By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

The identities of 100 Nigerians whose travel documents have  been suspended for six months for violation of travel protocols are soon to be made public, the Presidential Task Force PTF on COVID-19 has announced.

The PTF also announced new travel rules for passengers coming into Nigeria  from South Africa and the United Kingdom, two countries where a new variant of COVID-19 have  been confirmed.

These were disclosed on Thursday  by the National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, during media briefing in Abuja.

Aliyu who, explained that publishing the identities of the errant 100 Nigerians would serve as a deterrent, added that sanction for foreign passport holders who violate COVID-19 protocols, would be revocation of their visas.

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic has said it would review measures for dealing with travels from United Kingdom (UK), South Africa and other destinations being ravaged by the new variant of the virus.

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this on Thursday at a media briefing in Abuja, said Nigeria had not banned flights from these countries due to its likely economic and social implications for neighbouring countries.

According to him, the Nigerian response to the situation had become a model for other countries, adding that they had also started adopting the Nigerian pattern.

Mustapha said: “Similarly, the PTF is aware of the global conversation on the new strain of virus discovered in the UK. We had assured Nigerians that our experts working with the WHO are studying the variant strain and shall make a statement at the appropriate time.

“On the international travel, especially from the UK, South Africa and some very high burden areas, we continue to evaluate the actions taken by various countries. We note that some of the countries that initially banned flights have now adopted the requirement already in place in Nigeria.

“We have also weighed the security, economic and social implications of a full ban, especially when we consider the situation in our neighboring countries and the ECOWAS as a whole.

“The PTF shall increase measures pertaining to those high burden countries to scale down the possibilities of importation. The National Coordinator will elaborate on this.”

The SGF also said that the national response to COVID-19 in new year would be focus on the combination of vaccines with non-pharmaceutical interventions.

He urged state governments not to shut their various treatment centres, noting that cases are rising. He said more support should also be given to public sector laboratories.

Mustapha stressed: “In 2021, its vaccines plus NPIs. As we make progress on this NPIs +Vaccines phase, I urge the State Government not to close down their treatment centers. Rather, they should keep them running efficiently and smoothly because the cases of infections are rising and we must intensify our efforts to support the public sector laboratories with critical reagents and the PTF expects the leadership of all Federal Tertiary Health Institutions to raise their level of testing and turnaround for results”.

Read Also: COVID-19: Buhari extends PTF mandate till March 2021

He added: “As we commence the process of adding vaccines to the task, we wish to reaffirm that all aspects of the pronouncement of the President will be approached with the seriousness it deserves.

“New guidelines have been developed and will be unveiled by the National Coordinator. The task is huge, but our will is stronger this time.

“Accordingly, the PTF is working with the relevant MDAs on regulatory and certification issues before we go further, on the subject of vaccines.

“The PTF is working assiduously on the turn around time for receiving test results. We are working with the NCDC to improve on this. Nigerians should expect improvement very soon”.

Mustapha said the PTF had been in touch with governors on the recent instructions by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding: “you will recall that in line with the authorization of the President, a number of advisories were issued to States on ways to curb the spread of the virus in Nigeria”.

He stressed: “As a follow up to this development, the PTF met with the select team of Governors on the platform of the National Economic Council and by extension, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

“The meeting was robust and the Governors shared their experiences on the implementation of these measures and pledged to push it further.”

By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Thursday said that the vaccine is the only weapon for eliminating the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained that extant non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand washing, sanitizing, proper wearing of face masks, and social distancing, can only reduce the spread of the disease, and not eliminate the pandemic.

Ihekweazu added that the NCDC, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Federal Ministry of Health will educate Nigerians on the benefits of the vaccine, which should be available in the first quarter of next year.

He said in Abuja: “No medical intervention, not one, has saved more lives since the beginning of mankind than vaccination. No surgery, no medicine, not even antibiotics, has saved more lives as vaccines. Vaccines are simply the miracles of medicines. We have completely eradicated polio and smallpox through vaccines.

“To be honest, by the time we get these vaccines sometimes in the first quarter of next year, there will be hundreds of millions of people that would have already received these vaccines. There are a lot of narratives about possible harm. If there is anyone that is still skeptical in March or April, he or she would have to look around the world and see people who have received the vaccine and are beginning to return to a life of normal.

“I want us by next year to be able to go back to our normal lives, and this is our license and one opportunity. As hard as we try with these non-pharmaceutical interventions of wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, we can only reduce transmission but we will not be able to eliminate the virus without the vaccine. We have seen in many countries that thought that they had gotten beyond this, only to see a re-introduction happening again.

Read Also: 138 NYSC members test positive for COVID-19 — NCDC

“So, it is the collective will of the government to do everything possible to get as many vaccines into this country and get it into the arms of Nigerians, because it is only when we get people vaccinated that we have a chance of getting ahead of this coronavirus.

“We are going to work very hard to educate all Nigerians on the benefits of this vaccine, and the opportunity it gives us to return to our lives. The agency responsible for the delivery of these vaccines is the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). Of course, the Presidential Task Force will provide the leadership together with the Federal Ministry of Health.”

The governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, posited that instead of using N540 billion to procure vaccines, it would be better to invest it on infrastructural development and rejuvenating health institutions across the country.

He said: “The country is going to expend N540 billion on the purchase of vaccines. For instance, in Kogi State today, we are building a multi-billion Naira hospital that is going to have every treatment you can ever think of in terms of medical and health care service delivery. It is worth just N4.7 billion. Therefore, if we are going to spend N10 billion per health institution, it will cater for a more deadly disease and not covid-19 that has 99.9 percent chances of recovery rates. There are more deadly diseases that are killing every day.”

Our Reporter

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID -19 said on Thursday that positive cases rose by 100 per cent in the last seven days.

It accused passengers arriving in the country of spreading the virus.

The PTF said in the past week, out of 20,208 inbound passengers, 270 tested positive.

It explained that only about 60 per cent of those due for testing presented themselves to be tested.

Speaking during the PTF’s briefing, Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said: “The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has continued to climb, giving cause for worry. On 23rd December, 2020, we recorded 1,133 confirmed cases and five deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 80, 922 from 912,114 samples tested. 1236 people have lost their lives to the disease.

“We are also recording an increase in the number of passengers coming into the country. Last week, the number of inbound passengers increased to 20,208 against 15,805 the previous week. 270 passengers tested positive after seven days against 129 the week before.  This represents more than 100 per cent increase from the previous week.

Read Also: COVID-19 vaccination to be free for Nigerians, says PTF

“Our record shows that only about 60 per cent of those due for testing presented themselves for test. The implication of this is that many who have the virus could spread it in the community without knowing it.

“I call on all those who arrived the country to isolate and present themselves for test on the seventh day. You will be saving a lot of lives.  The life you save may be that of your own loved one.”

Represented by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, he added: “We held a strategic review workshop on the 21st and 22nd December, 2020 to review activities and reports of supportive supervision as part of our response to strengthen case management of COVID-19 cases. We shall ensure standards are maintained in the operations and activities at Isolation centres including training, logistics & supplies and data management.

“In addition, a robust coordination meeting held on Thursday 23rd December, 2020 with CEOs of the Federal Tertiary Hospitals and the Team Leads for the states Isolation centres in attendance as part of efforts to ensure coordination in the management of cases in all the isolation centers across the country.”

By Sanni Onogu, Victor Oluwasegun and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Senate President Ahmad Lawan House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on Thursday felicitated with the Christian faithful and other Nigerians as they join the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas today.

Also, the Christian Association of Nigeria   (CAN) advised   Christians to be more security conscious and   adhere strictly to  COVID-19 protocols as they mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

In their separate Christmas messages, Lawan, Gbajabiamila, and Ekweremadu recalled the challenges facing the country, saying that with prayers, peace, and love, Nigerians would overcome.

Lawan noted that this year’s celebration comes at a time when the world is combatting the resurgence of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has forced many countries to ramp up health safety protocols   when people traditionally gather to share love in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Senate President, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, said that aside from global health emergency, the nation also faces security and economic challenges.

Lawan expressed confidence that the resilience and positive attitude of Nigerians would not only help our country to prevail against the challenges but also ensure that their strains do not stop a merry and responsible celebration of Christmas in the country.

He said: “I celebrate with the Christian faithful and enjoin all of us to remember the essence of the august occasion.”

Read Also: Lawan welcomes release of Kankara schoolboys

Also, Gbajabiamila called on Christians to use the period of Christmas to pray for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

The Speaker also urged them to pray for the country to overcome the myriad of its problems, especially insecurity.

In his message, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Lanre Lasisi, Gbajabiamila noted that Nigerians should also use the period to pray for their leaders for God’s guidance.

Ekweremadu, in a statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, said as  Christians celebrate Christmas, they  “must not lose sight of the crux of the season, which is God’s love for mankind in sending his only begotten son for our salvation.”

CAN, in a statement by its President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, advised Christians to have faith in a better future.

It noted the challenges, especially the impact of COVID-19,  and reminded  Christians that   Christ was born in  the darkest time in Israel’s history yet he triumphed.

In the  statement   the association also   urged Nigerians to pray for the government to put an end to the kidnappings and killings in the country.

By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Two thousand Nigerians and foreign nationals have been rescued from kidnappers in Zamfara State, Governor Bello Matawalle has said.

The governor said they were rescued in the past 19 months under his watch, adding that the feat was made possible by using former bandits as negotiators.

Matawalle gave the information when he hosted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Uche Secondus who was in Abuja to condole him on the loss of eight members of the emir’s entourage.

According to him, no ransom was paid in the rescuing of kidnapped victims in the state, adding that logic and dialogue had always been deployed.

The governor stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was adequately briefed on every security measures undertaken to secure lives and properties.

Read Also: Zamfara gold: Matawalle blasts South-south PDP governors

Matawalle said his resolve to operate an open door policy was to offer support to security agencies in the state.

He said: “We have recovered a lot of dangerous weapons which was given to the security agencies of Nigeria and we have rescued about 2,000 kidnapped victims including some foreign nationals.

“These include people from China, Korea, Niger republic, Burkina Faso and even Central Africa who were kidnapped and taken to Zamfara state.

“All we are concerned with is to see our people go to sleep with their eyes closed and that is the responsibility of every government to provide security for the lives and properties of which we are doing.”

Matawalle urged all state governors to put aside political differences and put a united front to rid the country of all criminal elements and activities, especially banditry.

Secondus, who warned that in the absence of law and order there would be anarchy, said “security and hunger knows no party.”

He described as an “uncommon feat” the rescue of the over 300 students of the Government Science Secondary School, abducted from Kankara, Katsina State.

By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters has attributed the prompt rescue of the 344 abducted pupils of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, to improved intelligence and backing of “superior” civil authorities.

It also said the cooperation of the people, which resulted in the divulgence of information on the movement of the bandits, played major role in the rescue operation.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, stated this on Thursday in Abuja.

The Defence spokesman said the rescue of the schoolboys was the first among military operations that did not record any casualty.

He said the module of the rescue operation would be adopted for future military operations.

“The reason behind the rescue is professionalism. The intelligence aspect was handled very professionally. Our operatives from the Defence Intelligence Agencies (DIA) worked with the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the vigilantes. Cooperation was at its peak.

“So, I can tell you that the intelligence management, the fusion was perfect. The Chief of Defence Staff, the Defence Minister, and the others presented their plan, and it was perfect.  But, they cautioned us that no lives must be lost.

“So, it was professionalism that boosted all these and saw that the children came out alive. The secret is just professionalism.

“Also, with the support of the appropriate superior authority, we got all the support from them and that’s very key to us,” Enenche said.

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Also, giving the breakdown of military operations, Enenche said in the Northwest, “troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and other subsidiary operations sustained their operations in the Northwest progressively”.

He added: “These operations led to the rescue of abducted persons, neutralisation of criminal elements and recovery of arms and ammunition. Notably, on December 17, 2020, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji actualised their promise to ensure safe return of the abducted pupils. As you are aware, all the 344 pupils of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, who were abducted by armed bandits, were rescued alive.

“Similarly, troops rescued 39 abducted girls who were Islamiyya children returning from Mawlud programme at Nguwar Al-Kasim in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State. Also, on December 20, 2020, troops, in swift response to a distress call, with overwhelming firepower, rescued 10 kidnapped victims from armed bandits at Yenyewa Village in Zamfara State. All rescued victims have been successfully reunited with their families.”