Plateau State Deputy Speaker; Member Representing Dengi State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmong today distributes palliatives to several households in Dengi, this was targeted to ease their suffering under the state lock down as impose by the state government.
The Hon member distributed food items, cash donations across every nuke and cranies of Dengi to be shared to widows and vulnerables especially those that are hitch during the lock down in fending for the families’ daily bread. Other personal hygiene equipments distributed are Hand Sanitizers, Face Masks, Liquid Soaps and Water basins.
It could be recall that Rt Hon Yipmong had earlier last Friday embarked on Covid19 sensitisation last with the sole purpose of creating awareness on the need for his constituents to adhere to the medical guidelines and government directive. He later reiterated and urged the security operative and all concerned authorities to live up to the responsibility of ensuring total compliance among the citizens as this is the only way to limit the spread of the pandemic.
The distribution was orderly and in strict observance of the social distancing measure in order to avoid violation of the the restrictions order. While presenting the items to leaders at various levels within the Constituency such as the District heads, Chairmen of different Chambers, Motor parks leaders among others who recieved these items to ensure households to households delivery as People are not allowed to go out of their respective homes. The beneficiaries appreciated Rt. Hon. Yipmong for his effort, describing him as a man who always come to their rescue, they louded him for been in frontline especially when ever the constituents are in dire needs.
Rt Hon Yipmong assures his constituents of loyalty and continuous support in alleviating their pains and support to fight the deadly virus. He further enjoined them to be law abiding, Prayerful so that business can go back to normal in the state and Nigeria at large.
CHIBOK GIRLS WILL NEVER, EVER BE FORGOTTEN, PRESIDENT BUHARI ASSURES
President Muhammadu Buhari extends his good wishes to the people of Chibok, Borno State, as they hold prayers and thanksgiving services to mark the sixth anniversary of the kidnapping of their daughters by Boko Haram terrorist group.
President Buhari regrets that the current Covid-19 pandemic, with restrictions on movement, makes it impossible for any government delegation to be with them during the event.
He, however, assures the people of Chibok that he is still mindful of their welfare and their concerns, especially regarding our daughters who are still missing.
On the specific issue of the freedom for the remaining girls held by the terrorists, the President notes the ongoing efforts on two fronts:
The armed forces of the country who are on general operations in the entire region continue in their hope that they would encounter these girls, as they did thousands of other hostages, rescue and bring them back home.
The nation’s security and intelligence community, in whom a lot of hope, is reposed in rescuing the abducted girls is making a lot of efforts using backroom channels to get them back to their families. These are processes, formal and informal that involves different groups with links to the terrorists, and are very tedious and uneasy as is seen in different parts of the world.
“The issue of the Chibok girls is not a forgotten issue. We cannot go to sleep over this matter. We are optimistic that ongoing efforts will yield something positive,” President Buhari assured.
Unfortunately, an ongoing crisis within the Boko Haram leadership, which has led to factions and breakaway groups, brought a number of unforeseen challenges to the process of negotiating with the militants for the young women’s release.
In the past few years, our armed forces have recorded huge successes in the battle against Boko Haram, but they have also been careful to ensure that as few civilian lives as possible were lost in the process. We would rather the young women still in captivity were freed alive.
President Buhari also reflected on the progress being made by the freed ‘Chibok girls’, who were sponsored by his administration to study at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, saying that he is proud of what they are doing.
He encourages them to remain focused on their studies and on this unique opportunity that has been given to them by God, following their horrific time in captivity.
President Buhari also commends Yakubu Nkeki, Lawan Zannah and Yana Galang, the executive officials of the Association of the Parents of the Abducted Girls from Chibok, on their steadfast efforts to advocate for the welfare of the parents, the freed women, and those still in captivity.
Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) April 13, 2020
NORTHERN GOVERNORS MEET OVER COVID-19; PUSH FOR TESTING CENTRES AND COORDINATED RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
The Northern States Governor’s Forum on Monday 13th April 2020 met to discuss issues relating to Covid-19 Pandemic and how it is affecting the region with a view to sharing experience and coming up with a coordinated response. The meeting, which was conducted via teleconference and Chaired by the Forum’s Chairman, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State, discussed various issues including experience sharing on measures adopted by individual States to deal with the disease. After receiving reports from various States, the Forum resolved to strengthen preventive measures against the pandemic through enhanced border controls and surveillance as well as greater collaboration to ensure that there is synergy among them in movement restriction. They noted that so far, the lockdown in some States in the region has had varying levels of success, but also raised concerns that enforcing cross-border movements remains a challenge as some of the cases recorded in some States were imported from outside despite the closure of borders by States. They agreed that at the moment, each State would adopt the measure suitable to its setting because total lockdown of the region will come at a very high cost since most of its citizens are farmers who need to go to farms since the rains have started. Another issue discussed by the Northern Governors was the issue of palliatives from the Federal Government where they regretted that so far, no State in the region has received a dime as special allocation despite the fact that some of them have recorded cases while others are making frantic efforts to prevent any outbreak as well as prepare against any eventuality. This they observed has eaten deep into the pockets of the States as they have spent a lot of money already and may not be able to sustain this for a long time. Since “prevention is better than cure”, they canvassed that the Federal Government grants them some special funds just as it has done to other States. They mandated their Chairman to liaise with the Federal Government through the Minister of Finance, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and the Private Sector donor basket in order to benefit from available palliatives and donations. As for testing centres, the Governors lamented that the region has no testing centres, which is very disturbing. They resolved to again liaise with the Federal Government to ensure that each State at least gets one testing centre while highly populated ones get two. The Governors also discussed the economic impact of Covid-19 on the region and decided that they needed to take a wholistic look at the economic prospects of the region with a view to repositioning it for less reliance on Federal Allocation and to prepare for the future by diversifying to areas of comparative advantage such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and human capital development. They consequently set up a 7-man Committee chaired by Governor of Kebbi State Atiku Abubakar Bagudu to fashion out the way forward. Other members are Governors of Kaduna, Sokoto, Kwara, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Gombe and Nasarawa State. The Northern Governors also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the measures taken so far to deal with the pandemic and promised to do their part in working with the Federal Government to overcome the disease. They also commended the citizens of the region for supporting various directives of the State Governments in dealing with the situation, asking them to endure the situation, as it is a global emergency. The meeting of the Governors was earlier preceded by the meeting of Secretaries to Governments of the 19 Northern State, which was presided over by the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Prof. Danladi Abok Atu.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR Director, Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State & Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum. 13th April 2020.
ADDRESS BY H.E. MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE EXTENSION OF COVID- 19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN AT THE STATE HOUSE, ABUJA MONDAY, 13TH APRIL, 2020
1. Fellow Nigerians
2. In my address on Sunday, 29th March, 2020, I asked the residents of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory to stay at home for an initial period of fourteen days starting from Monday, 30th March 2020.
3. Many State Governments also introduced similar restrictions.
4. As your democratically elected leaders, we made this very difficult decision knowing fully well it will severely disrupt your livelihoods and bring undue hardship to you, your loved ones and your communities.
5. However, such sacrifices are needed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our country. They were necessary to save lives.
6. Our objective was, and still remains, to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and to provide space, time and resources for an aggressive and collective action.
7. The level of compliance to the COVID-19 guidelines issued has been generally good across the country. I wish to thank you all most sincerely for the great sacrifice you are making for each other at this critical time.
8. I will take this opportunity to recognise the massive support from our traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) during this pandemic.
9. I also acknowledge the support and contributions received from public spirited individuals, the business community and our international partners and friends.
10. I must also thank the media houses, celebrities and other public figures for the great work they are doing in sensitizing our citizens on hygienic practices, social distancing and issues associated with social gatherings.
11. As a result of the overwhelming support and cooperation received, we were able to achieve a lot during these 14 days of initial lockdown.
12. We implemented comprehensive public health measures that intensified our case identification, testing, isolation and contact tracing capabilities.
13. To date, we have identified 92% of all identified contacts while doubling the number of testing laboratories in the country and raising our testing capacity to 1,500 tests per day.
14. We also trained over 7,000 Healthcare workers on infection prevention and control while deploying NCDC teams to 19 states of the federation.
15. Lagos and Abuja today have the capacity to admit some 1,000 patients each across several treatment centres.
16. Many State Governments have also made provisions for isolation wards and treatment centres. We will also build similar centers near our airports and land borders.
17. Using our resources and those provided through donations, we will adequately equip and man these centres in the coming weeks. Already, health care workers across all the treatment centers have been provided with the personal protective equipment that they need to safely carry out the care they provide.
18. Our hope and prayers are that we do not have to use all these centres. But we will be ready for all eventualities.
19. At this point, I must recognise the incredible work being done by our healthcare workers and volunteers across the country especially in frontline areas of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
20. You are our heroes and as a nation, we will forever remain grateful for your sacrifice during this very difficult time. More measures to motivate our health care workers are being introduced which we will announce in the coming weeks.
21. As a nation, we are on the right track to win the fight against COVID-19.
22. However, I remain concerned about the increase in number of confirmed cases and deaths being reported across the world and in Nigeria specifically.
23. On 30th March 2020, when we started our lockdown in conforming with medical and scientific advice, the total number of confirmed cases across the world was over 780,000.
24. Yesterday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally was over one million, eight hundred and fifty thousand. This figure is more than double in two weeks!
25. In the last fourteen days alone, over 70,000 people have died due to this disease.
26. In the same period, we have seen the health system of even the most developed nations being overwhelmed by this virus.
27. Here in Nigeria, we had 131 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 12 States on 30th March 2020. We had two fatalities then.
28. This morning, Nigeria had 323 confirmed cases in twenty States. Unfortunately we now have ten fatalities. Lagos State remains the center and accounts for 54% of the confirmed cases in Nigeria. When combined with the FCT, the two locations represent over 71% of the confirmed cases in Nigeria.
29. Most of our efforts will continue to focus in these two locations.
30. Majority of the confirmed cases in Lagos and the FCT are individuals with recent international travel history or those that came into contact with returnees from international trips.
31. By closing our airports and land borders and putting strict conditions for seaport activities, we have reduced the impact of external factors on our country. However, the increase in the number of States with positive cases is alarming.
32. The National Centre for Disease Control has informed me that, a large proportion of new infections are now occurring in our communities, through person-to-person contacts. So we must pay attention to the danger of close contact between person to person.
33. At this point, I will remind all Nigerians to continue to take responsibility for the recommended measures to prevent transmission, including maintaining physical distancing, good personal hygiene and staying at home.
34. In addition, I have signed the Quarantine Order in this regard and additional regulations to provide clarity in respect of the control measures for the COVID-19 pandemic which will be released soon.
35. The public health response to COVID-19 is built on our ability to detect, test and admit cases as well as trace all their contacts. While I note some appreciable progress, we can achieve a lot more.
36. Today, the cessation of movement, physical distancing measures and the prohibition of mass gatherings remain the most efficient and effective way of reducing the transmission of the virus. By sustaining these measures, combined with extensive testing and contact tracing, we can take control and limit the spread of the disease.
37. Our approach to the virus remains in 2 steps – First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners.
38. With this in mind and having carefully considered the briefings and Report from the Presidential Task Force and the various options offered, it has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the FCT for another 14 days effective from 11:59 pm on Monday, 13th of April, 2020. I am therefore once again asking you all to work with Government in this fight.
39. This is not a joke. It is a matter of life and death. Mosques in Makkah and Madina have been closed. The Pope celebrated Mass on an empty St. Peter’s Square. The famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris held Easter Mass with less than 10 people. India, Italy and France are in complete lockdown. Other countries are in the process of following suit. We can not be lax.
40. The previously issued guidelines on exempted services shall remain.
41. This is a difficult decision to take, but I am convinced that this is the right decision. The evidence is clear.
42. The repercussions of any premature end to the lockdown action are unimaginable.
43. We must not lose the gains achieved thus far. We must not allow a rapid increase in community transmission. We must endure a little longer.
44. I will therefore take this opportunity to urge you all to notify the relevant authorities if you or your loved ones develop any symptoms. I will also ask our health care professionals to redouble their efforts to identify all suspected cases, bring them into care and prevent transmission to others.
45. No country can afford the full impact of a sustained restriction of movement on its economy. I am fully aware of the great difficulties experienced especially by those who earn a daily wage such as traders, dayworkers, artisans and manual workers.
46. For this group, their sustenance depends on their ability to go out. Their livelihoods depend on them mingling with others and about seeking work. But despite these realities we must not change the restrictions.
47. In the past two weeks, we announced palliative measures such as food distribution, cash transfers and loans repayment waivers to ease the pains of our restrictive policies during this difficult time. These palliatives will be sustained.
48. I have also directed that the current social register be expanded from 2.6 million households to 3.6 million households in the next two weeks. This means we will support an additional one million homes with our social investment programs. A technical committee is working on this and will submit a report to me by the end of this week.
49. The Security Agencies have risen to the challenges posed by this unprecedented situation with gallantry and I commend them. I urge them to continue to maintain utmost vigilance, firmness as well as restraint in enforcing the restriction orders while not neglecting statutory security responsibilities.
50. Fellow Nigerians, follow the instructions on social distancing. The irresponsibility of the few can lead to the death of the many. Your freedom ends where other people’s rights begin.
51. The response of our State Governors has been particularly impressive, especially in aligning their policies and actions to those of the Federal Government.
52. In the coming weeks, I want to assure you that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force, will do whatever it takes to support you in this very difficult period. I have no doubt that, by working together and carefully following the rules, we shall get over this pandemic.
53. I must also thank the Legislative arm of Government for all its support and donations in this very difficult period. This collaboration is critical to the short and long-term success of all the measures that we have instituted in response to the pandemic.
54. As a result of this pandemic, the world as we know it has changed. The way we interact with each other, conduct our businesses and trade, travel, educate our children and earn our livelihoods will be different.
55. To ensure our economy adapts to this new reality, I am directing the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Communication and Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Transportation, Aviation, Interior, Health, Works and Housing, Labour and Employment and Education to jointly develop a comprehensive policy for a “Nigerian economy functioning with COVID-19”.
56. The Ministers will be supported by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and Economic Sustainability Committee in executing this mandate.
57. I am also directing the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Security Adviser, the Vice Chairman, National Food Security Council and the Chairman, Presidential Fertiliser Initiative to work with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to ensure the impact of this pandemic on our 2020 farming season is minimized.
58. Finally, I want to thank the members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for all their hard work so far. Indeed, the patriotism shown in your work is exemplary and highly commendable.
59. Fellow Nigerians, I have no doubt that by working together and carefully following the rules, we shall get over this pandemic and emerge stronger in the end.
60. I thank you all for listening and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari will address Nigerians by 7pm on Monday.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, announced this in a statement hours before President Buhari is scheduled to address Nigerians.
“Television, radio and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the broadcast,” he said.
The Distinguished Senator representing the good people of Plateau Central Senatorial District, Nde Hezekiah Dimka received with dismay the sad incident of a communal clash on land in Gwamlar Ward of Kanam LGA resulting into the injury of two persons.
He also condemned in strongest term the killing of two persons and an injury to a woman yesterday by unknown gunmen in Nasira area of Gagdi Ward in Kanam LGA.
The Senator called on the waring clans to sheathe their swords and embrace peace which the people of Kanam LGA are known for on the Plateau.
He further commended the Executive Chairman of Kanam LGA for demonstrating purposeful leadership in addressing the crisis by ensuring the prompt arrest of the clans heads and some youth involved in the crisis. This kind of prompt measures would definitely help in restoring peace in the communities.
The Senator noted with appreciation the role of the Kanam Traditional Council under the able leadership of the Emir of Kanam in response to the land dispute in Gwamlar as worthy of Commendation.
On the unknown gunmen at large, he called on the security to intensify effort toward apprehension and subsequent prosecution of the killers wherever they may be hiding. Communities along the area should cooperate with security operatives in their effort to apprehend the culprits.
The Senator directed all his aides in Kanam LGA to immediately ascertain the condition of the victims of the two incidents with the view of providing support to the affected and bereaved families.
He therefore appealed to the people of Kanam LGA to do everything possible to protect the culture of peace and mutual coexistence the area is known for over ages.
Mr. ND Shehu Kanam Senior Legislative Aide to Distinguished Senator Hezekiah. A. Dimka of Plateau Central District.
A total lockdown has been imposed in Borno by the state government which shut its borders to non-essential movements in a bid to contain influx of COVID-19. The Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Maiduguri. Kadafur said that the order would take effect from from Monday, April 13, by 6 a.m, adding that movement in and out of the state would be completely restricted. “The border between Borno and Yobe States would be shut down completely, only persons on essential duties and vehicles conveying food items, petrol, drugs and other essential commodities would be allowed into the state. “This painstaking decision became imperative as part of the measures to prevent spread of the virus into our dear state, following discoveries of some suspected cases in some northern states,” Kadafur said. The deputy governor, therefore, warned the general public to comply, pending the outcome of further directives. Kadafur said that the state government regretted any inconvenience the decision would cause the general public. He said that the state government had adopted the proactive measure to protect its citizens in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic into the state.
Following the breakdown of law and order arising from a land dispute between the Bakamit and Gyam local clans in Gwamlar Ward of Kanam Local Government, the executive Chairman of the council Hon Wokdung Adamu Abbas has ordered for the immediate removal, arrest and detention of the two Village Heads of the above mentioned clans.
Still on the land dispute, the Chairman also announces the immediate suspension of the supervisory councillor for Agriculture for allegedly playing a vital role in aiding to the circumstances that led to the land dispute in the area.
Hon Wokdung had since constituted an investigative panel to unravel the circumstances and remote causes of land dispute that led to brutal attacks between the two communities.
The Chairman assured the two clans that his administration will not tolerate any act of lawlessness where people would take arms against their fellow human in the guise of seeking justice.
The Chairman had since directed the security agencies to PUT ON HOLD all activities on the land till further notice.
By this directives, no person or group of persons is allowed to be sighted carrying out any business whatsoever on the land in question.
Bashir Auta. Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman ( Media and Publicity), Kanam Local Government Council. (12th April, 2020).
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