Chinese experts, based on the result of clinical trials, have confirmed that Chloroquine Phosphate, an antimalarial drug, has a certain curative effect on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a Chinese official said here Monday.
The experts have “unanimously” suggested the drug be included in the next version of the treatment guidelines and applied in wider clinical trials as soon as possible, Sun Yanrong, deputy head of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), said at a press conference.
Chloroquine Phosphate, which has been used for more than 70 years, was selected from tens of thousands of existing drugs after multiple rounds of screening, Sun said.
According to her, the drug has been under clinical trials in over 10 hospitals in Beijing, as well as in south China’s Guangdong Province and central China’s Hunan Province, and has shown fairly good efficacy.
In the trials, the groups of patients who had taken the drug have shown better indicators than their parallel groups, in abatement of fever, improvement of CT images of lungs, the percentage of patients who became negative in viral nucleic acid tests and the time they need to do so, she said.
Patients taking the drug also take a shorter time to recover, she added.
Sun gave an example of a 54-year-old patient in Beijing, who was admitted to hospital four days after showing symptoms. After taking the drug for a week, he saw all indicators improve and the nucleic acid turn negative.
So far, no obvious serious adverse reactions related to the drug have been found among the over 100 patients enrolled in the clinical trials, she said.
On Feb. 15, several departments including the MOST, the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration called a video conference to listen to drug research and clinical experts’ opinions on the drug’s efficacy on COVID-19.
The expert team, led by Zhong Nanshan, a renowned respiratory specialist and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, agreed that Chloroquine Phosphate can be used to treat more COVID-19 patients, Sun said.
Previous in vitro experiments showed that it can block virus infections by changing the acidity and basicity value inside the cell and interfering receptors of SARS coronavirus.
It also shows immune-modulating activity, which may enhance its antiviral effect in vivo and is widely distributed in the whole body, including the lungs, after oral administration.
The European Union says it can impose restrictive visa implementation rules on Nigeria, if it fails to play its part in the return and readmission of its nationals staying illegally in the EU.
The EU, which comprises Germany, Italy, Spain, France and 23 other countries, further stated that although it would not place a visa ban on Nigeria, it could make its visas more difficult for Nigerian applicants if Nigeria failed to meet its standards.
The EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms Virginie Battu-Henriksson, said this in an email chat with The PUNCH on Tuesday.
Recall that the United States had last month imposed immigrant visa ban on Nigeria and five other countries.
Under the new policy, citizens of the affected countries would not be allowed to apply for visas to emigrate to the US under the policy aimed at tightening “security for countries that don’t comply with the US minimum security standards or cooperate to prevent illegal immigration.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Nigeria presents a high risk, relative to other countries in the world, of terrorist travel to the US.
The US further stated that Nigeria did not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information, which is necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the US.
Following the US action, the Federal Government set up a committee headed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to ensure that Nigeria meets requirements the US said were not in place.
On February 5, the committee met with the US Consular General in Abuja with a view to addressing issues raised in the visa ban.
On Tuesday, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Mary Lenoard, explained that the visa ban was not permanent, adding that it was subject to review if certain conditions were met.
But while Nigeria is struggling with the US visa ban, the EU said it could impose restrictive visa implementation rules on it.
Nigerians among top 10 nationals illegally staying in EU
When asked if the EU had challenges Nigeria was trying to resolve with the US, Battu-Henriksson said Nigerians still placed among the top 10 nationalities detected as staying irregularly in the EU even though the number of Nigerians travelling irregularly to the EU had dropped.
She said Nigerian criminal networks remained active in the EU.
The EU spokesperson said, “Nigerians still place among the top 10 nationalities detected as staying irregularly on the EU territory, although the number of Nigerians entering the EU irregularly declined drastically last year.
Nigerian criminal networks remain active in EU
“Nigerian criminal networks remain active in Europe, and Nigeria remains the main non-EU country of origin for victims of trafficking (mainly women) registered in the EU.”
When asked if the EU would be giving Nigeria the “American treatment”, she said Nigeria could face a restriction if certain criteria were not met.
Battu-Henriksson stated that if Nigeria did not play its part in the readmission of its citizens living illegally in the EU, then strict measures could be put in place.
She said what the EU could do if Nigeria failed to meet its criteria was to adapt the rules on processing short-stay visa applications.
The EU spokesperson stated, “What the EU can do since new rules on short-stay visas to the EU became applicable on 2 February 2020, is to adapt the rules on processing short-stay visa applications, depending on whether a non-EU country cooperates satisfactorily on the return and readmission of their nationals staying irregularly in the EU.
“Under the new rules, the EU Commission will regularly assess the level of cooperation of non-EU countries on the readmission of irregular migrants. If the level of cooperation is insufficient, the commission, together with member states, can decide on a temporary more restrictive implementation of certain provisions of the visa code.
“This could have an impact on the processing time, the length of validity of the visa to be issued, the level of the visa fee to be charged and the fee waivers. It is important to note that this mechanism does not amount to a visa ban and does not call into question the right to submit an application for a visa or to be granted a visa. It only allows for a more restrictive implementation of some of the visa rules. This concerns short-stay visas to the Schengen area, covering stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.”
Battu-Henriksson recalled that in 2016, an EU Council decision authorised the opening of negotiations on readmission agreement with Nigeria – making it only the second country in West Africa with which the EU was negotiating such a formal agreement.
The readmission agreement seeks to ensure that Nigerians travelling to the EU take only the legal routes.
It also seeks to ensure that Nigeria is able to readmit its citizens living illegally in the EU.
“It is in our common interest to work on dissuading migrants to take dangerous irregular routes to Europe and risk exploitation. Returns and readmission are part of working on this common endeavour,” she said.
The EU spokesperson said Nigeria remained a partner in the fight against terrorism and human trafficking.
Battu-Henriksson said the EU was also supporting the multinational joint task force in its fight against Boko Haram and had donated 55 million euros to the African peace facility.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it had not received any official notice from the EU that it was considering Nigeria for visa restriction rules.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday, while reacting to whether the EU was considering Nigeria for a visa restriction.
He said, “We had European Union-Nigeria dialogue on Tuesday and the matter was not brought up. It was not brought up at all.
“Be that as it may, it has not come to us officially. And you know definitely that anybody who has a visa and the visa expired based on the conditions of the issuance, the person is expected to come back or renew his stay there.”
The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Population to investigate the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) over the various challenges being encountered in the registration of Nigerians for the National Identity Number (NIN).
This was sequel to a motion of Urgent Public Importance presented by Rep. Ben Igbakpa during plenary yesterday. The motion was titled: “The Need for the PTDF to Suspend the National Identity Number as a Precondition for Scholarships, and Related Matters”.
When the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over plenary, called for a voice vote, the motion was passed by majority members.
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Igbakwa, while presenting the motion, said the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) announced that applicants for its 2020 scholarship for Masters and doctorate degrees, must have a NIN and verify before applying for the scholarship.
According to him, the registration of the NIMC was “laborious and slow nationwide” and attributed it to inadequate facilities and manpower.
He said: “The Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Azeez, recently admitted in a national daily that they are overwhelmed with work because, whereas they need about 4,000 centres nationwide, they make do with only 1,000 centres at the moment.”
Ms. Laetitia Naankang Dagan, an Assistant Director at the State House, Abuja was on Monday night assassinated by unidentified persons in her apartment.
The Permanent Secretary, State House, Abuja, Jalal Arabi, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying that the 47-year Dagan from Plateau State, worked in her office on Monday till 8pm, but by 11pm, she was gruesomely murdered in her apartment by unidentified persons.
He described the killing of Dagan, Assistant Director of Administration in the State House, as “a painful loss, not only to her immediate family, but also the entire State House.”
“She was a dedicated, hard-working officer, and we all feel pained by her dastardly and untimely death,” Arabi told her family members during a condolence visit.”
Laetitia Naankang Dagan. Source Facebook
According to the Permanent Secretary, “We all share in your grief and pains, but be consoled by the fact that she lived a good life and contributed her best to the services of her nation.”
Arabi expressed confidence that “the Police will fish out the killers of Laetitia and the law will take its course.”
The Permanent Secretary prayed God Almighty to comfort Ms. Dagan’s family, the entire Staff of State House, and grant the soul of the departed officer eternal rest.
The chief security officer to Rotimi Amaechi has died in Kaduna, according to PREMIUM TIMES who learnt from security and official sources.
The officer, who was described as a senior intelligence personnel, died on Monday morning while on a trip with the transport minister.
Peter Afunanya, chief spokesperson for the SSS on Tuesday morning said that the officer was electrocuted at his hotel room.
“He died at his hotel during an electric accident,” Mr Afunanya said.
His death occurred hours after reports said Mr Amaechi’s convoy was attacked in Kaduna while leaving from a train station to the city centre.
Mr Amaechi pushed back against the report on Twitter Sunday night, saying it was fake news as no attack on his convoy occurred.
A source close to Mr Amaechi also said the officer died at a hotel in a case of electrocution, dismissing strongly any insinuation that it was from an attack.
The source could not speak openly because he was not authorised by Mr Amaechi to speak on a matter that is being handled as sensitive.
Mr Afunanya did not disclose the name of the hotel in Kaduna where the attack happened.
But sources who first informed PREMIUM TIMES of the officer’s death said it was from injuries he sustained from the attack.
Some of the sources include colleagues of the departed officer, although PREMIUM TIMES has not been able to independently corroborate the official or private version of how the orderly died.
Manchester United moved to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea after claiming their first League win at Stamford Bridge since 2012.
Goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire, who was lucky not to be sent off early on, sealed all three points for United, though Chelsea saw two goals chalked off after VAR reviews.
Lampard decided well before Monday night’s encounter to persist with 38-year-old Willy Caballero in goal, leaving the world’s most expensive goalkeeper Kepa amongst the substitutes for a second consecutive game.
Manchester United’s new signee, Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo, had his debut in this match and narrowly missed scoring his first goal mere seconds after he was brought in at the 85th minute.
The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has condemned the statement by the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen, Tukur Buratai that Boko Haram terrorist will remain in Nigeria for a long time.
Afenifere’s spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin said the comment was an indication that Buratai has surrendered to Boko Haram.
Recall that the Chief of Army Staff had revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents can be found everywhere in Nigeria including Lagos State.
He had also warned that terrorism would remain in Nigeria for a very long time in Nigeria.
Reacting, Odumakin said the comment was an indication that Boko Haram was in charge and not the security agents.
The Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary also lamented that Buratai’s comment came at a time when the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau had threatened President Muhammadu Buhari against visiting Borno State.
Buhari had visited Maiduguri to sympathize with people of the state over Boko Haram attack. But shortly after his visit the insurgent struck again.
However, Odumakin while speaking said: “Buratai’s comment is a clear surrender to Boko Haram, it’s also not surprising that he made the statement when Shekau was issuing a warning to Buhari never to return to Borno state.
“This is an indication that Boko Haram is in charge. Clearly, Buratai’s position has become untenable as the Chief of Army Staff.”
The Afnifere’s spokesperson also suggested that restructuring Nigeria was the only solution to the insecurity issues in the country.
“You can’t resolve the insecurity issue we have today without restructuring Nigeria, all we are witnessing in the country today in terms of insecurity is due to the wrong structure that is drawn along ethnic lines then you say you want a stable police in Nigeria, it will fail.
“In a federation both the federal and state government are subordinate, they make laws and they must have their security agencies to enforce the laws made. It’s only in Nigeria federation that you have central police,” he added.
Hundreds of Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, including the minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, have escaped attack by kidnappers on Sunday evening.
It was gathered that the kidnappers laid in ambush around Mando area and attempted to waylay the passengers, who arrived at Rigasa train station around 8:15pm.
Sources said no sooner the kidnappers opened fire on the vehicles than mobile policemen and soldiers arrived the scene in armoured vehicles to disperse the hoodlums.
“We were lucky the police and soldiers are nearby to come our rescue. The minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi was among the passengers. His convoy had to make a detour onto Rigasa road,” said a passenger, Musa Lawan.
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, a Ugandan child actress who starred in a Disney movie on the extraordinary life of a local chess prodigy, has died at the age of 15.
The teenage star of Queen of Katwe died of brain tumour, according to Gayaza High School, which she had reportedly attended since 2018.
Waligwa, who played the role of Gloria, a younger friend of the main character in the 2016 film, was “a darling to many”, the secondary school wrote on Twitter.
“No words can explain the pain at the moment,” it added.
Local media reported that Waligwa had first been diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016. After making a recovery a year later, she was found with another tumour.
The news prompted an outpouring of grief on social media, with users expressing their condolences and recalling her role in the movie directed by Mira Nair and filmed in Katwe, a slum in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Queen of Katwe was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, an uneducated girl from the eponymous slum who took up chess in 2005 and overcame overwhelming odds to become the first female winner of Uganda’s junior chess championships.
By the age of 17, she was representing the country at international competitions.
The film was received favourably in Uganda, where young people with no acting experience shared the limelight with stars such as Lupita Nyong’o, a Kenyan Oscar-winning actress, and Britain’s David Oyelowo.
One of those Ugandans was Waligwa, who as Gloria explained to Phiona the rules of the game in the film.
“The small one can become the big one,” is one of Gloria’s memorable quotes from Queen of Katwe.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity has commended the Supreme Court over its Judgement on general elections.
The Supreme Court had on Thursday in a unanimous judgement led by Justice Mary Odili sacked David Lyon as governor elect of Bayelsa state over Degi-Eremieoyo forged certificate presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The apex court upheld the November 12, 2019, judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja, disqualifying Degi-Eremieoyo from participating in the governorship poll.
In agreement, INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmoud on Friday then declared PDP candidate, Douye Diri winner and issued him certificate of return.
Reacting to the development, Keyamo commended the Supreme Court on its judgements.
He called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to sit back and solve its internal issues.
On his Twitter page, Keyamo wrote: “The Supreme Court has been firm and resolute so far regarding pre-election cases and Election Petitions. I commend their lordships.
“As a party, we have to look at our own internal party mechanisms that make us give our victories needlessly away to the opposition and take appropriate actions.”
Ms. Laetitia Naankang Dagan, an Assistant Director at the State House, Abuja was on Monday night assassinated by unidentified persons in her apartment.
