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Coronavirus: Elumelu’s UBA redeems $2.6m donation to Lagos

Village Reporter

Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos is at the center of the country’s coronavirus combat. Lagos has the highest number of confirmed cases (as at March 29) and the state government has continued to roll out multiple measures to deal with the disease.

Lagos has in the past weeks suspended schools across the state – be they public or private, 70% of state government workers were asked to stay at home last week with the most recent move being a week’s closure of shops and markets.

The state, with a population of over 20 million, has also been a major beneficiary of coronavirus intervention funds. Governor Baba Jide Sawo-Olu late last week announced a stimulus package to benefit poor people.

Africanews will put a special spotlight on Lagos and major coronavirus developments coming from the state. Our main Nigeria COVID-19 updates page is also available.

March 30: Elumelu’s UBA redeems 1 billion naira donation

Pan-African banking entity, the UBA Group, on Monday redeemed a one billion naira donation to the Lagos State government. The amount was part of a $14 million dollar pledge by the bank to Nigeria’s coronavirus combat.

TUBA Group’s Managing Director, Kenneth Uzoka handed over the cheque to Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on behalf of the group Chairman Tony Elumelu at the Lagos State government house.

An amount of one billion naira is also to be shared among remaining 35 states with 500 million for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Another billion will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for medical centers. An amount of 1.5 billion naira is also reserved for the bank’s overseas operations.

“This is really an important intervention and it will go a long way to meet our needs now and in the future to ensure that Lagos continues to remain safe for business.

“We are indeed happy that the bank decided to make this very bold move to support the healthcare delivery system in Lagos and we sincerely appreciate the timely gesture,” the governor said after the ceremony.

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub has been the epicenter of the country’s coronavirus headache accounting for more than half of the national tally which stood at 111 as at midday of March 30. Lagos, Osun state and Abuja have been put under a 14-day lockdown by federal government starting today.

Ex-Lagos governor donates to state, NCDC

National leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has donated over half a million dollars to the coronavirus combat in the country.

Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor on Sunday pledged the sum of 200 million naira (about $522,000). He noted that the amount was to be split between the Lagos state government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He also outlined economic measures he believed government needed to undertake to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. March 29 is Tinubu’s birthday which has come to be associated with the Bola Tinubu colloquium, an annual event to celebrate the day. The current pandemic meant that it could not hold.

“Today, but for COVID-19 we would, as we have done for the last twelve years, have celebrated this day with the Bola Tinubu Colloquium. This year we could not but by God’s grace we will do so again,” he said in a tweet before announcing his pledge..

It has usually been attended by top government officials including the President, vice president, state governors and captains of industry from across the country.

Buhari imposes lockdown on Lagos State

The Federal Government on Sunday, March 29, imposed a lockdown on Lagos State as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

The measure which also affects Ogun state and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was announced by President Buhari in his first nationwide broadcast over the pandemic.

“Based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.

“This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two States.

“All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes. Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period.

“The Governors of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Minister of the FCT have been notified. Furthermore, heads of security and intelligence agencies have also been briefed,” the president said in an address that touched on a range of issues around the pandemic.

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Lagos State (Case File)

  • As at: March 27, 2020
  • Total confirmed = 52
  • Active Cases = 49
  • Total discharged = 3
  • Nigeria’s overall tally = 97

Key updates below include:

  • Federal government locks down Lagos, Ogun
  • GT Bank donates 110-bed isolation facility
  • Governor dismisses curfew reports
  • Lagos undertaking mass disinfection
  • Lagos using neighbourhood market schemes
  • 70% of public servants asked to stay at home

GT Bank hands over isolation facility to state govt

On Saturday Macrh 28, Lagos State Government took delivery of a 110-bed isolation facility on the Lagos Island, where confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the State can be managed and treated.

The facility was conceived and built in collaboration with the management of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank). The bank said it was part of its social responsibility in helping combat the pandemic.

Governor Sanwo-Olu allayed the fear of the residents over the growing cases of the disease, saying the State was working assiduously to stem the rate of transmission, especially by those who returned from abroad.

The Governor hinted that there had been improvement in the recovery of some patients currently isolated at the State’s Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba. He said the State would continue to build capacity to enhance its response strategy and actions towards containing the pandemic.

The bank’s CEO Segun Agbaje hailed the State Government for accepting the collaboration offer in building the structure, noting that half of the resources used to build the facility was donated by Africa Finance Corporation.

He expressed optimism that the effort would strengthen the capacity of Lagos to stop the spread of the virus. The isolation facility, which sits on an expansive area in the Mobolaji Olufunsho Johnson Stadium in Onikan.

It is divided into operational sections, including Intensive Care Unit (ICU), regular-bed wards, pharmacy department, doctors’ quarters and consulting rooms. The facility is also equipped with ventilators for the use of patients that may develop acute respiratory symptoms.

Residents of Mokoko in dire situation amid COVID-19

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