COVID-19 in Nigeria – Page 2

Nigerian Health workers’ union declares nationwide strike

September 13, 2020September 13, 2020 Micheal Olatunji

The Joint Health Workers Union has asked its members to withdraw their services and embark on a nationwide strike starting from midnight on Sunday (today, September 13, 2020). The decision, the union said, was reached after its National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday. The decision to go on strike was contained in a letter on Sunday to the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige. It reads; “Dear Sir, RE: NOTICE OF 15-DAY ULTIMATUM/OUTCOME OF JOHESU EXPANDED NEC MEETING. “You would recall that at the end of…

Nigerian Doctors Suspend Strike, confirm government’s N8.9bn COVID-19 allowance payment approval

September 11, 2020 Precious Ibekwe

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its ongoing nationwide strike, which it commenced on September 7, 2020. The group also confirmed that the government has approved the release of 8.9 billion naira to offset the outstanding balance of April/May and June COVID-19 hazard inducement allowance to all health workers, noting that the decision of the government to determine revised hazard allowance as soon as possible. A communique, signed after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting by President of NARD Dr. Aliyu Sokomba and other key officials…

Nigeria’s 16,000 Striking Doctors, others received N20bn COVID-19 Allowances before strike, Says Minister

September 10, 2020 Micheal Olatunji

The 16,000 doctors who have started a strike in Nigeria have, together with other health workers, being paid up to N20 billion COVID-19 inducement allowances, country’s Junior Health minister, Olorunnimbe Mamora, has declared. Mamora who said this on a Channels Television‘s programme, Sunrise Daily, monitored by Platforms Africa in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, however did not give the full breakdown of the payment. It would be recalled that about 16,000 doctors in the West African biggest economy have downed tool over the government’s inability to meet their demands including insurance package, payment…

Nigeria spends N30.5bn COVID-19 funds, palliatives from Banks, Citizens in 4 months

September 6, 2020September 6, 2020 Aliyu Aliyu

The Nigerian Accountant General, Ahmed Idris, has given details of how the Government spent N30.5 billion on efforts to curtail COVID-19 between April and July. The amount, checks by Platforms Africa showed, represented 84 per cent of the N36.3bn public funds and donations received by the Nigerian Government to tackle the pandemic. Some of the funds came from the public funds and donations from Nigerians, Banks, Nongovernmental organizations and many more. Idris gave the details in a response to a Freedom of Information request jointly made by Socio-Economic Rights and…

NO-NO! Nigeria Insists on Air France, Lufthansa, RwandAir Flights’ ban Over COVID-19 Spike

September 6, 2020 Aliyu Aliyu

Nigeria has resumed international flights just as it reiterated the ban it slammed on Air France, KLM airline, and five other airlines from flying into the country. The reopening of International airspace on September 5 came five months after shutdown by the authorities due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Other airlines banned by the apex government when the international airspace resume were: Lufthansa airline, Etihad airline, Rwanda Air, Air Namibia, and Air Maroc. The decision came less than 48 hours to the reopening of Nigeria’s international airspace which was closed about five…

Russia Ships in controversial COVID-19 vaccine to Nigeria, targets more African Nations

September 4, 2020September 4, 2020 Precious Ibekwe

The Nigerian Government has received samples of COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia. Recall that the development and testing of the vaccine were once subjects of controvery. The Russian Federation recently announced to the world that it has developed the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine. President Vladimir Putin also said the vaccine had been tested on one of his daughters. Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, delivered the samples Friday, to Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, during a visit to the ministry in Abuja. Also present at the event were the…

Nigerian Schools, NYSC camps reopen in 30 days

September 4, 2020 Aliyu Aliyu

The Nigerian Government has given the green light for schools administrators to begin the process for full reopening of schools and camps of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across the country within the next 30 days. Recall that Lagos, epicentre of COVID-19 in the country has already announced September 14 and 21 as days gates of its schools would be thrown wide open for full academic session. National Government’s Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has, in the same vein, directed all schools across Nigeria and the National Youth…

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Infections Drop, As 24 States Record New Cases

August 25, 2020August 25, 2020 Damilola Olonade

Nigeria’s coronavirus caseload declined on Monday, raising hope of flattening the curve, but 24 states in the country recorded new cases in the last 24 hours. According to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 321 new cases were recorded in the country on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 52,548. On Saturday, the nation raked in 601 cases, with Lagos churning out 404 of the figures, but the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday said more than half of the infections from Lagos were from those evacuated…

Nigeria May Be Counting Bodies in Hundreds in Next 3 Weeks, Says COVID-19 team leader

June 21, 2020June 25, 2020 Aliyu Aliyu

Head of Nigeria’s COVID-19 team, Mr. Boss Mustapha has warned that the Africa’s most populous nation might start to count dead bodies in their hundreds in the next three weeks. This, Mustapha who doubles as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 said, is following the spread of coronavirus in the country. Nigeria’s ThisDay newspaper, which reported this added that the country’s CDC announced it had recorded 661 new cases, raising tally to 19,808, discharges 6,718, deaths 506. As usual, Lagos, commercial nerve…