Nigeria has recorded 160 new cases of the coronavirus,
bringing the total infections in the country to
56,177.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this on
Saturday.
The new cases were recorded in 13 states with the Federal
Capital Territory and Plateau states recording 39 new infections
each, the highest figures.
Lagos followed with 30 new cases, Kaduna with 23, Katsina with
seven, Rivers and Oyo with six each, Yobe and Benue with three
each, Bayelsa, Abia, Edo and Ekiti with one each.’
The NCDC also noted that 44,088 patients have recovered and been
discharged, while 1,078 persons have died.’
160 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
FCT-39 Plateau-39 Lagos-30 Kaduna-23 Katsina-7 Rivers-6 Oyo-6
Yobe-3 Benue-3 Bayelsa-1 Abia-1 Edo-1 Ekiti-156,177 confirmed 44,088 discharged 1,078 deaths
pic.twitter.com/LM6Df7mxya— Channels Television (@channelstv) September 12, 2020
Although the number of new cases appears to be reducing by the
day and activities in the country are gradually returning to
normal, the government is still making efforts to find a lasting
solution to the virus.
Last week, the government received samples of Russia’s COVID-19
vaccine.
Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin presented the
samples to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire during a visit
to the Ministry in Abuja on Friday.
The Russian Ambassador also handed over to the Minister, an
aide-memoire which gives details about the vaccine to help the
Nigerian Government conduct further research on it.
“We are exploring all knowledge in terms of therapeutics and
vaccines,” the Ministry quoted Ehanire as saying.
“We are expressing our interest in the COVID-19 vaccine so that
we will have the opportunity to work elaborately.”
He explained that the country has been taking part in a series
of knowledge exchange and contact with several research bodies and
nations in a bid to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccine
trials Resume Around The World
Across the globe, clinical trials of one of the most advanced
experimental Covid-19 vaccines resumed Saturday after a brief
safety pause, as infection numbers continued to march upward.
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The world’s hopes for a reprieve from the pandemic were dealt a
blow earlier in the week when pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca
and Oxford University announced they had “voluntarily paused” their
vaccine trial after a UK volunteer developed an unexplained
illness.
But on Saturday the trial was given the all clear by British
regulators to resume following a safety review.
The global death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 916,000 with
28.5 million infections, while France and the United Arab Emirates
posted grim new milestones for daily infections on Saturday.
And with billions still suffering from the fallout of the
pandemic, a worldwide race for a vaccine is underway, with nine
companies already in late-stage Phase 3 trials.
Even during the pause, AstraZeneca said it remained hopeful that
the vaccine could still be available “by the end of this year,
early next year”.
Oxford University said that “in large trials such as this, it is
expected that some participants will become unwell and every case
must be carefully evaluated”.
Charlotte Summers, lecturer in intensive care medicine at
Cambridge University, said the pause showed the researchers’
commitment “to putting safety at the heart of their development
programme.”
“To tackle the global Covid-19 pandemic, we need to develop
vaccines and therapies that people feel comfortable using,
therefore it is vital to maintaining public trust that we stick to
the evidence and do not draw conclusions before information is
available,” she said.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/13/nigeria-records-160-new-covid-19-cases/
FG Pledges to Provide Relief Materials to Flood Victims
In Kebbi
Following the devastating flooding that washed off over 450,000
hectares of rice farmlands and other crops in Kebbi State a few
days ago, the Federal Government has promised to mitigate by
ensuring that the farmers get improved seeds to restart
planting as soon as the rains recede.
Speaking during an on- the- spot assessment of the devastation
caused by floods in the State, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji
Muhammad Sabo Nanono in company of the Executive Governor, Kebbi
State , Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said it was one of the worst
disasters witnessed in recent times and said his visit was to
restore hope and build up confidence for the farmers in the
state.
The Minister who visited the scenes of the floods in Argungu and
also those along the Dukku- Makera Road that were completely washed
off, said, “what I have seen here today is very devastating,
my coming here is at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari who
has sent me to commiserate with the people of Kebbi state over the
flood and to give you hope and assurance that the government is
concerned about your plight and will do something”. He
appealed to the farmers not to despair that the Federal
Government “will address the situation”.
He acknowledged that Kebbi State is one of the major producers
of Rice in the country as well as other crops such as
maize, groundnuts, wheat, sweet potatoes, sorghum and millet,
stating that a loss to Kebbi will affect other states of the
federation.
Nanono said the ministry will immediately set up a special
committee to mitigate the situation and ensure that the dry season
farming will be boosted. He said the ministry will also encourage
the farmers to explore the innovative early harvesting of their
produce as is done with other crops and promised to assist them
with improved seeds.
The State Governor, Senator Abubakar Bagudu lamented the massive
loss to the farmers, explaining that it is not only the rice farms
that are affected but also animal crops and fishing grounds as well
as human lives were affected.He acknowledged the resilience of the
farmers and encouraged them to do more not only to compensate for
lost grounds but also to generate more support.
He said the latest flooding in the state is the worst after the
2012 experience and has affected over 450, 000 hectares of
land stretching over 270km of farmlands. He thanked the Federal
Government for the proactive steps taken to embark on an immediate
assessment visit to the state and promised that the state will
remain focused and consistent with its agricultural programmes.
Hundreds of villages are said to be affected and many homelands
washed away by the floods.
The Minister also visited the Sarki – Kebbi Argungu, Alhaji
Samaila Mohammed Mera and the Emir of Gwandu who is also Chairman,
Kebbi State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ilyasu Bashar . They
both expressed appreciation for the speedy visit of the Federal
Government to commiserate with the state..
The Emir of Gwandu , Alhaji Bashar said, the flooding has
affected many communities who had no option than to relocate. He
said the disaster came just when the people were
recovering from the shock of covid-19 and listed crops lost
to include; Rice, Millet, Sorghum etc.
The traditional ruler also called on the people to be patient
and appealed to the media to assist in sensitizing them on the
government’s efforts.
The Minister visited the Natsimi Gada of Argungu , also affected
by the flood .
Eno Olotu (Mrs)
DD Information
For: Director, Information