Coronavirus
COVID-19: Nigerians react as CBN partners NNPC to feed, accommodate Nigerian returnees
Some expressed confusion, with one Twitter user asking where the NNPC intended to get the money from.
The agreement between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to spend as much as N1 billion as quarantine costs for about 3,000 Nigerian returnees, has drawn widespread reactions from Nigerians on social media.
The Details: The decision by the CBN and the NNPC was disclosed, yesterday, by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs’ Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja. According to Onyema, this is a CSR gesture by the CBN and the NNPC. The N1 billion is expected to cover the costs of hotel accommodation and the feeding of the returnees.
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The NNPC and CBN agree to fund, as part of their CSR, the cost of quarantine accommodation and feeding for all Nigerians returning to the country from abroad, the Foreign Affairs’ Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama has disclosed.
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) May 18, 2020
Mixed Reactions: As expected, this development elicited varied responses such that while some liked it, others did not. Alluding to earlier reports that the Federal Government had demanded prospective evacuees to pay N290,000 for their isolation, one Twitter user stated that it was relieving to see the CBN and the NNPC finally come to the rescue. Apparently, the government had asked prospective evacuees from the USA, United Kingdom, India, China, Thailand, and Canada to pay for their quarantine and feeding, because the government is broke.
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I'm relieved it was great slap in our face as a country that smaller countries in Africa could evacuate their citizens without coughing or asking for palliative from her citizens too sad Nigeria as a country asking for palliative from returning citizens
— Gkhalifa (@Georgedbest1) May 18, 2020
Meanwhile, not all Nigerians were excited by this news. Some expressed confusion, as one Twitter user asking where the NNPC intended to get the money from. Others wondered whether the CBN and the NNPC were no longer public-owned companies and why they were engaging in CSR.
NNPC? Where does NNPC want to see such money? Is NNPC now an independent money making body? https://t.co/f5dOFsVdO0
— Uwa Bunkoye, PhD.➐ (@realuweez) May 19, 2020
Other Nigerians simply claimed that the decision by the CBN and NNPC was tantamount to “daylight robbery. For this reason, they called on SERAP and other pressure groups to consider calling for an immediate probe.
COVID-19: CBN, NNPC to spend N1bn on upkeep of Nigerian returnees.
This is unconstitutional@SERAPNigeria @EiENigeria @CLEAR_GlobalNET and others should challenge this daylight robbery.— Nnamani. Edwin Alexander (@Nnamani_Edwin_A) May 19, 2020
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Recall that cash-strapped Nigeria had relied on its private sector to raise billions of naira with which it launched its fight against the deadly Coronavirus. So far, more than five thousand Nigerians have contracted the virus according to the NCDC, with nearly two hundred deaths.
Part of the money raised by the private sector has been used for the purchase of medical supplies as well as the provision of palliatives to Nigerians.
Business News
FG reintroduces Covid-19 restrictions, shuts bars, night clubs, reimposes curfew
The Federal Government has announced the reintroduction of Covid-19 restrictions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Business News
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
On the 10th of May 2021, 37 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 165,468 confirmed cases.
On the 10th of May 2021, 37 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.
To date, 165,468, cases have been confirmed, 156,318 cases have been discharged and 2,065 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
A total of 1.94 million tests have been carried out as of 10th May 2021 compared to 1.91 million tests a day earlier.
COVID-19 Case Updates- 10th May 2021,
- Total Number of Cases – 165,468
- Total Number Discharged – 156,318
- Total Deaths – 2,065
- Total Tests Carried out – 1,939,165
According to the NCDC, the 49 new cases are reported from 4 states-Abuja (27), Lagos (11), Enugu (8), and Oyo (3).
Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 58,599, followed by Abuja (19,836), Kaduna (9,065), Plateau (9,060), Rivers (7,132), Oyo (6,852), Edo (4,905), Ogun (4,680), Kano (3,961), Ondo (3,248), Kwara (3,122), Delta (2,623), Osun (2,575), Nasarawa (2,382), Enugu (2,401), Katsina (2,097), Gombe (2,034), Ebonyi (2,030), Anambra (1,909), Akwa Ibom (1,859), and Abia (1,689).
Imo State has recorded 1,657 cases, Bauchi (1,548), Borno (1,337), Benue (1,188), Adamawa (1,111), Taraba (974), Niger (930), Bayelsa (886), Ekiti (870), Sokoto (775), Jigawa (528), Kebbi (450), Cross River (394), Yobe (390), Zamfara (240), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.
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Lock Down and Curfew
In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
The movement restriction, which was extended by another two weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.
On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.
On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced the closed down of the Eti-Osa Isolation Centre, with effect from Friday, 31st July 2020. He also mentioned that the Agidingbi Isolation Centre would also be closed and the patients relocated to a large capacity centre.
Due to the increased number of covid-19 cases in Nigeria, the Nigerian government ordered the reopening of Isolation and treatment centres in the country on Thursday, 10th December 2020.
On 26th January 2021, the Federal Government announced the extension of the guidelines of phase 3 of the eased lockdown by one month following the rising cases of the coronavirus disease in the country and the expiration of phase 3 of the eased lockdown.
On 28th February 2021, the federal government confirmed that the first tranche of Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021.
On Tuesday, 2nd March 2021, the National Primary health Care Development Agency announced the arrival of the expected COVX Astrazeneca/Oxford covid-19 vaccines.
On Saturday, 6th March 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo received vaccination against the covid-19 as the State House in Abuja.
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