COVID-19: Buhari Restructures PTF, Extends Mandate To December

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of
the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and extending its
mandate to December 2021.

It comes as the PTF submitted its report on a previous
three-month extension of its mandate ended on March 31.

The report includes a recommendation to transition PTF into a
“presidential steering committee on COVID-19” with effect from
April 1, with a modified mandate to reflect the non-emergency
status of COVID-19 as a potentially long-term pandemic.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and
Chairman, PTF, Boss Mustapha, said, “The extension by Mr. President
has enabled the PTF to vigorously pursue the twin objectives of
epidemic control through reduced transmission and minimizing
mortality among vulnerable and infected citizens.

“You will recall that the timeline between November 2020 through
February 2021 coincided with a virulent second wave, during which
the country experienced the most challenging phase of our national
response. The daily number of cases, fatalities, and level of
non-compliance with public health measures were all very high,”
Mustapha said.

“That the structure of the PSC shall reflect the new focus of
the response with a targeted approach on vaccine oversight, risk
communication, international travel quarantine processes and
sub-national engagement; and that the tenure of the PSC shall last
till 31 December 2021,” said Mustapha.

He added that the PSC would maintain the present constitution,
functions and strategies of the PTF; be supported by a slim
technical and administrative structure.

He also said that the current National Incident Manager (Dr
Mukhtar Mohammed) shall formally take over from the National
Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu and function as the Head (Technical
Secretariat) and member of the PSC.

963,802 vaccinated

The SGF also recalled that Nigeria, received 3.92 million doses
of the COVID-19 Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on 2 March, 2021, which
represented the first tranche of about 16 million doses allocated
to Nigeria through the COVAX facility, aimed at vaccinating an
initial 20 percent of the population.

He said, “The PTF through the Federal Ministry of Health and the
NPHCDA prioritised the initial consignment of vaccines to cover
frontline medical personnel, strategic leadership, and those above
the age of 50 years across the nation.

“Majority of sub-national entities have already received their
allocation and administration is progressing. As at April 5, 2021,
963,802 persons, in Nigeria, had received the first dose of the
COVID-19 vaccine.

“The overarching objective is to vaccinate 70 percent of
Nigeria’s population between 2021 and 2022,” Mustapha said.

Warns of COVID-19 variants resistance to
vaccination

Mustapha also warned that the global hope offered by the arrival
of vaccines has however been threatened by the detection of
variants of concern as described by the WHO (B.1.1.7; B.1.351;
P.1).

According to him, these variants are associated with increase in
the spread of the virus (transmissibility), and account for the
third wave of infections currently occurring in Germany, France,
United Kingdom, Brazil and a host of other countries.

He said, “There is some evidence that existing vaccines are less
effective against the variants. While research is ongoing looking
at the impact of variants of concern on the global situation,
Nigeria has remained very vigilant in this regard and shall
continue to apply science and data to navigate this dangerous
terrain.

“Other domestic and global challenges impacting on the hope
offered by the vaccine include the global vaccine nationalism;
demand far exceeding production capacity of manufacturers which is
threatening delivery and access schedules; domestic vaccine
hesitancy and elite resistance; and diminished level of trust
between citizens and government.”

The SGF said that while the international challenges are being
addressed through direct diplomatic, global and regional bodies,
the PTF has been engaging actively with sub-national entities,
traditional rulers, faith-based leaders and other critical
stakeholders through partnerships to promote ownership of the
response; escalate risk communication and community engagement;
minimize fake news and misinformation; and minimize vaccine
hesitancy and elite resistance.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of
the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and extending its
mandate to December 2021.

It comes as the PTF submitted its report on a previous
three-month extension of its mandate ended on March 31.

The report includes a recommendation to transition PTF into a
“presidential steering committee on COVID-19” with effect from
April 1, with a modified mandate to reflect the non-emergency
status of COVID-19 as a potentially long-term pandemic.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and
Chairman, PTF, Boss Mustapha, said, “The extension by Mr. President
has enabled the PTF to vigorously pursue the twin objectives of
epidemic control through reduced transmission and minimizing
mortality among vulnerable and infected citizens.

“You will recall that the timeline between November 2020 through
February 2021 coincided with a virulent second wave, during which
the country experienced the most challenging phase of our national
response. The daily number of cases, fatalities, and level of
non-compliance with public health measures were all very high,”
Mustapha said.

“That the structure of the PSC shall reflect the new focus of
the response with a targeted approach on vaccine oversight, risk
communication, international travel quarantine processes and
sub-national engagement; and that the tenure of the PSC shall last
till 31 December 2021,” said Mustapha.

He added that the PSC would maintain the present constitution,
functions and strategies of the PTF; be supported by a slim
technical and administrative structure.

He also said that the current National Incident Manager (Dr
Mukhtar Mohammed) shall formally take over from the National
Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu and function as the Head (Technical
Secretariat) and member of the PSC.

963,802 vaccinated

The SGF also recalled that Nigeria, received 3.92 million doses
of the COVID-19 Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on 2 March, 2021, which
represented the first tranche of about 16 million doses allocated
to Nigeria through the COVAX facility, aimed at vaccinating an
initial 20 percent of the population.

He said, “The PTF through the Federal Ministry of Health and the
NPHCDA prioritised the initial consignment of vaccines to cover
frontline medical personnel, strategic leadership, and those above
the age of 50 years across the nation.

“Majority of sub-national entities have already received their
allocation and administration is progressing. As at April 5, 2021,
963,802 persons, in Nigeria, had received the first dose of the
COVID-19 vaccine.

“The overarching objective is to vaccinate 70 percent of
Nigeria’s population between 2021 and 2022,” Mustapha said.

Warns of COVID-19 variants resistance to
vaccination

Mustapha also warned that the global hope offered by the arrival
of vaccines has however been threatened by the detection of
variants of concern as described by the WHO (B.1.1.7; B.1.351;
P.1).

According to him, these variants are associated with increase in
the spread of the virus (transmissibility), and account for the
third wave of infections currently occurring in Germany, France,
United Kingdom, Brazil and a host of other countries.

He said, “There is some evidence that existing vaccines are less
effective against the variants. While research is ongoing looking
at the impact of variants of concern on the global situation,
Nigeria has remained very vigilant in this regard and shall
continue to apply science and data to navigate this dangerous
terrain.

“Other domestic and global challenges impacting on the hope
offered by the vaccine include the global vaccine nationalism;
demand far exceeding production capacity of manufacturers which is
threatening delivery and access schedules; domestic vaccine
hesitancy and elite resistance; and diminished level of trust
between citizens and government.”

The SGF said that while the international challenges are being
addressed through direct diplomatic, global and regional bodies,
the PTF has been engaging actively with sub-national entities,
traditional rulers, faith-based leaders and other critical
stakeholders through partnerships to promote ownership of the
response; escalate risk communication and community engagement;
minimize fake news and misinformation; and minimize vaccine
hesitancy and elite resistance.