PTF warns Nigerians against hydroxychloroquine and other COVID-19 updates across Nigeria
With 7,016 confirmed cases, and 1907 recoveries, information is still key to fighting the pandemic. This is why we curate the top five stories – and issues – across Nigeria; relating to COVID-19. Read below:
FG insists on restrictions as governors, Muslims disagree
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) Thursday, urged state governors to exercise caution in relaxing restrictions, stressing that large gatherings beyond 20 persons remained prohibited.
The Chairman of PTF and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who gave the advice at the daily press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said it served as a stark reminder to the entire world about the severity of the COVID-19 when the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there was still a long way to go in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Lockdown, disruptions in supply chain trigger higher inflation
Disruptions in supply chain and Federal Government’s imposed lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as well as other measures adopted by state governments, may have triggered higher inflation in the country.
This became evident as consumers paid higher for food items, while farmers suffered higher losses for produce that could not get to the nation’s markets. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), disclosed that Nigeria’s headline inflation continued its upward trend for the eighth month, as it expanded by 8 basis points in April 2020 to 12.34 per cent y/y from March figure of 12.26 per cent y/y.
PTF warns as Nigerians buy hydroxychloroquine in large quantities
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has warned Nigerians against large purchase of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, saying the drug had not been certified for use.
Boss Mustapha said this at the PTF COVID-19 daily press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
INEC approves new policy for conducting elections amidst coronavirus
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday, approved a new policy framework known as Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic.
The commission, in a statement issued by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the policy document would be released on May 25.
Nigeria’s economy is heading towards a recession
As we continue to battle COVID-19, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed says the economy is heading towards a recession, unless the economic stimulus plans are implemented.
“Net oil and gas revenue and influx to the federation account in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to N940.91billion.
“This represented a shortfall of N125.52 billion or 31 percent of the prorated amount that is supposed to have been realised by the end of that first quarter. 40 percent of the population in Nigeria, today, is classified as poor; the crisis will only multiply this misery.
“The economic growth in Nigeria, that is the GDP, could in the worst-case scenario, contract by as much as minus -8.94 per cent in 2020.”
