LASG raises alarms over fake Coronavirus test results on sale
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| AWARD: From left: Alhaji Y. A. Agboola, Chairman, Orile Agege CDC; Ogunyemi Adegboyega, Secretary, Omotoye Estate CDA; Prince Dasaolu Oladimeji, Chairman, Omotoye Estate CDA, and Mrs. Akintunde Oyeyinka, Head of Agric, Orile Agege Local Council Development Area, LCDA, with the prize Omotoye Estate CDA received at this year, 2020 Lagos State Community Day, held by Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs at Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. |
*Says 236,212 tested so far; recorded 28,885 cases, 241 deaths
*Sets up 10 oxygen centres in high burden LGAs
*Vows to eliminate extortionist cabals causing Apapa gridlock
Lagos State Government has raised alarm over sales of fake Coronavirus test results in the state, warning that processes are being put in place to clamp down on both buyers and sellers.
The state government stated that in order to properly treat critical Coronavirus cases, the state has completed 10 oxygen centres across 10 Coronavirus high-burden local government areas in the state.
The state also threatened to deactivate the passports of travellers who refused to comply with Coronavirus testing protocols.
Lagos, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, has recorded over 28,885 cases, with 241 fatalities.
This came as the World Bank said that the pandemic has further exposed the weaknesses of education systems around the world and might have increased Learning Poverty Rate by 10 points, from 53 per cent to 63 per cent in low and middle income countries, like Nigeria.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, who briefed newsmen, said: “Positivity in the state for inbound travellers is on the rise as Nigerians in Diaspora return to spend Christmas in Lagos.
Fake tests results on sale — LASG
Abayomi said: “It has come to our attention that a number of people are patronizing individuals that sell fake COVID-19 results. We are currently putting in processes to identify both buyers and sellers and we will not hesitate to prosecute either to the full extent of the law.”
Frowning on non-compliance on the part of inbound travellers, he said a significant number of the people who registered on the Lagos State COVID-19 portal for post-arrival test have been tested while there are a number of people who paid for the test, but did not show up for testing.
“Efforts are being made through our logistics arm to reach this group of people. These attempts have been met with challenges as several people used fake contact information while registering on the testing portal.”
Stating that for the sake and safety of the general public, such people should come for testing immediately, he threatened to submit their details to the Presidential Task Force for deactivation of their passports.
10 oxygen centres set up in Lagos
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| Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi (4th right) flanked by others during the commissioning of Permanent Sample Collection Triage and Oxygen Therapy Centre at Eti-Osa LGA. |
On the decentralised Oxygen Therapy Strategy, Abayomi said in order to better manage severe-to-critical cases, the state is in the process of deploying oxygen therapy centres in the following high burden LGAs.
He noted that with the construction and decentralization of the Centres, citizens requiring oxygen therapy would not have to travel a distance to Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital to access care.
Abayomi, while commissioning the Permanent Sample Collection Triage and Oxygen Therapy Centre at Eti-Osa LGA, the facility which located within the premises of the Eti-Osa Maternal and Child Care Centre is one of 10 others strategically located in 10 local government areas of the State with high burden of #COVID19 cases.
He said other Permanent Triage and Oxygen Therapy Centre located in Alimosho, Isolo, Surulere, Gbagada, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ibeju-Lekki, Apapa, Mushin and Amuwo-Odofin areas of the State are almost completed and would be activated in two weeks.
Abayomi explained that the centres which will also serve as a sample collection centres house between four to six beds strictly for critical cases that need oxygen.
He said the structures sited in the state public health facilities will be used for other things such as immunization after COVID-19 pandemic.
Giving details on testing, Abayomi said the state has increased its testing capacity per day between 2,000 and 3,000 per day.
On volume of samples tested by public and private laboratories, the commissioner said a total of 236,212 samples had been tested, of which 213,623 valid initial samples and the balance 22,589 were repeat samples tested; also, 28,774 were diagnosed positive.
He explained that the state has the highest positivity rate in July with 17.8 per cent followed by December 2020, with 13.1 per cent.
He noted that in positivity rate, Eti-Osa LGA still leads with 27 per cent, followed closely by Ajeromi and Surulere with 26 per cent and Amuwo-Odofin with 25 per cent among others.
Abayomi said the state is still testing people free without charging for those that have symptoms, while people testing for other reasons were directed to accredited private laboratories where they will pay.
“If you want to test for reasons such as travel and other work-related activities, please proceed to our accredited private laboratories to receive your COVID-19 tests. You can book for your private COVID-19 tests on our portal, https://covid19.lagosstatebiobank.com for requests within Lagos State; or the national platform, https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng for inbound and outbound travellers.”
On the second wave, Abayomi said the state had gone into second wave early due to the opening of the economy, general laxity, false sense of security and non-adherence to guidelines, reopening of schools, variants, large religious, congregation, social gatherings and entertainment,
He said currently the state has 437 isolation bed capacities out of which 328 beds are free.
“Currently, 75 persons are on admission while 28 persons are waiting for their results. We are managing the virus better now and our Convalescence research is showing some benefits for patients with respiratory failure.”
COVID-19 raises Learning Poverty Rate to 63% in Nigeria, others — World Bank
The World Bank report entitled “Realising the future of learning: From learning poverty to learning for everyone, everywhere.”
It also noted that about 43.6 per cent of Nigeria’s estimated population of over 150 million between the ages of 0-14, no fewer than 30 million Nigerians could be affected.
This is inclusive of over 13 million Nigeria’s out-of-school children, the highest in the world. Learning Poverty is defined by the World Bank as the inability to read and understand a simple text by the age of 10, adding that when a child cannot read, it further impedes his/her ability to succeed in school and beyond.
According to the bank, too many education systems are not delive-ring even basic skills for all children, let alone preparing them for the demanding world they will live in as adults.
However, the report noted that COVID-19 has opened a window of opportunity for education systems to move to a path of accelerated progress, adding that “it is now possible to bring forward to today elements that many would have thought are part of the future of learning.
“A vision of this future should guide today’s investments and policy reforms so that countries can lay the foundations for effective, equitable and resilient education systems.”
The bank charged countries to chart their own paths with political commitment to carry out investment and reforms in five key areas.
It listed the areas to include learners that are prepared and motivated to learn; teachers that are effective and valued; learning resources including curricula, that are diverse and of high quality. Other areas are schools that are safe and have inclusive spaces and education systems that are well managed.
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Apapa gridlock: Lagos takes over traffic mgt from PTT —Sanwo-Olu
...Vows to eliminate extortionist cabal, corruption by port operators
GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, has announced the setting up a special team by the state government to take over traffic management from the disbanded Presidential Task Team, PTT, to restore sanity to the perennial gridlock in the Apapa axis.
Sanwo-Olu also said that as part of efforts to address the Apapa gridlock, a stakeholders meeting has been slated for next week.
The governor said these when he led a delegation of the state's Executive Council and stakeholders on a first-hand assessment of the traffic situation in Apapa ports and environs.
He inspected places such as Lily Pond truck terminal, Wharf Road, Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port, Truck Park, all within Apapa environs.
The inspection followed the disbandment of PTT by the Federal Government, as well as outcries by members of the public, over perennial traffic gridlock, which has left residents and workers in the area helpless.
Sanwo-Olu, while addressing newsmen and a horde of truck drivers at Tin Can Port, in the newly constructed Truck Park, decried the level of indiscipline among port players, has vowed to tackle and eliminate the cabal behind the series of extortions been perpetrated by some officials and security personnel in Apapa environ.
His words: “This is not the first time, certainly not the second and in fact, this is about the third or the fourth time, in my administration, that we are trying to solve the Apapa gridlock.
“On all of the time we have come, we knew that we are having a road construction but you can see now that inside Apapa, there is significant progress in this area, particularly on the road construction site. A lot has been done.
“Today (Monday) being a public holiday, it is difficult to say that we have achieved a 100 per cent traffic free flow into Apapa.
“We have heard all the complaints from the various stakeholders, the unions, freight forwarders, drivers, everyone has said their own side of the story, it is multi-faceted.
“There have been accusations around cabals collecting money from operators and accusations around being hijacked by some people and there has also been counter-accusation.
“We are trying to bring about cohesive metrics where all the stakeholders in Apapa understand and appreciate the various roles that everybody needs to play and let everybody identify and solve it.
“You are aware that since last year, the PTT had been working. Now, there is a process that is starting where the State Government needs to take over the task force. One of the reasons for this trip is to start that process, to see things for myself.
“The state government is to set up a seamless operation to have a team of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, about 400 to 500, dedicated to Apapa gridlock. We need a team of policemen from Area B dedicated to the same gridlock. We understand what the Ports Police Command is doing because they are also part of the problem.
“More importantly, to be able to speak to all the big men in the office, the ship owners, the port terminal operators, freight forwarders, who are not here with the drivers who we see are the ones bearing the brunt.
“So, when somebody ought to deliver a container and he is being charged for demurrage, that cannot be working operations, it’s not fair. I have seen it again and will go back to see and plot a template.”
Extortionist cabal
On extortion allegations against the police, Sanwo-Olu said: “I have asked them to provide evidence of those people extorting money from you. We are determined to make people scapegoats. It is part of ensuring that we reduce problems around the ease of doing business.
“It is a process and we cannot say we have all the solutions but we have seen the process again, we have seen that we can improve this process and we have identified the stakeholders.
“We need to also go back and see how we can normalize those things and understand that we have a problem here and we have to solve the problem.”
Lagos-bound truck somersaults in Niger, kills 23, injures 22
Twenty three persons lost their lives while 22 others sustained injuries when a truck, fully loaded with cows and 45 persons, skidded off the road and somersaulted into a bush. Confirming the incident, yesterday, Niger State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adamu Usman, said the accident occurred at about 5 am along Bokani-Makera road in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
Usman said the truck, with number plate, BBJ 666 XA, was from Dadin Kowa in Kebbi State, en route Lagos when the incident occurred, explaining that the corpses of the deceased and the other 22, who sustained injuries, had been conveyed to the Mokwa General Hospital for postmortem and treatment respectively.
Usman, who attributed the accident to loss of control by the driver, lamented the failure of drivers to obey traffic rules and regulations.
Otuji warns boat operators to provide safety gears for passengers
*As Navy rescues 12 drowning passengers in Lagos
Western Naval Command Information Officer, Commander Thomas Otuji has warned boat operators to be providing safety gears for their passengers and make sure the passengers put it on before they embarked on water journey to avoid loss of life during boat mishap.
Otuji gave the warning during the rescue operation of the 12 drowning passengers at Takwa Bay area in Lagos.
Explaining how they were rescued, Otuji, said: “The personnel were deployed to the scene for search and rescue operations. All passengers on board of the ill-fated boat were rescued and conveyed to the Naval Medical Centre, Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island Lagos, for immediate medical care.
“Once again, boat operators and passengers are strongly advised to adhere to safety guidelines and measures before embarking on any trip. Relevant unions and associations are further advised to ensure that safety gears are provided by their members, passengers and to enforce the compulsory use of the safety gears by all passengers.
“Additionally, boat drivers should be subjected to regular and mandatory training and medical checks. These measures are necessary because the mishap in the first place was caused by an unprofessional boat driver with poor judgement and with no regard to the safety of others while plying the waters.”
The 12 drowning passengers of an outward engine boat, which capsized along Takwa Bay area of Lagos on Sunday night were rescued by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship, BEECROFT, Lagos.
The incident was said to have been caused by waves from another boat transiting the area at about 8:10 pm. A report had it that passengers of the ill-fated boat shouted for help but none was forthcoming, until personnel of the NNS Beecroft, who were at the vicinity on routine patrol, were alerted.
Culled from Vanguard
Lagos CAN approves crossover service
In a statement by its chairman, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, said, the overwhelming enquiries and agitations by many Churches and Christians in Lagos necessitated the need for the approval.
Adegbite, however, urged churches in the state to follow all Covid-19 protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.
He said: “There will be cross-over night service on December 31, 2020, in many Churches that observe the annual service. However, it must be noted that the curfew imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic is a Federal Government directive. Hence, Churches who want to observe the cross-over night shall be allowed to hold service till 12:15am into January 1, 2021 morning. Service must end by this time.
“However, for Churches which observe their watch night or cross-over night service till the middle of the night, no Church member must be allowed to leave the Church premises or service venue till after the end of the curfew period (4am) as directed by the Federal Government.”
Earlier, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of Lagos State, had said that there would be no room for cross-over service in the state, due to the rising in the coronavirus spreading in the second wave.
He urged religious leaders to encure their followers obey the safety measures put in place to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
It’s mandatory to obtain clearance for weddings — LASG
The Lagos State Government has made it mandatory for prospective couples to obtain clearance from the state government to hold weddings with 300 people in attendance.
This was contained in a notice by the state government on Friday, titled, ‘Stay At Home’.
“Weddings and social gatherings must not exceed 300 people with prior clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission,” the notice partly read.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, confirmed the development with The Punch on Saturday morning.
He said the state government is concerned about large gatherings and big weddings as the state experiences a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.
The director-general said, “If it is not a big wedding, maybe 50 people, 100 people, we are not really concerned. But if it is a large gathering with 300 people and above, it is mandatory that you get a clearance. It is a free clearance; no payment whatsoever.
“The process is not difficult, you go online and input the details of the wedding. There might be a requirement to have safety marshals on ground, depending on the size of the wedding.
“The move is to put in place some control measures to prevent super-spreader weddings and hold people accountable. It also helps us in planning. For instance, if we are envisaging 500 guests at a wedding, there will be more attention on them. We will do our regular patrols and visit such places to ensure that they comply with safety protocols.”
“We will also forward those locations to our brothers in LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority) and LAMATA (Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority) to be on the lookout that there is a big wedding and many cars will be coming into a neighbourhood so as to aid efficient traffic management,” Mojola said.
How Ronaldo won PLAYER OF THE CENTURY
...beat Messi, Lewandowski at Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai
It has shown that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player of the Century, when he received Player of the Century Award at Globe Soccer Award in Dubai, after beaten his arch-rival in football, Lion Messi and Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski. This award has added to Ronaldo’s fame and numerous awards he has received before.
The Portuguese striker and Juventus forward, who has won Balon d’or award five-time, smiled on stage in Dubai as he was named the Greatest Football Player from 2001 to 2020.
It was gathered that Ronaldo was picked as the best player of the century because of his consistent on field and scoring. The 35-year-old Ronaldo scored 44 goals for club and country this year 2020. While Messi scored only 26 goals both for Barcelona and Argentina this year. This award follows the Golden Foot award, which was first introduced in 2003, for players aged 28 or above and can only be won by a recipient once in their career. Only Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scored more than the former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker.
Ronaldo scored once in each half to see Juventus win 4-0 and move level on points with Inter and one adrift of leaders AC Milan.
Ronaldo’s contribution has equalled that of former Juventus forward Omar Sivori from 1961 - who scored the joint-third most goals in a single year behind Gunnar Nordahl in 1950 and Felice Borel in 1933.
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola won the coach of the century award, following his emphatic reigns in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich before his move to the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes won the agent of the century trophy.
Ronaldo’s former club Real Madrid were picked as the club of the century, after winning five Champions League titles and seven LaLiga’s during the last 20 years.
Other award winners at the ceremony included Champions League winners Bayern Munich, who won the club of the year award for 2020. Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski was crowed player of the year, beating Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
FIFA Player of the Century was a one-off award created by FIFA to decide the greatest football player of the 20th century, announced at the annual FIFA World gala, held in Rome on 11 December 2000. Maradona and Pelé were joint winners of the award.
Since 1991, FIFA have had awards for FIFA World Player of the Year and they decided to bring in the new millennium by conducting a public vote to decide the FIFA Player of the Century. This was to be decided by votes on their official website, their official magazine and a grand jury. Maradona won the Internet-based poll by wide margins, garnering 53.6% of the votes against 18.53% for Pelé. Despite the fact that Eusébio, who played football professionally during Pelé's era, placed third in the poll, many observers complained that the Internet nature of the poll would have meant a skewed demographic of younger fans who would have seen Maradona play, but not Pelé. As a result, FIFA decided to add a second poll and appointed a "Football Family" committee composed of football journalists, officials and coaches, who voted Pelé the best player of the century with 72.75% of the vote, thus both were joint winners of the award.
One dead, 5 injured as Customs, smugglers clash
At least, one person has been confirmed dead following a clash between some officers of Nigeria Customs Services and rice smugglers in Oke Ola area of Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State on Saturday.
It was gathered that trouble started when the Customs officers stormed a hide-out where imported rice were stocked, shooting into the air to scare the smugglers.
The armed smugglers were said to have engaged the officers in a gun battle that led to the killing of an innocent boy, who was playing football with his colleagues at the Local Government Primary School, Oke-Ola, Ilaro.
An eye witness, who preferred anonymity, said no fever than five persons sustained gun injuries during the encounter.
The Public Relations Officer of Ogun 1 Area Command of the NCS, Ahmed Oloyede, who confirmed the incident, described it as unfortunate, even as he said he did not have details of what really transpired.
His words: “I heard about the incident, but I have not got detailed information of what happened. What I was briefed was that it was a joint operation conducted by the border drill officers and FOU.
“They made some seizure and there was an altercation between them and the smugglers. They were attacked and all they could do to disperse the smugglers proved abortive. In the process, the smugglers tried to lynch the officers. So, they had to find their way out.
“I don’t have detailed information yet, but that’s just the brief information I have about the incident.
“It is very unfortunate that when officers make an arrest, you see hoodlums in their large numbers attacking operatives. Even the so-called innocent ones are being used for this. You see people with arms in their hands, carrying weapons.” Culled from Vanguard
Lack of govt input: Maize scarcity looms in 2021 — Farmers
FARMERS in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, yesterday, lamented over their loss in the year 2020 planting season, as a result of failed flood forecast and lack of government input, which they claimed might cause maize scarcity in 2021.
The farmers, under the aegis of the Association of Farm Settlers, Ipapo-Iseyin branch, stated this after an emergency meeting, held at the weekend in the state.
In a statement by their Chairman, Mr. Alabi Kazeem, the association claimed its members immediately went to access loans from commercial banks and private individuals, when they heard about the heavy rain forecast, which they believed would assist in late maize planting.
The statement reads: “Many of our members had decided against planting maize this year because of the poor and unstable rainfall, but when they heard of the forecast from the Federal Government, through the meteorology department as well as the rigorous campaigns from Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources that there would be heavy rains towards the end of October and November, they sourced for funds to plant maize.
“Unfortunately, the failed forecast led to a staggering loss to our members. They lost millions in bank loans and borrowing from family and friends to plant maize, many cannot even pass by their farms to see the withered maize farms, we are so hurt by this occurrence.”
“In as much as we are not blaming the Federal and State governments for issuing flood alerts to safeguard lives and properties, including those of farmers, we are using this opportunity to urge them to come to our aid, our members are running from pillars to post to repay loans they took from banks and individuals.”
They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to evolve new measures to assist farmers to determine weather forecasts and also provide basic supports to genuine farmers.
“Our fear for now is what will be the fate of poor Nigerians that depend largely on basic food items that are sourced from maize, it is easy to predict that there will be a scarcity of maize next year with what happened this year unless government quickly evolve a way out to assist farmers to surmount this problem.
“Our governor in Oyo State has shown an unparalleled love for farmers in Oyo State and we can all see that he is out to make agriculture the major pillar to promote the State’s economy, we are calling on him to please extend the funding from the loan for farm settlement to us at Oke-Ogun”, they stated.
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