Point One

Health Minister Osagie Ehanire has often spoken about potential therapies for Covid-19, the raging pandemic in which Nigeria approached a grim mark of 4,000 cases as at the weekend. He did so again last week when he made known that Nigeria has shown interest to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be part of global solidarity trial of medicines being experimented to take down the highly contagious coronavirus, even as research is under way locally on potent medications against the virus. “Other drugs can be added to the trials based on emerging evidence. In all of this, we shall ensure the maintenance of ethical standards and safety of our people,” he said at a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 after government relaxed the hard lockdown earlier imposed to leash the pandemic. Some 24 hours later, the minister said government had not ruled out using local herbs to fight the deadly virus; he insisted, however, that the efficacy of any touted cure...

With formal expiration this Monday of the hard lockdown on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states, energies are on rebound as Nigeria revs from the coma brought on by restrictions necessitated hitherto by the Covid-19 pandemic. But let’s be clear: respite is coming in lockdown measures. The pandemic is yet very much with us, only that life must go on as we get a handle on strategies to halt its spread.   After five weeks of being in force, the presidential lockdown on the three jurisdictions regarded as hot spots of the pandemic – Ogun State merely for its close interconnectedness with Lagos – gives way from Monday to gradual restoration of socio-economic vibrancy. Other states not under presidential lockdown and rather with self-imposed restrictions are billed to align with the relaxation of restrictions. Only Kano State is exempt owing to a surge in coronavirus infections there. A two-week presidential lockdown slammed on that state last w...