…Expresses alarm at spike in COVID-19 cases
The National Economic Council (NEC) has charged security agencies to work with communities to prevent a repeat of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, experience, where hundreds of students were kidnapped recently.
The NEC, presided over by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), and which was conducted virtually, with state governors, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and some other federal cabinet ministers in attendance, also commended the way the matter had been handled the federal and Katsina State government’s so far.
The virtual NEC meeting also expressed alarm at recent rising numbers of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the country, instructing stricter enforcement of all earlier prescribed prevention measures, including the non-pharmaceutical interventions, to tame the surge.
Speaking to the issue of Kankara secondary school children’s kidnap, the NEC, according to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, condemned the kidnappers, describing their action as not just criminal, but aimed at instilling fear.
“NEC expressed outrage on the kidnapping of the boys in their school premises and utterly condemned the brazen act of the abductors as not only criminal and lawless but a deliberate attempt to sow seeds of fear in people.
“The members, while supporting immediate steps already taken by the Federal and State governments to rescue the boys, urged for more effective collaboration between security agencies and the communities to ensure that such despicable act does not repeat itself anywhere in the country,” the NEC said.
On the recent spike in COVID-19 cases’ numbers, the NEC ratified a resolution, which noted that it “is alarmed that the current trends are now approaching or surpassing the levels reached during the lockdown imposed at the height of the epidemic earlier in the year.”
While enlarging the membership of its Ad-Hoc Committee on COVID-19 and mandating it to urgently come up with additional measures to deal with the spike in cases, NEC noted that “the country is now experiencing a huge resurgence of COVID-19 patients needing intensive care and the existing health facilities are fast becoming overwhelmed.”
The Committee, chaired by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa with the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Anambra and the FCT Minister, has now been enlarged with the addition of the Governors of Ogun and Kaduna.
The Minister of Health is also a member of the Committee, while the Federal Ministers of Information and Youth and Sports have also been asked to join.
Also, Health and Information Commissioners in the States would also now be co-opted into the assignment.
The Vice President asked the Committee to urgently develop innovative and new measures to curtail the spread of the disease, acting in the best interests of both the health and overall welfare of Nigerians.
According to the statement, the Council’s resolution included “restrict all physical gatherings and instead opt for virtual meetings, whenever possible. If physical meetings must be held, ensure there is adequate ventilation of the room, limit the number of attendees, wear face masks, maintain a physical distance of at least two metres and adhere to other public health measures.
“No mask, no entry, no service – all staff members, visitors and customers entering workplaces, shops, entertainment or business premises must wear a face mask that should cover the mouth and nose at all times, and should not remove them, especially if speaking to another person in close proximity.
“Temperature checks must be carried out on all employees and customers entering office and business premises (any person with a temperature 38 degrees Celsius or above should be denied entry and advised to go for a health check).
“All office and business premises must have a handwashing station with running water and soap or hand sanitizer at the entrance. Employers and business owners have a responsibility to ensure hand sanitizers are always refilled and soap and water always available.
“Office, shops and business premises must be well-ventilated and cleaned regularly throughout the day, ensuring that frequently touched surfaces like desks, countertops, work stations, railings, door handles, are cleaned and disinfected. An occupational health and infectious diseases preparedness plan must be in place, in case an employee, customer or visitor becomes unwell.
“The continued spread of COVID-19 puts increased pressure on our already fragile health systems and threaten Nigeria’s economy. Traditional, social and religious leaders are therefore urged to play their own part by promptly taking responsible and decisive actions to help stop the spread and upsurge of the virus in Nigeria.
“States are also encouraged to take any further steps as may be considered necessary in their areas.
“Members of the National Economic Council also commiserated with families of the Kankara schoolboys who were abducted by terrorists in Katsina State while also consoling with the entire people and government of the state,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, reported to Council the balances from the various Federation Accounts, as at December 17, 2020.
“Excess Crude Account (ECA) – $72,410,574.08, Stabilization Account – ₦26,433,355,427.91, Development of Natural Resources Account – ₦156,690,002,234.58.
“No update on Budget Support Loan Facility as deductions has been suspended due to COVID-19,” she said.
