The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, on Tuesday, said schools in the country will resume on January 18 until the Ministry of Education announces further directive.
PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, stated this while featuring on a television programme monitored by The PUNCH.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had on Monday, said the Federal Government would review the January 18 earlier date fixed for resumption of schools across Nigeria.
The minister, who spoke at a PTF briefing in Abuja, attributed the decision to the second wave of COVID-19 currently ravaging the country.
Speaking further on the issue on Tuesday, the PTF coordinator said the minister did not say the date has been changed.
Aliyu said, “As regards schools, I just want to make a clarification, what the minister said yesterday was that they were going to review, he didn’t say that they were going to change the date. He said they will review the situation and let the nation know.
“So, for the moment, it is still 18th January until the ministry of education comes back either with an alternative date or reconfirm that.”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on Monday, said travels, reopening of schools, businesses and religious centres contributed to the rise in coronavirus cases in Nigeria.
“It is however very instructive to stress that factors that have contributed to rise in numbers from late November 2020 included increased local and international travels, business and religious activities, reopening of schools without strict compliance with COVID-19 safety measures.
The full import of the fore-going is to press further on the need for us all to elevate the level of our vigilance and compliance with the recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions,” he had said.
Vice -Chancellors of some federal and state universities in Nigeria have expressed readiness to reopen schools.
Though the Academic Staff Union of Universities had said that varsities were not ready for reopening, the VCs said they had planned to reopen their institutions as directed by the Federal Government.
One of the VCs of a federal university in the South-West told our correspondent that it was wrong for ASUU to claim that there were no guidelines for reopening Varsities.
Apart from the scare arising from the second wave of COVID-19, another VC said some of them (VCs) had planned to stagger resumption.
“I think ASUU should begin to speak to facts. Inasmuch as we do not want the COVID-19 outbreak on our campuses, we had our plans. Some academic activities can resume for classes with a few populations,” one of the VCs told our correspondent on the telephone.
“LASU recently held examinations for students in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, and it went well. What do they mean by saying there is no guideline for reopening?” another VC queried.
On his part, VC of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Felix Salako, said the varsity would resume academic activities on January 18, in compliance with the directives of the Federal Government.
Salako maintained that the university was ready to resume academic activities, saying that measures had been put in place, including COVID-19 protocols as stipulated by the Federal Government.
He said it was mischievous and political for any lecturer to go to the media to say that the university was not ready for academic activities.
Salako noted that the school had undergone fumigation more than 10 times since March 2020, just as there had been massive infrastructural rehabilitation.
He added that the management had been producing its own hand sanitisers, as well as procuring hand-washing basins and soaps needed to keep the students and members of staff safe from contracting the virus.
The vice-chancellor also said the university would be running what he described as “hybrid” teaching, a mix of physical and virtual learning, while no fewer than 150 solar panels had been installed in some of the buildings, to provide alternative sources of electricity and facilitate the planned hybrid system of learning delivery.
“The virtual learning will take care of large classes, like the part one students, but for fewer classes, we have large halls to accommodate the students”, NAN quoted Salako as saying.
Meanwhile, the University of Ilorin has started online lectures as scheduled.
The management of the University of Benin also announced that the institution would resume on January 30.
Also, the Senate of Bayero University Kano, on Monday, approved the commencement of a new academic session on January 18, 2021, while the second semester would commence on May 3, 2021.
The PUNCH gathered that the Senate of Ekiti State University had also announced that the institution would resume online academic activities from January 18.
Deputy Director, Corporate Communications and Protocol of the Federal University of Technology, Akure , Mr Adegbenro Adebayo, said academic activities will resume on January 18 for its students.
The Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Biodun Olarewaju, said the Senate of the institution would meet on January 19 to decide when its students would resume.
Subject to the decision of the Senate, the spokesperson said OAU would put in place all necessary arrangements in compliance with COVID-19 protocols to ensure safety in the university environment.
The PUNCH had reported that branches of ASUU had on Sunday assessed COVID-19 protocols in the universities and said the institutions were not ready for safe reopening.
The chapters of the union, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, commented on the directive of the National Universities Commission that universities could resume on January 18, but must adhere to COVID-19 protocols in hostels and lecture halls.
ASUU said although its members were ready to start work, the government had not put measures in place for safe reopening of the schools.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said on Monday that FG would review the January 18 earlier date fixed for resumption of schools across Nigeria.
It attributed the decision to the second wave of COVID-19 currently ravaging the country.
Adamu said, “It (January 18 date of school reopening) is not sacrosanct. When we decided on that date it was just a target towards what we were working on. Of course, we are keeping it in view and looking at what is happening in society and then it is supposed to be subject to constant review.”
Following the directive from the authorities of University of Ilorin, Unilorin, to its teeming students to join virtual classes yesterday, Monday, due to the second wave of COVID19, some of the Undergraduates have expressed their experiences in the online classes.
Some of them took to their social media handles to share their thoughts, Vreporters gathered that, the students in question didn’t have confidence on the effectiveness of the classes over some irregularities recorded.
Insufficient of mobile data, fluctuation of networks, delay in receiving links to join classes are among the concerns raised by the students.
Recall that the school’s Director of Corporate affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, in a statement issued on Monday enjoined the students to join the virtual classes as approved by the Senate of the better by far Varsity
His words: “This is to inform all students of the University of Ilorin that online lectures have commenced today, Monday, 11th January, as scheduled.
“Students are therefore enjoined to disregard a misinformation currently trending on social media that the arrangement had been put off.
“Management wishes to assure all our students that we are fully committed to covering all lost grounds as a result of the long break occasioned by COVID-19.
“Also, all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure hitch-free online classes pending the time when it will be safe to conduct normal physical lectures.”
Below are the reactions of the students as closely monitored by Vreporters.
There was palpable tension at the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ilorin when a Director identified as Dr Khalid Ibrahim Ndaman was found dead in his office on Monday morning, January 11.
It was gathered that Dr Ndaman, who until his death was a Director of Veterinary in the ministry, was well and sound when he was last seen coming to office in the morning.
A source said one of the staff went into Dr Ndanan’s office about an hour after he arrived to discuss an official matter with him but found him dead.
“The staff knocked his door, but no response so, after sometime he went inside. There was a pending official matter since Friday that he needed to conclude with him so he needed to see him. Having waited outside and no response the staff went inside the office and met him resting his head on the table. He greeted him no response until he moved close and touched him to realise that he’s already dead.” the source said.
Spokesman of Kwara State Police Command, Kayode Okasanmi, who confirmed the incident said that investigation is ongoing.
“I’m aware of the incident. For now, it is a case of natural death. until we complete the investigation. We will brief the press depending on the outcome of our findings.” he added.
Meanwhile, the son of the deceased, Duwatsu Musa took to Facebook to mourn his father.
“Dady we love you but Allah love you more. It’s sad to our family dat you live so soon dady I pray to our able Allah to put you on his unberela and free you with questions of grave and d day of resolution & Grant you alijanatul fridausi (Amin)magbofull miss you baba yii kulunafsi zaikatul maitul!!!.” he wrote.
The Senate of Ekiti State University (EKSU) has approved online resumption of academic activities from January 18, due to the second wave of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, Head, Directorate and Corporate Affairs and released to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday. It said that the Senate at a virtual meeting held on Thursday, January 7, thoroughly assessed the global, national and the state government protocols and precautions to manage the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to put the health of the students and staff first.
The Senate, according to the statement, decided that online classes would begin across all faculties in the University on Monday, Jan. 18, as continuation of the 1st semester of the 2019/2020 academic session.
“Only students who have completed payment of all prescribed fees/charges will have the opportunity to join the online classes.
“All students of the University are advised to visit their personalized students dashboard on the University portal www.eksuportal@eksu.edu.ng as well as the University website, www.eksu.edu.ng for further directives on the virtual learning system. “Please note that it is not compulsory for students to be on campus before they can participate at the online/virtual learning.
“Senate wishes to assure all the students of quality teaching and learning at the online classes as the University had made adequate arrangements for the exercise,” it said.
The Federal Government has Reveals its plan to review January 18, 2020, the proposed date for resumption of schools.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, told reporters in Abuja the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 will review the date.
Most states have fixed January 18 for the Resumption.
But Adamu said the date was subject to review following the increase in the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.
He said the issue of school resumption was discussed during the meeting of the Task Force on Monday in light of the rising cases in the country.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), 1,024 confirmed new cases were recorded on Sunday.
So far, Nigeria has 100, 087 confirmed cases with 1,358 deaths.
The Minister said: “The issue of January 18 for school resumption is subject to review. Even at our PTF meeting today we discussed it in line with the rising cases in the country. So we are subject to review the date.”
An 18-year-old Lady has been arrested by the police after allegedly setting her boyfriend ablaze after a quarrel in the Wadata area of Makurdi town.
Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that the teenage girl carried out the dastardly act Monday morning at about 2 am when the victim was fast asleep.
According to the source, the scream from the victim attracted the attention of neighbours who rushed to help him but he had already suffered much burns.
“The neighbours immediately rushed him to the nearby Makurdi Federal Medical Centre, FMC, where he was admitted for treatment,” he said.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, and Catherine Anene confirmed the incident. Anene said the 18-year-old poured petrol around the victim’s apartment before setting it on fire.
“We don’t know yet why she did that. We are yet to question her, but I can confirm that she has been arrested and just brought to our custody.
“The incident happened about 2:00 am today (Monday) at Zaki Biam street in Wadata. We will let you know further details,” the PPRO said.
This latest incident is coming just a few weeks after a man in his 40s, identified as Nicodemus Nomwange, set himself and his girlfriend, Shiminenge Pam, ablaze at the High-Level area of Makurdi town.
And within the same period, a young woman also allegedly set her lover ablaze in his residence on Shaahu Road in Gboko town.
A court in Istanbul on Monday January 11, handed Adnan Oktar, the head of a cult considered a criminal organization by prosecutors, hefty prison terms for 10 separate crimes.
The 64-year-old Oktar and dozens of his followers were arrested simultaneously during nationwide raids in 2018.
Oktar, whose online A9 television channel began broadcasting in 2011, preached conservative views while women he called his “kittens, “many of whom appeared to have had plastic surgery danced around him in the TV studio.
He was sentenced to 1,075 years for crimes including sexual assault, sexual abuse of minors, fraud, and attempted political and military espionage, the private NTV broadcaster reported.
Some 236 suspects have been on trial in the case, 78 of whom are under arrest, according to the official Anadolu news agency.
Oktar told the presiding judge back in December that he had close to 1,000 girlfriends.
“There is an overflowing of love in my heart for women. Love is a human quality. It is a quality of a Muslim,” he said in another hearing in October 2020.
He added on another occasion: “I am extraordinarily potent.”
Oktar first came to public attention in the 1990s when he was the leader of a sect that was caught up in multiple sex scandals.
One of the women at his trial, identified only as CC, told the court that Oktar had repeatedly sexually abused her and other women.
Some of the women he had raped were forced to take contraceptive pills, CC told the court.
Asked about 69,000 contraception pills found in his home by the police, Oktar said they were used to treat skin disorders and menstrual irregularities.
He also dismissed any link to a group led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish authorities accuse of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.
Oktar is a creationist who rejects the Darwinian theory of evolution and has written a 770-page book called “The Atlas of Creation” under the pen name, Harun Yahya.
The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed the death of three members of the same family in an early morning fire incident at Rijiyar Zaki of Ungogo Local Government Area of the state.
Reacting to the incident on Monday, Public Relations Officer of the Service, Alhaji Saidu Muhammad Ibrahim said the incident occurred at about 3.18 am at a popular Rufar Shehu area.
He said investigations have commenced to establish the cause of the inferno.
According to him, “Kano State Fire Service on Monday, 11/1/2020 received a fire distress call from Rijiyar Zaki (Rumfar Shehu), Ungoggo Local Government, around 03:18 am from Malam Salisu Muhammad.
“We turned out our officers with appliances from Rijiyar Zaki Fire Division to the scene of incident and on arrival at 03:22 am we discovered a building of ground floor in flames.
“The inferno was control and quenched by our officers and three persons trapped in the building were rescued unconscious and taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital for medical assistance where they were confirmed dead” Ibrahim said.
The victims were identified as Hauwa Musa, 25; Mubarak Musa, 13, and Salamatu Musa, 20.
Ibrahim therefore advised residents of Kano metropolis and beyond to always be cautious in dealing with fire and other inflammable objects especially during this harmattan season so as to avoid more incidences of fire disaster.
Some Nigeria soldiers wounded during various encounters with the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East have vowed to return to the battlefield until the insurgents are defeated.
The soldiers made the pledge when Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno), Chairman Senate Committee on Army, paid a fact-finding visit to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maiduguri on Sunday.
Cpl. Abubakar Bukar, who received bullet wounds during an insurgents ambush on troops at Damboa Road in December 2020, said he was ready to return to the battlefield to join his colleagues to continue the fight.
“Well, I want to thank God to have survived the attack. But as a soldier, I am ever ready to go back to join my colleagues to continue fighting until we liberate our country,” he said.
Another wounded soldier, Cpl. Kolawole Omosheye said they were attacked by the insurgents in Tunkushe on Dec. 29, 2020.
Omosheye said while engaging the insurgents in a battle which lasted more than 20 minutes, he was hit by a stray bullet.
“I am feeling better and in the next two weeks, I will be giong back to my location. We thank God and the GOC who came with reinforcement to repel the attack.
Pte. Saidu Dahiru also recounted his near to death experience when the insurgents attacked his location with mortar bombs in Damasak in December 23, 2020.
“They attacked us with several gun trucks mounted with Anti Air Craft. While engaging the insurgents they, unfortunately, fired mortar bombs at us and the fragment hit me on my back.
“But now they removed the fragment and I am getting better and in the next two weeks, I will be going back to continue the fight,” he said.
Ademola Felix, who expressed the same feelings vowed to hit back at the insurgents when he returned to his base at Gamborun Ngala.
Felix said that he was wounded when their vehicles stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device, noting that his colleagues died in the incident.
“I will go back to my base to hit them back. I will hit them hard,” Felix said.
In his remarks, Ndume said that the visit was part of efforts to encourage the army personnel who were wounded while fighting in various theatres of operation in the North East.
He said that the decision also followed recent publications by some news media alleging that wounded troops were neglected.
Ndume said such news can demoralise the troops who are sacrificing their lives to save the country.
“We have visited all the wards in the hospital and the medical care provided to the personnel’s were commendable.
“When we came, we were told that those that required additional care have been evacuated to 44 Reference Hospital Kaduna which is one of the best medical facilities on this nation.
“This country belong to all of us, we have the moral duty to encourage our fighting troops and to support them with all that they needed to execute the counter-insurgency campaign.
“I want to tell the patient and the officers that we are all Nigerian, don’t be discouraged or demoralised. Just continue with your work. This work you are doing is not just a national duty alone but it is a Godly duty.
“God will reward you for your sacrifices. The committee and the National assembly will continue to stand by you.”
Ndume also commended the GOC 7 Division, Maj.-Gen. Abdul Khalifa, for his commitment that has led to the successes recorded under his leadership.
“Your patriotism and commitment are what transcended down to your troops. May Allah continue to guide you and we could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Normally the end is the most difficult,” he said.
Khalifa pledged the Military leadership commitment towards the welfare of all officers and soldiers in the division.
“You have gone round and seen for yourself and you have also interacted with the wounded soldiers. We will continue doing our best to ensure that they are well taken care of,” he said.
Khalifa said that the troops had exhibited true spirit of professional soldiers and made great impact in the defence of the country.
