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Webecopycat, PW Maroko kubwa, Abuja (2024)

07/10/2021

IF YOU NEED QUALITY IN ANY OF THESE AREAS.

DON'T FAIL TO REACH OUT AND GET THE BEST.

28/09/2021

THE NEW AFRICAN DUBAI DOES EXIST.

Standing on a 10million square meters of reclaimed land, Eko Atlantic already boasts of tourist attractive features, including;

• The Great Wall of Lagos: this is the longest sea revetment in the world, which is 9m above sea level, 8.5m long, and 67m wide at the base. The wall is a large sea revetment that protects the new city, as well as Victoria Island, and parts of Lekki. It was designed by Royal Haskoning, an engineering firm with over 100 years of experience in urban planning and development.

• The Eko Atlantic marinas; with marinas around the world being very popular and the width of the Eko Atlantic marina being 300m, these marinas will berth over 400 boats at the dock.

• The Eko Atlantic canal: this allows commuters move from one end of the city to another in less than 10 minutes through water transportation.

These and many more green city and energy efficiency initiatives are what makes Eko Atlantic City a tourist destination in Africa.
SOURCE EkoAtlantic

28/09/2021

ENAIRA PAYMENT sues CBN for using the name ‘ENaira’

A cease and desist notification has been sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) concerning the use of the name “eNaira.”

This is according to a document seen by Nairametrics titled: “Infringement of Trademark & Violation of Corporate Name cease and desist Notification to the Central Bank of Nigeria.” The notice was signed by Olakule Agbebi Esq for Olakule Agbebi & Co .

This development comes after the successful deployment of the Centre Bank Enaira website and days away from the activation of the eNaira itself.

According to the Notification from the solicitor, his client “ENAIRA PAYMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED (RC 508500)” has been incorporated since 7th April 2004 registered in class 36 and class 42.

It stated that the launch of the eNaira is a threat and shows willful infringement of his client’s trademark. The notices also added that his client is now exposed to damages, loss of business and loss of goodwill.

“For this reasons, our client has approached the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/AB/CS/113/2021 between ENAIRA PAYMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED vs CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA to seek a restraining order including an order to restrain CBN from proceeding in the launch on 1st October 2021,” the Notice stated.

The Notice added, “In the interim, the CBN is hereby warned to cease and desist from using or purporting to use the name eNaira for its product or in any way.”

Source

Webecopycat

25/02/2021

How Four Nigerian Teens Hijacked A Plane Conveying China’s Vice President and Others ‘Because of MKO Abiola’ In 1993.

The clamour for democracy heightened after President Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 12 1993 presidential election which proclaimed M.K.O Abiola as the winner.

Babangida annulled the election on the grounds of “electoral irregularities”. Before he stepped down from power on the 26th of August, 1993, he set up an interim government that would oversee the transition of power to a democratically elected government.
The Earnest Shonekan-led Interim National Government had no plan whatsoever to cede power to Abiola and this earned it opposition from Abiola and his loyalists.

During its short stay, the Interim National Government witnessed many pro-democracy protests in the country one of which was the hijacking of Nigerian Airways airbus A310 by four Nigerian teenagers.

How It Happened
On the 25th of October, 1993, a domestic Nigerian Airways airbus scheduled to fly from Lagos to Abuja was hijacked by four Nigerian teenagers who claimed to be acting for the Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD). The teenagers – Richard Ogunderu, Benneth Oluwadaisi, Kabir Adenuga and Kenny Rasaq-Lawal cleverly smuggled toy guns into the plane and began operation mid-flight.

OldNaija gathered that there were 159 people on the hijacked Airbus 310. As soon as the plane reached about 30,000 feet above sea level, the boys sprang into action. They gained access into the cockpit and one of them announced,

“Ladies and gentlemen, this plane has been taken over by the Movement for the Advancement of Democracy, remain calm, we will not harm you. You will be told where the plane will land you.”

Their initial plan was to divert the Lagos-Abuja flight to Frankfurt in Germany but decided to land in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic after the pilots insisted there wasn’t enough fuel to reach Frankfurt. The plane had sought to land in Ndjamena, Chad, for refuelling but was denied permission and diverted to Niamey.

In 2009, Richard Ogunderu, one of the four hijackers, recounted his role in the incident; he recalled that “the air hostesses were almost stone-dead, gripped by fear. We wanted change. Our action confirmed that when a system is inhumane, it could produce the extreme in all of us.”

He added,

“I walked into the cockpit and seized the process, and then the others followed me. Two of us stayed back to intimidate the passengers. We took over the plane and asked the pilot to head for another country.”

The young hijackers stated the need to restore democracy and actualize the annulled June 12 election as the reasons for the hijack. Among other things they demanded were press freedom in Nigeria, the trial of all those who collaborated with the military regime, and the dissolution of the present interim government which they described as “illegal”.

During the operation, they separated men from women and government officials from ordinary citizens. On getting to Niger Republic, they freed 34 hostages. Those freed included Vice President Rong Yiren of China, said Souley Abdouleye, Niger’s transportation minister in 1993. The Interior Ministry said the people held included Nigerian Government officials and six crew members.

OldNaija gathered that the hijackers gave the Nigerian government a 72 hours ultimatum to meet their demands or else, they would blow up the plane with the hostages. Local and international media were amazed that such an incident could happen in Nigeria, considered an aviation safe haven.

The Rescue
The four teenagers had control of the plane for three days until the military stormed the premises. On the 28th of October, 1993, after Nigerian authorities gave the order to storm the aircraft, the hostages were rescued. The rescue operation left one dead (a member of the crew) and five injured, including one of the four captured hijackers, Richard Ogunderu. With their arms cramped on their backs, they were handcuffed and taken to prison.

Lawal, one of the four hijackers said they were taken to a prison in a community with day temperature in the range of 55 degree centigrade. “We were poorly fed. We could neither speak Hausa nor French and nobody spoke English to us.”

The hijackers spent nine years and four months in Niamey prison without family contact whatsoever. They were later released in 2002.

Thanks for reading,

Credit: OldNaija

02/02/2021

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Delta High Court Judge weeps after DNA test revealed he is not the father of his three adult children

Anthony Okorodas who was sworn in as a judge of Delta State High Court by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 2018, has expressed how devastated he was after a DNA test conducted on his three adult children revealed they are not his.

In a statement released by the High Court Judge, he accused his former wife Celia Juliet Ototo of cheating during their marriage which ended 11 years ago.

Okorodas who said he was first notified of the paternity fraud by an anonymous source, said the repulsive act of his ex-wife prompted him to conduct DNA tests on all his children.

Recounting how his wife walked away from their marriage when her youngest child (who is now 17 years of age) was just 6-years-old, the Judge said the DNA test uncovered that his wife cheated while still married to him.

The statement read;

PRESS STATEMENT: BY HON. JUSTICE ANTHONY EZONFADE OKORODAS

Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, I thank you for attending this press conference. I have taken the decision to address the Press in respect of certain traumatic developments that have arisen between me and my ex-wife, Barrister Celia Juliet Ototo of the Ototo Family of Ovom in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It is now nearly 11 years since our separation and divorce. This Press Statement is important in order to prevent damaging speculations, half-truths and outright lies from persons who may want to cash in on the tragedy that has befallen my home.

Sometime during the coronavirus lockdowns early last year, I received information from an anonymous source that indicated that the last of the three children from my previous marriage was in fact not my biological child. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, I had to wait until August 2020 to carry out a DNA test. The DNA test result which came out in September 2020 confirmed that I was not the biological father of the child.

Consequently, I convened a joint meeting between my extended family on the one side, and Celia’s paternal and maternal families (i.e., the Ototo Family of Ovom Town and the Agbagidi Family of Yenagoa Town) on the other side, where I confronted her with the paternity fraud allegation.

Although she initially strongly insisted that I was the biological father, she has since confessed to having the child with another man during the course of our marriage.

This repulsive act of my ex-wife prompted me to conduct DNA tests in respect of the two other children. A few days ago, the results came out. Sadly, none of them is my biological child.

This abomination has caused excruciating mental trauma to me, my present wife, Barrister (Mrs) Ebi Okorodas and all of the innocent children involved. This is particularly so for Ebi, who has had to agree to have DNA tests on the four children of our own marriage. Thankfully, the test results confirm each of them to be my biological child.

It is important to state that Celia walked away from the marriage when her youngest child (who is now 17 years of age) was just 6 years old. Since then, all of her children have lived with my wife, Ebi and I, and we have been wholly responsible for their wellbeing and education.

Friends who are close to my family would readily attest to the fact that unless specifically informed, no one could tell that the children were not the biological children of my present wife.

Ebi and I would continue to support the children in any way that we can. Indeed, even after the release of the first DNA test result which proved that I was not the biological father of the last child, we have continued to pay for his education in a private boarding school. The two other children are University undergraduates. The first, a female, will be a graduate later this year, and the second will soon enter his 4th year of study. We pray for them to overcome the trauma and become responsible citizens of our country.

For Celia and her boyfriend or boyfriends, we leave them to their conscience. Thank you very much.

The Hon. Justice Anthony Ezonfade Okorodas, PhD. Judge
High Court of Delta State
January 28, 2021.

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17/07/2020

Video of the general on a rescue mission.

Today Gov Nyesom Wike rescued the immediate past acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Joi Nunieh from over 50 armed police men who attempted to abducte ( illegal arrest) her.

Dr Nunieh, recently has been in a serious open confrontation with the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Gods will Akpabio.

Wike is Indabosky Bahosa and liquid metal of the Nigeria politics. If he fall on you, you will melt and you fall on him, you will vanish.

16/07/2020

NAF LOSES FLYING OFFICER TOLULOPE AROTILE IN ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN KADUNA

14 July 2020

16/07/2020

NAF LOSES FLYING OFFICER TOLULOPE AROTILE IN ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN KADUNA

It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died today, 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.‬ Until her death, ‪Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.‬ During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hails from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late ‪Flying Officer Arotile‬ over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
14 July 2020

03/07/2020

BREAKING NEWS!

The Police in Rivers State has just uncovered a suckaway filled up with about twenty corpses in Jesus Avenue, Umuebule One in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The suspected killer and owner of premises where the corpses were discovered is a trader in Ogbunabali Road, Port Harcourt City.

The discovery was made when a trader said to have Aba in Abia State left the address and phone number of the suspect with his wife upon departure to collect the sum of N500,000 being cost of goods supplied to the suspect on credit on invitation to collect at his(suspect's) house. After waiting for 48 hours without seeing her husband back the wife of the victim was said to have reported to the Police who went into investigation.

On interrogation the suspect took the Police to his house where five freshest corpses were recovered from a 20ft suck away exclusively dug for dumping of corpses.

The pit said to have been dug in 2016 has about 15 more corpses yet to be recovered.

While the wife of the suspect has since abandoned her four children and ran away two grown up children of the suspect have also taken to their heels whereas two little children of the suspect were said to be demonstrating how their evil father strangled his victims in their profane gaze.

They hinted that their father sternly warned them not to tell anyone of evil act else he would also apply same treatment to the toddlers.

The crime scene is said to be attracting myriad number of people just as The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command is said to have just visited the scene this evening.

More to come......

01/07/2020

BREAKING: FG Increases Fuel Pump Price To N143--

The Federal Government has increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol from N140.80 to N143.80 per litre.

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) announced the increment in a statement issued by its Executive Secretary, Abdulkadir Saidu on Wednesday.

“After a review of the prevailing market fundamentals in the month of June and considering marketers’ realistic operating costs, as much as practicable, we wish to advise a new PMS pump price band of N140.80 – N143.80 per litre for the month of July 2020,” the statement read.

“All marketers are advised to operate within the indicative prices as advised by the PPPRA.”

In April, the Federal Government had announced a reduction of the petrol pump to N123.50 per litre.

29/06/2020

MY DAUGHTER ASKED ME FOR S*X
Man Who Defiled His Own 13-Year-Old Daughter Makes Shocking Claim

Osun State Police Command on Friday paraded five suspected rapists, including a 50-year-old, man, Adeleye Fayemiwo, who allegedly defiled his 13-year-old daughter, The PUNCH reports.
Speaking to journalists, the state’s police commissioner, Mr Undie Adie, said Fayemiwo and other four suspects were arrested following complaints against them.

The police boss said one 28-year-old Oyerinde Oyeniyi of Mokuro Area, Ile-Ife, was arrested for having unlawful carnal knowledge of his landlord’s 11-year-old daughter.

Adie, who expressed displeasure over the rising r**e cases in the state, said, “One Isiaka Adeyounbo of Ayelabowo Street, Ile-Ife dragged a 16-year-old girl of the same address into his house and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

“Upon information received from the complainant, suspect was arrested while victim was taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment.

“One Eronse Balat of Eleyele, Ile-Ife, was also arrested for having carnal knowledge of his 23-year-old niece. Also, 30-year-old Adeoye Makinde of Isona Street, Ilesa, lured a 13-year-old girl of the same address into his house and attempted to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her.”

Fayemiwo admitted having s*x with his daughter, but said he committed the act under the influence of alcohol and pleaded for mercy.

He said, “I am a farmer and the girl is my daughter. I told her to cook for me but she refused. She used to sneak to my room and demand s*x.

The day we had s*x, I took beer and mixed it with hot drink. I did it under the influence of alcohol. Her mother had left me. I have a wife, but the girl will always come to me at night to ask for s*x.

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29/06/2020

ACCESS BANK HAS PROMISED TO RETURN ALL BANK CHARGES COLLECTED FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS FROM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY TO APRIL...

29/06/2020

How I declined 10 percent of the money I found, Nigerian honoured in Japan reveals.---

IKENNA Nweke, a Nigerian living and working in Tsukuba, Japan, who was recently celebrated for returning a lost wallet containing huge sums of money as well as a credit card to its owner through the police has revealed why he declined 10 percent of the money he found.

Nweke in an interview with the ICIR stated that he declined the 10 percent offered him by the Japanese police for returning the valuables because he is a devoted Christian raised by responsible parents.

“The police told me that according to Japanese law, that I was entitled to 10% of the money found inside the wallet but I declined, I told him that there was no need for that because I was raised by responsible parents, and that I am also a Christian,” he said.

Nweke who is a PhD student at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and also a Teaching Assistant in the same university recounted how he saw the wallet while going home from the University.

“I was going home from the University, I decided to get my wife her favorite kebab, as I was climbing the staircase around Tsukuba centre, I noticed something on the ground,”

“As I drew closer, I saw that it was a wallet. When I opened it, I saw a huge sum of money, a credit card, and other valuables,” Nweke narrated to The ICIR.

Nweke who hails from Amauzari in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State, said he was born and raised in Okpoko, Onitsha, Anambra State, but relocated to Japan in 2013 through a Japanese government sponsored scholarship program.

He noted that the owner of the wallet, after getting it back from the police has also called him to express his gratitude.

Nweke said he was amazed to receive a letter from the Ibaraki/Tsukuba police, expressing their gratitude towards his incredible and selfless behavior.

When asked why he decided to return the money instead of taking it away, Nweke told the ICIR that he is a devoted Christian, who is committed to change the narratives and unprintable names given to Nigerians in Japan and other countries abroad.

“Not every Nigerian is criminal-minded, there are a lot of Nigerians abroad working so hard to erase the bad name given to “us” by the criminal few,” he noted

Meanwhile, the Chairman /CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa has commended Mr Ikenna Nweke for his honest and patriotic attitude.

Abike gave the commendation in a statement signed by Mr Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NIDCOM on Sunday in Abuja.

She said, “it is indeed a great opportunity to celebrate you. This is what Nigeria is about. All the negative information you tend to hear about are far out stripped by the positive information that are hidden and not told and these are the likes of people like Mr lkenna.You have portrayed the image of Nigerians in the Diaspora as unique, honest and cultured set of immigrants.”

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29/06/2020

Are you ready?

27/06/2020

Tinubu breaks silence, says, ‘I have made no decision regarding 2023’---

BOLA Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC) on Saturday broke his silence on the leadership crisis rocking the party, berating those suggesting that the latest development in the party has thwarted his 2023 presidential ambition.

“To those who have been actively bleating how the President’s actions and the NEC meeting have ended my purported 2023 ambitions, I seek your pity,” Tinubu said in a 1, 861 words of four- page article titled “Becoming The Party We Were Intended he personally signed.

“I am but a mere mortal who does not enjoy the length of foresight or political wisdom you profess to have. Already, you have assigned colourful epitaphs to the 2023 death of an alleged political ambition that is not yet even born.

“At this extenuating moment with COVID-19 and its economic fallout hounding us, I cannot see as far into the distance as you. I have made no decision regarding 2023 for the concerns of this hour are momentous enough.”

Tinubu said the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was an indication that APC was gradually becoming the party it was intended to be.

He admitted that the internal leadership crisis of the party had culminated and endangered the performance of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

“Yet, we must acknowledge that something important has gone off track. For some months we have experienced growing disagreement within the leadership of the party. This unfortunate competition had grown so intense as to impair the performance of the NWC, thus undermining the internal cohesion and discipline vital to success,” he said.

“Yet, such intramural fighting has come to occupy the attention of many high ranking party officials and members.”

“The National Working Committee, itself, became riven by unnecessary conflict. Those who disagreed with one another stopped trying to find common ground. Attempts were made to use the power of executive authority to bury each other. I must be blunt here. This is the behaviour of a fight club not the culture of a progressive political party.”

On President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention in the party’s leadership crisis, Tinubu described it as a needed effort at a moment where there were numerous lawsuits filed by party members to an extent where the president was compelled to intervene.

“With lawsuits so numerous, one needed a spreadsheet to keep track, President Buhari has reasonably decided that he has seen enough.”

“I do not lament his intervention or its outcome. I lament that the situation degenerated to the point where he felt compelled to intervene.”

Tinubu also disclosed that his current ambition has been devoted to thinking of policies that may help Nigeria find balance out of the global pandemic and the current economic downturn.

“During this period, I have not busied myself with politicking regarding 2023. I find that a bit distasteful and somewhat uncaring particularly when so many of our people have been unbalanced by the twin public health and economic crises we face,” he said.

“I have devoted these last few months to thinking of policies that may help the nation in the here and now. What I may or may not do 3 years hence seems too remote given present exigencies.”

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27/06/2020

FUN SATURDAY......

WHO IS MOST BEAUTIFUL....

DON'T SPOIL THE FUN, remember to share.......

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26/06/2020

Federal Ministry of Health records first case of Coronavirus, more personnel may be infected--

THE Federal Ministry of Health has recorded its index case of Coronavirus. An anonymous source who attended the National Council on Health meeting held during the week confirmed the information to DATAPHYTE.

According to the source, the first case which has been confirmed by the test result from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is reported to be a staff of the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics.

But Dr. Meribole, the Director at the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, said he cannot confirm the claim because he does not have any test results to that effect. However, the source confirmed he facilitated the NCDC’s response after several calls. He said what the Department is trying to do is related to prevention and ensuring random testing. He further said the request for a random test has been delayed by the strike which was recently called off.

While health workers in the frontline are generally prone to contracting coronavirus, there are reports that the Federal Ministry of Health is not enforcing the preventive measures for staff and visitors to the Ministry, therefore exposing staff members to the deadly virus. While the reporter sighted the hand wash basin at strategic locations within the complex, there was no officer ensuring that each entrant washes his or her hands. Within 45mins of the reporter’s observation, only one person out of over 20 persons who entered the Ministry of Health complex washed his hands. It took him over 5 mins to operate the handwashing device because there was no one to guide him.

Several calls and text messages to the Health Minister of State, Dr Olorunnibe Mamora were not returned

Similarly, interviews of staff around the Ministry revealed they were aware of reports of the index case since last week, but that the Ministry had not taken the necessary steps to protect the staff and visitors. A security man at the gate of the Ministry confirmed that the report got to them yesterday and they have been advised to increase temperature checks and compliance to the use of face masks

Most sources who requested anonymity said the Ministry staff are not perceived by the authority as frontline health workers despite their efforts in combating the pandemic, and as such, are not being adequately protected.

A visit to the department of the index case revealed that although the infected staff had been isolated in a treatment centre in Abuja, other affected contacts were however yet to be tested or taken into isolation by the NCDC.

A staff who claimed to be one of the contacts of the index case informed Dataphyte that when confronted with the situation, she called the NCDC but that the lady at the call centre was so rude and unhelpful.

NCDC’s strike and existential problem of late response.

When Dataphyte reached out to the infected person, he declined to comment on the matter.

Further investigation, however, revealed that it took the influence of someone close to the NCDC to get him tested. Yet, the result of the test took about 5 days before he was eventually taken into isolation for treatment. The staff of the Centre also declined to comment on the matter for privacy reasons.

When contacted, the NCDC referred Dataphyte to the FCT Emergency Operations Centre that revealed that the delay in testing and dissemination of results to the public, was due to the ongoing strike. They claimed to be aware of the index case from the Ministry but assured that plans were underway for a follow-up test as soon as the workers’ strike was called off.

There is the palpable fear that many isolation centres in Nigeria have been abandoned, hence the increasing delay in the testing of those suspected Coronavirus infection.

“One has to wonder that if there are delays to testing Federal Ministry of Health staff and if claims by FCT staff that VIP Isolation Centre in Asokoro are also experiencing similar delays, then what is happening in other isolation centres?” Said the Suraju Olarenwaju, the Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre.

Resident doctors within the month, have gone on strike and are yet to call it off, complaining about salary payments. While there are varying opinions about the timing of the strike, there is strong support for the strike. Speaking with Dr Kwalar, a public health practitioner, she said the bigger challenge with the strike is the fate of the common Nigerians who will be impacted by the incidence.

“If people working at the frontline, the health workers who collect samples for tests have not been paid and then highly placed people are experiencing delayed testing, what then is the state of the common man?”

A staff of an international NGO who lost her mother last week to COVID-19 recounted how her aged mother spent 2 days abandoned in the accident and emergency room of Federal Medical Centre Umuahia because she was a suspected case of COVID-19. While she died on the night of the second day, the result of the test was not received until over a week after her death.

Commenting on how difficult it is to access NCDC for testing, she said “the truth is that many people are dying, and they don’t even get the opportunity to be tested. After complaining or experiencing some symptoms, in 3-4 days you are dead. People don’t get the opportunity to get tested and that is the major challenge.”

Staff travel across states, return without testing

Speaking with another staff member close to the Minister’s office, she commented that a lot needs to be done to contain the virus. When asked about the possibility that other people in the Ministry have been infected, the staff said, half of the staff of the Ministry, especially those working in close contact with the Minister’s office may be infected.

“From what I can deduce, many of us leave far in Suleja, Mararaba and other far border towns and we take public transport to work and travel across State borders unchecked. That is this small office, not to talk of cleaners and staff of other departments that we don’t know where they live or how they get to work.”

Probing this comment further, it was revealed that top officials of the ministry have been allowed to travel to various parts of the country on a weekly basis either for work or personal travels.

One source stated that the index case may actually not be the first case since there are reports that another staff in the Malaria programme is also infected. The source who claims to be a staff of one of the Development Partners to the Ministry said “I do not feel safe coming here for meetings anymore as I am sure that we still have large numbers of people sitting at the Ministry that have become ill and have not gone for any testing. It would make sense if all the staff of the Ministry are tested to rule out the further spread and the risk to the family of our staff.”

Ministry of Health yet to spend 2.1 billion COVID-19 funds

It will be recalled that the National Assembly in a recent probe of expenditure of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC gathered that the Ministry was yet to make any expenditure from the money allocated to the Ministry by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in the amount of N2.1 billion

However, the Ministry have recently commenced the payment of hazard allowance for frontline health workers which brought to an end the strike action by resident doctors for non-payment of allowances.

Experts call for increasing testing across Nigeria.

A public health practitioner while commenting on a need for a proactive approach to flattening the COPVID-19 curve in Nigeria said Community level testing centres is an effective way to increase testing and curtailing the spread.

Some States such as Ogun have already set up testing centres where members of the public can go at will and test. The NCDC should support other States to do the same. Teams can be deployed to different strategic locations to collect samples for testing which would then be sent to the laboratories. Such proactive measures can be replicated across the country”

When asked if the cost of such centres would not overwhelm the NCDC , she responded saying,

“I cannot put a figure to it, but money shouldn’t be a problem. I would assume that public buildings, offices, schools and even private buildings would be more than happy to provide space for testing boots at zero cost. All that would then be required would be for the NCDC and State EOCs to provide testing kits, and deploy one or two staff to designated booths. In other words, it would cost almost ‘nothing’ to effectively set up a booth.”

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