President Buhari Orders Absolute Lockdown Of FCT, Lagos and Ogun State

By Toyeebat Anifowose 

President Muhammadu Buhari has placed a total ban on all movements in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states for an initial period of fourteen days with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March, 2020.

 The President gave the directive while addressing Nigerians on the covid19 pandemic on the 29th of March, 2020.

 President Buhari also ordered the closure of all businesses and offices within the affected states.

The President explained that the period of containment will be used to ensure the treatment of confirmed cases of covid19 and also to trace and identify individuals who have come in contact with the confirmed cases, while restricting further spread to other states. 

 The President however exempted some essential service providers which include health care personnel, commercial establishments such as; food processing, distribution and retail companies, petroleum distribution and retail entities, power generation, transmission and distribution companies, private security companies, and workers in the telecommunications industry who can prove they are unable to work from home. 

 The President further stated that residents of satellite towns within Abuja and Lagos whose livelihoods will be affected by some of the restrictive measures will receive relief materials to ease their pains in the coming weeks.

MINISTERS GIVE AWAY 50% OF MARCH SALARY TO SUPPORT FIGHT AGAINST COVID19

Nigeria's 43 Cabinet Ministers have donated 50% of their March 2020 salaries to support the Federal Government's efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Office of The Minister of Information and Culture on Saturday in Abuja.

 Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, quotes the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who coordinated the donation, as saying it was a gesture of solidarity and support for the Federal Government's efforts in tackling the disease.

In the statement, the Minister also commends President Muhammadu Buhari for his leadership role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

 

Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC reveals that the country now has 81 confirmed cases of covid19 with the Federal Capital Territory recording 14 cases.

FCTA REVEALS NEW MEASURES TO CONTAIN SPREAD OF COVID19

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has announced new measures to contain the spread of  COVID 19 in the Territory.

 FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello made the announcements during a press briefing in Abuja.

The Minister explained that the measures were reviewed in collaboration with relevant security agencies who are in the forefront of enforcing the directives.

According to the Minister all restaurants in the territory have been directed to dish out their delicacies in disposable food packs, and sitting within enclosed restaurant facilities are henceforth discouraged.

The Minister also announced that businesses will henceforth operate between the hours of 6 am and 9pm, a directive which will take effect from Friday, 27th of March, 2020.

Another measure is the establishment of the FCT COVID 19 Situation Room which will ensure effective coordination of all activities geared towards containing COVID 19 in the FCT. The situation room will  be domiciled  in the FCT Call Centre.

Muhammad Bello further implored residents to reach out to the FCT Call Centre on the following numbers. 08099936312, 08099936313, 08099936314, 07080631500 and 112 which is the National Emergency number.

300 Bed Space Facility To Serve As Isolation Centre For Coronavirus Patients In The FCT

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Muhammad Musa Bello has recently inspected a 300 bed space facility which will possibly serve as an isolation centre for coronavirus patients.

According to the minister, the five-storey building is equipped with adequate water and power supply to cater for covid19 patients should the need arise.

He noted that his administration will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other relevant stakeholders to jointly deliberate on the way forward.
The building is located at the Idu area of the FCT. 

Senate Embarks On Two Week Recess To Curtail Spread Of Coronavirus

By Toyeebat Anifowose 

The 9th Senate has resolved to embark on a recess which will last for two weeks, as a measure to curtail the outbreak of coronavirus in Nigeria.

 The President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan stated this through his verified twitter handle. @DrAhmadLawan

He explained that the Red Chamber will be on hand to attend to any issue of national emergency which requires its attention irrespective of the recess.

The President also emphasised the need for citizens to adhere strictly to the recommendations of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

CORONAVIRUS: IOC AND JAPAN TO RESCHEDULE TOKYO OLYMPICS

By Toyeebat Anifowose 

The President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach  and the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe have agreed to a one year postponement of the Tokyo Olympic games due to the covid19 pandemic.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday.

The summer games which had been scheduled to commence on 24th July, 2020 will now hold in July 2021. 

The decision is coming after months of internal discussion and mounting pressure from nations and athletes across the world concerning holding the world's largest sporting                event in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak. 

 

CORONAVIRUS: FCTA Orders Members of Staff to Stay at Home

By Toyeebat Anifowose 

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Muhammad Musa Bello has directed that members of staff from grade level 1 -12 are to stay at home from Tuesday 24th of March 2020 until further notice. 

The Minister gave the directive during a  media briefing in Abuja.

He explained that all workers from grade level 1-12 on essential duties such as water supply, fire service, security, medical services, environmental protection, emergency services and others are exempted from the "stay at home" policy.

Meanwhile, the administration has also banned all gatherings as part of the social distance measures to combat the spread of covid19. 

All markets and neighbourhood centers in the FCT are also to be shut down with the exception of those who sell essential commodities.

The administration further urged residents to strictly abide by the laid down rules and regulations.