The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has donated a total of 435 Hospitals and Clinics to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Receiving members of the Conference in his office, the Chairman of PTF/Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, expressed appreciation to the Bishops’ Conference for making their medical facilities and clinics at the disposal of the Task Force. He thanked the Conference for the donation and described the gesture as not only timely but necessary as it would assist medical practitioners in their efforts to bring the pandemic to a standstill in the country. The SGF particularly commended the Conference for the donation in view of the spread of the health facilities which are found in several locations across the country and would provide the required assistance to various state governments to leverage on. In his words ‘‘we will continue to work with all faith-based organisations, civil society groups and all men of goodwill interested in helping out at this time of need’’. The SGF commended the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and called on other faith-based groups to speak up and lend a strong voice to the decisions of government particularly, on restriction of movement so as to halt the spread of the pandemic. The Chairman of PTF said that coronavirus does not respect religion, tribe, race or status and called for all hands to be on deck so as to curtail the spread of the pandemic in the country. Speaking earlier on behalf of the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the Arch Bishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, Arch Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, informed the SGF that the conference was with the PTF in prayers and thanked the Federal Government for setting up the Presidential Task Force with the SGF as its chairman. Most Rev. Akubueze commended the PTF for various steps it has taken with its marshal plans to curtail further spread of the disease in the country and stated that the Conference was donating its hospitals and clinics for use by the PTF as solidarity as well as expression of goodwill. The Conference promised to corporate fully with all decisions of government on COVID-19 so to curtail the spread of the pandemic. Willie Bassey Director (Information) Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Following the lockdown announced by the Plateau State Government as part of the fight against the novel Coronavirus, Member Representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Dachung Bagos has donated relief materials and personal protective equipments to members of his constituents.
The items were distributed within Hwolshe Ward of Jos South Local Government where Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to the representative, Pwajok Lang said “We are faced with dire a situation… this has affected the economy of the state and nation. We felt it wise to come up with some sort of palliative [measures.]”
He further explained the nature of the distribution which he said is going to be on a door-to-door basis keeping in line with social distancing policy prescribed by health officials.
The ongoing distribution targets the poor and the vulnerable within the 39 state wards of the Constituency. Items that that were distributed included; rice, maize, hand sanitizers, face masks, and other food items.
The Member urged his constituents to obey government’s decision to have the state on lockdown to ensure the safety and well-being of all.
He also encouraged his constituents to maintain proper personal hygiene- wash hands frequently, maintain a distance of at least 6-for from each other and keep away from crowds and immediately reach out to health officials should they suspect a case of the virus.
Covid-19: Hon. Fom Gwottson Urges Plateau Govt to Provide Palliative to House Member representing, Jos South in the Plateau assembly Hon. Gwottson Dalyop Fom on Wednesday called on the state Government to provide some palliative to the poor in the state to alleviate their sufferings during the one week lock down declared by the state governor
It could be recalled that Governor Simon Lalong had said that the state Government has concluded plans to carry out a State-wide fumigation exercise which will cover Jos-Bukuru Metropolis and all the 17 Local Governments Areas of the State and directed a total lockdown, effective 12 midnight of Thursday 9th April 2020 to 11pm of Wednesday 15th April 2020.
In a open letter address to the Governor of Plateau state and a copy made available newsmen in Jos , Fom said Plateau people needs to know if the government has fully considered what the Corona Virus situation will portend and how it will affect the Plateau people especially the poorest of the poor amongst us?
He said “What other measures and plans does the Plateau State government have to ensure that if there is a real danger of disease and hunger in Plateau State that we are prepared to deal with the situation in a very transparent and forthright manner?”
“Is there a list of those who have enjoyed the twenty thousand naira palliative from the Federal Government? If yes I will like to know which of my constituents got the money if any.
The statement further reads that “MY TAKE: The pandemic stares at all of us in the face and we need to be united in purpose and also be our brothers keepers at this time.
I believe that monies that are used at this time should be judiciously used with due respect to the Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The Plateau people have great need of food at this time. While we say God forbid it, we must also be realistic and prepare.
We need to have an isolation/treatment center with equipment’s and medication to cater to any cases that may be confirmed in the coming days; accounts of funds used during this pandemic must be rendered to the citizenry periodically. We all need to be on the same page and by the grace of God we will beat this pandemic.
Mr. Governor Sir, we are happy with your confirmation of not being in any danger yourself after the scare of a few weeks back.
May God continue to grant you heath and wisdom, especially at this time, to effectively pilot the affairs of state with wisdom and the fear of God. I wish to use this medium to ask Plateau people to please adopt the social distancing and hand washing advisory of the World Health Organization (WHO). Long live Plateau State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The letter also reads that “Your Excellency it is with every sense of responsibility that I write you this letter during the times that the entire globe is afflicted by the Pandemic of COVID 19 popularly known as the Corona Virus.
Allow me to congratulate you on the action that your Government took to make sure that suspected cases were closely monitored and based on your last admission there are about eight individuals that are still persons of interest in the state and no confirm cases as of today. It gives me joy and an uneasy calm that of the 254 cases in Nigeria, we still do not have any known case in Plateau State.”
Two days ago we woke up to the information from your Government that directed that that there will be a lock down for seven days, ostensibly for the purpose of fumigating the entire state.
While on the face of it, this seems like a step in the right direction I am constraint to ask a few questions which I do believe the people of Plateau State will like to get answers to as well: Plateau people will like to know what areas will be subject to the fumigation.
It is necessary to know which parts will be affected directly so as to better prepare citizens who are going to be affected. What is going to be the medium of fumigation and what chemicals will be used in the exercise? Will the rains that has started becoming constant, not adversely affect the fumigation?
This need to fumigate must have been informed by a clear and present danger that the Plateau citizens must have been laboring under. We will like to know how eminent the threat was and how the proposed fumigation will address the danger posed to the populace.
How much has been approved for the exercise and who or which body made the approval? Was the Plateau State House of Assembly involved in the approval of a supplementary budget approval or did the money come another source that the Plateau people should be informed about?
GOVERNOR LALONG RECEIVES NEW OPERATION SAFE HAVEN COMMANDER, VOWS TO CONSOLIDATE PEACE ON THE PLATEAU
Governor Simon Bako Lalong has vowed to continue the consilidation of peace and harmony in Plateau State using dialogue, community Policing and intelligence as well as a proactive approach to dealing with criminals in the State. Governor Lalong stated this when he received the new Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major General C. C. Okonkwo at the Government House Jos as he takes over from Major General Augustine Agundu who has been redeployed to Abuja as Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre. Governor Lalong praised Gen. Agundu for putting in his best to the restoration of peace in Plateau State and wished him well. He welcomed Gen. Okonkwo who is coming back to Jos for the third time in his military career having started his service at the Rukuba Barracks in the 80s. Governor Lalong said “We welcome you to Plateau State with open arms and are happy to know that you are a son of the soil who has been here at different times. I assure you that Plateau State Government will work with you as we consolidate peace in the State. We have achieved a lot with General Agundu who came here in 2018 at the heat of crises and together we worked hard to restore substantial peace. Our Prayer is that at the end of your tour of duty, Plateau will achieve total peace and you will also be lifted like many people both the Armed Forces and other sectors who after serving in our State went to higher places”. To the out-going Commander OPSH, General Agundu, the Governor praised him for making a lot of sacrifices to enforce the fact that there is nobody above the law in Plateau State and there is no “no go areas” in the State. He also commended the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff for supporting the outgoing Commander to carry out his duties effectively including social responsibility projects by constructing schools in Mangu-Halle and Langai as part of the civil-military relations. Earlier, the outgoing Commander Gen. Agundu appreciated Governor Lalong for his doggednes and commitment to protection of lives and properties of the citizens of Plateau State which he said helped in making the environment conducive for officers and men of the OPSH to operate. The new Commander Gen. Okwonkwo promised to put in his best in continuing the legacy of successes recorded by his predecessor, pledging to give the Governor all support needed to consolidate peace in the State.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR Director of Press &Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 6th April 2020.
Malnutrition according to the World Health Organization is responsible for around 45% of global deaths among children under 5 years of age. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization also reports malnutrition as the largest contributor to diseases in the world.
During pandemics, low-income societies are more at risk. People tend to cope with the resulting resulting socioeconomic lockdown, by changing the quantity, quality and diversity of the food they consume.
A report by the Pulsus Group, explains that hunger, the leading cause of malnutrition, is closely related to poor health outcomes, including a higher risk of depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents, and chronic conditions. In addition, the report says nutrient deficiencies, such as iron deficiency, are known to impair learning and cause decreased productivity in school-age children, and maternal depressive disorders.
This is why government response to the coronavirus pandemic must include strategic welfare palliatives for all citizens, says Nigerian scholar, Chris Kwaja.
“If there is no balance between the lockdown (quarantine) and the livelihood of the people, a new form of crisis will certainly emerge – hunger and malnutrition, which will be more visible in children, women and people living with disabilities,” said Kwaja, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State.
Such “livelihood support”, when missing “provides sound basis for crimes and other vices and can temper with the frail peace that’s on ground,” Kwaja said in an interview.
Criminals, he added, will “always” leverage on the plights of the poor to cause havoc. “They can go as far as instigating the poor and use them as shields,” he said.
This is why a “peace building approach” that holistically analyzes public impact, in designing government policies and programmes, is necessary to preserve peace, says Kwaja.
“There are four issues we are dealing with here. Pandemics (health), governance, livelihood and Peace. Government should adopt a Peace building approach to engaging the citizens in order to ensure a wholesome support.
“The Peace building approach is one in which what ever decision government is taking, the utmost attention will be giving to how such a decision will affect the citizens.
“Logistics for the security agents on duty is important. Logistics for the medical personnel as first respondents is equally important,” said Kwaja who is also Advisor in United States Institute for Peace (USIP).
Nigeria currently faces high cases of terrorism in the Northeast, armed banditry in Northwest, farner-herder conflicts in North Central and militancy in the South-South region. There have also been separatist movements in the Southeast and kidnapping in the Southwest.
The conflicts have created millions of social and economic displacements leading to high poverty in the country. The coronavirus pandemic might yet cause another rise in the already deteriorating economic standards in the country, unless careful, strategic and decisive steps are taken.
In the light of recent killings Tuesday & Wednesday 31st March and 1st April by killer bandits where 10 persons at Hukke and Kyle Borough villages of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa LGA were killed, Alfred Dapal condems the attacks in the strongest possible terms and calls for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. In a strongly worded statement made available to journalists in Jos, Mr. Dapal expresses sadness and calls for justice. In the same token, he sympathizes with the immediate families that lost loved ones, the two communities and the entire people of Bassa Local Government. He further noted that it was out of place to conspire against humanity and take lives in that horrible manner. He used the opportunity to call for the holistic review of security strategies with a view to fine-tuning new policies and strategies in order to forestall future occurrences.
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State on Monday ordered a total shut down of activities of the state effective 12 midnight of Thursday 9th April 2020 to 11pm Wednesday 15th April 2020 for fumigation
Addressing newsmen in Jos ,Gov Lalong said the state government has concluded plans to carry out a state wide fumigation exercise which would cover Jos – Bukuru Metropolis and all the 17 local governments area of the state .
He said so far the state have recorded 48 suspected cases of covid 19 which were investigated and all found negative Total discharge from self isolation are 25 while 8 are still under surveillance , our surveillance team have already put in place will continue to be vigilant in identifying cases . He said from next week , covid 19 test would be conducted in the state.
Below is the speech;
TALKING POINTS FOR PLATEAU STATE GOVERNOR, HIS EXCELLENCY RT. HON. SIMON BAKO LALONG AT A MEDIA BRIEFING ON THE PROGRESS REPORT ON THE FIGHT AGAINST THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC (COVID-19) 6TH APRIL 2020. PROTOCOLS 1. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the government constituted a monitoring and enforcement task force under my Chairmanship. The Task Force has the following sub-committees: i. Awareness and advocacy ii. Medical Facility Management and Health Services iii. Enforcement iv. Border Management and Traffic v. Secretariat and Logistics 2. A situation room was also created under the Secretariat and Logistics Committee to collate information and monitor activities of the various committees and the Local Governments. 3. These five sub-committees were replicated in each of the 17 Local Government Areas with the Executive Chairmen heading the Central Committees. 4. The Covid-19 Taskforce under my Chairmanship meets every day to receive briefs, analyse and review strategies of the entire response. 5. We had set ground rules for general observation e.g. sanitation and personal hygiene; crowd control of not more than 50 people; maintaining of social distance of 2 metres and 5 metres apart for traders selling food items. 6. I also undertook a facility tour of Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos University Teaching Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital to assess the state of medical facilities and capacity to respond to Covid-19 pandemic. 7. After receiving complaints on insufficient respirators and other essentials, I immediately directed the purchase of some ventilators, which are being received at the moment. 8. We also purchased Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Monitors, Infrared Thermometers, Oxygen, Concentrators and other essential drugs. We are looking inwards to improve what we have on ground. 9. In particular, one of our sons who has continued to make in-roads in innovation, Engr. Jerry Mallo has been engaged to produce ventilators while the duo of Engineers Nura Jibrin and William Gyang have resuscitated broken down ventilators at JUTH. We are grateful to them. 10. We are also taking steps to establish more Covid-19 Isolation Centres in Pankshin and Shendam to cover the other Senatorial districts in the State. 11. In line with the Federal Government Directive, we propose to establish a 300-bed Treatment Centre to be located at the Riyom General Hospital and the State NYSC Camp. 12. The State Emergency Operation Centre at the Epidemiology Centre Jos, was activated and is now functional. 13. Information and Sensitization Committee had embarked on dialogue and interface with Local Government Chairmen, Traditional, Religious and Community leaders to get them on board in the fight against the disease. 14. In the course of implementation, all markets were closed except those selling food items, pharmaceuticals and other essential items. We also put a ban on all anniversaries and cultural festivals. 15. Vehicles were also restricted to carry 1, 4 and 6 passengers (i.e. Keke Napep, Cars and Buses) respectively. 16. So far, we have recorded 48 suspected cases which were investigated and all found negative. Total discharge from self-isolation are 25 while 8 are still under surveillance. Our surveillance team already in place will continue to be vigilant in identifying cases. 17. We had established checkpoints at entry points to the State to enable health officials conduct preliminary screening of commuters. 18. Based on further developments, we announced the closure of all border routes to the State, which took effect from 29th March 2020 to further strengthen the capacity of our health officials to concentrate on the situation within the State. 19. Monitoring and Enforcement is still going on and we are recording substantial compliance. However, the few cases of disregard for the order are being handled by the security agencies. 20. With all these, Government has concluded plans to carry out a State-wide fumigation exercise which will cover Jos-Bukuru Metropolis and all the 17 Local Governments Areas of the State. 21. To this effect, I am directing a total lockdown, effective 12 midnight of Thursday 9th April 2020 to 11pm of Wednesday 15th April 2020. 22. During this period, there will be no movement of any kind except for staff on essential duty. These include: Security Agencies; Medical and Health workers; Power and Energy Staff; Fire Service; Media; Telecom Operators; Fuel Tankers. 23. At this point, let me express our deep appreciation to Corporate organisations and individuals that have so far contributed to the Plateau Covid-19 Endowment Fund both in cash and in kind. 24. We thank Grand Cereals, NASCO Group of Companies; Zuma Steel West Africa; Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association; ASUU University of Jos Branch; Senator Hezekiah Dimka; Mees Palace; Godiya Hotel Heipang; Bar. Pius Akubo (SAN) and the UBA for their various contributions. 25. In all the operations so far, a number of challenges have arisen which we are working hard to address in conjunction with key partners including the Federal Government. 26. Some of the challenges include lack of at least a Diagnostic Centre despite the State having Grade 3-4 Diagnostic Centres. We are liaising with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that Plateau State to get a centre soon. 27. We need more Personal Protective Equipment, which we hope to also complement by producing locally. 28. Because of the enormity of the challenge we are facing, the State is liaising with the Federal Government with a view to implementing palliatives to deal with the pandemic. 29. As I ask our citizens to continue cooperating with us in these difficult times, I wish to commend them for their patience and resilience. Working together, we can overcome this monster that is ravaging the world. 30. I also wish to commend citizens who are using the Covid-19 Plateau Platform in reporting incidences directly to the situation room, which has enabled Government to take timely action. 31. The media has also played supportive role and we appreciate your efforts.
32. Thank you.
Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Simon Bako Lalong KSGG Executive Governor, Plateau State 6th A pril 2020.
MiddleBelt Reporters 