COVID-19
COVID-19
COVID-19: Nigeria Records 50, 488 Case- SGF
REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
FEDERATION/CHAIRMAN OF THE PTF-COVID-19 AT THE NATIONAL PRESS
BRIEFING OF THURSDAY 20th AUGUST, 2020
I welcome you all to the National Briefing by the Presidential
Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 for Thursday, 20th August, 2020.
2. This morning, Nigerians woke up to the stark reality that our
confirmed cases of COVID-19 have crossed the 50,000 mark standing
at 50,488 and a death toll of 985 bringing us close to the
unenviable record of 1,000 fatalities. These records are not
landmarks to be celebrated especially as every single death further
underscores the grief and pains of families and friends, scuttled
lives that could have contributed to national development and
abridging God’s purpose for the lost soul. This is aptly
demonstrated by the fact that Fourteen (14) of these paid the
supreme sacrifice as they were doctors who toiled daily to save
lives. We would continually pray for the repose of all the lost
souls and work to ensure that their deaths are not in vain.
3. The most edifying tribute and respect we can pay to these
people is to do the basic minimum in avoiding such fatalities. The
PTF would, therefore, not fail to continue on the path of moral
persuasion because the superiority of personal conviction on
grounds of morality remains a more effective and dignified approach
in appealing to our individual and collective conscience on the
need to wear our mask properly, maintain social distances, avoid
crowded places and maintain personal hygiene.
4. It is hoped that when implementation of the National Policy
on Ethics and Integrity, that was approved by the Federal Executive
Council yesterday commences, Nigerians would have the necessary
incentive and impetus to always do the appropriate thing in all
circumstances. Because if we have relied on our age-old value
systems of integrity, adhering to guidelines would be second nature
to us as citizens.
5. The corona virus continues to display unpredictable
characteristics that show its relentless nature on populations that
disregard common and simple protective measures. Such behaviour has
been amplified in the surge in some states of the United States of
America. Similarly, this unpredictability is reflected in the last
twenty-four hours when Plateau State witnessed the highest daily
number of confirmed cases.
6. In the last two days, the World Health Organisation (W.HO.)
had issued warnings on Vaccine Nationalism and that young people
are aiding the spread of the virus. The latter is more germane for
us as Nigerians with our over 80% youthful population and should
give us more cause to be on our guard. It would border on extreme
selfishness for our youths to believe that since they are
asymptomatic carriers they can carry on with life as they please.
More so that being asymptomatic does not guarantee immunity
forever. The PTF is, however, encouraged by the fact that majority
of our youths are in the vanguard of this fight and still call on
the few non-conforming ones to join.
7. This call becomes more imperative when we realise that from
an initial ten (10) hotspot Local Government Areas in the country,
we moved to sixteen (16) and now have twenty (20) of such,
indicating spread to other areas. More worrisome is the fact that
the initial hotspot areas were easily accessible to medical
support. Albeit, the new ones are areas more removed from such
support.
8. Furthermore, the recent case of infection amongst some
students sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate
Examinations calls for more vigilance by the education sector and
all of us.
9. So far, our National Response has shown that Nigeria is
following the science through effective case management but need to
improve our testing. Our testing infrastructure has been increased
to undertake up to 15,000 tests per day but we are currently
testing between 3,000 to 6,000 daily due mainly to people still not
subjecting themselves for testing. I, therefore, want to seize this
opportunity to enjoin Nigerians to get tested.
10. The PTF continues to analyse and rely on data to forestall
any sign of upsurge and adapting best global practices to sustain
successes. That Nigeria, along with South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and
Algeria contributed to the recorded lowest weekly coronavirus
confirmed cases is a testament of our successes. The challenge,
therefore, remains for us to improve on the path of driving the
pandemic out of Nigeria so that we can go back to our normal
lives.
11. We are happy to inform you that our partners are still
providing us with support to fight the pandemic and the recent
novelty by the German Federal Foreign Office who donated €54,000
worth of PPEs, to be locally produced, to the Nigerian Immigration
Service and the Ministry of Aviation is exciting. We, want to thank
the people and Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and
also encourage our local manufacturers to rise up to the challenge
and produce more PPEs of international standard.
12. As we further open up the aviation sector, with the planned
operation of international flights from 29th August, 2020 beginning
with the Nnamdi Azikiwe and Murtala Mohammed International Airports
(NAIA and MMIA), the PTF seeks the cooperation of all stakeholders
to work at arriving mechanisms that would be mutually beneficial to
all stakeholders. The Honourable Minister of Aviation would provide
further details in the course of this briefing.
13. Lets keep arming the indefatigable Nigerian spirit to win
this war and drive the virus out of our land.
Boss Mustapha
Secretary to the Federal Government