Nigeria ‘ll Win COVID-19 War – PTF, Mustapha Assure
- Total figure now 254
- 16 new cases Tuesday
- Lagos, FCT still leading pack
BY CHINYERE OBIORA, LAGOS – The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), Mr Boss Mustapha, has declared that Nigeria is on the path to winning the war against the global pandemic soonest.
This is as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Tuesday night that the number of confirmed coronavirus patients has risen to 254 with 16 new cases recorded across the country.
The NCDC released figures indicate that of this number, 10 cases were recorded in Lagos; two (2) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); two (2) in Oyo, one (1) each in Delta and Katsina States
Speaking during a visit by the PTF team to some isolation centres in Lagos on Tuesday, Boss Mustapha said COVID-19 “will soon be a thing of the past, in view of concerted and sustained efforts to curtail the pandemic in the country.”
He said. “I think we are on course and the basic strategy of the national response is containment; try as much as possible to reduce spreads to tracking of those that have already been infected so that we minimize the the case of community transmission.
“We are doing very well. So far, processes that have been put in place, the plans, the objectives are being achieved.”
The PTF Chairman, who lauded efforts of the Lagos State Government at containing the pandemic, said: “Lagos is doing a great job” on containment of the pandemic, and urged residents of the State to continue giving government necessary support in the fight to kick COVID-19 out of the country.
Accompanied by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the SGF-led Task Force inspected isolation facilities at Mobolaji Johnson Arena Onikan; Lagos Island Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba; University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba; and Gbagada General Hospital, Isolation Centre, Gbagada.
Commenting on the visit, Mustapha said; “We’ve just taken a tour of this facilities that is very important place in anticipation that we’ll have to receive patients here.
“So far, I think Lagos State is doing a great job. From what I’ve seen here, they’re putting up a first class and a world class facility that will help us in the management of those that are affected with COVID-19.”
According to the Task Force Chairman, having listened to briefings from Lagos State officials, emerging signals clearly indicate the “reason for the lockdown and the processes currently put in place are achieving the desired objectives.”
Meanwhile, the NCDC said the 16 additionally cases have now taken the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 254 with 44 patients so far discharged and six (6) deaths recorded.
