Category: Uncategorized

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

Students of higher Institutions of learning have kicked against the proposed online classes in some institutions.

They lamented that fluctuating network of the mobile services will be one of the hindrances to free flow of the idea.

Some higher institutions mooted the idea of online classes in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, which warranted closure of campuses and declaration of sit-at-order by governments.

The students, who speak to our reporter on the new idea of learning, said it was a welcome development but noted that not all students have access to data.

They said those that have data are experiencing unstable network, which may hinder the flow of the interactive learning.

A lecturer in Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Mrs. Titilayo Soji-Oni, said the idea of online classes was just to make the students survive school academic calendar intact.

She added that the students may only sustain the accurate academic calendar if the online interactive session was allowed.

“We only know the day when the order for school closure took effect. No one knows when the school will be reopened,” she said, “How the future of the students will be a brighter one is one of the lecturers’ priorities because the on-line class is not an easy task.

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“Lecturers will exhaust data and time on-line during the process just to impact knowledge to the students,” she stressed.

A student from Lagos State University (LASU), Rasheedat Salami, said she would be happy if her school could come up with that idea as she felt that she had been using her data on unnecessary chatting and downloading of unworthy substances.

She added that despite the fact that she loved the idea, she was afraid of having examination online.

“No one knows when the COVID-19 will be eradicated,” she said.

A student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Kukute Emmanuel, said it was not a welcome idea at all as he thought most students could not comprehend while facing lecturers, saying that how would such students comprehend online. He lamented that one could also fail to attend the class as a result of power failure.

A student of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Gbenga Adebayo, said it was a good idea but some students whose families are still struggling to feed its family members in this period of isolation may not have money to give to their wards for data.

A student of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTEC), Deborah Feko, said such idea has not been introduced in her school but students have used the students WhatsApp group to do interactive learning instead of posting or reading non academic materials online.

“I pray that this Covid19 disappears in a short period so that students will return to school with academic calendar intact,” she said.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has released an updated list of state emergency numbers.

By Robert Egbe

Pay TV Company, StarTimes, has added an educational television show for students and children to its bouquet of programmes.

It said the show would help pupils to continue learning despite their schools being shut down in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The programme, tagged ‘Home Schooling’ has been airing on StarTimes ST Kids channel since March 27, the digital television station said in a statement.

Read Also: StarTimes gives bouquet upgrade in Easter Promo

It described the programme as “unique”, adding that it will bring relief to parents “whose major headache has been the fear of the educational standard of their wards dropping” during the forced holiday.

Pupils, it said, would get educated while enjoying choice content on the channel.

“The Homeschooling educational channel will air every Monday to Friday by 9am African time on ST Kids’ channel with great educative content that will inspire learning and spark curiosity in young minds.

“Homeschooling includes social studies, science, handicraft, painting and dance.

“Although schools are currently closed, study is never suspended and we have a whole lot of fantastic content lined up to enjoy their summer break with family.

“We are staying true to one of our core values which is to provide and entertain viewers with timely, uncommon and innovative content,” the statement said.

Simeon Ebulu

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, on Tuesday said the global financial body was very concerned about the negative outlook for global growth this year brought about by the COVD-19 pandemic.

She said IMF was particularly worried about the strain a downturn would have on emerging markets and low-income countries.

She spoke yesterday during an extraordinary conference call of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Washington DC, the United States capital.

She said the IMF welcomes decisive actions taken to shield people and the economy from COVID-19, that led to a decline in volatility in major financial markets in recent days.

She said IMF’s forecast of a recovery next year is hinged on how “we manage to contain the virus and reduce the level of uncertainty,” saying that is the reason IMF is in support of the “ambitious G20 action plan to strengthen the capacity of health systems to cope with the epidemic; to stabilise the world economy through timely, targeted and coordinated measures and  to pave the way towards recovery.”

Georgieva assured that the IMF was ever ready to “do our part,” saying it has already “got a strong mandate” from its governing body, the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), on reforms to “strengthen our crisis response.”

She said: “In particular, it endorsed initiatives to: Enhance access to our emergency facilities, as now some 85 countries indicate they rely on them for financial support; build up our capacity to serve our poorest members; and help countries experiencing foreign exchange shortages, including possibly by short-term liquidity line.”

Despite the panic caused by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN)  last week demonstrated their commitment to defend the country from maritime threats report PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU and HALIMA BALOGUN.

 

These, certainly, are not the best of times for Nigeria. The economy is shrinking no thanks to plummeting oil prices occasioned by the global Coronavirus pandemic. This situation is in addition to large scale terrorism, resource theft, economic sabotage, piracy and sea robbery along the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) coastlines that affect shipping and lead to hike in maritime insurance which also negatively affects the economy.

Blessed with abundant mineral and natural resources, the GoG region comprised of about 472 million people in 26 counties, has an estimated 24billion barrels crude oil reserves; contributes five million barrels daily to global crude chain, accounts for 40 percent and 29 percent of Europe’s and America’s petroleum products consumption.

It is therefore not surprising that the region remained a resource provider and primary conduit for international trade; has overtime become a hotbed for multinational syndicates involved in sharp practices including illegal bunkering, piracy, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, human trafficking, narcotics and firearms smuggling all aimed at destabilising the region.

Conversant with these realities, the Nigerian Navy (NN) last week deployed its might to the GoG region to checkmate activities of these criminal elements and ensure all threats to the country’s economic and security wellbeing in the maritime domain were waded off.

For three days, naval operatives, embedded journalists and other relevant maritime stakeholders sustained patrols up to 50 nautical miles from Lagos Anchorage with participating vessels conducting both joint and independent sea control exercises.

Codenamed TREASURE GUARD II, the exercise saw the deployment of four capital ships including NNS THUNDER, NNS NGURU, NNS DORINA, NNS ANDONI; two tugboat- TUG DOLPHIN RIMA and TUG Commander UGWU; two maritime patrol helicopters and two detachment of the navy’s elite force known as the Special Boats Services (SBS).

Although the exercise was held within the Western Naval Command’s area of responsibility (AOR), warships were deployed from the Eastern and Central Naval Commands to ensure wide coverage, just as the country’s backwaters were adequately manned to prevent vandals from having access to oil pipelines, just as representatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) and Ministry of Justice (MOJ) were on ground to foster interagency synergy.

While at sea, the exercise did not only serve the purpose of improving personnel’s professionalism and capabilities through various simulations enacted but also served real time deterrence purposes as the navy’s presence on the high seas within those period sent the criminals packing.

 

Flag-off

 

Prior to the commencement, there were speculations that the exercise might be cancelled following the confirmation of COVID-19 cases in Lagos and Abuja. With the outbreak of the pandemic, the annual multinational sea exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS was called off.  Mindful of the dangers of leaving the GoG region unpoliced, the NN proceeded with Treasure Guard II, solely sponsored and executed by Nigerians.

Kicking off the exercise at the headquarters Western Naval Command (WNC), Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Rear Admiral Oladele Daji said they prepared for three months with series of coordinating conferences with international partners as well as with maritime law enforcement agencies.

He said the cancellation of OBANGAME Express did not really have adverse impact on the navy’s preparations as “all the ships have taken their logistics provided by the naval headquarters and we are good to go.”

Daji said the exercise would boost the confidence of global shipping community, demonstrate and evaluate the navy’s maritime operation centres’ interoperability as well as its tactical interdiction capability.

According to Daji, the first phase of the exercise which held in 2016 at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) recorded commendable achievements as lots of vessels involved in illegalities were arrested, which he said gave the seafarers confidence to once again ply the waters.

He said: “They (criminals) were switching off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). They were arrested and that gave the seafarers confidence to once again ply our routes. If you look back, about four years to five years before then, there were concerns about ships calling at Nigerian Ports.

“That is why we deemed it important again to re-enact Exercise Treasure Guard II to increase the confidence of the global shipping community in Nigerian waters.

“It is very important that we acknowledge the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas for approving the transmutation of the Nigerian leg of Exercise OBAGAME EXPRESS 2020 which was cancelled due to health concerns. “The approval of Exercise Treasure Guard 11 is a clear demonstration of the avowed commitment of the CNS to harness and deploy all the capabilities of the navy in conjunction with other agencies. That is to ensure that collectively, we secure and protect all the assets in our waters,” he said.

Thereafter, participating ships sailed from their different jetties, with NNS Dorina, NNS Nguru and NNS Andoni leaving from NNS Beecroft Jetty.

At sea, the participating ships undertook various simulations such as aerial insertion, emergency search and rescue, Gunnery Exercise (GUNNEX), medical evacuation, underwater warfare, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), tactical maneuvering, counter-piracy, human and drug trafficking drills all designed to work up the warships and personnel in line with NN doctrine of operations.

 

 

In the first simulation, NNS NGURU played the role of an oil tanker that was hijacked by pirates off Lagos waters. The simulation which was an opposed boarding scenario, saw the naval personnel racing to the distressed vessel after receiving a call, forcefully rescuing the crew members who were held hostage and arresting the pirates. Some of the criminals died in the operation while others sustained injuries and were evacuated by the helicopter for medical attention.

For the second scenario, NNS DORINA acted like a vessel loaded with firearms which was pursued and intercepted by NNS NGURU, weapons recovered and suspects arrested for arms trafficking.

The participating ships then proceeded to take positions through series of formations to oace way for safe area for the GUNNEX. Having achieved the required formation, other safety measures such as activation of the fire alarm, fresh water on standby to cool off the barrels were taken before the firing took place.

At inquiry, it was discovered that the purpose of the exercise was to test the efficiency of the weaponry as well as send signals to criminals that the navy was well prepared for any eventuality.

Briefing reporters at the end of the exercise, the Officer in Tactical Command, Rear Admiral Elkanah Jaiyeola, said its essence was to consolidate on the efforts of the Nigerian Navy towards ensuring that the treasures within the nation’s maritime domain were properly safeguarded and also allow the Nigeria Navy to work with other agencies towards ensuring effective coordination and collaborations.

“From the very beginning, part of the challenges we face in our waters are issues of piracy, IUU fishing, human trafficking and sometimes arm trafficking. So, what we witnessed as we commenced the exercise was that of a reported piracy and we combined the efforts of our Maritime Domain Awareness Centres which alerted of the report and we were able to inform our fellow unit for what we call intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance and they were able to identify the location of the vessel and of course we vectored some of the assigned ships to go intercept, board and find out what happened.

“Aside, you will realise we had an exercise in illegal fishing and report of arms and ammunition. That’s where we had the unopposed body where one of our ships was able to board and interrogate and of course we were able to discover some seized weapons. Aside, we had the gunnery exercise where we were able to test our weapons.”

Analysing the achievements of the exercise, Jaiyeola said it improved on the synergy between participating agencies adding that the Navy has been able to work with their men in the area of weapon handling and perfecting their art of seamanship.

A pharmacist, Mr Ayobambo Fajuyitan, on Tuesday cautioned Nigerians against using hand sanitisers with low alcohol content in preventing COVID-19.

“Not all hand sanitisers in the market are capable of killing the COVID-19 virus because the alcohol contents are low,’’ the pharmacist told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone in Ibadan on Tuesday.

According to him, hand sanitiser capable of killing the virus must have 40 per cent alcohol content.

“When at home, it’s preferred you use hand washing method: It’s better to use the hand wash in a running tap for 20 seconds when at home,’’ he said.

Fajuyitan, however, cautioned against ingesting of hand sanitiser.

“Hand sanitisers contain majorly glycerine and ethanol.

Read Also: How to make hand sanitisers at home

“ Hand sanitiser contains 62 per cent ethyl alcohol and that’s the equivalent of four shots of vodka.

“At that concentration, even a small dose can be dangerous if ingested,’’ Fajuyitan said.

According to him, the ingestion can lead to dizziness, slurred speech, headaches and even brain damage or death in extreme cases.

“Also ocular irritation, vomiting, conjunctivitis, oral irritation, cough and abdominal pain.

“Rare effects included coma, seizure, hypoglycemia metabolic acidosis and respiratory depression may occur.

“Majority of the hand sanitisers produced in Nigeria don’t even have up to 62 per cent ethyl alcohol.

“If you eat with your hands after using hand sanitiser, be cautious as excessive use of sanitiser can make you prone to viral infections as removal of bacteria give ample space for the virus to grow and sanitisers are not capable of denaturing viruses,’’ he said.

 

(NAN)

Tanzania on Tuesday recorded its first death from coronavirus.

According to the Health Ministry, he was a 49-year-old man who had underlying health issues

“I regret to announce the first death of coronavirus patient early this morning. The 49-year old man had other health complications,” Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said in a statement.

Read Also;  Nigeria records four new cases of COVID-19

In a bid to curb the disease, Tanzania has already shut all schools and universities and from Tuesday parliament cut working hours and limited the number of MPs allowed in the debating chamber.

However, while neighbouring countries have imposed lockdowns and urged people to stay home, President John Magufuli has played down the seriousness of the disease

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has denied testing positive to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The minister in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Sarah Sanda, described the media report alleging that he has contracted the virus as fabricated and malicious.

”It has come to the attention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, that a fabricated and malicious report is circulating in social and print media.

“Alleging that the two claimed cases of Covid-19 recently reported in Enugu were the Minister and his Personal Assistant. The Minister and his aide were in Abuja at all material times.

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“Furthermore, the Minister is a member of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 and all the members were recently tested and all found to be negative.

“The authors of this act are well known as is their motive; to embarrass and spread alarm and panic during a national emergency.

“To curb this kind of criminal behaviour, the matter has been brought to the attention of the law enforcement agencies for investigation and severe sanctions as deterrence in future,” Onyeama said.

(NAN)

Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

 

The immediate past Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Temitope Alonge has debunked the insinuations that Oyo State is not adequately prepared for the ravaging novel Coronavirus in the state.

The confirmed cases in the state currently stand at seven.

Alonge spoke on the heels of media reports in a section of the media that the state is not doing enough in terms of preparation and readiness in the likelihood of the spread of the virus.

Addressing journalists after a tour of the Oyo State Infectious Disease Centre, formerly Abiola Ajimobi maternal and paediatric centre, Olodo where work is in top gear, Alonge who said he had the mandate of the Oyo State government to assist the state’s Ministry of Health Management Board in setting up the Infectious Disease Isolation Centre said the government is doing more by the day to ensure it combats the pandemic coronavirus in the State.

The Centre is a planned 100 bed space isolation centre with work at about eighty percent completion.

He said “We have taken delivery of over 600 Personal Protective Equipment procured by the state. We are expecting over 3000 more in the next few days.

“Despite the challenges with various States and the difficulty in procuring ventilators, we have secured six ventilators which will arrive on Monday (today).

“We are also expecting some anaesthetic machines attached with ventilators in addition to the already secured four ventilators.

“All our ventilators are on solar inverters which will ensure that no patient suffers in case of power disruption.

“We have procured three set of 5KVA inverters. One will power our High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Resuscitation Unit, another one will power the ventilators while the last one will be for the lightings of the entire Centre.

“This does not preclude the generators and other sources of power installed in the facility.

“The centre is installed with over 60 close circuit cameras while we are also creating four special rooms for people with travel history and who might want to self-isolate.

“Oyo State government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde is leaving no stone unturned in its fight against coronavirus in the state, and it would be unfair to say the government is not ready to curb the spread of the pandemic disease.

“It is not true that the government is doing nothing to fight coronavirus and It is not fair on the Governor, who is the chairperson of the task force that has been set up in the fight against this virus.

“He is chairing it with everything he has, he is in control and he has taken sound advice from experts. As it stands the requirements for the takeoff of a bigger surge is in place, the Agbami centre has a ten-bed space, which is why this centre has been created and it will be ready in the next five days.

“We only need to put in some finishing touches, like Oxygen, running water and Solar panel system. We also have a small mortuary because not everyone will survive but we don’t pray for anyone to die. In a setting like this, people are bound to die and we have to provide them with decent storage.”

Also speaking, the Director, Planning, Resources and Statistics, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Abass Gbolahan said the government is working with UCH to curb the virus.

He noted that the current isolation centers at Jericho, UCH, Ojoo barracks are adequate for the cases currently in the state but that the infection diseases centre is a larger facility in case of emergency.

“UCH has been a partner in the management of pandemics in the state; we have an Isolation centre there too.

“The Executive Governor has also supported UCH in creating a testing centre, so we don’t have to take samples all the way from here to Lagos.

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“Looking at our level of preparation before Covid-19, we were safe. Oyo state is fully prepared. The first thing in any emergency or epidemic cases like this is to have a team and Oyo State Epidemic Awareness and Rapid Response Team on ground before the epidemic.

“We have other partners that we are also working and meeting regularly and what the state did immediately was to create a roadmap and responsibilities to each committee member. The Governor had approved the creation of Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) which has been operational and work 24hours a day with their phone lines.

“We also have places designated as Isolation Centres. One of them is at Jericho. As I speak with you, the index case that we have is there with all the necessary facilities and doing the person is doing well,” he said.

AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

 

Security operatives have arrested not less than 165 persons in Kaduna State for violating the curfew imposed by the government as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

Kaduna State Police Command, which disclosed this on Monday said that,
205 vehicles and tricycles have also been impounded.

Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Mohammed Jalige in a statement said, the Command has put in place a robust enforcement strategy which has recorded significant success in terms of securing compliance from the civil population through community engagement.

According to the PPRO, “following the imposition of 24 Hour Curfew by the Kaduna State Government on the 27th March, 2020 and the initial Social Distancing Order by the federal and State governments respectively to curtail the devastating spread of the deadly COVID 19, the Kaduna Police Command under the capable leadership of CP U.M Muri in collaboration with other sister agencies has put in place a robust enforcement strategies which has recorded significant success in terms of securing compliance from the civil population through community engagement.

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“The Command has continued to enforce and closely monitor compliance of the respective Executive Orders with a view to ensuring the success of the government efforts geared towards curbing the contagious effect of COVID 19 as well as enhancing Public Safety and Public Health accordingly.

“The operatives of the Command in collaboration with other security agencies has in the course of enforcement, arrested one hundred and sixty five (165) people and impounded two hundred and five (205) motor vehicles/tri-cycles, including the two clerics who violated the curfew and Social Distancing order and are being interrogated at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

“The suspects will be prosecuted immediately on the completion of investigation in accordance with the relevant extant laws of the land.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP U.M Muri enjoins the general public to be law abiding, observe the safety tips and continue to comply with the curfew and the Social Distancing Orders aimed at enhancing Public Safety and Public health in our dear State.

“The CP further warns violators of the government orders to desist or face the heavy burden of the law as the Command will not hesitate to be decisive on any person or group of persons who become hell bent at bending these restriction orders in accordance with the law.” He said.