The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Sunday, updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the latest development on COVID-19 and the reported mysterious deaths in Kano.
Ehanire, who spoke to State House correspondents on the outcome of the closed-door meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the duo briefed the President on the activities and overall positions of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
The briefing of the President took place barely 24 hours to the expiration of the government’s lockdown in Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun States.
The minister said the PTF presented to the President its advice and recommendations on way forward in the ongoing fight against the spread of the deadly virus in the country.
He said: “We also brought the overall summary apposition of the Presidential Task Force which as you know comprises of not only the health ministry but other ministries.
“We have aggregated the opinions that we have, weighing the health and the socio-economic factors and everything, to present our own opinion and recommendations to Mr. President.”
Ehanire believed that the nation was winning the fight against the pandemic as all relevant health institutions had agreed to work together to achieve the desired goal of defeating the coronavirus.
He added: The fight is going on very well. As I said, all countries have continued with the struggle against Coronavirus, using the strategies that they have developed for their own countries.
“We have developed a strong strategy as we are working with other experts groups like the NCDC and relevant health organisations.
“So, we are also working with the states and the governors.’’
The minister, who also spoke on the reported mysterious deaths in Kano, said his ministry had been communicating with relevant agencies including Kano State Government with a view to addressing the problem.
