Coronavirus: Oyo can't be on total lockdown because of poverty - Governor Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed why Oyo State can't go on total lockdown over Coronavirus, days after President Buhari issued an order which restricted movement in Abuja, Ogun and Lagos.



The Oyo state Governor who tested positive for the virus, said he opted for a curfew instead of a total lockdown due to the high rate of poverty in the state. He stated that a curfew will enable residents carry out their daily activities and earn daily incomes amid the outbreak of Coronavirus in the state.



Speaking on a Fresh FM programme, Governor Makinde said;




“My own background is engineering and I kept saying to people that as an engineer, you take decisions that are based on logic and fact. It’s an uncharted territory. We kept on interacting with the experts to find out what are the facts emerging.

“Yes, Lagos can be on lockdown, Ogun can be on lockdown, Oyo State, yes, people have been saying have a total lockdown and then I have been asking them questions. What will be the benefits here? Are there alternative courses of action for us to take?

“If you ask people not to come out, you lock down the market places, there are people that what they sell today – the profit from today’s activities is what they will eat tomorrow. There are plenty people like that within our environment. So, are there alternatives available to us? Can we do selective lockdown? That’s why I imposed the curfew, to say limit interactions.

“I think, everything is on the table but it has to follow a logical pattern and it will need the input of experts. We are not just going to lock down because everyone is locking down.”



Governor Makinde further disclosed that he would follow the steps of some foreign countries that have successfully contained the virus.



He added;




“I have been watching CNN and the most successful place right now in containing this is the Czech Republic. And one of the things they brought out is that they made a law that if you must leave your house, you must wear a mask.

“It may be that route for us to go. I have asked them to start evaluating that. If we must make that law and say everybody that must go out must wear a mask, then, how about those who cannot afford it? Can we make masks locally? Can we get our artisans and our tailors to commit to that with the government supporting? So, those are the type of solutions we are looking for.”

Two Nigerian men hailed as heroes after they fixed faulty ventilators for free as their contribution to curb Coronavirus

Two Nigerian men in Jos have been hailed as heroes after they walked into Jos University Teaching Hospital and offered to fix their faulty ventilators for free as their contribution to fight Coronavirus.



Photos shared online show Gyang William and Nura Jibrin hard at work, fixing the faulty ventilators in JUTH so that no patient will have to die due to a lack of ventilators.



Nigerians have praised them for their heroic act and called on the government to honor them when the Coronavirus pandemic is over.

Two Nigerian men hailed as heroes after they fixed faulty ventilators for free as their contribution to curb Coronavirus

Two Nigerian men in Jos have been hailed as heroes after they walked into Jos University Teaching Hospital and offered to fix their faulty ventilators for free as their contribution to fight Coronavirus.



Photos shared online show Gyang William and Nura Jibrin hard at work, fixing the faulty ventilators in JUTH so that no patient will have to die due to a lack of ventilators.



Nigerians have praised them for their heroic act and called on the government to honor them when the Coronavirus pandemic is over.

House of Reps Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila reacts to viral video of actress Ada Ameh weeping over poor power supply

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday April 1st, met with the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman and the management of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, over the viral video by Nollywood actress, Ada Ameh, in which she complained bitterly about lack of power supply in most Nigerian homes, during the ongoing lockdown in major parts of the country.



With the Speaker at the meeting was the Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu; and Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. Adesegun Adekoya. While NERC was represented by its Commissioner on Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, those that joined the meeting via virtual connection were Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele; and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari.







At the meeting, the Speaker expressed dismay over the number of calls and messages from many Nigerians through his social media account, reacting to the protest video and called for prompt action.


“It has become imperative that I urgently call for this meeting to find a solution to the poor supply of electricity during this lockdown period. If we ask people to stay at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, at least we have to make their homes comfortable for them to stay.

The complaints have just been too much in the last 24 hours. There are people also in the hospital now without electricity; we need to brainstorm over an urgent solution," he said



On his part, the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, highlighted the challenges encountered by power generating compaies (GENCOs) and the possible intervention of the leadership of the House of Representatives.


"We are aware of the challenges faced by Nigerians, so we have started talking to GENCOs, because they have been complaining that Discos are not paying and only about 20% of their dues are remitted.

So, the GENCOs are facing technical and revenue shortfall. Consequently, they can’t as well meet their financial obligations to gas companies. The Discos also pay less of their generated revenue to GENCOs, because they complain about power theft by consumers, high technical costs, etc.

“The sum of N130 billion is what the government gives GENCOs to augment the shortfall of payments not fulfilled by Discos. We still have about N1.2 trillion payment shortfall in all. I have been begging the gas suppliers to please, in the interest of Nigerians, release gas to the GENCOs. The shortfalls are accruals from the problem of estimated billing, non-payment of bills by estimated customers, etc.

“What the NASS can do is to plead with CBN to help with funds to enable the Federal Government to augment the revenue shortfall to enable government pay gas companies and thereafter bring all the critical stakeholders to a table,”, the power minister said.



In his contribution, the NERC Commissioner on Compliance, Mr. Akpaneye, assured the Speaker and the leadership of the House that the commission is committing the Discos to a new guideline that shows empathy with Nigerians during this COVID-19 lockdown.


“All NERC Commissioners are in the Situation Room in our office monitoring GENCOs and Discos activities. We know the demand for this power during this lockdown is for residential, since most industries are on lockdown, so we are going to release a new guideline and sanction electricity companies that can’t show empathy during this period." he said

Also speaking, the GMD of NNPC, Kyari hinted that the problem with the Trans Vocados gas line was resolved Wednesday morning and gave assurance of supply of gas to enable GENCOs to generate power.



The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, in their various contributions, gave accounts of complications arising from the non-fulfilment of financial obligations by the electricity stakeholders but assured of interventions in the interest of Nigerians who are observing the lockdown order.



At the end of the meeting, all the critical stakeholders assured the Speaker and the leadership of the House of their commitment to ensuring power supply. They, however, agreed to reconvene in the next few days to find lasting solutions to the challenges in the sector beyond the lockdown period.



Watch the video of actress Ada Ameh weeping over poor electricity supply below

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Actress Ada Ameh wept in this video as she expressed her frustration over the lack of power supply even as Nigerians have been forced to sit at home due to the #Coronavirus pandemic.

Un post condiviso da Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial) in data: 31 Mar 2020 alle ore 9:52 PDT

Coronavirus: Governor Ayade imposes new restrictions in Cross River, says no mask, no movement

Following the discovery of five cases of Coronavirus in neighboring Akwa Ibom state, the Cross Rivers state governor, Ben Ayade, has reeled out new measures to help prevent the importation of the virus into the state.



In a statement released last night, the state governor, Ben Ayade stated that among other things, no resident of the state will be allowed to move around without a face mask beginning from 12 am on Friday April 3rd. According to the statement, the state-owned garment factory has been mandated to produce face mask enmass for residents of the state.




Following the prevalence of coronavirus infections in neighboring states, the Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade on Wednesday issued the following executive orders:

1. Starting from 12am on April 3rd, 2020, no person will be allowed in public without a nose or face mask.

2. The Cross River State Garment Factory is directed to work round the clock to produce masks, while observing industrial safe distancing

3. Government to distribute masks for free to residents of the state

4. The Ministry of Humanitarian and Welfare Services, in conjunction with the state Food Bank, to deliver free food to the vulnerable in the state.

5. All exit and entry routes into the state are now completely shut against all human and vehicular movements.

6. All commissioners, special advisers, chairmen, Director Generals, directors and members of boards and commissions as well as special assistants, are hereby co-opted to assist the COVID-19 task force, in ensuring the enforcement and compliance with the guidelines aimed at keeping the state free of the pandemic.

7. Consequently, all those mentioned above are directed to report at the U.J. Esuene Stadium on Friday, April 3rd, 2020, to receive their kits and commence full enforcement along with the Nigerian Police, Military, the Homeland Security Services and the Border Patrol Agency.

8. All commissioners from local governments that border our neighbouring states, are directed to retire back home and take charge of enforcement

9. The state power company operating the 23megawatt power plant, is directed to power street lights from 6pm to 6am daily

10. Public spirited individuals and organizations willing to serve as Volunteers to support enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines, should register by sending their names and addresses tel no: 08039302693

11. For nose masks, residents should call 08099911011

12. For free food supply, residents should call 08037210284

13. The Cross river state microfinance bank to work for 24 hours.

Let us help keep Cross River safe from coronavirus, adhere strictly to government guidelines

Signed
Christian Ita
Special Adviser
Media and Publicity to Governor