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Fact Check: Is Governor El-Rufai out of COVID-19 self-isolation as claimed in a video? No

Damilola OJETUNDE
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Fact Check: Is Governor El-Rufai out of COVID-19 self-isolation as claimed in a video? No

A video purportedly claiming that the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has gone out of the Coronavirus isolation and is enforcing restriction of movement imposed by the state government is misleading and UNTRUE.

El-Rufai last Saturday tested positive for coronavirus and had since gone into self-isolation in compliance with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.

The purported video which was earlier shared by one Mark Amaza on his verified Twitter handle has been deleted after an aide of the Governor reacted to it.

His tweet reads: “Covid-19 positive El-rufai defies isolation, patrols Kaduna to enforce lockdown kaftan post.com/covid-19-posit…|This doesn’t make sense to me. He’s positive & should be in isolation. Why is he putting the ppl at risk? He can’t delegate the enforcement of the lockdown?” The article was published on a website called Kaftan Post.

Tweet Post by @amasonic before it was deleted

 

Responding to a text message sent by The ICIR, Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the Governor on media and communication confirmed to The ICIR that the Governor is still in self-isolation and he is not personally monitoring the curfew imposed by the state government or enforcing restriction of movement.

“The Governor is in isolation,” he stated in his response.

The Kaduna state government has also debunked the claim in a tweet response.

It was stated that the video showing him enforcing the restriction of movement was shot on Friday, March 27.

https://twitter.com/GovKaduna/status/1244955299955556353

Therefore, the claim by the Twitter user that El-Rufai was found on the highway controlling traffic when he is  supposed to be in self-isolation is FALSE.

President has acted illegally, Quarantine Act cannot legalise lockdown order — Adegboruwa (SAN)

Seun DUROJAIYE
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President has acted illegally, Quarantine Act cannot legalise lockdown order — Adegboruwa (SAN)

EBUN-OLU Adegboruwa, Human Rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has said that the Quarantine Act of 1926 does not provide the legal framework to restrict movement of citizens around the country and thus, President Muhammadu Buhari acted illegally when he declared a lockdown order in FCT, Lagos and Ogun  states.

President Buhari, in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, March 29, had ordered a 14-day lockdown in the two states, including the Federal Capital Territory – a move made to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Following the declaration, concerns were raised over the legal backing that enables the president to make such declaration, to which the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina argued that the president was acting within the powers conferred in the Quarantine Act 1990 CAP 384 LFN.

The Act reads: “An Act to provide for and regulate the imposition of quarantine and to make other provisions for preventing the introduction into and spread in Nigeria, and the transmission from Nigeria, of dangerous infectious diseases”.

However, in a release signed by Adegboruwa, he explains that the president acted in illegality and against Section 41 of the Federal Constitution, which grants freedom of movement to all citizens.

According to Adegboruwa, an executive regulation cannot in law take away a fundamental right granted by the Constitution.

“The Quarantine Act of 1926, as its name and provisions connote, is meant for the isolation, care and treatment of victims of infectious diseases simpliciter, for the purpose of isolating them away from interacting with other members of the public, generally.

A law enacted for the benefit of those not infected by any disease cannot and should not be twisted to restrain them,” Adegboruwa argued.

He further explained the president acted erroneously in ordering a lockdown based on the the Quarantine Act when conditions of effecting the Act were not complied to.

According to him, for the president to be entitled to make a regulation under the provisions of Section 4 and 8 of the Quarantine Act, he must have first complied with the conditions precedent laid down in sections 2 and 3.

Adegboruwa also submitted that : “There is nowhere in sections 4 or 8 of the Quarantine Act that states or anticipated that the President or Governor could make regulations for the restriction of movement of persons on account of infectious diseases, against persons not so infected. Regulations in relation to quarantine are always limited to the infected persons.”

He added that the fundamental rights of citizens cannot be taken away through executive proclamations, proposing that, however noble and good-willed the event, it creates room for ‘violation of the Constitution’ and advised that it can be a dangerous signal for perpetrating illegality.

COVID-19: Pantami urges telecoms providers to subsidise calls/data for Nigerians

Ihuoma ILO
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COVID-19: Pantami urges telecoms providers to subsidise calls/data for Nigerians

THE Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has called on telecommunications service providers to subsidy and relax calls and data for Nigerians

He made the call on Tuesday morning, on his Twitter page, Pantami said: “As earlier conveyed, as the Minister of Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in charge of Policy of the Telecom Sector as in NCA, 2003, Part 1, I ‘urge’ Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), MTN, Glo, Airtel Nigeria, 9mobile, etc to ensure they further subsidy and relax calls/data for citizens in this critical time.”

According to the NCC, Nigeria has over 174 million internet users, it was against this backdrop that the minister directed the NCC, the telecom regulators, to immediately work hand-in-hand with the telecoms operators and ensure a downward review of the price of data in Nigeria.

Many Nigerians also took to social media to call on the telecommunications service providers to give free services due to the COVID-19 crisis ravaging the World.

The minister also demanded improved quality of service provided as well as checking the illegal deduction of subscribers’ data.

Pantami further added that the National Frequency Management Council established by NCA 🙁 2003), would allocate bulk spectrums to regulators for end-users, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria

‘’As conveyed last week, all Network Operators are ‘urged’ to be more generous to our citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic,’’ Pantami said.

COVID-19: FG set up economy sustainability committee to alleviate sufferings

Paul Owolabi
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COVID-19: FG set up economy sustainability committee to alleviate sufferings

VICE President Yemi Osibanjo has chaired the meeting of the economic sustainability committee where he spoke on the strategies to alleviate sufferings of Nigerians at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the vice president, the committee is to take care of the economic challenges and fallouts of the pandemic and consequential restrictions.

The vice president made this known at a Google Hangout where young Nigerian tech innovators discussed the impact of COVID-19.

The event was organised by HACK COVID-19 call centre in Abuja on Monday, attended by tech innovators who participated online.

Besides developing further palliatives, the committee will also develop a sustainability plan on repositioning the economy and growing the non-oil sector, the vice president has said.

Members include Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning; Industry, Trade and Investment; Labour; Petroleum Resources – state; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, GMD Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary.

The HACK COVID-19 is a private sector initiative to share solutions, public information and ideas on COVID-19 and how public and private sector can collaborate on the response to the pandemic.

Military, paramilitary personnel to enforce lock down in Abuja — Minister

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Military, paramilitary personnel to enforce lock down in Abuja — Minister

MUHAMMAD Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he would ensure that the cessation of movement order placed on the FCT by President Muhammadu Buhari is enforced to the letter.

Bello disclosed this in Abuja on Monday after an emergency security meeting convened  to discuss the modalities of enforcing the lock down of the FCT for 14 days.

In a late briefing after the emergency meeting which was attended by the heads of the various military formations, paramilitary agencies and senior administrative staff of the FCTA, the Minister said that “all organs of the FCT Security Services and other government agencies have agreed and worked out modalities to ensure that all entry and exit points of the FCT and by extension, other satellite towns, are manned by relevant officials to ensure that everybody stays at home.”

While reiterating that the best way of overcoming the disease is by being disciplined and following all the prescribed measures by the health authorities which include staying indoor with the exception of those legally permitted to move around, Bello said that defaulters will be arrested and prosecuted.

“I want to also reiterate that except those that have been allowed and are exempted from this cessation of movement, all other citizens and residents of the FCT are enjoined to stay indoors,” the Minister said.

“Where these regulations are flouted, I want to emphasize that the security agencies have been empowered to arrest and prosecute defaulters because we will not allow any individual or groups, as a result of their inability to honour this medical advice, jeopardize the health of multiples because as has been shown the world over, one of the greatest weapons to fight this disease is confinement and containment in one place,” he warned.

That way, Bello explained the contact tracing becomes much easier noting that those that are infected are easily provided with medical services.

On the palliative measures being put in place to cushion the effect of the cessation of movement on the more vulnerable members of the society, the Minister said that the FCT Palliative Committee is headed by the Minister of State,Ramatu Aliyu.

The Committee, he added would be supported by the Chairman of the six Area Councils, traditional and religious authorities, NGOs and other support groups.

The Minister also said that the FCT already had modalities in place to identify the truly indigent members of society that will require assistance.

According to him “the system of identifying vulnerable people within the FCT community is already in place, using the 60-ward structure of INEC, as well as the traditional and religious authorities.

“Within every community, those that are vulnerable are known and also, under our Social Development Secretariat, we already have a database of vulnerable people that have been taken care of under the conditional cash transfer.”

The FCTA, the Minister continued, would also tap into the data base of religious groups that already have records of the indigent in their various communities whom they have been assisting even prior to the current outbreak of Covid 19.

He also  reminded the residents of the FCT of their individual and collective responsibilities in fighting the disease.

Quoting President Buhari, Bello said “as individuals, we remain the greatest weapon in fighting COVID 19. So, I’m appealing to all residents of the FCT to stay indoors and abide by all the regulations of the health and security authorities.”

Bello also revealed that he was tested for COVID 19 and his results came out as negative.

 

Ogun Governor shifts lockdown order to Friday, cites need to prepare

Seun DUROJAIYE
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Ogun Governor shifts lockdown order to Friday, cites need to prepare

DAPO Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State says his state needs more time to prepare for the lock down announced on Sunday by President Muhammadu Buhari, thereby shifting the compliance day to Friday.

Abiodun explained that he had asked for permission from the Presidency to push the lock down order till Friday, April 3, in order to afford the state government time to provide relief packages for its people.

Abiodun disclosed this while unveiling three isolation centres established in Sagamu, Ikenne and Abeokuta areas of the state.

“The total lock down of the state will be effective from 11 p.m. on Friday, 3rd April, 2020. This is to enable us finalise the mechanisms for the distribution of relief materials and food items ahead of the total lock down,” the governor said.

“Our Government is conscious of the implications and discomfort associated with these measures. Nonetheless, we are constrained to do this because the available options are limited. Not taking these measures would have dire consequences.”

He however, stated that the interstate and international border closure as ordered by the president would be in full effect from 11pm on Monday.

President Buhari had on Sunday  ordered a complete lock down in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) and Ogun State, as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

This, the president would also allow the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to implement effective contact tracing.

As at the time of this report, Nigeria, has recorded 131 cases of coronavirus, with Lagos having the highest number of infected persons  standing at 81.

Ogun State has recorded three cases and the FCT has 25 confirmed cases.

All three states are to effect a 14-day lock down; activating movement restrictions and gaining access to only essential services such as food and healthcare.

To make the order potent, president Buhari signed the COVID-19 regulation into law.

This regulation gives legal backing to the total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states.

Meanwhile, the Civil Society Alliance Against Covid-19 (CSAA-COVID-19) advised the Federal Government to use the period of the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to strengthen health systems, radically improve protection for health and essential workers and massively scale up capacity to test for COVID19.

Shutdown order: Buhari signs Covid-19 regulations

Samad UTHMAN
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Shutdown order: Buhari signs Covid-19 regulations

FOLLOWING the backlash from lawyers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) over the lockdown order by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday March 29, the president has signed a regulation that gives the decision a force of the law.

Femi Adeshina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, said the COVID-19 regulation has been passed and effective since Monday, March 30, 2020.

This regulation gives legal backing to the total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states.

He said the signing of the regulation by the president is a conferment by the section 2,3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act.

“In exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004), and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, signed the COVID-19  Regulations, 2020, which  declared Covid-19 a dangerous infectious disease”.

“The Regulations, effective March 30, 2020, also gave legal backing to the various measures outlined in the President’s National Broadcast on March 29, 2020, such as Restriction/Cessation of Movement in Lagos, FCT and Ogun State and others toward containing the spread of the pandemic in the country”.

The statement explained that the law gives exception to online transactions and the use of automated teller machines

Waiver is  also extended to financial system and money markets to allow “very skeletal operations in order to keep the system in light operations during the pendency of these regulations.”

TheICIR earlier reported how Civil Society Alliance Against Covid-19 (CSAA-COVID-19) advised the Federal Government to use the period of the lockdown in the two states and the FCT to strengthen health systems, radically improve protection for health and essential workers, and massively scale up capacity to test for COVID19.

The Centre also reported how a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-olu Adegboruwa criticised the legality of pesident’s decision to restrict movement in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States.

According to him, the president lacks the power to solely declare state of emergency  in any state of the Nigerian Federation without approval from the National Assembly.

 

Use the lockdown period to address critical gaps in defences against COVID-19, Group urges FG

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Use the lockdown period to address critical gaps in defences against COVID-19, Group urges FG

THE Civil Society Alliance Against Covid-19 (CSAA-COVID-19)has advised the Federal Government to use the period of the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to strengthen health systems, radically improve protection for health and essential workers and massively scale up capacity to test for COVID19.

Responding to the nationwide broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday which focused on measures to contain the spread of the virus, the Alliance in a statement issued on Monday said it welcomed the address by the president and the specific actions it contained with regards to Lagos and Abuja.

“We see the lock-downs planned for these two cities as very challenging, but necessary and justified if implemented consistently, in line with one of the few methods proven to be effective once an outbreak has taken hold,” said the Alliance which comprise about 15 civil society groups and individuals.

“We wish to highlight the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday, March 22nd warned that lock-downs are not a solution in themselves, and that countries must use the time that they buy to address critical gaps in defences against COVID-19, otherwise the sacrifices forced by the lockdowns will be in vain.

“These steps include urgently strengthening health systems; radically improving protection for health and essential workers; and massively scaling capacity to test for COVID19,”

Members of the group also commended the efforts made so far by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under challenging and quickly changing circumstances.

They also gave kudos to the work done so far by the federal and state ministries of health as well as all health care professionals on the front lines.  

“We recognise the contributions of some private sector organisations, such as GTBank, who has enabled the speedy construction of a 110-bed isolation centre in Lagos and call on all individuals and organisations to continue giving support to the most effective channels and entities including the NCDC,” they said.

Members of the Alliance however expressed shock at a statement from the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari that immediately undermined the attempt at a unifying message to the nation.

They noted that his statement, which took no responsibility for breaching self-isolation rules, did not address those he has harmed and emphasised that there was one medical system for the ultra-rich and another for everyone else was an unprecedented denigration of this national office.

“We call for his immediate resignation or removal from office. The Chief of Staff’s statement highlights an ongoing national security risk,” the Alliance said.

“We note that by all accounts, far too many of the political elite have undertaken high-risk travel and then behaved extremely recklessly upon their return.

“Some of the impacts are already visible but the greatest danger lies in those cases where at risk or likely COVID-19 positive politicians and their associates fail to come forward or be accountable to NCDC.”

They called on all of Nigeria’s representatives and elites to come forward openly and honestly if they or their staff, extended family members and non-politically exposed associates have had COVID-19 exposure or high-risk engagements and to make sufficient information available for all necessary urgent contact tracing.

This was as they also urged that testing and protective measures should be extended to everyone in their immediate circles, irrespective of class and background.

While commending  political elites who have been frank and open about their own situations, they urged them to take all necessary steps to ensure their staff and associates get tested as they convince their peers to take the right and critically necessary action of coming forward.

“We call on security agencies to revisit their reluctance to act against high profile personalities and carry out appropriate national security investigations with urgency,” they said.

On the impacts of the measures on the poor and vulnerable, they advised that the measures to protect the poor and vulnerable must immediately be scaled and supported at every level of our society.

“The federal and state governments must act much more vigorously, but their measures alone will never be enough. We applaud the Lagos State Government for leading the way in this regard with its ongoing food distribution to 200,000 households with an estimated six people per household for a total of 1.2 million people, even while noting that there are millions more living in extreme poverty in the city.

“We urge them to continue to scale this up and urge the Ogun State Government and the FCT to follow suit.  We will release detailed suggestions as a matter of urgency but would highlight that emergency measures on COVID19 must take into account achieving food security at a price that is not crippling to those who are on marginal incomes and incomes that will be totally disrupted when ordinary daily activities are stopped for weeks.”

Members of the Alliance are as listed below.

1.    Center for Impact Advocacy

2.    Development Dynamics

3.    Global Rights

4.    House of Justice

5.    Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)

6.    Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI)

7.    Molluma Medico-Legal Centre

8.    Nigeria Mourns

9.    Rule of Law & Accountability

10.  SBM Intelligence

11.  SilverchipFox

12.  Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN)

13.  Tap Nitiative for Citizens Development

14.  YouthHub

15.  Abiodun Baiyewu

16.  Gloria Mabeiam Ballason

17.  Ier Jonathan

18.  Nana Nwachukwu

19.  Chidi Anslem Odinkalu

20.  Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome

Lockdown: Your ID Card is your pass, minister tells journalists

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Lockdown: Your ID Card is your pass, minister tells journalists

FOLLOWING the 14-day lock down announced by President Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State, the Federal Government has clarified that journalists in the these affected places are free to go about their daily official work using their Identity Cards as their Pass.

“All working journalists and other media staff in Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been advised to use their valid Identity Cards to access their places of work and assignment venues during the 14-day lockdown directed by the President in the two states and the FCT,” a statement issued on Monday by the office of Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said.

Mohammed, said the clarification becames necessary in view of the inadequate time to properly accredit working journalists in the affected states and the FCT during the period.

He said members of the media were expected to continue to provide essential services during the lockdown, in order to keep Nigerians well updated on the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Buhari had in his nationwide broadcast on Sunday said that workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted from the 14-day lock down.

I thought I was going to die, COVID-19 patient shares experience at Lagos isolation centre

Abeeb ALAWIYE
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I thought I was going to die, COVID-19 patient shares experience at Lagos isolation centre

“I WAS  on drugs daily. Sometimes, I‘d take eight tablets in the morning, 13 tablets in the afternoon, 10 at night. My system threw everything out! Water, food, soap and all disgusted me. But I’d look at the wall and force myself to stay hydrated — drank ORS. I fought to live! I fought!!!

The above statement is that of Oluwaseun Ayodeji, who tested positive for coronavirus, narrated her experience inside the isolation centre in Lagos State after she was discharged and was given a clean bill of health on Monday, March 30.

The experience was made known through her Twitter handle shortly after she was discharged earlier today, saying she contracted the disease during a post-Commonwealth event in the United Kingdom.

In a series of tweets, Oluwaseun shared various photographs of what she went through in the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.

She wrote, “Life finds ways of throwing lemon at me. I’ve struggled with coming forward, but I want to inspire hope. I returned to Nigeria from the UK post-Commonwealth event and fell ill. As a responsible person, I self-isolated. Days after, I tested positive for Covid-19.

“Before returning, I had planned several interviews, I was scheduled to start a fantastic consultancy job & was also expecting to sign a contract worth millions. I lost them all. I had to self-isolate and also inform people I came in close contact with to get tested.

“My friend and I kept calling the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to get tested.  What if we didn’t persist? No info on my test result. At 12am, an ambulance was at my house. I woke from sleep and was crying. I got to isolation centre, but no one was there to receive me. I waited in the ambulance for two hours.

“The nurses eventually came out and treated me like a plague. I sat in the ambulance feeling rejected. No questions about how I felt. So many questions about my travel history. Same information I had provided to NCDC and Lagos State Government during profiling.

“After two hours, I was taken to my space. I felt lonely, bored and disconnected from the outside world. Few days after, another patient came in. We bonded. Days later, patients trooped in. Are people observing self-isolation and social distancing? I was so scared for Nigeria.”

Oluwaseun went further to talked about how tough and unbearable situation of things turned out to be in the isolation centre.

“The next days were tough. No appetite. The nausea, vomit and stooling was unbearable. I’m a blood type A and  Covid-19 dealt with me. I’ll share daily symptoms and recovery process in a video tomorrow. I thought I was going to die and contemplated a succession plan for @StandtoEndRape.

“Days after, the doctors shared a good news that I tested negative. I shared this news with family and friends! My blood sample was taken and I also tried to donate my plasmapheresis to help others. I hoped to be discharged. I waited to be discharged, but for two days, nothing happened.

“I was unsure of what was going on. Why haven’t I been discharged? Should I be in the same ward? Could I get reinfected? I was worried but remained calm. On the third day, doctors said, ‘well, we worked with the info we had of you testing negative, but one result came back positive.’

“You’ll stay a few more days. You know we take nose, mouth and sputum samples. Am I still positive flushed face? I asked. No, you’re negative, the doctor replied. The doctor apologised for the delay. I was anxious to go home but remained calm. I wanted to be free from this pain.

“I continued the medication and asked to be in a separate ward. Sadly, I remained in the same ward as all others rooms were full. My ward had people who were positive. What if I get re-infected? For them, I was a beacon of hope and they needed me gone to register the progress.

“My family and friends were becoming anxious. People in my ward who earlier celebrated the news of my result suddenly lost hope. Why are you still here?

“You shouldn’t be here with us. You should be separated from us now…” People in my ward muttered. I tried to calm them.

“Today, I am proud to inform you that I murdered Covid-19 and have tested negative twice. I have been discharged,” Oluwaseun wrote on her Twitter handle.

She expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the Lagos state government, the health team and as well as the  nurses in the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.

 

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