Flights Extended For Four Weeks- FG

The ban placed on flights in the country have been extended for another four weeks as part of effort to curtail the spread of coronavirus by the Federal Government.

 The chairman of the presidential taskforce on covid-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the daily briefing of the taskforce on wednessday.

Mustapha, also the secretary to the Government of the federation, said the decision to extend the ban was taken after due consultation with experts.

He reportedly said, Tomorrow marks the last day for the enforcement of the closure of Nigerian airspace to flights.

''We have estimated the situation in the aviation industry and have come to the conclusion and given the facts available to us and based on the advice of experts, the banning on all flights will be extended to additional four weeks.

 Mustapha said on other efforts being made to curtail the spread of the virus, that the PTF  had continued to interface with the state Governors.

 He disclosed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control would be visiting kogi and cross river states to provide support to the state EOCs.

 He described this, as a giant leap in the dialogue and collaboration process.

 ''We are also retooling all federal medical institutions as part of the overall support to the states'' 'He added'.

 ''We have received a boost in the isolation facilities available in Abuja with the completion of  the Abuja Thisday Dome. This facility will be inaugurated on tuesday, may 12, 2020.''

 The SGF said the PTF and the president, major General Muhammadu Buhari, were worried about reports on the increasing rate of infection of medical doctors and personnel.

 ''while we renew our efforts at training these frontline workers about the infectious nature of this virus, we urge that utmost care be taken managing Covid-19 related cases.

 ''We have investigated and i wish to assure you that the NCDC team is on ground in Gombe to support the state EOC. Similarly, i can comfirm that the testing laboratory in Gombe will be activated soon.

 ''The overall assessment of complaince with the measure and outcomes of modelling we have developed point in the direction of danger ahead. We therefore need personal discipline, increased awareness and enforcement.

 ''The PTF calls on community, religious and traditional leaders to take up this challenge.''

He called on trade associations, professional bodies and organizations to compliment the efforts of Government

One Dead, 16 Injured In Lagos Tanker Fire

 One  person has died in a fire outbreak that occured at the oando filling station, obalende area of lagos, while 16 others were injured.
  This is the second filling station that have encountered a fire outbreak  this week.
 Olufemi oke-osanyintolu, The Director General of the Lagos state Emergency management Agency (LASEMA) said the fire occured when a premium water spirit (pms) tanker spilled its content in front of the filling station.
 He said one person died in the fire, while 16 others sustained different degrees of injuries, this includes  a fire fighter who sustained serious injuries from the fire.
 ''The agency received a distress call  on the above incident concerning a 45,000 litre capacity tanker loaded with PMS which was ablazed having fallen on it's side directly in front of a petrol station.''

 ''Efforts to combat the flames by the agency officials and men of the lagos state fire service and the federal fire service have been successful and the fire have been extinguished and the station, surrounding buildings protected.
Mr Oke Osanyintolu said,  ''Unfortunately, the inferno resulted in a single fatality, 15 'minor casualties' and one 'major casualty' (injured) who happens to be a lagos state fire fighter, he has been subsequently transferred to the lagos state General Hospital for treatment, while 'minor casualties' received on the scene for medical attention.

 He urged the public to keep away and allow the responders to conclude recovery and also clear the road for vehicles to move.

people Talk: Extension of Covid-19 and 8pm-6pm nationwide curfew

I did not think the lockdown should continue at all because the stay at home has increased insecurity in our communities and it has also constituted a serious challenge on our economy.
  There is serious hunger and uncertainty about survival from the masses. Government should find another wayy of tackling the disease.'' -Precious odileku, student.
  The extension of lockdown is really not easy especially when many of us are not making money while at home. I understand the government is trying to control the virus by telling us to stay at home.
  ''But there is hunger in the land. The only way a stay at home directive will work is if palliatives is extended to the masses.''- Adeola John' Student
''The move is a fair one on nigerians and especially on the economy. By the president's directive people can now go out and work from 8am-6pm.
 ''I believe this will strike a minimal balance in the economy. We can't just remain at home until the very last infected person is discharged. We must find a way around the situation.''- Abimbola Okunola, Entrepreneur
 ''I hope this lockdown makes a difference. Truth be told, the lockdown will make no difference untill Nigerians behave and abide by the decision of the Government.
 ''Many people have simply refuse to comply with social distancimg and stay at home directives. I hope things don't get out of hand beyond what is on ground.''- Babalola Adetunbowale, social worker.
  The extension is quite discourging because,even with the lockdown, the number of infected persons is still rising daily. It will be better if the Government and NCDC can approve a video of live report of the activities in the insolation centers instead of figures report. This will make people more cautious about the preventive measures.''- Chukwu Chinwe, Paralegal.
 ''I wonder how many lives will be lost as extension continues. 70% of Nigerians cannot feed a day without going out to hustle for their daily bread.

''He Speaks From Both Sides of His Mouth'', Virology Professor Tackle's Cross River Governor over Production Of Covid-19 Vaccine

A former vice Chancellor of Redeemer's University, Tomori, said Nigeria had the human resource's but lacks the enabling environment to come up with a Vaccine at this time.
  Oyewale Tomori, Nigerian Professor of Virology, has faulted claims by Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state on the usage  of anti-bodies of survivors of Covid-19 to create a Vaccine for the Disease.
 Tomori posited that Ayade's solution were contradictory.
  In a trending Video, Ayade, had said that the Government could use the serum of those who have recovered from covid-19 to produce the Vaccine.
  No he's not
  Ben Ayade said PCR is unreliably and shouldn't be used for Diagnosis, but even a lab Technician let alone a microbiologist knows that's such a big lie.
 The Cross River Governor obtained a doctorate in Environmental Microbiology from the University or Ibadan.
 Ayade said ''it is not Vaccines, it is healthy living, i am talking from a sound intellectual and scientific background. There is no Vaccine today; there is no established  approved international treatment protocol.
  However, those people who have recovered, why don't you go and take there serum. If the have recovered, the now have the anti-bodies against the virus, take their serum, do a synthesis of their serum based on electrophoresis and synthesis and mass produce the Vaccine''.
  Tomori described Ayade's recommendation as ''bullshit''
 He said, ''on Ayade, he started by saying it is not Vaccine (that is the problem) and ended up by saying ''make Vaccine's from the serum''.
  ''He Speaks from  both Sides of his double mouth. Then he said PCR is not reliable for diagnosis... sorry to use such a word as bullshit''.
 Tomori also a former vice Chancellor of Redeemers University, said Nigeria had the human resource's but lacks the enabling  environment to come up with a Vaccine at this time.
  He added ''we have the human resources but we do not have the basic enabling Environment- regular power supply, water supply, appropriate communication technology.
  ''Research institutes in the country operate on the ever dwindling annual budget which is irregularly disbursed and often spent with opaque accountability.