By Olamide Francis
The Chairman, Presidential Tasks Force (PTF) on COVID -19, Mr. Boss Mustapha disclosed that the Federal Government has commenced the rehabilitation of existing oxygen plants as well as the construction of new ones as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The PTF boss gave this information shortly after he said that Nigeria will take delivery of the initial 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the early weeks of February.
‘’The effort to access and deploy vaccines is progressing and as already announced by COVAX, the initial 100,000 doses Nigeria is expecting will now arrive in the early weeks of February,’’ Mustapha said.
Speaking at the resumed briefing of the PTF in Abuja on Monday, he assured all Nigerians that the vaccines will be safe and effective when it is eventually deployed.
While appealing to Nigerians to join in the campaign to eliminate vaccine hesitancy, Mustapha however, advised that the only source of vaccines that is safe and effective in Nigeria is through the channels of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
He said: ‘’Please, do not patronize anyone hawking or marketing vaccines. Nigeria is currently working with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the deportation of 600 Nigerians. The deportees are expected to arrive in two batches on January 28 and 29, 2021.
‘’All necessary arrangements to ensure that these Nigerians are properly received are being put in place.’’
On the reopening of schools, the PTF said that it would continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that all schools in the country adhere strictly to COVID-19 guidelines. He, however, cautioned school proprietors to take precautionary measures in schools when managing pupils and students.
He added that ‘’the PTF therefore, wishes to appeal strongly to all Nigerians to take responsibility and stay very safe. In this regard, I also wish to remind all parents, grandparents, everyone with underlying factors and particularly, school proprietors that all precautionary measures must be taken at home and in the schools when managing the pupils and students.”
The PTF chairman stated that the body is putting in place measures to improve on the international travel portal to minimize the challenges passengers keep encountering.
‘’The PTF is improving on the international travel portal to minimize the challenges passengers keep encountering. Similarly, it is reviewing the guidelines on the implementation of phase three of the eased lockdown which is due to expire today.
‘’In view of the fact that our numbers are not abating, all extant measures prescribed in these guidelines are (subject to some modifications) extended by a period of one month with effect from January 26,” Mustapha declared.