth of the population of the African continent and currently the world has watched with awe, the very slow rate of case fatality arising from COVID 19 in Africa and is yet to understand, explain, covet or undermine that possible genetic advantage,” it noted.

The statement read further:”The Nigerian medical experts are currently winning the COVID 19 battle and should be encouraged and motivated and supported to win the war instead of distracting them with this unfortunate plan.

“The news making rounds in some quarters have it that the Chinese experts are only coming to Nigeria to play only some advisory roles and not to directly intervene in the day to day handling of Nigerian patients.  Telemedicine should have been more cost-effective, faster and easier to harness over a large number of uses than to fly them into Nigeria and move them from place to place at a huge cost to our national budget.”

NARD advised the federal government to stop the implementation of the plan and rather, immediately engage all key relevant Nigerian medical experts including NARD and present the full intents and purpose of the planned importation of Chinese experts for full evaluation, cost-benefit analysis and consensus on the best option.

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“In the interim and pending when item one above is fully done, NARD wishes to distant herself from the planned importation of Chinese medical experts to Nigeria in whatever guise or hood for the reasons presented in this write-up and many more,” it advised.

“NARD shall not contemplate further warning to distance herself from the Chinese adventure by way of withdrawing all her members from every public health facility in Nigeria so that the anticipated downturn in the output of Nigeria’s healthcare service delivery can be properly situated and traceable to the Chinese as is the case today in Italy.

“NARD hereby reiterates her position which was canvased earlier in the week for the Federal government to immediately and massively employ all qualified but unemployed doctors and other healthcare workers. Get them trained, insured, motivated and deployed nationwide.

“NARD wonders if the Chinese medical experts would accept N5,000 monthly hazard allowance if they were to be engaged on such terms. Nigerian doctors and other healthcare workers have been on such depressing and unpatriotic hazard allowance and yet saving millions of Nigerians for years.

“Why did the federal government not bring Chinese experts on same conditions of service. Federal government needs to immediately review the hazard allowance and make it a percentage of the basic salary of all healthcare workers as many nations are steadily incentivizing the pay for their health workers.

“Finally, NARD is of the view that all our hospitals should be properly equipped with state of the art equipment and devices and all necessary personal protective equipment made available to all healthcare workers instead of demoralizing them with the news of plans to import Chinese experts,” the statement further read. 

COVID-19: Inviting Chinese Doctors Is Suicidal-NARD

Six days after he tested positive, the governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, has tested negative for coronavirus. 

This was made known in a tweet that he released on Sunday night via his Twitter page. Governor Makinde announced that he would resume his duties as head of the Oyo COVID-19 task force on Monday.

“I am deeply moved by your prayers and support throughout this period. I am so thankful.

“This evening, I received my second negative test result for COVID-19. I especially thank Prof Temitope Alonge, who acted in my stead as Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force.

“I am also grateful to all members of the Task Force for their cooperation during this time.

“I will be resuming my responsibility as Head of the Task Force from tomorrow,” the tweet read.﻿﻿

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BREAKING: Gov Makinde Tests Negative for Coronavirus

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire,during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Friday, said that Chinese doctors, nurses and medical experts would arrive in Nigeria in a few days to assist in the fight against COVID-19.

Cases in Nigeria have reached 210 as the global figure also surpassed one million mark. He said Nigeria was also exploring the possibility of producing some medical equipment after key stakeholders met in Abuja on Thursday.

The coming of the Chinese medical experts was announced just as the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said efforts to contain COVID-19 in Nigeria were being limited by finance, manpower and other indices despite the support from government and individuals.

Ehanire said, “The global number has crossed one million mark, barely three months after the first cases were first reported in Wuhan, China. It is an indication that it is a public health challenge that we must not take lightly.”

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He continued, “We are already seeing what may be the indication of community transmission, in that 30 per cent of the cases have incomplete epidemiological information. 51 per cent are imported cases and 19 per cent are through contacts of known cases.

“Directors of the Federal Ministry of Health had discussions with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to explore the potential for local production of medical consumables such as face masks, gloves, sanitisers and even ventilators.

“This is in view of looming global shortages of medical supplies for the response due to high demands from all countries. Clinical trials and other processes are ongoing to validate various therapeutic for COVID-19 treatment.”

After the briefing, Nigeria recorded 20 new cases: 11 in Lagos State, three in FCT, three in Edo State, two in Osun State and one in Ondo State.

Ehanire said he had been notified of medical supplies from China courtesy of a group of Chinese companies working in Nigeria.

“A special cargo aircraft shall leave Nigeria in a few days to collect the items which include Personal Protective Equipment and ventilators. Of great interest is that an 18-man team of medical experts from China, including doctors, nurses and medical experts shall come along with the flight to assist us,” he said.

According to the minister, more cases might be detected during the remaining days of the lockdown window, and he called on officials to speed up their work.

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He said, “We are using the small window of opportunity remaining to intensify investigation to identify cases and sources. This is one of the purposes of the lockdown of the two states (Lagos and Ogun) and the FCT. Lagos and other parts will need to speed up their activities to detect and isolate COVID-19 patients.

“We expect to see an increase in cases during the lockdown as a measure of improvement in case finding. If all measures and social distancing are followed, the incidence of positive cases can be controlled.”

However, at the briefing, NCDC Director-General, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the major focus of the government was to increase capacity for testing more samples in the next few days while also lamenting limitation of finance, infrastructure and human resources.

He said, “We are not just limited by funds and infrastructure, but the biggest limitation is human resources; the people that are already trained in bio-nuclear diagnostic testing. This is not something you can take up people and ask them to volunteer and go into the laboratory and start testing.”

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Ihekweazu noted that so far, Nigeria had tested samples from about 4,000 people, with more laboratories being added to the existing ones.

He added, “Today, we have tested about 4,000 people and we will continue to drive up this number. We have fulfilled every requirement for a test so there is nobody that has come forward (without being tested). There has been some delay but every single sample that has come forward has been tested.

Stating the contribution of the private sector, Ihekweazu said, “We have some exciting proposals that we are working through with private sector. They have come on board to support us in doing this.

“Some public sector organisations that have private-sector affiliations like the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Fund Authority are working with us on the proposal to increase laboratory locations in Nigeria. There is a lot of work going on in the background to increase our testing capacity.

“I want to remind everyone that testing will not solve this problem. There is a lot of focus on testing and energy going into it and research at a global stage to validate rapid diagnostic test kits that are being sold around the world. We are waiting for those results. Once they are validated, we will start offering it, until then, we cannot offer it.”

Ihekweazu also noted that the test kits donated by Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma, had yet to be used because they were being validated. He said this on the backdrop of insinuation that some Chinese kits were faulty.

He said, “We will never deploy a test kit until we validate it. That process is ongoing. We are still using the kits we had before the donation from Jack Ma came in.

“Once we are sure that they (the kits) will provide answers equivalent to the test case we have, then we will deploy them.”

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Chinese Medical Team Will Arrive in Nigeria Soon — Health minister

A former lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Richard Akindele, a professor of management accounting, who was jailed for sexual harassment has been released from prison after serving a two-year term.

A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, in 2018 had sentenced Akindele to prison after he pleaded guilty to four counts filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The Commission had investigated sexual harassment allegations levelled against the professor by a female student, Monica Osagie.

READ ALSO, Suspected Herdsmen Attack Ondo Community, Kill Three in Farm

Justice Maureen Onyetenu, who had to stand down the case two times, before finally giving her judgement, rejected a plea bargain agreed by the parties involved and insisted that the professor must be punished as a warning to higher institution lecturers in the habit of molesting female students.

Justice Onyetenu sentenced Akindele to 24 months imprisonment for asking Osagie for a sexual benefit and another 24 months jail term for soliciting sexual benefit from the victim to pass her.

The judge also sentenced Akindele to 12 months imprisonment for deleting parts of the WhatsApp conversation between him and Osagie to conceal evidence against him and sentenced him to another 12 months for falsification of age. She held that the jail terms would run concurrently implying that the convict would spend 24 months.

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In an audio which went viral online, Akindele had been heard demanding five rounds of sex from Osagie to award her a pass mark in a course she failed.

Akindele appealed against his conviction and the hearing is scheduled at the Court of Appeal, Akure, Ondo State, on May 19.

OAU Sex-for-mark Lecturer Released from Prison After Two Years  

Three persons, including a father and his son have been reportedly murdered in their farm by herdsmen in Arimogija community, Ose council area of Ondo State. The victims were a rice farmer, Jacob Odushe his son, Adura and one Victor Ejeh.

Meanwhile, residents of the Arimogija community, have fled their houses following the attack by the herdsmen. The residents lamented that following the killing of the  three persons on their farms during the week, nothing had been done by the authorities to check the criminal activities of the bandits. According to them the matter was reported at the police station but no action was taken by the security agencies on the matter.

READ ALSO, Army Arrests Soldiers Threatening to Rape Women in Warri

They alleged that an helicopter once came into the forest of the community and dropped some ammunition for the herdsmen in which they perpetrate criminal activities .

Speaking with newsmen in confidence, a r resident of the community said “the entire community had been living in fear,  some of the residents have relocated from the community following the Fulani herdsmen’s attack .

“ The Fulani herdsmen have killed three people in this community, in just one week. They killed a rice farmer, Jacob Odushe and his son, Adura this week. They killed another boy, Victor Ejeh.

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“The boy’s corpse was found in the bush after a week that he was declared missing. The cuts on his body showed that he was killed by the bandits .

“ Again, few days ago, a helicopter was sighted in our community and we later found out that the helicopter brought some arms and ammunition into the bush for the herdsmen to continue in their attack against us.

“We appeal to the state government to come to our aid. We need serious presence of security agencies in our community. We don’t want to take the law into our hands.”

Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, confirmed the killings in the community and added that the governor had sent some security agents to maintain law and order.

Suspected Herdsmen Attack Ondo Community, Kill Three in Farm

The Nigerian Army has arrested two soldiers seen in a viral video threatening to molest women in the Warri area of Delta State and using uncouth and uncivilised language. In the video, the soldiers had threatened to carry out a spree of rape of women in Warri, with one of them threatening to inflict the women with the deadly HIV virus.

The two soldiers were arrested by 9 Brigade, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos State.

READ ALSO, Seven Burnt to Death, 23 Houses Destroyed in Fresh Plateau Attack

However, the Nigerian Army, on Twitter, said the soldiers were arrested on Friday after the video went viral, adding that investigations were ongoing into the incident.

The army said, “Soldiers purportedly threatening to molest women in Warri, Delta State, were arrested by 9 Brigade, Ikeja and further investigation is ongoing.

“The general public should be assured that the investigations would be swift and fair in accordance with applicable military laws. The outcome of the investigations will determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that can be taken in the circumstances.

“The army wishes to reiterate that it would not tolerate any form of irresponsibility and indiscipline on the part of its personnel.”

Army Arrests Soldiers Threatening to Rape Women in Warri

An Osun State High Court, sitting in Ikirun on Thursday sentenced two men, namely Elijah Oyebode (25) and Jelili Raji (35) to death by hanging for the murder of one Rofiat Damilola Adebisi, a 400 level student of Osun State University (UNIOSUN).

They were docked on three count charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and accessory after the fact of murder, which were contrary to Sections 324, 316 and punishable under Section 319 and S, 322 of the Criminal Code Cap.3 Laws of Osun state, 2002 respectively.

The prosecution counsel from Ministry of Justice, Barrister Kareem Adekilekun had informed the court that “on the 22nd December 2016, Miss Rofiat Damilola Adebisi, a 400 Level student of Osun State University, Ipetu-Ijesa Campus boarded a Golf car, marked Lagos FKJ 636 DL driven by Mr Elijah Oyebode.”

However, on the 23rd of December, 2016 the body of Rofiat Damilola Adebisi was later found by the roadside along Egbeda/Iragbiji Road and one Yusuf Ajibade was later arrested through the deceased iPhone which he sold to Quadri on the instruction of Elijah Oyebode.

According to Adekilekun, Elijah Oyebode in his confessional statement said Jelili Raji asked him to supply him a maid and gave him the charm to touch any lady he intended to bring for him, saying the lady will not argue with him.

Elijah Oyebode successfully handed over late Rofiat Adebisi to Jelili Raji at his shrine and was paid a sum of N10,000 for the dastardly job by Raji.

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While giving his evidence before the court, the Police officer attached to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Mr Adeyeye Simon explained that Elijah Oyebode was a commercial driver plying the route of Akure Owena road, adding that Elijah Oyebode and Yusuf Ajibade took the (deceased) Rofiat Damilola Adebisi to Jelili Raji house after Elijah has had sex with her.

He also claimed that the lady died at Jelili Raji house while Elijah Oyebode dumped the body of the Rofiat Adebisi (Deceased) along Egbeda /Iragbiji road.

Another witness, Olatomiwa Alade an officer with the Department of State Security Service (DSS) said that a data report was obtained from DSS Headquarters Abuja while the deceased phone was traced to Kolapo Quadiri which alleged that he bought the phone from Yusuf Ajibade, who acquired the phone from Elijah Oyebode.

Adekilekun further told the court that the confessional statement of all the accused was true and had also been corroborated by the evidence of the police officer attached to SCID, Mr Adeyeye Simon.

Delivering his judgement, Justice Jide Falola said prosecution counsel had proven his case beyond reasonable doubt and found Elijah Oyebode and Jelili Raji guilty of murder and conspiracy, while he acquitted Yusuf Ajibade of two count charges of murder and conspiracy, but sentenced him to two years in prison for receiving stolen property.

Counsel to the convicts, Barrister Suleiman Bello pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. Justice Falola subsequently sentenced the duo of Elijah Oyebode and Jelili Raji to death by hanging.

Court Sentences Killers of 400 Level UNIOSUN Student to Death by Hanging 

Barely 24 hours after gunmen killed three persons in Ancha community, in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, seven persons have been burnt to death in a fresh attack by some gunmen in the neighbouring Hukke village in the council area.

According to the spokesman for the Miango Youth Development Association, Mr Lawrence Zongo, the gunmen, came in numbers, and set ablaze about 23 houses when they attacked the village in the early hours of Thursday.

Zongo said, “The attackers were more than 300 persons. During the attack, they killed and burnt seven beyond recognition. We also counted more than 23 houses that were set ablaze by the attackers.”

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The youth leader gave the names of those killed as Izinpa Muntu (72 years), Madah Imeh (80), Jummai Geye (78), Gado Muntu (67), Mary Alhassa (70), Gado Ngulu (90) and Rigwe Muntu (84).

Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Ubah Ogaba, said, “The Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede, has visited the scene of the attack.”

The police boss reportedly assured the people that his men would do everything possible to ensure that justice was done in the killings while soliciting for  any useful information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

The Chairman of the ECWA District Church Council, Rev. Sunday Kosu, told the CP that the people had suffered untold wickedness in the hands of the gunmen. He urged the commissioner to send more policemen to protect the community.

Meanwhile, the senator representing the Plateau North in the Senate, Istifanus Gyang, condemned the killings in his constituency.

In a statement on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Musa Ashoms, the senator said it was necessary for the police and Operation Safe Haven to rise up to their primary responsibility of securing the lives of citizens both in the cities and rural areas.

Seven Burnt to Death, 23 Houses Destroyed in Fresh Plateau Attack

According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Federal Government will meet with indigenous manufacturers to discuss and facilitate the local production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is in a bid to enhance the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic. 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in Abuja when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, to give an update on government efforts at containing the pandemic.

Mohammed said that the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnibe Mamora, and the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investments, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, would meet with the manufacturers on behalf of the government.

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He said that the move had become necessary because of the shortage of equipment and the need to encourage and develop local manufacturing of medical equipment.

“PPE is in short supply globally and we want to see how we can start manufacturing them locally. All over the world, people are making mask locally because there is a short supply of masks. Those we got from Jack Ma have been shared with the states.

“We call them starter packs and they contain masks and test kits. We have given them to states according to their needs. Naturally, Lagos got more because it is the epicenter of the virus.

FOR MORE BREAKING NIGERIAN NEWS, CLICK HERE 

“We are trying to source the PPE locally, but one thing about PPE is that if you don’t get it right, you may lose more lives,” he said.

Speaking on whether or not the two weeks lockdown directed by the government could be extended, the minister said it was dependent on how Nigerians behaved themselves.

"If we don’t behave ourselves, there is likely that the lockdown will be extended, but if we behave ourselves, there might not be an extension and I hope we do so. If we stay at home for two weeks and we are doing everything we are supposed to do, we should be able to effectively contain the disease.

“Therefore, my appeal to Nigerians is that they should obey the directive on social distancing, personal hygiene and shun gatherings; after two weeks, we will resume our normal life. But if they think it is a joke, then we may have to stay at home more than the two weeks,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a national broadcast, had directed the cessation of all movement in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States for an initial period of 14 days effective 11 p.m. of March 30.

FG to Source Protective Equipment Against COVID-19 Locally – Lai Mohammed

Renowned lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Federal Government to withdraw armed troops from enforcing the lockdown order placed on the Federal Capital Territory; Lagos and Ogun States. According to him, deploying armed troops is illegal and unconstitutional based on precedent judgements of the courts of the land.

He said, “In the March 29, 2020, national broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari and the COVID-19 Quarantine Regulations issued thereafter to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic the members of the armed forces were not authorised to enforce the  Regulations.

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“But out of sheer impunity, the Defence Headquarters announced the plans of the armed forces to implement the presidential order on the restriction of the movement of the Nigerian people.

“In my reaction to the illegal plan of the Defence Headquarters to involve armed troops in the enforcement of the Regulations, I issued a public statement wherein I said that while the nation’s armed forces should be commended for making their medical facilities available to members of the public in the fight against the highly dangerous virus, the plan to dispatch armed soldiers to the streets to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines should be shelved because it is illegal.

“For the umpteenth time, I am compelled to draw the attention of the military authorities to the case of Yussuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR (Pt ) where Salami JCA (as he then was)  held that ‘It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarized.’ This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999.

“Conscious steps should be taken to civilianise the polity and thereby ensure the survival of and sustenance of democracy.”

Falana said his position was also backed by the judgement in the case of All Progressive Congress v Peoples Democratic Party (2015) LPELR 24349 where Aboki JCA held that the President lacked the power to call on the Armed Forces to restore law and order in any part of the federation without the approval of the National Assembly as provided in sections 217(2) and 218(4) of the Constitution as amended.

He reminded the Federal Government of its legal obligation “to confine the Military to their demanding assignments especially in these trying times of insurgencies and encroachment into the country’s territories…

“However, in utter violation of the aforesaid injunctions of the Court of Appeal, the platoons of armed troops deployed by the military authorities have unleashed mayhem on innocent members of the public for allegedly breaching the COVID-19 Regulations.”

Falana regretted that the involvement of the armed troops in the enforcement had led to torture and brutalisation of innocent citizens as revealed in several video clips trending online. He accused the military authorities of dismissing the video clips instead of conducting a thorough investigation. 

“Whereas based on a similar video clip which recently exposed a group of policemen who had engaged in the brutalisation of some traders in Lagos under the pretext of enforcing the COVID-19 Regulations the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu ensured that the culprits were promptly identified and arrested for the purpose of prosecuting them.

“The civilised conduct of the Police Chief has demonstrated the readiness of the current police leadership to put a stop to the involvement of police personnel in the crude infringement of the fundamental right of the Nigerian people to dignity.

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“In the light of the foregoing, we respectfully call on President Buhari and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to restrain members of the armed forces from further enforcing the COVID 19 Regulations.

“Furthermore, we urge the President to order an investigation into the video clips of the brutalisation of members of the public by some overzealous soldiers and direct the appropriate authorities to bring them to justice for contravening the provisions of the Anti Torture Act, 2017,” he said.

COVID-19: Withdraw Soldiers from Enforcing Lockdown, Falana to Buhari

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.