Category: Uncategorized

 Moses Emorinken and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday warned principals of government-owned secondary schools against non-compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Chairman, FCT Ministerial Enforcement Taskforce on COVID-19 Restrictions, Ikharo Attah, gave the warning during an inspection tour of some schools in Kubwa, Dutsen Alhaji and Gwarinpa Housing Estate.

The task force, which visited some government-owned and private schools, was unhappy with the compliance level in some of the government-owned schools.

Specifically, at the Junior Secondary School Kubwa 3, located inside Kubwa Model Primary school in Phase 3, the taskforce frowned at the poor compliance level by both teachers and students as most of them carried on without facemasks.

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When the task force visited the Baptist High Kubwa, the team inspected the classrooms, clinic and isolation centre.

The task force also visited Government Girls College, Dutsen Alhaji, where the vice principal, Yusuf Barde, who conducted the task force members round the school, noted: “The reason for the high level of compliance in this school is because we are committed to safety. This is a female boarding school and we don’t want to put the lives of the students at risk.”

Addressing reporters at the end of the tour, Attah, who said the compliance level was encouraging in some of the schools, however, warned: “Principals and management team of public-owned schools must ensure full compliance with the guidelines. In private schools, the compliance level is near one hundred per cent. While most government schools are doing well, few are not serious at all.

“What we all saw today at Junior Secondary School Kubwa 3 is quite disheartening. Principals and their management team in all government schools must do the needful.”

Moses Emorinken, Abuja

As part of its effort to support the Federal Government’s drive to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, KAS Consult LTD has begun the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs) worth N50m to secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It also launched its protection pack called KAS 3 in 1, which consists of medically approved face shield, a cotton face mask and a portable hand sanitizer spray with up to 70 percent alcohol which is produced in Nigeria.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of KAS Consult, Ademola Kasumu, disclosed this during a press briefing to commemorate the World Mask Week in Abuja on Thursday.

Among the schools that benefited from the donation were Junior Secondary School Karu, Community Secondary School Asokoro, FCT Mass Education Karu, Federal Government Boys College Gudu, and many other schools within the precinct of Abuja.

He said, “Just recently, Presidential Task force on COVID-19 warned that the nation is at a very dangerous stage of community transmission, even as it expressed concern that the pandemic may spread to all the 774 Local Government Areas of the Federation.

“Until there is a vaccine, the only option we have as citizens to protect ourselves is still the non-pharmaceutical measures which have proven to be cheap and effective, such as the appropriate use of face masks.

“As part of our Cooperate Social Responsibility, we have chosen a number of students who are currently waiting to write WAEC in schools to distribute palliatives worth over N50 million to, so that the children and teachers can be protected.

“Today, KAS Consult Limited joins the global movement to motivate all citizens on the need to wear face mask and be protected.

“We practically chose this time, to launch the KAS 3 in 1 protection Pack, an initiative extensively researched and designed for curtailing the coronavirus pandemic.

“KAS 3 in 1 is a unique and complete protection pack with a medically approved face shield, a 100 percent cotton face mask and a portable hand sanitizer spray with up to 70 percent alcohol which is approved by NAFDAC are fully and produced in Nigeria.”

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He added, “We firmly believe that this is the best way to curb the spread of the virus. This is what inspired our decision to choose schools for this distribution of KAS 3 in complete protection. The children who are heading back to school are our children too and we will stop at nothing to protect their lives at all costs.

“We believe that the best way to conquer COVID-19 is to fight it with love, by contributing and donating PPEs to the Vulnerable as a way to curb community spread of the Virus which informed our reason for choosing only the final year students sitting for WAEC in schools in Abuja for this distribution.

“We implore organizations, companies, government agencies too, to join hands with us. The fight against the COVID-19, cannot be fought by government alone.”

The Head of Supply Chain of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Mrs. Chibuzor Eneh, in her remark, said: “In the absence of a vaccine, our best hope of reducing transmission of COVID-19 is through non-pharmaceutical interventions like the use of face masks in public places and physical distancing.

“We advise Nigerians to continue to adhere to recommended measures. The most important advice for our students is to maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene in order to remain safe.

“NCDC commends the management of KAS LTD for supporting the government, and ensuring that schools in the FCT abide with government’s advice on keeping the school safe and distributing PPEs to schools in the FCT.”

Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Thursday warned principals of government-owned secondary schools against non-compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Chairman, FCT Ministerial Enforcement Taskforce on COVID-19 Restrictions, Ikharo Attah gave the warning during an inspection tour of some schools in Kubwa, Dutsen Alhaji and Gwarinpa Housing estate.

The taskforce which visited some government-owned and private schools was unhappy with the compliance level in some of the government-owned schools.

Specifically, at the Junior Secondary School Kubwa 3 located inside Kubwa Model Primary school in Phase 3, the taskforce frowned at the poor compliance level by both teachers and students as most of them carried on without facemasks.

READ ALSO: FCTA pulls down 25 illegal buildings

When the taskforce visited the Baptist High Kubwa, the team inspected the classrooms, clinic and isolation centre.

The taskforce also visited Government Girls College, Dutsen Alhaji where the vice principal, Mr. Yusuf Barde who conducted the taskforce members round the school noted that: “the reason for the high level of compliance in this school is because we are committed to safety. This is a female boarding school and we don’t want to put the lives of the students at risk”.

Addressing journalists at the end of the tour, Attah who said the compliance level was encouraging in some of the schools, however warned that: “Principals and management team of public-owned schools must ensure full compliance with the guidelines. In private schools the compliance level is near one hundred percent. While most government schools are doing well, few are not serious at all.

“What we all saw today at Junior Secondary School Kubwa 3 is quite disheartening. Principals and their management team in all government schools must do the needful.”

While interacting with the students, the taskforce chairman advised them to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines and study hard as the examinations are just days away.

By Samuel Oamen

Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area(LCDA) of Lagos State Babatunde Oke is dead, The Nation has learnt. The second-term council boss died in the early hours of Wednesday from an undisclosed ailment. Oke was said to have been sick for a while but recovered before the Sallah break only for the sickness to relapse. The Nation gathered he was rushed to a hospital over the weekend where he eventually died this morning. Inline image Details shortly…