Speaking in Abuja at a briefing of the task force
on Monday, the national coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19,
Sani Aliyu, has warned states against seeing figures of COVID-19 cases as a
competition among them.
on Monday, the national coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19,
Sani Aliyu, has warned states against seeing figures of COVID-19 cases as a
competition among them.
Aliyu urged state governments to be transparent
about figures of cases. He said: “COVID-19 numbers is not an issue of
competition between states.
about figures of cases. He said: “COVID-19 numbers is not an issue of
competition between states.
“There’s no shame if a state comes out with
positive numbers.
positive numbers.
“In order to deal with an epidemic, we need to have
transparency in numbers and that transparency is linked to the number of tests.
transparency in numbers and that transparency is linked to the number of tests.
“If you do not know the extent of a problem, you’ll not be able to deal with
it.
it.
“So I’m appealing to state governments to please continue to support the
state emergency operating centres, the state ministry of health and make sure
that everybody who needs to be tested for COVID-19 in any state in the country
has that opportunity of having the test done.”
state emergency operating centres, the state ministry of health and make sure
that everybody who needs to be tested for COVID-19 in any state in the country
has that opportunity of having the test done.”
Aliyu also said a number of states still lacked
the adequate capacity for isolation, advising that “Now is the time to correct
this before the numbers start going up. I’m appealing to state chief executives
to please make sure where you do not have adequate isolation facilities to do
so. “The PTF has already put 300 as per state minimum number of isolation beds
that should be available in every state.” He said some states had submitted
“less than 10 samples for testing and this does not mean they’ve no cases of
respiratory tract infections or other symptoms related to COVID-19 more so that
we’re intensifying efforts to stem the community-based transmission even when
there are no record of people who travelled abroad in the states.
the adequate capacity for isolation, advising that “Now is the time to correct
this before the numbers start going up. I’m appealing to state chief executives
to please make sure where you do not have adequate isolation facilities to do
so. “The PTF has already put 300 as per state minimum number of isolation beds
that should be available in every state.” He said some states had submitted
“less than 10 samples for testing and this does not mean they’ve no cases of
respiratory tract infections or other symptoms related to COVID-19 more so that
we’re intensifying efforts to stem the community-based transmission even when
there are no record of people who travelled abroad in the states.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, said the rice distributed
to states across the country was good and fit for consumption. There had been
controversy over the distributed rice with some states rejecting their
portions, alleging the rice was bad. But the minister said the rice was
certified fit for consumption by the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control before it was distributed to the states.
Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, said the rice distributed
to states across the country was good and fit for consumption. There had been
controversy over the distributed rice with some states rejecting their
portions, alleging the rice was bad. But the minister said the rice was
certified fit for consumption by the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control before it was distributed to the states.
“On the
issue of rice distribution to the states, the trucks of rice were handed over
to us by the Nigeria Customs Service and were assessed by NAFDAC which issued a
clearance before the goods were released for onward distribution to the states.
So, as far as we’re concerned the rice was certified fit for human consumption.
issue of rice distribution to the states, the trucks of rice were handed over
to us by the Nigeria Customs Service and were assessed by NAFDAC which issued a
clearance before the goods were released for onward distribution to the states.
So, as far as we’re concerned the rice was certified fit for human consumption.
“We had an issue in Oyo, which was officially reported this (Monday) morning.
But two or three days back, we have seen news flying that the rice we took to
the South-West and parts of this country was bad, and that Lagos has taken its
own to the lagoon and that other states have rejected them. I want to say
categorically that those are fake news. They are not true.
But two or three days back, we have seen news flying that the rice we took to
the South-West and parts of this country was bad, and that Lagos has taken its
own to the lagoon and that other states have rejected them. I want to say
categorically that those are fake news. They are not true.
“I just spoke with
the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (Fayemi) and he assured me that the
one he received in Ekiti and other states is in good condition. “Let us be very
clear on this issue of rice. We all know that even in our houses if we keep
foodstuff, especially grains of that nature in a damp place, they are bound to
have a change in colour. But that does mean that it is not fit for human
consumption. “So, please this is what I can say about the issue of rice and
they (beneficiaries) are very happy that the Federal Government is supporting
them,” she said.
the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (Fayemi) and he assured me that the
one he received in Ekiti and other states is in good condition. “Let us be very
clear on this issue of rice. We all know that even in our houses if we keep
foodstuff, especially grains of that nature in a damp place, they are bound to
have a change in colour. But that does mean that it is not fit for human
consumption. “So, please this is what I can say about the issue of rice and
they (beneficiaries) are very happy that the Federal Government is supporting
them,” she said.
