Coronavirus: FG inaugurates 13-man committee

* gives them 6-month timeline

The Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated a 13-man Presidential Task Force for the control of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The inauguration, held in Abuja, was done at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) conference hall.

Daily Trust reports that the committee has the SGF, Boss Mustapha, as its Chairman, while Dr. Sani Aliyu, a former Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), is the National Coordinator.

Other members of the committee are Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Services, Sadiya Umar Farouq and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

Also, others include the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Minister of Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; DG SSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi; DG Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu; and World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative.

Speaking at the inauguration, the SGF said the timeline for the activities of the task force is six months.

He also listed the committee’s Terms of Reference to include:

To strengthen the national response strategy, particularly in the areas of testing, containment and management of COVID-19;

To strengthen collaboration with all tiers of government, private sector, faith-based organizations, civil societies, donors and partners;

To build awareness among the populace; and direct the deployment of any relevant national assets when necessary.

To lay a foundation for scientific and medical research to address all emerging infectious diseases; and

To advise government on the declaration of national emergency as part of the containment measures when necessary.

He said the committee are however expected to report on a regular basis to Mr. President.

Mustapha added that in order to give the activities of the committee proper focus, Mr. President also, approved the appointment of a National Coordinator (Dr. Sani Aliyu) who will manage the daily process, in collaboration with the existing institutions and structures.

He said the National Coordinator will be responsible for cohesion and efficiency in the roles played by the different agencies, operating in the treatment of the national response strategy.

The Coronavirus outbreak was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and was declared a pandemic by the WHO last week.