4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
vanguardnews @vanguardnews Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 —5 NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, POCKET CARTOON @vanguardnews 08052867058 Widespread fear as Kyari, Bauchi gov test positive By Chioma Obinna, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Dirisu Yakubu & Charly Agwam ABUJA — Influential Chief of Staff to President Mohammed Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, has reportedly tested positive to the rampaging Coronavirus that is currently wreaking havoc in the country, forcing some state governors to either put their states on lock down or threaten to do so. While countries of the world have stepped up efforts to contain the ravaging virus, fear and uncertainty have gripped Bauchi State residents after it was confirmed that Governor Bala Mohammed tested positive to corona virus. Earlier, yesterday, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the governor, Muhktar Gidado in a statement, confirmed that the governor tested positive to the virus after his blood sample was taken to Abuja and tested by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. This came as anxiety heightened at the country’s seat of power, Aso Villa, over reports of the corona virus infection. Meanwhile, the number of Coronavirus cases in Nigeria yesterday, rose from 40 to 44, following four new confirmed cases in Lagos, Ogun , Bauchi States and Abuja, respectively. Confirming this on its twitter handle - @NCDCgov, yesterday, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, explained that one of the cases was a returning traveller while the second case was a contact of a previously confirmed case. The other two cases have travel history to Germany and the United Kingdom, UK, respectively. Giving further details on the number of cases, NCDC explained that at 06:25p.m., on March 24, 2020, there are 44 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria; two have been discharged with one death recorded. According to NCDC breakdown by states in real-time, Lagos- 29, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, FCT- 8, Ogun- 3, Ekiti- 1, Oyo- 1, Edo- 1 and Bauchi 1, bringing the total of cases to 44. This came as the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi urged all participants and attendees at the just concluded African Magic viewers’ Choice Award, AMVCA, held on March 15, 2020, at Eko Hotels, Lagos to go on selfisolation. Recall that last week, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari had shut down her office for two weeks over alleged refusal of one of her aides who returned from the United Kingdom, UK, to heed her advice to stay away on selfisolation for 14 days before coming to work. 3 Abba Kyari staff test positive The news that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari tested positive to the COVID-19 allegedly led the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC, to carry out tests on the President on Monday and the result released, yesterday, was negative. The mask-wearing members of the Presidential Task Force for the Control of the Coronavirus were led by its chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha on inspection of the nation’s seat of power. Their presence caused anxiety among State House Staff, especially as the Chief of Staff was reported to have held meetings in the Villa since his return. The 12-man task force declined to speak to newsmen as they filed out of the State House. When pressed by State House correspondents to talk, the SGF simply said “you’d be briefed later.” On departure, staff at the Villa were heard speaking in hushed tones and expressing fears about the consequences of the alleged positive test for Kyari given the nature of his interaction with politicians, other senior government officials and staff. Since returning from Germany, Kyari who was said to have been asymptomatic, had been attending meetings including last week’s Federal Executive Council, FEC and inauguration of the Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus, both of COVID-19: Should FG lockdown the country? (1) which were presided over by President Buhari. Kyari who was on a trip to Germany on March 7, this year, to meet with officials of Siemens in Munich on Nigerian electricity expansion programme, returned to the country on March 14. He was sighted after Jum’aat prayers last Friday, but was not seen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. His official vehicle was also not sighted at its officially allocated position at the car park in the Admin Wing of the State House, yesterday. Members of the Presidential task force include Minister of Health, Prof Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Services, Sadiya Umar- Farouk; Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu; Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammed Mahmoud; Director-General, Department of State Services, Mr Yusuf Bichi; Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control; Continues on Page 35 By Bose Adelaja, Olayinka Latona & Samuel Ameh This is really a sensitive issue though it is the right thing to do to stop the virus from spreading. Yet, we must not overlook the financial stand of the masses. Many Nigerians must go out each day to be able to feed. The masses must be provided for with basic needs before this lockdown can be carried out. - B a b a t u n d e Olamilekan Actor I don’t think total lockdown of the country will be okay as it will lead to serious hunger and other health challenges. If the Federal Government declares total lockdown, many Nigerians will be impoverished the more thus making life harder for the common man. -Adedipe Folarin Entrepreneurial This total lockdown should have been done the moment COVID-19 got to Africa as a preventive measure. Nigeria is at risk now because the virus is already in the country; that is just the FG looking for solutions to the deed that had been done. However, to avoid exposing Nigerians to more harm, the total shutdown is advisable while we look for means to curtail it internally. -Tanimola Femi Corps Member The FG should adopt total lockdown of the country by closing the borders completely. The virus is being well controlled in China because they closed their borders to everyone; they stopped people from entering their country with or without the virus. It’s just for a while. The virus is fast spreading in Nigeria and opening our borders will make it worse. -Ralph Siyan-Peters Law student It’s a good idea if t h e FG adopts total lockdown of the country as a measure to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria. While trying to enforce the law, FG should provide amenities for citizens such as electricity, finance and other basic human needs, so as to make the citizens comfortable during the lockdown. -Idebi Faith Analyst Embarking on a t o t a l l o c k d o w n promises to be the best solution in order to reduce the spread of this deadly virus. However, the adoption should not be sudden, as Nigerians need to be informed at least two - three days before such pronouncement, in order to avoid issues such as hunger, insecurity and so on. -Seyi Ajamu Photojournalist
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