By Orkula Shaagee and Laide Akinboade, Abuja

 The Federal Government has earmarked the sum of N71 million in preparation for the detection, assessment and response to identifiable cases of Coronavirus in the country.

Minister of Health, Dr.

 He noted that although Nigeria had the capacity to manage the virus if it was confirmed, there was the need to map out plans and strategies to prevent it from being imported into the country either by air, land or sea travel. 

“The amount approved for Port Health Services to scale up what they are doing is N71million. Every penny that was requested was approved. As a matter of fact, they gave a little bit more than was requested. That demonstrates the seriousness of government. The approval came within 24 hours.

” Preliminary data suggests that 2019-nCoV has transitional and characteristics similar to SARS and MERS, Coronavirus making it likely that without intervention, it will spread to communities and overwhelm health care facilities around the country. This gives us reason for concern. 

 “As at Friday 31st of January, more than 9,700 confirmed cases have been reported mostly in Mainland China and about100 cases around the world. Fatality, as at this morning, was 213 all of it in the Hubei province of China where the epidemic epicentre is and no casualty anywhere else. There are no confirmed cases in Africa, but the potential has been clearly demonstrated. 

 “While the risks of importation exist, we must assure Nigerians of our capacity to detect, assess and respond to this and other public health threats at the ports of entry.

“Ongoing surveillance involves thermal scanners and visual observation of travellers who may have visual signs of symptoms where any suspect cases are detected the travellers are asked to step aside and travel history is taken to ensure relevance to determining  response. The established public health emergency contingency plan will then be activated accordingly.

“The President has approved additional funds for the Port Health Services yesterday (Thursday). The resources are being provided for surveillance and screening activities that will be done at the ports of entry to Nigeria”, the minister stressed.

While soliciting the support of state governments, especially those hosting international airports to enhance surveillance, preparedness and responses activities in their states, he disclosed that, “The NCDC has activated the coronavirus preparedness group and will activate its incident command system for the corona virus once there is a suspected case in Nigeria. NCDC is also working closely with WHO and other partners to establish testing capacity at NCDC reference laboratory in Abuja or abroad if need be.

“The government of Nigeria is strongly committed to strengthening preparedness in the event of the novel coronavirus or any other outbreak as we continue to monitor the situation Nigerians are advised to remain calm and protect themselves.”

Also, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai, Mohammed who revealed that the entire international community has a lot of confidence in Nigeria, arising from the manner in which the Ebola crisis was managed in 2014, appealed to the citizenry to ensure they undertake the preventive measures of frequent hand washing with soap under running water, proper covering of mouth and nose when sneezing and/or coughing which can be done into the elbow or a tissue that must be immediately discarded, and to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

“The entire international community are not expecting anything less from us. We must not just do what we did in 2014, we must do better”, Mohammed said.

…NIHSA Calls for Early Preparation against 2020 Flooding

Also, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), yesterday called on all tiers of government in the country, to begin early preparation for the 2020 flooding season.

 NIHSA  also advised stakeholders, multi-nationals and public-spirited individuals against possible high-level flooding and called for early preparation to avert consequential damages.

The agency advocated the building of more dams to contain the upsurge of flooding, stressing that there were no sufficient dam to curtail flooding in the country.

Director-General of NIHSA, Engr. Clement Nze, said at a press briefing in Abuja, that the early preparation became necessary “because of the increasing global population and the expanding activities of man’.

He said since flooding would continue to persist, there was the need to “control human activities, environmental adjustment and purposefully adopting actions in certain areas that would make adjustment possible.

“Flooding problem is a global environmental issue, which is faced by many countries worldwide, particularly in areas close to low lying terrains and river valleys.

“Over the years, there had been increasing concern that human actions and natural catastrophes have been adversely impacting the environment, posing serious ecological and environmental hazards. “Though flood is a natural environmental phenomenon, it can be greatly accelerated by human Induced activities as it is the case worldwide. “Thus, with increasing global population and the expanding activities of man, it is believed that flooding will continue to persist and, therefore, there is the need to control human activities, environmental adjustment and purposefully adopting actions in certain areas that would make adjustment possible.

 “Some flood events may cause little or no damage, but some may result in major disasters involving structural and erosion damages, disruption of socio-economic activities, loss of lives and property, displacement of people, destruction of agricultural land and contamination of water and environment in general.

“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) wishes to use this medium to advise state and local governments, stakeholders, multi-national companies and public-spirited individuals and philanthropists that this period of the dry season is the best time to prepare for the year 2020.

 “This is the appropriate time to construct drainages where they are necessary (but not provided), dredging river channels, clear blocked gutters, and drainages, pull down structures that are within the floodplains and flood paths, etc.

“There is a reasonable time to do that before the rains set in.” Recall that the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) made public recently by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), indicated that February 24th and June 22nd are the predicted onset of rainfall in the South-South and Northern States respectively, while the respective predicted cessation dates are December 28th and September 26th.

This implies that Nigeria is likely to experience a longer period of the rainy season in 2020 compared to the year 2019”.