The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has revealed the drug used in treating COVID-19 patients in Nigeria.

Ehanire during a press briefing on Tuesday said Nigeria has started using Remdesivir.

Remdesivir is an antiretroviral drug, in treating COVID-19 patients.

“We have been using that (Remdesivir); we have tried that in Lagos too,” he said.

“So, we have tried the antiretroviral medicine to see what effect it has.”

Read Also: NCDC Lied About Kano Death Toll – MURIC

He added that Nigeria has moved from disease importation to community spread.

Recall that the US had approved emergency use of Remdesivir, for treatment of the disease.

The US National Institute of Health had said the drug proved effective against the new coronavirus disease.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has so far recorded 2802 cases while 93 persons have died from the coronavirus infection.

An Islamic human rights organization, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has disputed figures recently quoted by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, as the death toll for Kano State.

MURIC kicked against the death toll being released by the Nigerian agency in a press statement signed on Tuesday, 5th May 2020, by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola and made available to DAILY POST.

The Islamic group said if all other figures are correct, that of Kano is unacceptable, adding that the state is presently known to be Nigeria’s epicentre of the pandemic.

“Just two days ago, NCDC, gave figures of COVID-19 cases in the country as ‘220 new cases of COVID-19; 62-Lagos, 52-FCT, 31-Kaduna, 13-Sokoto, 10-Kebbi, 9-Yobe, 6-Borno, 5-Edo, 5-Bauchi, 4-Gombe, 4-Enugu, 4-Oyo, 3-Zamfara, 2-Nasarawa, 2-Osun, 2-Ebonyi, 2-Kwara, 2-Kano, 2-Plateau. 2388 confirmed cases of #COVID-19 in Nigeria; Discharged: 385, Deaths: 85,” the group noted.

“Even the latest figures of yesterday, 4th May 2020 which gave Kano 23 while places like Lagos, Abuja and Katsina had 76, 19 and 37 respectively are questionable. How can Katsina’s figure be higher than that of Kano in view of the reality staring us in the face?

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“We beg to disagree. If all other figures are correct, that of Kano is unacceptable. Kano is presently known to be Nigeria’s epicentre of the pandemic. So how can Lagos be 62 and Kano is just 2?

“How can death toll for COVID-19 cases be 2 in a city where people are dropping dead? How can Kano’s figure be the same as those of Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Osun, Kwara and Plateau? We charge stakeholders to put their heads together on this simple logic?

“Something is definitely wrong here. We challenge the figure quoted for Kano. Somebody somewhere is whittling down the real situation in that ancient city. If the media is reporting a high rate of deaths in Kano on a daily basis, how can Kano’s figure be 2?

“Just 2? It is incredible. Is somebody cooking figures? Also, if people are dying in tens and twenties in Kano every day, how can the total number of deaths in the whole country be 85? Are the dead bodies in Kano not part of Nigerian casualties?

“For those who love to deliberately misquote and disparage MURIC, you are only doing Nigerians a disservice. This is not an attempt to discredit NCDC. MURIC has a passion for righting wrongs and promoting decency in the society. We speak the truth at all times without bothering about whose ox is gored. It is selfless service.

“Our critics must answer this question: whose interest was MURIC serving when it warned NYSC not to start this year’s orientation camp? Is the head of NYSC a Christian? Was it not for the safety of youth corps members?

“Are the corps members are not your brothers, sisters, sons and daughters? Was it a religious matter? Were all the corps members Muslims? Didn’t Nigerians benefit from that warning? We did it in the national interest. Did NYSC listen?

“What happened thereafter? The first index case soon occurred in Nigeria. COVID-19 began to spread and the Federal Government (FG) had no choice than to order the closure of NYSC camps.

“It was such a colossal waste in money, time and energy. The corps members also suffered tremendous mental pressure having had to travel to and fro long distances at great peril.

“MURIC is the only human rights group that has been clamouring for the release of 54 soldiers wrongly jailed. Are our members among them?

“MURIC has been advocating for the increase of maternity leave for women until Lagos granted it in 2014 and FG followed suit. MURIC fought for social security and welfare schemes particularly for unemployed Nigerians and senior citizens. This advocacy was first adopted by Osun State and later by the FG.

“This is why nobody should see MURIC as a mere rabble-rouser. Neither should NCDC see us as seeking to rock the boat. On the contrary, NCDC should come out openly and tell Nigerians its limitations.

“That is when the press, civil society and well-meaning Nigerians will echo its fears. The international community will not hearken to our tiding if we keep our casualty figures down. Our people say a woman whose eye-sockets are deep should start crying from a long distance so that his tears will be easily noticeable.

“Above all, the centre should let FG know if it has challenges. NCDC should dust up its statistics. What we suspect is inadequate testing facilities. This is what should be addressed. NCDC may also be understaffed.

“These shortcomings cannot be easily overcome no matter how good NCDC’s intention may be unless FG does the needful. Kano centre needs a holistic overhaul in terms of manpower and equipment.”

The House of Representatives has resolved to seek legal action on the allegation of $10million Bill Gate bribe to members of the House to pass the Infectious Disease bill.

On Monday, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) alleged that the Founder of Microsoft paid the members of the House to give the bill an expedited passage.

“This intelligence is coupled with the information of the alleged receipt, from sources outside the country but very interested in the Bill, of the sum of $10 million by the sponsors and promoters of the Bill to distribute among lawmakers to ensure a smooth passage of the Bill,” Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere the Spokesperson of CUPP had alleged.

But On Tuesday, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase raised a personal explanation and called for an investigation into the allegation.

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“I will like to state that a dime has not come to me, in the interest of Nigeria and the collective interest of our country, and for anyone to make this malicious statement, that person has impugned on my integrity, and I think it should not go like that.

“We want to plead again that the house should set-up a committee to investigate this allegation, and take necessary allegations.”

Speaking on the allegation, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila said that responding to the allegation will give credibility to the purveyor of the News.

“Sometimes, in life and politics, some things are best ignored, when you address certain things, you elevate and give credibility to those purveyors of the News. Be that as it may, as ridiculous as the allegation may sound, it is also worth maybe taking investigation as stated by the Deputy Speaker.

“Unfortunately, we do not have the culture of litigations, otherwise so many of these things would have been abated if rapid and quick resort to the judiciary was adopted, but for so many reasons, that is not done.

“Maybe an example should be set. For me, all they have done is to give credence to those people who said that Social Media should be regulated, that’s all they have done.

“Those People saying you cannot regulate social media, you cannot regulate fake news, are the same people engaging in these activities, they are hurting themselves, in a bid to hurt the leadership and the House, they ended up shooting themselves in the leg.

Both the Majority Leader, Hassan Ado Dogwa and Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu also denied the allegation and called for legal action.

Chidi Offor-Okenwa, chairman of Enugu State Football Association, has reportedly died of organ failure.

TheCable learnt the late Chidi Offor-Okenwa had been sick and was hospitalised before he was discharged last week.

“Chairman has been sick for a while now and he was in the hospital for three weeks before he was discharged last week,” a source told TheCable.

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“The hospital could not detect what his ailment was until he was discharged last week.

“But if you had seen him before his death, his legs were swollen for a while and you know what that means when such happens to someone, it is either the liver or kidney has an issue.

“Enugu and Nigerian football have lost a great man. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

Until his death on Tuesday, he was the vice-chairman, technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

An Abia-based Philanthropist, Mr David Udochukwu has on Tuesday, donated various food items as palliatives to support the people of Ajata N’igu community in Oboro, Ikwuano LGA of Abia State.

ABN TV gathered that the donations were aimed at cushioning the impact of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

David Udochukwu stated that it was his way of giving back to society, especially with the hardship associated with the lockdown.

“Since the beginning of the lockdown, my heart has been bleeding. We have heard about the government palliatives but a lot of people have cried out that they have not been able to receive any palliative.

“So, we said to ourselves there is something we can do to help our society and assist the government.

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“We are doing this because we have come to realize that the greatest illness in the world is an empty stomach. If you want to reduce the number of sick people in the world, you have to give them food to eat, because even hunger kills faster than the Coronavirus.

“So, that is why we are doing this and we will continue as long as we get support from other people and from the government,” he said

Udochukwu further expressed excitement at the community leaders who turned out to receive the donations, stressing that “today, I feel so excited and this gives me a sense of fulfilment and a sense of belonging, reaching out to people and they are happy just for food.

“This was what motivated me and with the support of everybody, we can do better to develop society.

“Gone are the days when we depended on the government, we don’t have to depend on the government anymore.

“We have to create something out of nothing to help young people to become self-reliant in the 21 century,” he added.

He also tasked Nigerian leaders to set perspectives and create enabling environment for entrepreneurs and philanthropists and empower them to do more for the country.

Responding, the King of the community, HRH Eze Larry Ogbonna expressed delight at the donations. and prayed to God for more support, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.