COVID-19 lockdown continues for next 2 weeks says Buhari – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian President, General Muhammadu Buhari, retired, has extended lock down by two weeks in Lagos, Ogun States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, reports ITREALMS.

Buhari in a second national broadcast since the index case of the Chinesevirus-19 also known as Coronavirus or COVID-19 was recorded in Nigeria, said that the extension has become inevitable to ensure that the pandemic is curbed in the country.

Nowadays, the cessation of movement, physical distancing measures and the prohibition of mass gatherings remain the most efficient and effective way of reducing the transmission of the virus.

“By sustaining these measures, combined with extensive testing and contact tracing, we can take control and limit the spread of the disease,” he said.

ALSO READ: What Buhari told Nigerians on Extension of Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown - ITREALMS

Pointing out that the Federal Government approach to the virus remains in 2 steps - First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners.

With the aforementioned in mind and having carefully considered the briefings and Report from the Presidential Task Force and the various options offered, “it has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the FCT for another fourteen days effective from 11:59 pm on Monday, 13th of April, 2020.”

While appealing for Nigerians to once again work with Government in this fight, Buhari assured that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force, will do whatever it takes to support citizens in this very difficult period.

“I have no doubt that, by working together and carefully following the rules, we shall get over this pandemic,” he declared.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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COVID-19 palliative: Zinox Group, Konga staff to feed over 7000 families - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS: 

In a bid to ameliorate the impact of the lockdown occasioned by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in most states of the Federation, the Zinox Group has committed to feeding over 7000 Nigerian families for two weeks through its staff spread across the various states in Nigeria.

The ingenious initiative is also targeted at supporting the efforts of the Federal and State Governments in reaching needy Nigerians across the country.

To this end, the management of the Zinox Group which includes concerns such as Zinox Technologies Ltd., TD Africa, Task Systems Ltd., TD Plus, TDiLife, among others, as well as the Konga Group – with its growing subsidiaries such as Konga Travel, KongaPay and Kxpress, among others – have decided to use its staff across all its network of branches dispersed across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to reach the under-reached and under-served populations.

The initiative, a brain-child of the Group Chairman, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, was borne out of the hardship and suffering he witnessed during his personal visitations to various rural locations and suburbs around town after donations to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), some churches and states.

Consequently, the Zinox Group has set up a special palliative fund running into millions of Naira from which all employees across the Group will have their accounts credited. Every full time staff in each of the respective companies in the Zinox Group and Konga – starting from the security man at the gate up to members of Executive Management – is expected to use the funds received to adopt a minimum of three families which it will support with essential food items to last them through the next two weeks.

While junior staff in all the companies across Nigeria are expected to nominate and donate the Zinox Group’s special palliatives to at least three needy families around their vicinity, mid-level executives are expected to reach at least five families each while members of Executive Management will be expected to donate to at least seven families.

For this exercise, families and relatives of all staff and employees of the Zinox Group and Konga are not expected to benefit.

The foregoing was confirmed by Group Head, Corporate Communications, Gideon Ayogu.

‘‘All staff and employees will receive dedicated sums from this special palliative fund set up by the Group Chairman, according to their cadre. They are then expected to identify the most needy and poor families within a two-kilometre radius from where they live and supply them with essential food items such as medium bags of rice, tomato paste and gallons of cooking oil to last them for the next two weeks.

‘‘To ensure accountability and to make sure that the intervention reaches the right people, we have also set up an audit team. Each staff is expected to provide pictorial evidence and at least two phone numbers from each of the families donated to. These will be verified digitally by the audit team. The Chairman is a data-driven person and has highlighted the need to verify the beneficiaries else it becomes a waste of hard-earned resources. It is important to reiterate here that members of staff, their families and relatives are exempted from benefitting from this special intervention,’’ Ayogu disclosed.

‘‘Having personally visited a number of locations and seen first-hand the hardship being borne by Nigerians this period, Dr. Ekeh has decided that this is a more impactful way to reach the needy and support the efforts of governments in bringing succour to them. This special intervention is in addition to other undisclosed and unreported outreaches and donations to a number of charitable and religious organizations and a few state governments by the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation to support their efforts in reaching the masses during these challenging times,’’ he concluded.

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Comply with court order, AFRICMIL urges Amobi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has called on the managing director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) plc, Dr. Marilyn Amobi, to comply with the judgment of the National Industrial Court in Abuja, reports ITREALMS.

The court had ordered the immediate payment of the salaries, emoluments and accruable benefits of a whistleblower, Sambo Abdullahi, which she has withheld since December 2017.

Abdullahi, head of internal audit in NBET, is being punished for uncovering sundry acts of corruption at NBET.

In the last three years, AFRICMIL has been in the forefront of the campaign for protection of whistle blowers. In a statement signed by its coordinator, Dr Chido Onumah, the organization reminded the NBET boss that the 30-day window given by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi of the National Industrial Court for her to comply with the judgment expired on April 10, 2020. According to Onumah, “Dr. Amobi should do the needful and not treat the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction with contempt as she treated the directive of the former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN.”

Onumah said at least on two separate occasions in 2018, Fashola had, following the report of a Ministerial Committee which investigated the crisis in NBET, directed Dr. Amobi to pay Abdullahi his salaries and allowances and treat him like other staff in NBET, but Dr. Amobi defied the Minister by flatly ignoring the directives.

The statement said Abdullahi had suffered enough, having gone without salary for more than two years. “Nobody, more so a whistleblower, deserves this kind of treatment. It is important to point out that Abdullahi has since been vindicated by the ICPC, EFCC, BPE and the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, all of which indicted Dr. Amobi. Government, therefore, has a duty to protect the whistleblower and ensure that he does not continue to be victimized for doing what is right,” Onumah said.

Abdullahi went to court in December 2018 when all efforts to resolve the crisis by the erstwhile Ministry of Power, Works and Housing under Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation proved abortive.

On March 11, 2020, Justice Oyewumi held that the stoppage of his salary, allowance, and other entitlements such as annual leave, was wrongful. She ordered the payment of all the salaries and the allowances within 30 days, failure of which will attract 21% annual interest.

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What Buhari told Nigerians on Extension of Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown - ITREALMS

ForTheRecords@ITREALMS: 

ADDRESS BY GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI, RTD, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE EXTENSION OF COVID- 19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN AT THE STATE HOUSE, ABUJA. MONDAY, 13TH APRIL, 2020

1. Fellow Nigerians

2. In my address on Sunday, 29th March, 2020, I asked the residents of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory to stay at home for an initial period of fourteen days starting from Monday, 30th March 2020.

3. Many State Governments also introduced similar restrictions.

4. As your democratically elected leaders, we made this very difficult decision knowing fully well it will severely disrupt your livelihoods and bring undue hardship to you, your loved ones and your communities.

5. However, such sacrifices are needed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our country. They were necessary to save lives.

6. Our objective was, and still remains, to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and to provide space, time and resources for an aggressive and collective action.

7. The level of compliance to the COVID-19 guidelines issued has been generally good across the country. I wish to thank you all most sincerely for the great sacrifice you are making for each other at this critical time.

8. I will take this opportunity to recognise the massive support from our traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) during this pandemic.

9. I also acknowledge the support and contributions received from public spirited individuals, the business community and our international partners and friends.

10. I must also thank the media houses, celebrities and other public figures for the great work they are doing in sensitizing our citizens on hygienic practices, social distancing and issues associated with social gatherings.

11. As a result of the overwhelming support and cooperation received, we were able to achieve a lot during these 14 days of initial lockdown.

12. We implemented comprehensive public health measures that intensified our case identification, testing, isolation and contact tracing capabilities.

13. To date, we have identified 92% of all identified contacts while doubling the number of testing laboratories in the country and raising our testing capacity to 1,500 tests per day.

14. We also trained over 7,000 Healthcare workers on infection prevention and control while deploying NCDC teams to 19 states of the federation.

15. Lagos and Abuja today have the capacity to admit some 1,000 patients each across several treatment centres.

16. Many State Governments have also made provisions for isolation wards and treatment centres. We will also build similar centers near our airports and land borders.

17. Using our resources and those provided through donations, we will adequately equip and man these centres in the coming weeks. Already, health care workers across all the treatment centers have been provided with the personal protective equipment that they need to safely carry out the care they provide.

18. Our hope and prayers are that we do not have to use all these centres. But we will be ready for all eventualities.

19. At this point, I must recognise the incredible work being done by our healthcare workers and volunteers across the country especially in frontline areas of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

20. You are our heroes and as a nation, we will forever remain grateful for your sacrifice during this very difficult time. More measures to motivate our health care workers are being introduced which we will announce in the coming weeks.

21. As a nation, we are on the right track to win the fight against COVID-19.

22. However, I remain concerned about the increase in number of confirmed cases and deaths being reported across the world and in Nigeria specifically.

23. On 30th March 2020, when we started our lockdown in conforming with medical and scientific advice, the total number of confirmed cases across the world was over 780,000.

24. Yesterday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally was over one million, eight hundred and fifty thousand. This figure is more than double in two weeks!

25. In the last fourteen days alone, over 70,000 people have died due to this disease.

26. In the same period, we have seen the health system of even the most developed nations being overwhelmed by this virus.

27. Here in Nigeria, we had 131 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 12 States on 30th March 2020. We had two fatalities then.

28. This morning, Nigeria had 323 confirmed cases in twenty States. Unfortunately we now have ten fatalities. Lagos State remains the center and accounts for 54% of the confirmed cases in Nigeria. When combined with the FCT, the two locations represent over 71% of the confirmed cases in Nigeria.

29. Most of our efforts will continue to focus in these two locations.

30. Majority of the confirmed cases in Lagos and the FCT are individuals with recent international travel history or those that came into contact with returnees from international trips.

31. By closing our airports and land borders and putting strict conditions for seaport activities, we have reduced the impact of external factors on our country. However, the increase in the number of States with positive cases is alarming.

32. The National Centre for Disease Control has informed me that, a large proportion of new infections are now occurring in our communities, through person-to-person contacts. So we must pay attention to the danger of close contact between person to person.

33. At this point, I will remind all Nigerians to continue to take responsibility for the recommended measures to prevent transmission, including maintaining physical distancing, good personal hygiene and staying at home.

34. In addition, I have signed the Quarantine Order in this regard and additional regulations to provide clarity in respect of the control measures for the COVID-19 pandemic which will be released soon.

35. The public health response to COVID-19 is built on our ability to detect, test and admit cases as well as trace all their contacts. While I note some appreciable progress, we can achieve a lot more.

36. Today, the cessation of movement, physical distancing measures and the prohibition of mass gatherings remain the most efficient and effective way of reducing the transmission of the virus. By sustaining these measures, combined with extensive testing and contact tracing, we can take control and limit the spread of the disease.

37. Our approach to the virus remains in 2 steps - First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners.

38. With this in mind and having carefully considered the briefings and Report from the Presidential Task Force and the various options offered, it has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the FCT for another 14 days effective from 11:59 pm on Monday, 13th of April, 2020. I am therefore once again asking you all to work with Government in this fight.

39. This is not a joke. It is a matter of life and death. Mosques in Makkah and Madina have been closed. The Pope celebrated Mass on an empty St. Peter’s Square. The famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris held Easter Mass with less than 10 people. India, Italy and France are in complete lockdown. Other countries are in the process of following suit. We can not be lax.

40. The previously issued guidelines on exempted services shall remain.

41. This is a difficult decision to take, but I am convinced that this is the right decision. The evidence is clear.

42. The repercussions of any premature end to the lockdown action are unimaginable.

43. We must not lose the gains achieved thus far. We must not allow a rapid increase in community transmission. We must endure a little longer.

44. I will therefore take this opportunity to urge you all to notify the relevant authorities if you or your loved ones develop any symptoms. I will also ask our health care professionals to redouble their efforts to identify all suspected cases, bring them into care and prevent transmission to others.

45. No country can afford the full impact of a sustained restriction of movement on its economy. I am fully aware of the great difficulties experienced especially by those who earn a daily wage such as traders, dayworkers, artisans and manual workers.

46. For this group, their sustenance depends on their ability to go out. Their livelihoods depend on them mingling with others and about seeking work. But despite these realities we must not change the restrictions.

47. In the past two weeks, we announced palliative measures such as food distribution, cash transfers and loans repayment waivers to ease the pains of our restrictive policies during this difficult time. These palliatives will be sustained.

48. I have also directed that the current social register be expanded from 2.6 million households to 3.6 million households in the next two weeks. This means we will support an additional one million homes with our social investment programs. A technical committee is working on this and will submit a report to me by the end of this week.

49. The Security Agencies have risen to the challenges posed by this unprecedented situation with gallantry and I commend them. I urge them to continue to maintain utmost vigilance, firmness as well as restraint in enforcing the restriction orders while not neglecting statutory security responsibilities.

50. Fellow Nigerians, follow the instructions on social distancing. The irresponsibility of the few can lead to the death of the many. Your freedom ends where other people’s rights begin.

51. The response of our State Governors has been particularly impressive, especially in aligning their policies and actions to those of the Federal Government.

52. In the coming weeks, I want to assure you that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force, will do whatever it takes to support you in this very difficult period. I have no doubt that, by working together and carefully following the rules, we shall get over this pandemic.

53. I must also thank the Legislative arm of Government for all its support and donations in this very difficult period. This collaboration is critical to the short and long-term success of all the measures that we have instituted in response to the pandemic.

54. As a result of this pandemic, the world as we know it has changed. The way we interact with each other, conduct our businesses and trade, travel, educate our children and earn our livelihoods will be different.

55. To ensure our economy adapts to this new reality, I am directing the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Communication and Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Transportation, Aviation, Interior, Health, Works and Housing, Labour and Employment and Education to jointly develop a comprehensive policy for a “Nigerian economy functioning with COVID-19”.

56. The Ministers will be supported by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and Economic Sustainability Committee in executing this mandate.

57. I am also directing the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Security Adviser, the Vice Chairman, National Food Security Council and the Chairman, Presidential Fertiliser Initiative to work with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to ensure the impact of this pandemic on our 2020 farming season is minimized.

58. Finally, I want to thank the members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for all their hard work so far. Indeed, the patriotism shown in your work is exemplary and highly commendable.

59. Fellow Nigerians, I have no doubt that by working together and carefully following the rules, we shall get over this pandemic and emerge stronger in the end.

60. I thank you all for listening and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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Four journalists die of COVID-19 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

No less than four journalists have been reported dead over their contract of the Chinese Virus-19 also known as CoronaVirus or COVID-19, reports ITREALMS.

Out of this figure, ITREALMS gathered that three were from Africa and one in the United States of America (USA).

ITREALMS also gathered that in Africa, the state of Tanzania recorded three journalists who succumbed to the cool hand of COVID-19, while the city of New York witnessed one.

For Tanzania, ITREALMS gathered for instance that Lutengano Haonga and IT Manager, Joseph Kambangwa, passed on at the weekend. While about 12 earlier, another journalist named Marin died due to associate COVID-19.

Further, a popular sports photographer, Anthony Causi has died of Coronavirus weeks after he took to Instagram declaring his plans for post-recovery of COVID-19.

Causi died on Sunday, April 12, 2020, leaving behind a wife and two children as well as parents and siblings.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, there is no new state reported COVID-19 in Nigeria, but has 323 cases, whereas the total number of affected states in Nigeria is 20.

As at April 12, 2020, there were five new cases reported – Lagos (2), Kwara (2) and Katsina (1), just as the Director-General of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu met with the Lagos State EOC to strengthen alignment and harmonisation of the ongoing COVID-19 response.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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COVID-19 Lockdown: Ekiti extends by 2 weeks, facemask now mandatory - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

If you must go out in Ekiti State, you are expected to wear your facemask, just as the state government has extended COVID-19 lockdown by two weeks, reports ITREALMS.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, gave this new directive through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji.

This follows the expiration of the initial order on Monday night. The restriction will now end on April 27th.

The new directive which was contained in a release signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanj, also made wearing of face mask compulsory in public places.

The Governor also directed that the restriction of movement would be suspended for eight hours, (between 6am-2pm) on Thursday, April 16 and Thursday, April 23rd, to allow the people re-stock essential goods.

Like the previous order, those on essential services and vendors of food stuff, water and medicines and other essential goods are allowed to move with valid means of identification.

The Governor also said government would scale up its palliative measures and other support to the people and businesses in order to cushion the effect of the movement restriction.

The statement reads: “In consideration of available evidence on progress made to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Ekiti State and in recognition of similar efforts by neighbouring states and the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has directed the extension of restriction of movement and curfew in Ekiti State for two weeks, until 23:59 Monday, April 27, 2020.

“Only exceptions allowed are for the purposes of obtaining food, seeking emergency, life-saving, or chronic medical attention or obtaining social security grant. Persons performing essential services will be allowed to move around, particularly health workers, but must be duly designated with an identity card by the Head of their Institutions.

“All businesses and other entities shall remain closed. Oja Oba and Oja Bisi markets shall remain closed. Except for any business or entity involved in the manufacturing, supply, or provision of an essential good or service. In facilities where essential goods are sold, all directives in respect of hygienic conditions to prevent the exposure of persons to COVID-19 must be adhered to.

“Any gathering in Ekiti State remains prohibited save for gathering in respect of a funeral, which shall be limited to 20 people.

“All boundaries of the State shall remain closed during the period of extension, except for transportation of fuel, and essential goods.

“All commuter transport services including bus services, taxi services, motorbikes (Okada) and tricycle services (Keke NAPEP), are prohibited.

“ In compliance with recent findings on causes of the spread of COVID -19, wearing of facemasks in public places will be compulsory from 14th April, 2020. Government is finalizing arrangements to make facemasks available to persons on essential duties, including foodstuff sellers in markets.

“The school –on- air programme for primary and secondary school students will continue during the period. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has been directed to continue to improve on the modalities for ensuring effective delivery of this programme.

“Government is making efforts to set up a COVID 19 test center in the state. This is one of the major tasks of the Covid-19 Response Resource Mobilisation Committee, recently set up by the government to mobilise funds and manage projects to prevent the spread of this pandemic.

“Government will continue to intensify on going measures specifically in response to the hardship being experienced by people across the state. Government’s strategy is made up of three parts- an intensified public health response to slow down and reduce infections; comprehensive package of economic support measures to assist businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic and a programme of increased social support to protect poor and vulnerable households.

Governor Fayemi commended the people for their patience and understanding, adding that there is sufficient evidence to show that these measures taken so far are working.

He urged them to continue to observe all hygienic procedures recommended by health workers, including avoiding shaking hands, hugging, sitting close to each other and other forms of physical contact.

“We must continue to wash our hands regularly and thoroughly using water and soap or sanitizer. To stay safe and to keep others safe we must continue to respect whatever restrictions are placed on our movement and on our daily lives” he said.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Asiwaju sympathizes with Speaker Gbajabiamila over passage of Mother-in-Law - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has sent a condolence message to House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila over the passing of his mother-in-law, Madam Mildred Bisalla, reports ITREALMS.

In the letter Asiwaju Tinubu personally signed and released by his media office on Monday in Lagos, he said: “My thoughts and prayers are with you, your wife Salamatu, and other members of your family at this moment.

“I understand your mother-in-law was a community leader and a woman of God fondly loved by her people. May God grant her soul eternal rest. May the outpouring of love you have received since her passing serve as a reminder to you and your family of how much she was loved by all who knew her.

“I pray that God Almighty give you, your wife, the entire family and indeed all those she left behind the strength to carry on and keep alive those ideals she was noted for.

“May God also imbue you with the wisdom and vigour to deal with urgent national issues as you grief. Stay safe and stay blessed in the midst of the challenging public health crisis we presently face.

“Please be assured of my highest regards.”

Ayo Midele/Editor

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MainOne boosts fight against COVID-19, provides connectivity to Lagos Command Centers - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The West African leading connectivity and data center solutions provider, MainOne, has partnered with the Lagos State Government and National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to help curtail the COVID-19 spread in the State, through provision of connectivity, reports ITREALMS.

The company, ITREALMS gathered, is enabling the COVID-19 Command Center and isolation facilities with high speed connectivity infrastructure to facilitate effective monitoring, communication and response, as its contribution to Lagos State’s efforts to fight the pandemic.

MainOne’s CSR solution will ensure that the State Government, health officials and doctors on the frontline s battling the pandemic are well connected with each other and to the rest of the world. This is being achieved via the provision of high-speed internet access as well as managed wi-fi services to the five (5) isolation and command centers spread across Lagos; Yaba, Ikeja, Gbagada, Lagos Island and Ikoyi, in addition to the State’s Command Center.

The Command Center plays a critical role in enabling the Government to monitor the spread of the disease, using algorithms, data analytics and surveys to localize the spread and update stakeholders on the current COVID-19 situation in Nigeria. The enhanced connectivity will provide a platform for exchanging up-to-date scientific findings and knowledge on the disease with colleagues around the world, positioning Nigeria as partners in the global fight against the pandemic.

Speaking on the company’s COVID-19 intervention, Funmike Olayera, Sales Manager Public Sector, MainOne said, they understand that the healthcare centers are the first line of defence. 

"We appreciate the work the health care workers, the State Government and the NCDC are putting in to ensure we curtail the spread of the virus in Nigeria. As a communications company, we understand how critical technology is to solving the world’s challenges and we are happy to partner with Lagos State Government to keep Nigerians safe. For these reasons, we will continue to do our part in supporting the Government effort to stop the spread of the virus in the country and ensure any infected Nigerians are properly cared for.”

Ayo Midele/editor

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First Bank reiterates 24/7 cash flow @ATMs - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

First Bank Nigeria Limited has reiterated that its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are available for customers use 24 by 7 days in a week, reports ITREALMS.

The bank in a public announcement to its customers advised them not to allow flow of cash stop "your essential needs this period."

"Always observe the following safety precautions while at the ATM; Maintain social distance from the next person, at least a six feet distance, Sanitise your hands before and after using the ATM."

In addition, First Bank advised customers to "Stay safe. Wash your hands with soap regularly under running water for at least 20 seconds. Together, we will defeat COVID-19."

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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Public health: ALTON insists ‘no relationship between 5G and COVID-19’ - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has insisted that there is no even a casual relationship between the Fifth Generation (5G) and Chinese Virus-19 also known as Coronavirus or COVID-19, arguing that your Television (TV) set emits more radition than the 5G technologies, reports ITREALMS.

ALTON through its chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Head of Operations, Gbolahan Awonuga, said that as responsible corporate citizen are concerned over the misguided theories circulating on the Internet, which linked 5G technologies to COVID-19.

“Contrary to these rumours, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever supporting any causal connection between the spread of COVID-19 and 4G, 5G or electromagnetic waves in general,” ALTON declared.

Also said that according to a seven-year-long scientific study published last month, 5G has no detrimental health effects in general, debunking any fear of public health concerns relating to telecommunications cell towers.

“In these unprecedented times, we need to ensure the resilience of telecommunications networks to support the delivery of vital health services and sustained economic recovery,”

Part of the latest statement read: “Digital connectivity has become essential to the social and economic development of the 21st century. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT) generate great opportunities, but also raise questions for businesses and citizens. One of these concerns is public health.

“In recent years, questions about health and safety concerning electromagnetic frequencies produced by telecommunication towers have been raised: What are the health implications of this proliferation of antennas and the frequencies they emit? What effects do they have on humans and animals? Can they cause any disorders?

“Public exposure to these frequencies is not new. On the contrary, these radio signals are nearly omnipresent as they have been produced by electric currents or telecommunication antennas for decades. The average household deploys various sources of these signals such as home appliances (microwaves, TVs, refrigerators) or internet connections repeatedly throughout the day.

They quoted the World Health Organization (WHO), the low intensity of cell site emissions is estimated to be between 0.002% and 2% of the levels of safe exposure and is lower than those produced by a radio or TV transmission.[1] Studies carried out by the WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)[2] agree there are no health risks related to radio signals.

Safety of 5G Technologies

As the next generation of mobile technology, 5G has also been a cause for concern over the increased deployment of towers it will require. Radio signals for 5G technology are similar to those already generated by 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi networks. By using small cells, or low-power, low-range transmissions, 5G smart antennas send signals where required. These cells enable localised use of signals while increasing coverage and efficiency.

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recently published its updated guidelines to provide improved protection for higher frequency ranges. The new guidelines, which include time and body exposure restrictions, provide protection against all adverse health effects from exposure to electromagnetic frequencies, including for frequencies above 6 GHz, such as those emitted by 5G and future technologies.[3] Compliance with these new guidelines ensures the safe use of 5G.

The unanimous conclusion of international public health organizations[4] and more than 25,000 articles[5] on biological and health effects reaffirm the safe use of wireless technologies such as telecommunication antennas necessary for connectivity and social and economic development.

Comparison of emitted frequencies[6]
Hair dryer	50Hz
Mobile telephony	900-1800MHz
Microwave	2.4GHz

Cell tower (BTS) emissions are lower than those produced by a TV or radio (between 0.002% and 2%).

Daily home appliances already emit radio signals similar to those of new wireless technologies without health effects.

COVID-19 and 5G misinformation

According to experts like the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no dispute that animals are the source of COVID-19.

According to WHO, “Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.”[7]

According to the CDC, “Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now with this new virus (named SARS-CoV-2). The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. All three of these viruses have their origins in bats.”[8]

As with many other conspiracy theories, the supposed 5G coronavirus connection came from uninformed people on the internet trying to link things that are not at all connected. Unfortunately, the power of social media has only amplified some of these misguided comments.

Nenye Dom/Editor


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[1] World Health Organization. “What are Electromagnetic Fields?” May 2016.
[2] World Health Organization. “Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health”. June 2007.
[3] International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. “ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz).” March 2020.
[4] GSMA. “Safety of 5G Mobile Networks”. July 2019.
[5] World Health Organization. “What are Electromagnetic Fields?” May 2016.
[6] Health Ministry’s Directorate-General of Planning and Inspection, Madrid. "10 Basic Issues of Mobile Telephony". June 2012.
[7] https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1 (as at 8 April 2020)
[8] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html (as at 8 April 2020) 

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COVID-19: Anambra berates campaigners on index case personalty, says we’ve not revealed identity - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Anambra State government has described as uncalled for the level of apparent propaganda materials against the person purported to be the state’s coronavirus index case, insisting it has not revealed identity of the index case victim, reports ITREALMS.

Anambra State, ITREALMS recalls recorded its index case on Friday, April 10, and barely 24 hours later, the social media was flooded with various campaigns including photos of an individual suspected to be the index case which the government said negates the principle of the government and even medical ethics.

Commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Anambra State, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, described the campaign materials as slanderous and violate all known medical ethics.

“They were obviously made by persons who want to raise a false alarm and create panic everywhere. The state government has not revealed the name of the index case, nor have the hospital authorities where he is receiving treatment now or has been treated in recent times. Therefore, the identity revealed on the social media broadcasts is merely speculative.”

He also said in a press statement available to ITREALMS, “No COVID-19 patient anywhere has received the kind of attention given to Anambra’s index case. Yet, there are about 300 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Nigeria alone. The social media does not publish their identities until when they have been treated successfully and the persons affected decide to speak in public forums about their experience. It is difficult to understand the hoopla over Anambra’s index case.

“COVID-19 is no death sentence. Its mortality rate is far less than that of, say, Lassa fever, another viral disease which reared its head in the state some two months ago. It was treated with the same clinical efficiency with which the COVID-19 index case is being treated. It is, indeed, reassuring that the index case is in stable condition.

“The despicable behavior of the people making and promoting the propaganda materials against our index case does not define the character of ndi Anambra. We are known for superabundance of humanism. We are famous for our acute sense of solidarity. We are reputed for tremendous support especially to those in distress, hence the popular aphorism, onye aghana nwanne ya, is at the centre of our world. We have always been our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.

“We would also like to caution a section of the media keenly interested in causing a press war between the index case and the government. No controversy is needed. This is no time for any form of sensationalism. It is in no person’s interest. The country, like the rest of the world, is at a critical moment.

“To repeat the obvious, Anambra’s COVID-19 index case does not deserve the kind of publicity he is receiving, nor is he deserving of the opprobrium which his detractors want him to go through. His privacy must be respected. He is a law-abiding citizen, a philanthropist and a major investor in key sectors of the state. He needs peace, cooperation, emotional stability and prayers from all and sundry, apart from sound medical attention.

“Of course, he is getting excellent attention in one of the finest protection centers in the state. We are proud we built the first protection center, otherwise known as isolation center, which meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. We have also trained the personnel, including cleaners, to manage COVID-19 cases professionally.

“We are in the Easter week like the rest of the world. Peace, unity, reconciliation, solidarity and the well-being and future of all our people should our thoughts, utterances and behavior,” he said.




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COVID-19: Why Facebook launched tools for faith-based communities - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Facebook has explained why it recently launched key resources to help faith-based groups stay connected and engaged during the current COVID-19 outbreak, reports ITREALMS. 

The resources, ITREALMS gathered included the “Faith on Facebook Resource Hub” and the Faith on Facebook toolkit; both providing guidance and step-by-step tips that faith-based groups could use to keep their communities engaged while observing social distancing. 

Also, ITREALMS gathered that the tools are part of Facebook’s ongoing efforts in keeping communities safe, connected and informed during this pandemic.

Some of the tools that faith-based groups can use to connect with their communities during the COVID-19 outbreak include:

· Facebook Pages: Explore how to build an active and engaged audience of faith communities, advice on posting interesting content, as well as creating events and using Groups for discussions.

· Facebook Groups: Groups allow people to come together around a common cause, discussing issues and ideas, posting photos and sharing related content.

· Facebook Events: Host virtual events using Facebook Events to spread the word.

· Utilising WhatsApp: Consider sending bite sized sermons or recordings through the voice note feature on WhatsApp to members, using either the dedicated broadcast list function or creating a New Group list.

· Watch Party: Host a Watch Party for your Group, choosing videos that are relevant to your community and invite members to join and discuss.

· Facebook Live: Stream live stream events and performances on Facebook, utilizing interactive features such as reactions, shares and comments enabling you to further engage your audience.

Commenting, Facebook Africa Regional Director Nunu Ntshingila said, “At a time like this, our mission has never been more relevant, to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. We know that faith leaders across Africa are grappling with the unexpected challenges in serving their members digitally, and we’re committed to providing them with the resources and tools to support them as much as possible”. She added, “Our ultimate goal is to equip faith-based communities with the tools to help them continue faith conversations throughout the pandemic.”

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COVID-19: Why U.S. repatriated 997 Americans - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has explained why it assisted some 997 Americans to return home so as to reunite with family and friends during this time of unprecedented challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, reports ITREALMS.

From April 6-8, three U.S. Consulate-organized chartered flights operated by Delta Air Lines and Ethiopian Airlines repatriated 850 American citizens from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos to the United States. This is in addition to the 147 U.S. citizens who departed Abuja on April 4.

These repatriation flights were made possible by a tremendous effort by the U.S. Consulate team and great cooperation from Nigerian partners, including the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Lagos State Government.

The State Department’s effort to bring Americans home during the COVID-19 pandemic has required a remarkable diplomatic and logistical effort. As of April 8, 2020, the Department of State has coordinated the repatriation of 50,339 Americans from 94 countries since January 29, 2020.

United States Consul General Claire Pierangelo noted that in times of emergency, the United States Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas.

“This has been three weeks in the making. We had more than 50 people working on this on a daily basis to make sure that we can find the Americans, get the planes, secure flight clearances for the planes to land here and also ensure safe passage of the Americans traveling to the airport since the city is on lockdown. It was an enormous effort and I am incredibly proud of my team. We appreciate all the help from our Nigerian partners. We couldn’t have done this without them,” Consul General Pierangelo said.

She noted that U.S. Mission remains committed to working closely with the Government of Nigeria and the various health authorities to keep everyone healthy and safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. government has pledged more than $7 million in health and humanitarian funding to Nigeria in response to the pandemic that will go toward risk communication, water and sanitation activities, infection prevention, and coordination. This assistance joins more than $5.2 billion in health assistance and more than $8.1 billion in total assistance for Nigeria over the past 20 years.

The United States is providing nearly $274 million to help dozens of countries to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), furthering America’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and global health.

U.S. citizens who remain in Nigeria seeking COVID-19 information are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at step.state.gov and check the U.S. Mission Nigeria website and social media handles for messages and updates.

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ICT-journalists group floors 5G conspiracy theory, urges Nigerians to embrace new tech - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

With the debate on the health implication of the Fifth Generation (5G) technology, and the purported cabling of 5G fibre optic infrastructure in Nigeria, the Nigeria Information Technology Association (NITRA), an umbrella body for ICT Journalists in Nigeria, has laid out the facts concerning the effect of the technology to human health, reports ITREALMS.

NITRA, in a press statement, the Chairman, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi explained that 5G is expected to connect people, things, data, applications, transport systems and cities in smart networked communication environments. The technology should transport a huge amount of data much faster, reliably connect an extremely large number of devices and process very high volumes of data with minimal delay.

“5G technologies are expected to support applications such as smart homes and buildings, smart cities, 3D video, work and play in the cloud, remote medical services, virtual and augmented reality, and massive machine-to-machine communications for industry automation. 3G and 4G networks currently face challenges in supporting these services,” he explained.

Onwuegbuchi also pointed out that despite the allegations by conspiracy theorists on the availability of 5G services in Nigeria, the cabling for 5G infrastructure, and the link between 5G and the current COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has not even released spectrum for 5G services to Mobile Network Operators (MNO), therefore it is technically impossible to run a 5G service in the country.

According to the NITRA Chairman, the Nigerian public should only source information from reliable authorities and experts on the issue, such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU); the World Health Organisation (WHO), the nation’s telecommunication regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the supervisory Ministries, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Ministry of Health.

Onwuegbuchi cited expert opinions on the matter, quoting WHO, which has categorically stated that viruses cannot travel on radio waves or mobile networks and that COVID-19 is a respiratory disease.

The technology was approved by the ITU.

ITU plays a leading role in managing the radio spectrum and developing globally applicable standards for IMT-2020. Its activities support the development and implementation of international regulations and standards to ensure that 5G networks are secure, interoperable, and that they operate without causing or receiving harmful interference to or from adjacent services.

Discussing alleged health risks from 5G, the WHO documented that “to date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies.”

However, WHO is further conducting a health risk assessment from exposure to radio-frequencies, covering the entire radio-frequency range, including 5G, to be published by 2022. WHO will review scientific evidence related to potential health risks from 5G exposure as the new technology is deployed, and as more public health-related data become available.

WHO established the International Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project in 1996. The project investigates the health impact of exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the frequency range 0-300 GHz and advises national authorities on EMF radiation protection.

On exposure levels, the WHO further establishes that currently, exposure from 5G infrastructures at around 3.5 GHz is similar to that from existing mobile phone base stations. “With the use of multiple beams from 5G antennas, exposure could be more variable as a function of location of the users and their usage. Given that the 5G technology is currently at an early stage of deployment, the extent of any change in exposure to radiofrequency fields is still under investigation.”

A spokeswoman for the telecoms trade body GSMA said the new limits showed the safety of current and future technology. “Importantly, the health risk assessment is unchanged. The review found no established health risks to anyone, including children, using mobile phones or living near base stations,” she said.

A GSMA report reiterates that 5G adoption would grow as its benefits become visible. It points to the slow pace of awareness around the technology, suggesting that even increased knowledge about the usefulness need not translate into actions to upgrade or even intentions to do so.

Also, shedding more light on the issue, an independent international standards body, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which was set up in 1992 to assess the impact of electromagnetic and acoustic waves on people and the environment, said its current guidelines are mostly appropriate for the 5G era.

Medical health specialist have also lent their voices to the issue. Condemning the theories as “the worst kind of fake news”, National Medical Director of NHS England, Professor Steve Powis said: “I’m absolutely outraged, absolutely disgusted, that people would be taking action against the very infrastructure that we need to respond to this health emergency.”

Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Bristol, Professor Adam Finn, in his position said: “The internet connections these networks give us are one of the most important tools we are using to co-ordinate our response to the epidemic and efforts to do research to overcome it.”

Also, professor of microbial pathogenesis at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Prof Brendan Wren, said a connection between the phone masts and the virus would be “both a physical and biological impossibility.”

While applauding the people’s need for caution, Mr. Onwuegbuchi called on Nigerians to embrace new technologies as a means of improving the economy and joining global competitiveness.

He reiterated the motive behind the laying of fibre optic cables by MNOs, saying that the new cables are very necessary to improve the quality of service of telecommunication services, especially at the period when the networks are in increased usage. He further explained that the timing was to enable the MNOs work feely without obstructing traffic or easy movement of people.

He stressed that the laid fibre optic cables were for 3G and 4G services and cannot be used for 5G service yet because the operators have not been issued spectrum for the service.

While pledging support for the NCC and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in their bid to position Nigeria among the digitally innovative nations, NITRA urged Nigerians to look beyond the rumours surrounding the 5G technology and support the federal government if, and when they eventually choose to adopt the technology.

“Just like the NCC and the Ministry said, before the country will adopt 5G technology, they will consult all stakeholders, and research further into the implications of the technology,” Mr. Onwuegbuchi encouraged.

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Lessons Nigeria must learn from and after COVID-19 crisis - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS:

The outbreak of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and national response to it clearly exposed our ill preparedness for its possible spread to Nigeria. Response and management of the crisis also showed our poor strategy to emergency handling as a nation.

Several months after the outbreak of the virus in far away China's town of Wuhan was reported, and its fast spread to other towns and cities across the Asian country and other continents, it is obvious that Nigeria waited too long to initiate strategy and action plans to prevent and mitigate the pandemic.

Perhaps, until the World Health Organisation (WHO) was bold enough to declare Coronavirus a global pandemic, we appeared not to understand the magnitude of the crisis in our hand. Whereas, our response strategy should have been in place several months back even before WHO first classified COVID-19 as an epidemic.

Whichever way we look at it, the lack of preparation or inadequacy of it was manifested when the first index case slipped into the country. Combined with not taking other proactive measures as quickly as we should do, today, we have some hundreds of confirmed cases to deal with. Sadly, it's even a sad trajectory as the chain of transmission has continued to rise geometrically.

This is partly due to the fact that we left our international airspace and seaports open, thus allowing people with travel history to countries where COVID-19 had been reported to come in to our country. In spite of the closure of our land borders, which even preceded the pandemic, people were still coming in to the country freely.

The lack or inadequacy of healthcare infrastructure and medical consumables was also a factor of poor response mechanism. The federal and most state governments had to hurriedly construct isolation and testing centres as well as special hospitals for the management of patients of COVID-19 because we did not have enough of such facilities.

Importantly too, there were no enough test kits that could ensure most suspected cases and the larger population undergo testing for possible Coronavirus infection. Therefore, community infection was easy thus escalating the rate of infection.

Also, the citizens were not sensitised and educated early enough to be responsive and responsible in their obligation towards maintaining social distancing that could have reduced the spread of the virus. Reports indicated that the larger percentage of our national workforce who are mainly in the informal sector, and who live on daily income, were not sufficiently educated before the imposition of lockdowns in most states of the federation. This was evident by the willful non-compliance with the presidential lockdown order in Lagos and Ogun States and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as restrictions of movement directed by state governors.

In terms of the distribution of stimulus packages or relief materials towards cushioning the effect of lockdowns, there was also poor logistics obviously due to absence of reliable data. Many of the targeted beneficiaries reportedly complained of not being reached.

In parts of the country, residents accused government of also violating the social distancing directive in the course of distribution of the relief items. In some instances, few state officials were accused of indulging in corruption with the stimulus packages.

I must however, commend the Lagos State Government under Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his demonstrable exemplary leadership in the excellent style he and his team have responded and managed the pandemic. Governor Sanwo-Olu's model has inspired and served as the template for other state governments in responding and managing the COVID-19 in their respective domains.

Also, commendable is the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari through the setting up of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 among other measures to combat the pandemic. Many state governments have also done very well.

The drawbacks in our response and management of Coronavirus are, however, too weighty to ignore. Let me clarify here that the objective of my submission is not to castigate anyone, but to see the lessons that we can draw from this pandemic.

There are many lessons to learn both for now and the future. These include leveraging the experiences that have come with our response and management of this pandemic. The lapses, mistakes and mis-steps are good inferences that we should draw from with a view to avoiding a repeat in the future.

Looking at the huge amount of monetary, equipment and material donations to COVID-19 cause by private organisations, institutions and individuals at the federal and state levels, my advice is that these resources must be put to judicious use and well accounted for.

We must begin to invest in the upgrade of our existing healthcare infrastructure, build new ones and put those constructed under emergency for COVID-19 into permanent use. We must begin to build local capacity of our people by strengthening our research institutions and researchers to be able to develop breakthrough vaccines and medicaments for the treatment of both known and unknown diseases ahead of time.

A group of scientists in a Senegal polytechnic produced 3-D ventilators at the cost of US$66 each and capacity to produce 50 ventilators per day. I believe Nigeria has the capacity to do the same and even surpass the feat by the Senegalese. We are blessed with abundance of geniuses and scholars. Some of our universities are also world-class and can bring out innovative solutions that address our healthcare challenges. Increased special funding for healthcare research and development, and increased capacity of our medical professionals are also proactive steps we must take.

We should uptake our emergency preparedness and response generally by ensuring regular procurement and supply of protective equipment such as hand sanitisers, nose/face masks, hand gloves, infrared and body temperature measurement equipment, test kits, protective gears for our emergency responders. The essential items should also be provided in all our health facilities, schools and public offices while private institutions should also be encouraged to do same.

Adequate sensitisation, awareness, education and knowledge sharing for citizens should also be given adequate attention. Engagement of communication marketing professionals, strategic communications thinkers and planners, issue and crisis management experts and reputation management professionals will be my recommendation to government. No matter how best government is doing, low citizen education could be a disincentive.

Above all, homegrown alternatives should be encouraged. Emergency importation of equipment and supplies, and medical personnel from overseas such as China or elsewhere as in our current situation, is only an example of things we didn't get right.

We should rather encourage our local investors, innovators and investors to come in and play active collaboration in our national search for a permanent end to Coronavirus. My reasoning is that we can leverage COVID-19 to further bolster the growth of our Micro, Medium and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector. We would be amazed at how much App innovators can do by helping to develop surveillance and monitoring apps for contact tracing of persons that have had contacts with Coronavirus index or confirmed cases.

These are just a few among several other ways that we can turn the COVID-19 crisis to our advantage.

*Lere Ojedokun is the Executive Director, Strategic Communications, Chain Reactions Nigeria, the Exclusive Nigerian Affiliate and West Africa's Partner of Edelman, the world's largest PR firm with presence in 65 countries across the globe.

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