Nation
Covid-19: Nigeria Records Zero Death In Seven Days
Nigeria recorded 70 new COVID-19 cases and zero fatality on Monday, according to official figures.
Monday thus became the seventh consecutive day that Nigeria recorded no fatality from the virus that has caused over 3 million deaths globally and over 2,000 deaths in Nigeria in the past year.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which provided the update, also said it has conducted 1,870,915 COVID-19 tests in the country of over 200 million people since February 27, 2020.
The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Monday.
The health agency tested some 32,741 samples for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past week; lower than the 34,997 tests conducted the previous week.
The NCDC said that the 1,870,915 tests were carried out in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, since the beginning of the pandemic in the country.
It disclosed that an additional 70 people across the country were affected, bringing the total number of infections to 164,303 as of April 19, 2021.
It stated that the additional 70 infections were registered from five states – Lagos with 27 infections, Kaduna and Ondo, 16 cases each, Yobe, six, and Bauchi, five cases.
The public health agency said that additional 52 people have been discharged after testing negative to the disease, with no coronavirus related deaths reported as of April, 19, 2021.
According to the data, the cumulative number of recoveries in the country is now 154,384, while the death toll stands at 2,061.
The NCDC said, however, that the country’s active caseload increased by 18 on Monday, in addition to the 7,840 previously reported on Sunday.
It noted that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities in the country.
It stated that since the start of the outbreak, the agency has worked tirelessly to achieve testing for the virus through the rapid expansion of laboratories across the country and increased surveillance activities.
“This has enabled the prompt detection of cases reported, even at our points of entry,” it explained.
The agency said that the reality of decreased transmission, test positivity rate and confirmed cases in the country do not mean that Nigerians should let their guard down.
It said there is the need for a stricter adherence to Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) such as; the proper use of face masks, frequent handwashing and maintenance of physical distance of at least two meters.
Meanwhile, the agency said that getting the COVID-19 vaccine “is a step towards protecting yourself, your loved ones and fellow Nigerians. It’s a step towards helping us finally get back to the things we love.
“As of today, all people aged 18 and above are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. We have real-world data that the COVID-19 vaccines work. One of the most important things we all can do to protect our loved ones and to get back to the things we love is to get vaccinated,” it advised.
Nigeria began vaccinating its citizens in March after receiving about 4 million doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Over one million people have, so far, been vaccinated.
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Military is committed to facilitating sustainable food security in the country through the establishment of farms.
Musa said this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products Logo.
He noted that the agricultural sector played crucial role in guaranteeing food security which was requisite for sustainable national security.
He said that the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict across some parts of the country had continuously threatened food security with dire consequences on national security.
According to him, to address this, the Defence Headquarters in May 2023, conceptualised the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative.
“This is with the aim of keying into the federal government’s efforts at addressing food security challenges in the country.
“The initiative which aligns with the ‘People Centric’ policy thrust of my leadership concept is aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing rural infrastructural development while significantly contributing to food security in the Country.
“Considering the extensive consultation, planning and preparation made by the committee thus far, I am optimistic that the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative will have a positive transformative impact on host communities while enhancing national security.
“With similar initiatives replicated across the country, I envision a future characterised by modernised farming techniques in which the agricultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth and national development.”
The CDS enjoined all members of the Armed Forces and the general public to embrace the initiative and maximise its associated gains.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and relentless pursuit of national peace, security and economic prosperity.
He also appreciated the efforts of members of the committee who worked assiduously to actualise the initiative.
Earlier, the Chairman, Defence Farms Committee,