Twenty four hours after the dreaded COVID-19 claimed the life of a former Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) top shot, Mr. Suleiman Achimugu, as its first victim in Nigeria, Bauchi state Governor Bala Mohammed has been confirmed positive.
The confirmation which was announced Tuesday came amidst speculations that Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari also tested positive to the disease.
Achimugu, who was reported to have returned from the UK some two weeks ago, passed on at the isolation centre, Gwagwalada, a suburb of the nation’s capital city.
And in yet another development, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has also been conformed to be in self-isolation.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President Laolu Akande, disclosed this Tuesday on his twitter handle.
On his twitter handle-@akandeoj- he said his principal is self-isolating in accordance with the “protocols” of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Bauchi gov
Announcing the positive status of Governor Mohammed Tuesday, his media aide, Mr. Mukhtar Gidado said the governor’s doctors and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC) had taken charge.
On his own volition, the governor decided to self-isolate following his suspicion he may have contracted the virus.
He admitted boarding same flight and shaking hands with Muhammed, a son of Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Confirming the governor’s status in a statement, Mr. Gidado said of the six samples collected by the NCDC, only the governor tested positive.
He said: “This is to inform the general public that the results of the six initial tests carried out by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, his family and aides that accompanied him to Lagos is out.”
“Of the six initial tests carried out, one sample was confirmed positive of COVID-19. The positive result happens to be that of His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State.
“At this point, it should be noted that the governor is on self isolation as his doctors and officials from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) have taken full charge of his quarantine.
“His Excellency solicits for prayers from all and requests that all those who had contact with him or anyone known to have the same medical condition to go for test immediately in order to avert further spread of COVID-19 epidemic,” the statement read.
Although the NCDC is yet to officially acknowledge the governor’s positive case, the country has recorded 42 confirmed cases in six states with Lagos topping with 29 cases, FCT trailed 7, while Ogun has 3 with Ekiti , Oyo and Edo has one each.
Of these cases, two were reported to have recovered and had been discharged.
Blueprint reports that following the governor’s positive status, “there is serious fear as well as anxiety among the people as every resident is seen as a suspect.”
“Who knows those who must have come in contact with the governor at one time or the other? That is what is creating the fear among the people of the state now. Somebody must have met somebody who met the governor, and the chain continues,” said a resident who spoke under anonymity.
Kyari
In a related development, the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Kyari, was early Tuesday rumoured to have tested positive for the virus, Thisday newspaper reports, quoting what it called presidential sources.
The development is causing some disquiet in the presidency even as inquiries sent by Blueprint to Mr. Femi Adesina and Malam Garba Shehu, both presidential spokespersons, to establish the veracity or otherwise of this claim went unanswered as at the time of this report.
Kyari was said to have travelled to Germany March 7 and returned about a week after.
He’s believed to have contracted the disease in Germany where cases resulting from the disease had been reported in their thousands, with the authority banning public gatherings and limiting same to a maximum of two people.
Among other top government functionaries, Minister of Power Saleh Mamman was also reported to be part of the Kyari-led delegation.
They were in Germany to engage officials of Siemens AG on the deal recently signed between the federal government and the energy company towards improving electricity supply in the country.
It was gathered that the chief of staff was in full public glare since arriving Nigeria and had been performing his official duties, until he was rumoured to have tested positive.
Also, he was reported to have attended the wedding fatia of Hassan, a son of Inspector General of Police Adamu upon arriving the country March 14.
The development has heightened fear in government circle as top functionaries, including ministers and some private individuals had at several times engaged with Kyari in one official assignment or the other.
Task force inspects Kyari’s office
Amidst the speculation, the Presidential Task Force on the Control of Coronavirus inspected the office of the chief of staff to the president, and also kept mum on the development.
The task force, led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, arrived the Presidential Villa Tuesday afternoon.
The team, made up of ministers and health experts, spent about 10 minutes inspecting Kyari’s office.
They however declined to make official comment on what happened at the State House, saying Nigerians should await official communication.
However, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed told journalists said the team would not mention names in its current investigation.
“We don’t mention names in carrying out this responsibility. It’s a global practice so you don’t expect us to mention any name to you,” he said.
Also speaking, SGF Mustapha advised journalists to imbibe the culture of wearing face masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus.
“You people should start wearing face mask please. I can see that you are not taking this thing serious. Wear face masks please. It is not a joke,” he said.
Covid-19: Kaduna residents comply with market, travel restrictions
Kaduna market shut
And in a move to prevent the virus from spreading in the state, Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai Tuesday announced the closure of major markets in the metropolis.
One of our correspondents reports that people were going about their businesses in the metropolis, while traders and travellers complied with the state government’s market and travel restrictions.
When Blueprint visited Sheikh Mahmud Gumi Central Market and Kakuri Market in Kaduna North and Kaduna South LGAs respectively, many shops were found locked up, while traders selling drugs, especially around Warri road, raw foodstuff and cooked food, and those selling bottled water and other drinks, were found open and conducting their businesses.
However, the compliance level was not total in the plethora of shops around residential areas within the Kaduna metropolis, as traders selling assorted goods that are not foods, drinks or drugs, were found conducting their businesses without any fear.
Residents were seen indulging in panic buying of essential commodities in the fear that the state could be locked down should there be a positive case of Coronavirus.
People were seen in various shades of face masks, some with different types of sanitisers while others were seemingly unconcerned.
Citizens were seen flooding hospitals and stocking foods in markets, even as people were also noticed in long queues at cooking gas stations, banks, while cars were also in long queues at filling stations reminiscent of days of fuel scarcity.
Prices of foodstuff hand, sanitisers and essential drugs had skyrocket, just as schools remain shut and sporting facilities like Ahmadu Bello Stadium were also under lock.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Media Advocacy for Mother and Child (CAMAC), has called on government to make special arrangement for the Almajiris roaming about the streets as the virus rages.
CAMAC noted that despite the pandemic, the group of Nigerian children in their millions are homeless and helpless as they go about the streets without adequate care.
It said many of the children knew nothing about personal hygiene, “and as such they are prone to any form of ailments and diseases.”
Lagos
Similarly, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has ordered the shutdown of markets, leaving out those selling food and medical items.
In a directive Tuesday at a press conference, the governor said Lagos could not afford a total lockdown because of the economic implication.
He said: “I am here again this afternoon to update you on the COVID-19 situation in Lagos state, as well as the latest steps we are taking to tackle this disease that has thrown much of the world into disarray.
“Since my last address to you on Sunday, March 22, 2020, we have seen an increase in the total number of confirmed cases nationwide with Lagos leading the pack with the most number of newly confirmed cases.
“Here in Lagos, we have seen a significant jump in our numbers from 19 as at the last time I addressed you on Sunday, to 28 as at today’s briefing. This shows that our numbers are increasing as predicted, but we are also proactively and promptly tracking, isolating and managing the suspected cases; as well as the confirmed ones at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba.
“All public parks, including those in private and residential estates, swimming pools, gyms, beauty salons, and all such public places are expected to shut down at this time, until further notice.
“All open markets and stores are directed to close, except for sellers of food and medicines, medical equipment and other essential life-saving products. For those that fall into the aforementioned categories, it is imperative that they observe necessary precautionary measures of social distancing.”
The governor also advised residents of Lagos to avoid travelling to and from the state during this period.
While saying his administration would set up temporary food markets in schools, the governor said law enforcement agencies and other relevant state protection agencies “have been imbued with the power to deal with recalcitrant offenders.”
Ondo too…
Similarly, Ondo state Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, has ordered the immediate closure of all markets, malls and shops across the 18 local government areas of the state.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the governor on media and publicity, Mr. Ojo Oyewamide said under the fresh directive which is for a period of 7 days in the first instance, only the sale of life-saving and sustaining items like food, water and medicals shall be allowed.
Similarly, Governor Akeredolu reiterated that the suspension of political gatherings and meetings was still in force.
“In this regard, any form of open campaign for the forthcoming Local Government Election in the state should be discontinued for the meantime.
“And in furtherance of his resolve to deepen efforts under the present circumstances, Governor Akeredolu has equally directed the immediate cancellation of all official engagements. This directive includes courtesy calls and other engagements already approved and scheduled prior to this time; and shall suffice for a period of 14 days in the first instance.
“The governor seeks the co-operation and understanding of all residents in the state as he works assiduously to keep the State safe from COVID-19.
‘COVID-19 accelerating’
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed worry over the rate at which the virus is “accelerating.”
The remarks came as the number of deaths soared past 15,000, with more than 341,000 people infected worldwide, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources.
“The pandemic is accelerating,” the WHO chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said Monday.
He said it took 67 days from the beginning of the outbreak in China for the infection to reach the first 100,000 cases.
Meanwhile, it took another 11 days for the second 100,000 cases and just four days for the third 100,000 cases.
The number of officially recorded cases is believed to represent only a fraction of the true number of infections, with many countries only testing the most severe cases in need of hospitalisation.
More than 300,000 cases of COVID-19 have now been reported to WHO, from almost every country in the world.
“We’re not helpless bystanders. We can change the trajectory of this pandemic can be managed,” he said.
Football tactics
Ghebreyesus compared the fight against COVID 19-to football tactics.
“You can’t win a football game only by defending. You have to attack as well,” he said.
“Social distancing could buy time by slowing down the spread of the virus “but they are defensive measures that will help us win,” he said.
