The National Economic Council (NEC) Thursday raised the alarm at the spike in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria and called for a strict enforcement of measures to contain its spread across the country.
In a resolution released after a virtual meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the council said it’s worried that the current trends in the country were surpassing the levels reached during the lockdown imposed at the height of the pandemic earlier in the year.
While enlarging the membership of its Ad-Hoc Committee on COVID-19 and mandating it to urgently come up with additional measures to deal with the spike in cases, the council said the country was now experiencing a huge resurgence of patients needing intensive care and the existing health facilities were fast becoming overwhelmed.
The committee, chaired by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state with the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Anambra and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as members, has now been enlarged to accommodate Governors of Ogun and Kaduna states, Minister of Health, Minister of Information and Culture and the Minister of Youth and Sport Development.
The council also agreed that Commissioners for Health and Commissioners for Information would now be co-opted into the committee.
The vice president asked the committee to urgently develop innovative and new measures to curtail the spread of the disease in the interests of the health and overall welfare of Nigerians.
The council also resolved to advocate rigorous and strict enforcement of the non-pharmaceutical interventions to contain spread of the virus, especially restriction of all physical gatherings.
“NEC firmly resolves to advocate rigorous and strict enforcement of the non-pharmaceutical interventions listed below: 1. Restrict all physical gatherings and instead opt for virtual meetings, whenever possible. If physical meetings must be held, ensure there is adequate ventilation of the room, limit the number of attendees, wear face masks, maintain a physical distance of at least two metres and adhere to other public health measures.
“2. No mask, no entry, no service – all staff members, visitors and customers entering workplaces, shops, entertainment or business premises must wear a face mask that should cover the mouth and nose at all times, and should not remove them, especially if speaking to another person in close proximity.
“3. Temperature checks must be carried out on all employees and customers entering office and business premises (any person with a temperature 38 degrees Celsius or above should be denied entry and advised to go for a health check).
“4. All office and business premises must have a hand washing station with running water and soap or hand sanitizer at the entrance. Employers and business owners have a responsibility to ensure hand sanitizers are always refilled and soap and water always available.
“5. Office, shops and business premises must be well-ventilated and cleaned regularly throughout the day, ensuring that frequently touched surfaces like desks, countertops, work stations, railings, door handles, are cleaned and disinfected. An occupational health and infectious diseases preparedness plan must be in place, in case an employee, customer or visitor becomes unwell,” the council said.
The council said the continued spread of COVID-19 puts increased pressure on the already fragile health systems and threaten Nigeria’s economy.
“Traditional, social and religious leaders are therefore urged to play their own part by promptly taking responsible and decisive actions to help stop the spread and upsurge of the virus in Nigeria. States are also encouraged to take any further steps as may be considered necessary in their areas,” the council said.
Members of the National Economic Council also sympathised with the families of the Kankara schoolboys who were abducted by terrorists.
The council expressed outrage on the kidnapping of the boys in their school premises and condemned the brazen act of the abductors as not only criminal and lawless but a deliberate attempt to sow seeds of fear in people.
While supporting immediate steps already taken by the federal and state governments to rescue the boys, the council called for more effective collaboration between security agencies and the communities to “ensure that such despicable act does not repeat itself anywhere in the country.”
At the session, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed reported to council the balances of the under listed accounts as at 17th December 2020 as follows: Excess Crude Account (ECA) $72,410,574.08, Stabilisation Account – ₦26,433,355,427.91, and Development of Natural Resources Account – ₦156,690,002,234.58.
Lalong positive
In a related development, Plateau state Governor Simon Lalong has tested positive for COVID-19 following a test carried out on him and members of his family.
The governor’s Director of Press, Dr. Makut Macham, said this in a state Thursday in Jos, the state capital.
He said result of the test indicated that Lalong’s test returned positive while all members of his family tested negative.
“Consequently, the governor, who is asymptomatic has gone into isolation while his close aides are being tested,” Macham said.
The governor’s aide said his boss would henceforth work from home during the period of treatment.
Macham said, all state matters requiring the governor’s physical presence, would be handled by the deputy governor.
“The governor uses the opportunity to urge all citizens of Plateau state to observe all COVID-19 protocols as the pandemic is still prevalent,” Macham said.
The statement further quoted the governor as advising citizens to apply all precautionary measures, especially during the festive period by avoiding large gatherings, using facemasks, washing hands with soap and water and adhering to personal hygiene.
Niger schools shut
Meanwhile, Niger state government has directed the closure of public and private schools as well as tertiary institutions across the state from Friday, 18th December, 2020.
The government also directed all civil servants to stay at home away from office from Monday next week, except those on essential services.
A statement issued in Minna Thursday by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman, Niger State Task Force on COVID-19 Pandemic, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, stated that the closure followed an upsurge of the COVID-19 in the country.
Matane disclosed that the second wave of coronavirus in the country necessitated the closure of all schools in the state for the period of thirty days.
The SSG enjoined people of the state to quickly return to the use of facemasks, physical and social distancing, so as to help curb further spread of the pandemic across the state.
He said despite the massive advocacy and sensitisation by the government, “it is disappointing to see the crowd at worship centres, banks, markets, and motor parks across the state flouting the coronavirus guidelines.
He said: “We will be forced to take the painful decision of bringing the State under the COVID-19 Preventive, Containment and Emergency Order if it remains clear that Nigerlites are determined to flout the rules.”
The SSG called on the financial institutions, supermarkets, corporate entities, and commercial vehicles and motorcycles owners to strictly ensure the enforcement of “no face mask, no entry” in order to halt further spread of the scourge in the communities and flatten the curve.
He expressed optimism that the fight against the dreaded virus would be won if Nigerlites adhered strictly to the safety protocols of COVID-19.
