ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Health

COVID-19 in Nigeria: States under-testing for virus, FG says

Only 12 of 36 states are posting results; FG to increase testing during 60th independence week

21st September 2020
in Health, National
0
COVID-19 in Nigeria: States under-testing for virus, FG says

Boss Mustapha

0
SHARES
116
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Federal Government has said only 12 out of 36 States are testing for COVID-19 despite support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID), the World Bank and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and other bodies.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 pandemic, Boss Mustapha, stated this at Monday’s briefing in Abuja.

While calling on States to prioritise testing, the SGF stressed that no State can complain of lacking in resources as the national response has been targeted at supporting States embark on massive testing in order to help the country flatten the pandemic curve.

The World Bank Board of Directors had in August approved a $114.28 financing to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 with a specific focus on state level responses.

This included $100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and $14.28 million grant from the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility.

The Federal Government had recently disclosed how much it had spent so far in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic out of the public funds and donations by individuals and corporate organizations.

It said it has spent N30,540,563,571.09 in four months to fight COVID-19, out of the N36.3 billion public funds and donations.

But speaking specifically on the States not testing, the SGF said the Federal Government has released N1 billion to 34 States with the exception of Lagos and Kano, that got N10 billion and N5 billion, respectively.

Mustapha reiterated that the only way to ensure that the gains of the past months are not eroded is for increased testing at the sub-national levels and adherence to the non-pharmaceutical measures on COVID-19.

The PTF chair also said that the task force would be multiplying testing for the virus during a planned ‘testing week’, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day celebrations.

He reiterated his appealed to Nigerians to be more vigilant at this time not to be infected, despite the improved national response.

Speaking on the plan to have a testing week to mark the nation’s Diamond Anniversary, the SGF also said the task force would be intensifying risk communication and community engagement.

‘As we commence the activities marking 60th Independence Anniversary of our nation, the PTF is ramping up the risk communication and community engagement. Testing will be escalated under a national testing week programme which the national coordinator will elaborate on,’ he said.

On the need to be more vigilant in order to keep safe, Mustapha said ‘more specifically, the lesson for us in Nigeria, is that in spite of appreciable progress recorded, we should be vigilant more than ever before, because we have opened our air spaces to international travels, we have relaxed a number of restrictions in opening up more sectors of the economy and schools are beginning to open in varying degrees.

‘The call for greater vigilance is underscored by the fact that our economy has been seriously affected by the pandemic and we are pushing through our home-grown economic recovery strategies to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic.

‘Also, our health systems, in-spite of its fragility, have been able to withstand and contain cases resulting from COVID-19 infection, where those of more advanced countries have been overwhelmed.

‘This call is made more pertinent in view of the noticeably increasing disregard for basic non-pharmaceutical measures that have proven very successful. Face masks have now been turned into chin masks, social distancing and gatherings are returning to the pre-COVID era,’ he said.

Mustapha also commended the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU) for suspending the industrial action called recently, charging the body permanently call the strike off.

He, however, emphasised the need for the states to ensure more testing are conducted as the country could not afford to allow fatigue set into the speed of fighting the spread of the virus, asking all Nigerians to play a role.

‘Finally, I wish to underscore the need to overcome fatigue in this fight against the virus. We simply cannot afford it. This is the time to test more, detect more, isolate more and treat more. Go out and get tested. Seek help if you are positive. Persuade your friends and relations that have just arrived Nigeria especially from high burden countries to self-isolate and get tested on day 7, post arrival,’ he said.

Tags: boss mustaphacoronaviruscovid-19covid-19 in nigeriaCOVID-19 testinghealthpandemic
David

David

Sun News Online team

Related Posts

Buhari’s Rep dumps APC
National

Buhari’s Rep dumps APC

8th August 2022
Needless spat over 774,000 jobs
National

Knocks on FG over Keyamo’s position on security, ASUU

8th August 2022
West African students honour Ugwuanyi
National

West African students honour Ugwuanyi

8th August 2022
Next Post
UN at 75: Buhari says org has stayed true to founders aspirations

UN at 75: Buhari says org has stayed true to founders aspirations

Benue: Police parade 96 suspected criminals

Benue: Police parade 96 suspected criminals

People under 19 account for 10% of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria 

People under 19 account for 10% of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Highlights

INEC urged to allow Nigerians in Diaspora vote

West African students honour Ugwuanyi

Jaiz Bank posts N2.54bn Q2 profit

Again, crack in IPOB

Lalong has reawakened zeal in APC as Tinubu’s campaign DG –Dati

Bandits infiltrate Katsina metropolis, kill 4, abduct others

Trending

Death of rage and outrage
Broken Tongues

Death of rage and outrage

8th August 2022
0

We can safely say that Nigerians have lost their sense of outrage. They equally have no rage...

Buhari’s Rep dumps APC

Buhari’s Rep dumps APC

8th August 2022
Needless spat over 774,000 jobs

Knocks on FG over Keyamo’s position on security, ASUU

8th August 2022
Primaries: INEC insists on June 3

INEC urged to allow Nigerians in Diaspora vote

8th August 2022
West African students honour Ugwuanyi

West African students honour Ugwuanyi

8th August 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • Death of rage and outrage
  • Buhari’s Rep dumps APC
  • Knocks on FG over Keyamo’s position on security, ASUU
  • INEC urged to allow Nigerians in Diaspora vote
  • West African students honour Ugwuanyi
  • Jaiz Bank posts N2.54bn Q2 profit
  • Again, crack in IPOB
  • Lalong has reawakened zeal in APC as Tinubu’s campaign DG –Dati
  • Bandits infiltrate Katsina metropolis, kill 4, abduct others
  • ‘Pastor’ arrested with 3 drums of Mkpuru Mmiri in Akwa Ibom
  • Arase mourns ex-IGP Tafa Balogun, says he was quintessential leader
  • Military airstrikes kill bandits’ warlord, 27 others in Katsina
  • Police arrest wanted suspected cultist in Osun
  • NANS boils over sit-tight executives
  • WAEC releases May/June 2022 WASSCE results today
  • Police neutralise suspected robber, rescue abductee in Delta
  • Ebonyi threatens to arrest Ezza leaders over vandalism of airport
  • NOVA Merchant Bank appoints new directors, promotes 20% workforce
  • Ehingbeti 2022: Lagos to prioritise technical education in fight against poverty, unemployment
  • Buhari’s largesse to Niger Republic

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Anambra Watch
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • Change of Name
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.