UN Donates Ventilators & Personal Protective Supplies To Nigeria!

To help countries scale up testing, treat more patients, and ensure health workers are protected, the United Nations embarked on the distribution of medical supplies for frontline health workers in all African countries. 

Photo Source: WHO, African region

 

   

Consequently, on Tuesday, 14th April, 2020, Nigeria received ventilators and personal protective supplies to help in the combat against the corona virus pandemic.

#covid19 Preventive Materials Being Sold In Markets!

#Covid19NGR : Hand Gloves sold at N100 a pair. 

Video Source: Roving Informant Youtube Channel

As 'cheap' as they are sold, these corona virus preventive materials are supposed to be distributed free-of- charge to the public, by government agencies.

How Lagosians Are Complying To #Covid19 Directives!

It is no longer news that since the index case of the corona virus entered Nigeria through an Italian man, who returned from Italy via Turkey on Turkish Airline, the number of people who have tested positive to the virus has continued to increase. Check background story here: https://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-other-passengers-with-index.html

As the number skyrockets across the globe, with highest number of cases and mortality in the United States, China, United Kingdom, and other Asian and European countries. It's impact on economies is equally alarming. People have lost their jobs and sources of livelihood, due to either ailments or shut-down orders. Likewise, large organizations stand the risk of folding-up, if some sort of intervention is not received. 

On their parts, governments, individuals, private/ public and religious organizations are rendering their supports through donations of: Money, ICU beds, Isolation centers, Ventilators, Face masks and Hand-sanitizers. 

In the United States and Canada for example, the government is providing financial supports to the poor, who are the most hit in these times. In Turkey, food and provisions are left on the streets for the poor.  

Recently, the Nigerian government, through the Central Bank, launched the N50bn Targeted Credit Facility as intervention to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. See Link here: https://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2020/03/in-face-of-covid19-induced-economic.html

Over the past couple of weeks, measures have been taken to contain the virus tagged #covid19. Among such measures are the: shut-down of borders, offices, businesses, schools, public places, stay at home order, self-isolation. There are also preventive advise like- regular washing of hands, use of hand sanitizers and face masks among other. 

The Nigerian community is not left out on this. Markets have been closed, except for essentials like: food, health and banks. As much as these measures are challenging for the average Nigerian, people are beginning to come to terms with this reality, adjust and complying to directives.

Take a look at how some areas of the Ikota and Ajah communities on the Lekki Peninsular axis of Lagos state, are obeying the directives:

Alesh, Ajah

Alesh area, Ajah

Ikota Complex: Road 5, seems more organized in their approach

Water dispenser and liquid soap placed on the street, near Ajah Market.

Shopping Complex at Alesh, Ajah

Ikota Complex: Road1 appeared a little bit disorganized, compared to Road 5.

Ikota Complex: Road 5

Obianuju Mbanusi Writes.

In The Face Of #covid19 Induced Economic Down-Turn, Nigeria's Apex Bank Moves To Provide Support!

As the effect of the corona virus pandemic continues to eat deep into the system of economies around the world, governments are rallying to provide interventions for their citizens and organizations. 

                    

A couple of days ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the N50bn Targeted Credit Facility as intervention to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the apex bank, those that stand to benefit from the fund which would be financed from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund are :

• Households with verifiable evidence of livelihood adversely impacted by COVID-19.
• Existing enterprises with verifiable evidence of business activities adversely affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Enterprises with bankable plans to take advantage of opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activities covered under the scheme include agricultural value chain activities; hospitality (accommodation and food services); health (pharmaceuticals and medical supplies); airline service providers. Also, manufacturing/value addition; trading and any other income-generating activities as may be prescribed by the CBN.

Information made available by the CBN indicates that the loan amount would be determined based on the activity, cash-flow and industry size of beneficiary, subject to a maximum of N25m for SMEs.

Households can equally access a maximum of N3m while working capital would be a maximum of 25 per cent of the average of the previous three years’ annual turnover.

Source: Punch News

A Call To Nigerian Youths!

Must watch video call to Nigerian Youths, for re-evaluation of their mind-set and a change in their approach to issues.

Covid Pandemic: Premier League Suspends Games Until April 4th!

The Premier league has suspended all pending games until the 4th of April 2020. This decision was reached after a meeting of stake holders on Friday, 13th March, 2020. 

According to information made available to the public, "the Premier League's aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so".

More information will be given when necessary. 

COVID-19: Other Passengers With Index Case Declared Wanted!

Two weeks after the case of Corona virus was reported in Lagos, Nigeria, following the arrival of an Italian man, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has declared the other passengers on the same Turkish Airline flight wanted. 

The State's Health Commissioner, Akin Abayomi, at the press briefing, revealed the names of the two passengers, who were believed to have had main contact with the Italian as: Enwelunta Obumnore Godfrey and Salami Abiodun Sadeeq.

It will be recalled that the Italian man arrived Lagos- Nigeria from Italy on the 24th of February, 2020, on a Turkish Airline, through a connecting flight from Istanbul. He passed the night in a hotel close to the airport, before proceeding to his station in Ogun state the following day. It was in Ogun state, that he complained of fever and body ache. He thereafter tested positive to Corona Virus and was quarantined.

According to information made available by the Ministry of Health, through its Boss, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, 40 individuals in Ogun state, and 20 more in Lagos, who had close contact with the index case were placed in isolation. So far, they haven't showed any symptoms of the virus.  However, three persons were tested to ascertain the possible presence of the virus in their system.

On Sunday, March 8th 2020, scientists found the presence of the corona virus in of the system of one of the Ogun state contacts with the index case; howbeit, there is no significant clinical symptoms. This development, makes it a second case of the corona virus case in Nigeria.

On Monday,  March 9th, 2020, Nigeria's Minister of Health, in what has been termed: first of its kind in Africa, announced that medical scientists from Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), in a combined efforts, successfully performed the genome in sequencing of the convirus strain brought into the country by the index case, and confirmed it to be the virus circulating in Italy and Wuham. This result was shared with International Organizations. 

World Health Organization's Director has extended congratulations to Nigerian scientists for this breakthrough.