Nigeria: COVID-19 Claims 11 Lives On Friday

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed that 11 patients died in Nigeria from coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday.

The NCDC, which made this known via its verified website on Saturday morning, said the country’s fatality toll from the pandemic now stood at 2,211.

The agency added that the country logged 636 additional infections on Friday, 117 fewer than the 753 cases recorded on Thursday. COVID-19 cumulative cases now stand at 181,297.

According to the NCDC, the additional 636 infections were confirmed in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Lagos State, the epicentre of the COVID-19 in Nigeria, recorded the lion share on Friday with 291 cases, followed by Rivers with 117 cases.

Taraba State registered 58;  Akwa Ibom 54; Kwara 28; Ekiti and  Ogun recorded 14 infections each.

The FCT recorded 13 new cases; Oyo State 11; Edo 9; Osun 6;  Bayelsa 5; Delta and Gombe 4 each; Abia and Plateau 3 each and Sokoto State 1.

The agency points out that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 2 is coordinating the national response activities.

The NCDC said that since the outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria in February 2020, it had tested more than 2,589,130, samples for the disease.

It noted that 12,366 cases were still active in the country with many being managed at accredited isolation centres while others were being managed at home.

It disclosed that a total of 149 patients recovered from the disease and were discharged from various isolation centres on Friday.

The NCDC put the total recoveries nationwide since the onset of the pandemic at 166,709. (NAN)

35 Test Positive For COVID-19 At Ogun NYSC Camp

No fewer than 35 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Sagamu, Ogun State.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the upsurge of the third wave of COVID-19.

About 109 prospective corps members were diagnosed with COVID-19 across NYSC orientation camps nationwide.

On Thursday, the Commissioner said some of those who tested positive have been confined to the isolation centers, while others are on home management.

“The number of NYSC members that have tested positive is 35. Some are on home management, while some are at the isolation center,” she said.

Rising Cases In Ogun

Coker expressed concerns that Ogun has recorded a rise in cases since the beginning of August, with at least 7 to 16 cases per day.

She said, “Ogun State has continued to record a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, with a 6 fold increase in admissions into the isolation centre compared to what was recorded 2 months earlier.

“In the month of June 2021, there were only two cases giving a positivity rate of 0.04% while the month of July had a sharp rise of 96 cases with positivity rate of 7.4%.

“The first 3 days in the month of August has also seen a rise in positivity rate of 14.6%. Isolation WARD at OOUTH which had only 2 admissions in June currently has 12 persons on admission whilst isolation ward at Ikenne has 35 admissions with 71 on home management.

“Death rate had remained relatively static at 50 till July 15 after which we recorded 7 deaths in the last two weeks.

“In the last one week, there has been a sharp rise in new cases from 7 per day to 16 per day.”

‘Mortalities In The Unvaccinated’

The Commissioner also lamented that only small fraction of the state’s population had been vaccinated.

She told citizens to embrace vaccination, saying “Our observation so far is that all mortalities are in the unvaccinated.”

Coker said “His excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun would like to thank every one for making the phase one COVID-19 vaccination exercise a huge success with a total of 126,631 vaccinated for the first dose which translated to 136% of our target population for the Phase 1 exercise while 57,453 were vaccinated for the second dose.

“The foregoing figures represent a very small fraction of our population in Ogun State and to achieve herd immunity in the State we must vaccinate at least 70% of the population.

“In order to achieve the above another opportunity has come with the commencement the 2nd phase of the vaccination of the vaccination exercise across the twenty LGAs this month.

“Let me also seize this opportunity to encourage everyone 18 and above that is yet to be vaccinated to present themselves in the next round of vaccination exercise at the nearest vaccination centres.

“Our observation so far is that all mortalities are in the unvaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and offers protection against the disease.
Please continue to wear your mask properly, wash your hands frequently, observe physical distancing and where possible, avoid a crowd.”

COVID-19 won’t be last pandemic – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that COVID-19 might not be the last pandemic the world would witness.

WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, stated this at the ninth General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria held in Port Harcourt.

Mulombo noted that Coronavirus has provided Nigeria and the global community an opportunity to strengthen immunisation, build capacity of health workers and strengthen disease surveillance.

“COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a great lesson on preparedness.

“It is not yet over. It may not likely be the last pandemic. Therefore, we must sustain the tempo,” Mulombo said.

As at Monday morning, Nigeria has 174,315 confirmed cases and had recorded 2,149 deaths, amid fear of a third wave of COVID-19.

Rachel Oniga, Nollywood actress is dead

Veteran Nollywood actress, Rachel Oniga has died at the age of 64.

She passed away on Friday, July 30, 2021, from COVID-19 complications.

Until her death, Oniga was one of the most popular and influential actors in Nollywood.

Originally from Eku in Delta State, she was born on 23 May, 1957, in Ebute Metta, Lagos State.

Oniga made her Nollywood debut in the 1996 hit movie ‘Onome’ and went on to star in several big productions including ‘Sango’ and Wale Adenuga’s TV series, ‘Super story.’

The divorcee is survived by three children and several grandchildren.

Why we didn’t approve herbal medicine for COVID-19 treatment —NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has given reasons why it has not approved any herbal medicine for the treatment of COVID-19.

This is contained in a statement signed by the agency resident Media Consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, and issued to newsmen on Sunday, in Abuja.

The statement quoted Prof Moji Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General, as saying that “no single drug has been found yet to cure COVID -19.”

Adeyeye also warned Nigerians against excessive consumption of onions and garlic with a view to curing COVID-19, saying, ‘’If you eat too much your breath will be smelling and nobody will want to stay by you.”

She said that medicinal products available now could only help ease symptoms and up the odds of survival.

She warned Nigerian researchers and other herbal medicine practitioners to desist from parading unverified medicine for the virus.

She said that any product without NAFDAC approval for the cure of COVID-19 is null and void, adding that such an act was a violation of the national regulatory authorities and a breach of protocols.

She admitted that onions or garlic or any of the natural fruits that we take have antioxidants and nutrients that can help us feel better, adding that people might have been using it and they get better.

“If it is not documented, it cannot be recognised by NAFDAC for COVID – 19. They work on our cells to keep people healthier, but not to cure COVID – 19. They help our body to function better. There is no cure for COVID -19 yet,” she said.

She added that they may boost the immunity and the person may not be easily susceptible to infection, adding that ‘’even with that, you still have to protect yourself.

“If you eat garlic and onion and you don’t use face mask, you will get COVID -19. If you are in a bad environment; If you don’t wash your hands, you will get COVID -19.

“Everything has to be put together. University of Jos said that there was herbal medicine, whether it is tea or whatever, that can cure COVID-19, they linked it with the treatment of COVID -19, they did the packaging.

‘’We did a letter to warn them that they cannot claim something unless it has gone through our listing process. They were trying to sell it to their staff. That is violation of our own regulatory policies.

“Nobody should say that this one can cure this or that without going through NAFDAC listing process, the research into herbal medicine by the academia is normal.

‘’It is now for the academia to also recognise the national regulatory authority established to safeguard the safety of the Nigerian populace, by ensuring that the product that they are working on has to go through NAFDAC,” Adeyeye said.

According to her, there have been one or two cases where the University of Jos product was being encouraged to be used by people without going through NAFDAC.

She said that the university was supposed to go through the national regulatory authority and pave the way for NAFDAC to declare it safe for consumption.

The DG insisted that her agency must approve the clinical trial protocol, stressing that ‘’If they don’t do that but go ahead to market and sell their product, such act would be a violation of regulatory procedures.

According to her, some people might have been using it and they got better, but without being approved scientifically and documented, we may not be able to guarantee its safety for human consumption.

She recalled that NAFDAC set up a herbal medicine product committee in March 2019 before the pandemic broke out, to advance research in herbal medicine.

Adeyeye said that the goal for such idea was to make sure that the herbalist and the researcher were collaborating, so that whatever the herbalist knows from ancestral history that the research will back it up.

She explained further that collaboration with researcher would enable such herbal medicine to be advanced and to be listed by NAFDAC, if found safe for consumption.

According to her, during the pandemic there were lots of assertions that there were herbal medicines, that could be used to treat symptoms of COVID -19, pointing out that there was no single medicine that has been identified yet.

“But there are herbal medicines that could alleviate symptoms of COVID -19. However, NAFDAC has not granted registration of approval for any medicine for that.

“NAFDAC approves such medicines for listing, it means that it’s been tested and was deemed safe to use. NAFDAC cannot say herbal medicine can treat COVID -19, until clinical trial is done.

“Right now, there is no single herbal medicine that has gone through full clinical trial the way clinical trial is supposed to be done,” she said.

According to her, to do official clinical trial, you must write a protocol, you must pass it through the National Health Research Ethical Committee (NHREC), and you must pass it through NAFDAC.”

She said that the agency has not given any pass mark as regards COVID-19 herbal medicine, but that the agency has approved some herbal medicines that they claim can alleviate some of the symptoms of COVID -19.

COVID-19 vaccine production: WHO screens NAFDAC

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Moji Adeyeye, has said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is screening the agency for a permit to produce COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria.

Adeyeye disclosed this at the stakeholders’ interactive session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations in Abuja yesterday.

Represented by Mr Fori Tatama, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Adeyeye assured that health, safety and environment-based issues were taken seriously by NAFDAC.

She said, “The WHO is carrying out an audit of NAFDAC, which will enable the country to start manufacturing vaccines; the programme started on Monday and will last till Friday.”

During the session, the Ministry of Labour and Employment advised the lawmakers to speed up actions on the Operational Safety and Health Bill.

Mrs Lauretta Adogu, the Director, Department of Occupational Safety and Health, vowed to ensure proper regulation of safety in workplaces.

COVID-19 killed 30 ASUU members- ASUU President

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, on Friday, said COVID-19 killed 30 of his members.

Ogunyemi stated this while delivering his valedictory speech at the 21 National Delegates conference of the union held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

He said, “In line with the provisions of our Constitution, we are here to review our activities in the last three years with a view to charting a new course at this critical juncture of our national life.

“As a point of departure, we must place on record that COVID-19 did not spare our campuses. Many of our infected members had had to combat the COVID attack with resources from colleagues and other people of goodwill because their salaries and emoluments, as well as the union’s check-off deductions, were withheld by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation over the rejection of the discredited Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System

“Our other comrades suffered the same fate in the hands of overzealous State University Vice-Chancellors and Visitors. As a matter of fact, we lost at least 30.

“In the last three years, ASUU has enjoyed tremendous goodwill from quarters too numerous to mention.

Ogunyemi’s successor is expected to emerge on Sunday at the Awka conference.

The conference’s lecture titled, “State Terrorism and Nigeria’s Development,” which was delivered by Prof Akin Oyebode of Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, summed that Nigeria was at a crossroad “caught in the vortex of variable contradictions, hopelessness and self-doubt.

The Vice UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof Charles Esimone, described ASUU as the sole and conscience of the Nigerian University system.

FCT Minister Bans Prayers On Eid Grounds

As part of efforts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello, has banned eid prayers at the National Eid prayer ground along the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway.

According to a statement by the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, the decision was arrived at a meeting of the FCTA and a delegation from the FCT League of Imams Initiative.

Ogunleye said the delegation led by its Chairman, Imam (Dr) Tajudeen M.B Adigun, met Bello to discuss the modalities for holding eid prayers for the upcoming Eid el-Fitr celebrations.

“All worshippers are enjoined to hold eid prayers outdoors within the premises of their neighborhood Juma’at mosques. Indoor worship are to be limited to less than 50% of installed capacity.

“Religious authorities are advised to regulate the flow of people entering and exiting places of worship. All non-pharmaceutical intervention protocols of facial coverings, physical distancing and hand washing are to be observed

“All other eid celebrations and activities should be confined to homes as all public parks, recreation and entertainment centres are to be closed,” the statement read.

The minister thanked the religious leaders for their cooperation in the battle against COVID-19, stressing that having gone through a first wave of the pandemic and a second wave that caused more fatalities, it was imperative to prevent a possible third wave as is being witnessed in some countries across the world.

“Consequently, based on presentations made by officials of the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA and the Implementation Guidelines for Phased Restriction of Movement issued by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 on Monday. 10th May 2021, we came up with the guidelines,” Bello said in the statement.

Speaking on behalf of the League,  Adigun said “In Islam, you listen to experts, those who are specialists and those who have actually discussed with us are experts in the field of medical sciences. In Islam, you also abide with the commands of leadership.

“Based on this and what we are convinced of, we urge Muslim Ummah to also respect this stand of the Administration of the FCT by observing our Eid prayers within our localities.”

COVID-19: FG returns curfew, restriction on mass gatherings

The Federal Government has re-introduced a nationwide 12am to 4am curfew as part of efforts to curtail further spread of COVID-19.

The National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed, disclosed this at a press briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in Abuja.

Mohammed said the curfew would take effect from midnight on Monday, May 10.

COVID-19 Opened Up Talents Of Nigerian Scientists – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the potentials, talents and the creativity of the nation’s scientists.

In a speech delivered at a public forum organized by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, the president commended Nigerian engineers for the diversity of their experience and competence.

Buhari, who was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, commended the academy and its membership.

According to him, “I think the pandemic has truly opened up the immense talents and creativity of Nigerian scientists and engineers and if the current momentum is supported, the next few years could be incredibly exciting.”

“We are proud of Nigerian Academy of Engineers; your membership is made up of accomplished Nigerian engineers across all disciplines industry sectors of engineering in Nigeria and in the diaspora. This provides it with the depth and diversity of experience and competence to provide advice on virtually all areas of engineering in the country.”

Speaking on the important role of Science, Technology and Engineering in dealing with the pandemic, the President noted that the world turned to these disciplines “for immediate solutions and answers. I am sure that as engineers, you will agree with me that one of the most poignant lessons of the response to the pandemic is the critical interdependence of science and engineering.”

Giving an update on production of a local vaccine, the President noted that the African Centre of Excellence for the Genomics of Infectious Disease located at Redeemer’s University Ede, has “developed an efficacious rapid test for COVID and have been working on a vaccine in collaboration with DIOSynVax (Digital Immune Optimised Synthetic Vaccines), Cambridge UK, using the DIOSynVax genomic based technology.”

“There are also efforts going on therapeutics of various kinds. The development of vaccines, tests and therapeutics these days are aided by automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence, so this is a strong point of synergy between science and engineering.”

Citing the opportunities presented during the lockdown period, President Buhari stated the “huge potential for the creation of effective technologies for tele-work activities, including Telemedicine and Fintech.”

The President recalled his Executive Order Nos 5 which directs all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (“MDAs”) of government to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects and maximise in-country capacity in all contracts and transactions with science, engineering and technology components.