Welcome to Thomspon's blog🎯 Skip to main content



ECOWAS leaders appoint President Buhari ‘'Champion of COVID-19 response'’ for Africa sub-region



ECOWAS leaders appoint President Buhari ?

Presidents of West African countries under the aegis of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government have appointed President Buhari as the ''Champion'' that will coordinate the COVID-19 response in the sub-region.

ECOWAS leaders appoint President Buhari ?

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the appointment took place today Thursday April 23, at the Extraordinary ECOWAS Summit on COVID-19 which was held via teleconferencing under the Chairmanship of His Excellency, Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger.

Adesina said during the teleconference, President Buhari called on fellow ECOWAS leaders to look beyond the challenges posed by the COVID -19 pandemic and tap into various opportunities that it presents for the betterment of lives in member states.
“In every challenging situation such as the current one, there are also opportunities. Our region must therefore seek to find those opportunities provided by this gloomy global outlook for its benefit by embarking on the implementation of such critical policies, which before now, will be difficult to accept.” he said

While calling on his colleagues to intensify collaboration in order to save the region from “this deadly pandemic through sharing experiences and best practices,'' President Buhari outlined some measures taken by his government in response to the pandemic. These include:
a. The reduction of interest rates on all applicable Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions from 9 to 5 percent and introduction of a one- year moratorium on CBN intervention facilities;
b. The inauguration of Presidential Task Force to coordinate national efforts to combat the spread of the virus and ensure efficiency and effectiveness in line with the Nigerian Action Plan on Health Security;
c. The provision of relief materials including medical and food supplies as well as conditional cash transfers of N20, 000 each for poor and vulnerable households and ;
d. The establishment of more isolation centers and testing facilities to contain the spread of the virus.

President Buhari affirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with other member states as they battle the virus:
“At a time of global uncertainty such as this, caused by the devastating impact of the COVID-19, let me convey Nigeria’s solidarity with all the Member States as we collectively battle to defeat the pandemic. I am greatly saddened by loss of numerous lives and extend my heartfelt condolences to families of those who have lost loved ones throughout the region. I also wish infected victims speedy and full recovery.” he said

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the well-being and safety of the people in the sub-region and restated support for any initiative that would curb the spread of the pandemic in the region.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Police station, customary court, DPO residence burnt down by angry youths after a young man was allegedly killed by a policeman in Abia (photos) There is reportedly an unrest in Ebem community of Ohafia, Abia State following the killing of a young man identified simply as Friday.  Friday was reportedly shot dead on Friday night after some policemen got into a fight with a supermarket owner in the community.  An eywitness, Mr. Madu Kalu told The Nation that a Police station, a customary court and a DPO residence were burnt down after the incident denegerated into violence.  An eyewitness said;   “It started at Ebem-Ohafia where a supermarket owner at the motor park close to the police station and his boys were off-loading wares from a truck around 6:30pm on Friday . “The supermarket faces the major road in the town. A police patrolling vehicle was said to have brushed the parked truck. The supermarket owner, one Mr....
I lost my beauty complex, house and cars in Abule Ado gas explosion - Actress Nkiru Umeh Nollywood actress, Nkiru Umeh has disclosed that she is one of the victims of Abule Ado gas explosion which destroyed properties and also claimed many lives.  According to the actress, the explosion which occurred while they were in church destroyed her beauty complex, her house and cars. Nkiru who expressed gratitude of surviving the incident which didn't claim the life of any member of her family, revealed that her neighbours who were at home died.  She wrote;  My beauty complex and my house were directly opposite Bethlehem girls college and the explosion happened right in front of the school. Everything went down. I thank God for life. Still in shock to even talk but my anger is that the media houses and the government are lying to the public. All the same. It is well. I will narrate on this more when am out of shock. For now my hands are still sh...
The funeral arangement of Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Buhari, has been announced The funeral arangement of Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Buhari, has been announced. According to Bashir Ahmad, personal Assistant to President Buhari on New Media, late Kyari will be buried today April 18th in Abuja according to Islamic rites.  ''Mallam Abba Kyari will be buried later today in Abuja according Islamic rites.'' he wrote Kyari died on Friday April 17th weeks after he tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.