Devcoms unveils twitter conversation, '#5daysforCOVID19'

Success Damian:

To address the present turmoil of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Development Communications (DevComs) Network with support from over 150 volunteers, Social Media & Health Influencers all over Nigeria has launched a campaign titled '#5daysforCOVID19'.

The twitter conversation ran for five days as Nigeria joins the world to tackle the COVID-19 virus.  

In a press release, the twitter campaign reached over 7.5 million people with credible information on Corona Virus in 5 days. 

The topic discussed covered how to prevent contacting Corona Virus, how and who should self-isolate, the concept of social distancing and public and private roles to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. 

Important tips were shared by Dr. Chinonso Egemba @Aproko_doctor, Dr. John Afam @DrJohnAfam, Dr. Marietta Imadojiemu @etta_md, Nelson Echibuogu @Sports_doctor2, and message moderated by Fausiat Balogun (Public Health Specialist) @Healthcommng for Development Communication (Devcoms)Network.

According the discussants, the Virus is spread by respiratory droplets, and agreed that there has to be contact with an infected person before the virus could spread. They added that by effectively practicing social distancing, it could indeed reduce contact and the likelihood of spread. “What you do affects all of us,” they maintained.

In the release, the group said “Social Distancing simply means reducing the amount of contact we have with people while carrying out our daily activities. This would help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as infection rates would drop. 

“Self-isolation simply means either staying at home or at a place where you won't meet with family or people, in general at serviced apartment or your house with no face to face contact with anyone for a period of 14 days.

They also discussed who should isolate, they maintained that for now there are two major groups, those that come in contact with surfaces like desks, doors, etc. , objects like Telephones, keyboards and therefore, advised that these objects should regularly be cleaned with disinfectant.

They advised the public to ensure easy access to soap and water for hand-washing.

“Place hand sanitizers at strategic locations and fill them regularly, it's best if these are self-dispensing to prevent multiple hands touching them.  Provide tissue, and or face masks in case people develop cough around you,” the release read.

Akin Jimoh, the Program Director at Development Communications Network stated “Our lives depend on the practices of our neighbors, so we all have to form a unit to educate, inform and call attention to practices that could help decrease the spread of COVID-19”.  He also enjoined people “not to share random information on the internet except source is verified by credible bodies such as the World Health Organization, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and State and Federal Ministries of Health.

“Aggressive education and health promotion can help flatten the curve of COVID19 ,” Jimoh said

ATCON advocates free movement for telecom technical staff during lockdowns

Success Damian: 

National Executive Council of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has requested that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) initiate the process of National Right of passage for all technical staff of telecommunications companies in the event of foreseeable lockdown by either the Federal Government or the State Government in an attempt to curb the spread of Coronavirus outbreak in the country.

In a press statement released recently by the Executive Secretary Ajibola Olude, ATCON, the request is made because of the essential nature of telecommunications infrastructures in managing the entire situation and the need for maintenance and repairs that may arise during the possible lockdown. 

“We count on NCC to expedite action in this regard while we appreciate the Commission for being proactive and attentive.

 “We also urge all our teeming members and their staff to comply with all the guidelines stipulated by the Federal Ministry of Health and all relevant authorities at State levels,” the statement disclosed.

Sensitise workers on compliance with NCDC guidelines, MAN

Success Damian:
 

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the umbrella body for all the manufacturers in the country, has advised its members to ensure they properly sensitise their workers on the necessity to comply with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.

According to a press statement from President of the association, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, MAN also stated that members should provide requisite facilities and supplies for the prevention of COVID-19 in line with extant guidelines of the NCDC.

It read in part, “In a bid to address the potential impact of the virus on the Nigerian economy, MAN has advised members to ensure they sensitize and educate their workers on compliance with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines; and provide requisite facilities and supplies for the prevention of COVID-19 in line with extant guidelines of the NCDC.”

The group stated that given the critical and fundamental role of manufacturers, they have been encouraged to sustain ongoing operations to avoid reduction or shutdown of production activities; and should indeed scale up production especially of essential commodities such pharmaceuticals, consumables, sanitary and hygiene products needed to curtail the spread of the virus (COVID-19).

While further advising members to take safety measures seriously, MAN called on government to provide safety nets for its public to ensure seamless operations, “As manufacturers adhere to safety rules and keeping the economy running, it is expedient that Government provide safety nets for this group of its public to ensure seamless operations.”

MAN, therefore, suggested that Government should ensure reasonable access to industrial supplies and inputs, i.e. gas, electricity supply, fuel and other essential infrastructure needs; The financial support offered by CBN be extended to the supply of Forex to the manufacturing sector at pre-COVID-19 rates;

The CBN should consider directing commercial banks to freeze interest charges in the event of a lockdown; In the case of an eventual lockdown, Government should consider the introduction of fiscal measures such as waivers on import duties on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and other essential products.

It further requested Extending tax holiday to companies on corporate tax, and waive the Value Added Tax (VAT); and reduce the burden of personal income tax as a way of increasing the disposable income of an average Nigerian worker.

The group said that government should ensure that all regulatory agencies such as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Standards Organizations of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration & Control (NAFDAC) should treat all requests from Manufacturers expeditiously and with the required sensitivity to the prevailing situation; adding that Government should prevail on all relevant Agencies to strictly comply with the provisions of Executive Orders 001, 003 and 005;

Also “Government should ensure its agencies do not act contrary to its directive of permitting essential manufacturing sectors to operate; it should also take into consideration the inclusion of the logistics and distribution arm of manufacturing to make possible delivery of manufactured items to the final consumers.”

Ultimately, the Association advises safety in all lines of operation.

“Therefore, manufacturers have been urged to make it a point of duty to assure their employees, vendors, customers and all relevant stakeholders of best health practices.  

“For emphasis, we would enjoin the general public to take seriously the protective measure of regular hand washing with soap and water or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, practice of good personal hygiene; maintenance of social distancing and sufficiently stay abreast of additional directives from the National Centre for Disease Control and World Health Organization.”

Nwachukwu consoles Abu-Lado fire victims, commends LASG for N2b Trust Fund

Success Damian:

Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and Chairman Council of Ndi Eze, has consoled Abu-Lado community over the pipeline fire incident in which many lost their lives and billions of Naira worth of property destroyed.

Nwachukwu also commended the Lagos State Government headed by Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his early intervention by instituting a N2billion Emergency Trust Fund to assist those affected by the disaster. 

“We commiserate with all the Abu-Lado Community for this serious problem in our lifetime, this is a disaster that we did not expect to happen, but now that it has happened, we have come to show love to all the Abu-Lado community, and to inform all of them that they are not alone. Those of them that lost their loved ones, we use this occasion to show our deepest sympathy for the loss of life,” Nwachukwu said.

Commending the governor for his concern for the victims of the fire, Nwachukwu said “We thank the Governor for being here and the Governor has shown love to Abu-Lado community, he also introduced a trust fund for those affected in this problem and we thank the governor for that kind gesture.”

Nwachukwu then pleaded with the Governor to ensure that the fire incident was thoroughly investigated “And we as a community request that the governor of Lagos State should think deep down to investigate this matter.”

Looking at the fatality of the explosion Eze Nwachukwu said that what he saw was more terrible than a pipeline explosion, he said “What I have seen is more terrible, more terrible and I have looked at other various explosions, it is never like this. It is never like this.  That is why we are seeking, requesting for the state government to look deep down and investigate this matter,” he concluded.

New Planet Resort CEO, Nwobodo consoles Abu-Lado community over fire, calls for immediate assistance

Chief Sunday Nwobodo (Akaekpuchionwa of Enugu State) the Chief Executive Officer, New Planet Resort, Ajangbadi, Lagos needs no introduction. Aside his towering features and humble mien, his philanthropic and humanitarian gestures to not only his immediate environment but Nigeria in general, speak volume of his large heart. No wonder he was among Igbo thought leaders who visited Abu-Lado Community to commiserate with them over the explosion that claimed numerous lives and properties worth billions of Naira. SUCCESS DAMIAN was lucky to corner him for a brief chat. Excerpts:

Tell us your name

My name is Chief Sunday Nwobodo, Akaekpuchionwa 1 of Enugu State, a businessman and major stakeholder in Igbo affairs in Lagos.

Why are you here today?

I am here in company of Eze Ndigbo because there is nothing I love than whatever that concerns Ndigbo, I will always be there to be counted. Eze Ndigbo invited me; that today he is coming to visit Abu-Lado to console them on the fire disaster that happened here.

Our coming here is to find out exactly what happened and also see what we can do as a group to help our people who were affected by the disaster. We have to help our brothers, because we must be our brothers’ keeper when it matters most. 

How can you describe what happened here?

Looking at what I am seeing, it is worse than what I saw on video and social media, anybody that comes here would tell you that what I am saying is the truth, it is beyond video. You needed to be here to find out the truth. 

Do you think Ndigbo were affected more by this explosion, what are you telling them?

I sincerely pray that God will come to the help of Ndigbo to bear this heavy disaster that befell them. If you look at it, majority of those who are living here are the Igbos, if you look at the nature of the buildings here, you will notice that Igbo people are in majority here. You can see these people crying, they are all Ndigbo. I pray that God will help the Igbos to be able to mobilize and rehabilitate our people.

What do you think the Igbos can do to assist those affected by the explosion? 

That is why the Eze Ndigbo is here and other stakeholders, that is why I am also here to see thinks for myself. I think what I feel should be done is to mobilize the Igbo sons and daughters that are well to do, organizations and town unions to contribute their widows mite, what happened here is a disaster, the magnitude is beyond description, those who captured it on social media did not capture one quarter of what happened here, it is when you come here that you understand the magnitude of destruction by the explosion. 

We have seen the catastrophe that befell our people and we are going to send out information to various Igbo groups on this, we also want market associations to come to the aid of our people.

Can you speak on location of buildings close to pipelines and how and where the Igbos keep their properties?

What I see here is more than explosion, I have not seen this kind of thing, you can see where the explosion took place and the distance where its impacts were also felt, that means nowhere is save. With this kind of thing it does not matter where you stay or keep your asset, you can see the thing went very far. It remained just a little the entire state would have been affected. So I don’t really understand where you can say this place is safe.

Do you have other things to say?

I advise our people to always think home, nothing can be compared to home, whatever happens, that is my advice to Ndigbo.