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NIGERIA'S ILL APPROACH TO CURBING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Written by Okofu Awele
Edited by Cyprian.C.Odifili

Nigeria has overtime been faced with numerous challenges ranging from ethnicity, economic recession, insecurity, inept leadership and religious divide, amongst other challenges confronting the most populous black nation.

The nation Nigeria in 2020, unfortunately found herself amongst nations of the world battling with the COVID-19 pandemic, after an index case was recorded first in Lagos State.

The corona virus pandemic also known as COVID-19, since its outbreak has posed a great threat to the human race. The disease has not only humbled  the believed world class health system of the developed world like United States, United Kingdom, Italy China, Spain and Canada, but the outbreak of the pandemic has also sent medical experts in endless researches aimed at finding a cure to the disease.

However, Corona Virus Disease (COVID19) is an infectious disease caused by yet to be identified virus! The disease causes respiratory illness with symptoms such as cough, fever, and most severe case, difficulty in breathing.

There's currently no exact vaccine to the COVID19, as at April 19th, 2020. Every country affected have taken different measures to contain the spread of the virus, and in treating the affected persons.

However, the federal/state governments of Nigeria in their efforts to contain the disease in Nigeria has taken some steps; including locking down most of the states, closing schools across the country, equipping and creating isolation centers to treat affected patients, amongst other measures.

On 1st of April, the federal government ordered a total lockdown of all activities in major cities of the country, so did many other governor's in their various states. This means all commercial and even personal activities have been restricted. Markets as well as other businesses are to remain closed for the stipulated number of days, as a way of curbing the menace. Critically looking at this drastic action, it is a very good way of preventing the virus, but the federal government has failed to provide enough palliatives for the people.

It's a known fact that the  majority of Nigerians earn a living through business and daily labour. The action of the "shutdown" has ushered most of them and their families into hunger, pains and agony.

While the rich Nigerians and members of the "government of the day" have stockpiled their homes with food items and other necessities, the poor and average Nigerians have been left to suffer.  Even the said palliatives from the federal government have been enveloped with controversy and ethnic coloration.

While some wealthy citizens of Nigeria and the international community have donated billions of Nigeria into the nation's coffer, there's little impact the donations have made on the people and in the fight against COVID-19. "To a very large extent, the federal government can be said to have politicized the fight against the pandemic, misappropriating funds as well.

The Minister of information, Lai Mohammed, was quoted to have said that "no Nigerian is hungry" and that the federal government has distributed billions of Naira to Nigerians.

Skeptically analyzing the statement of the controversial Information Minister, and if it is anything to go by, then the FG has enough questions to answer Nigerians on how the said money was distributed and the data of the recipients. Nigerians witnessed the engulfment of the Office of the Accountant General, by fire, few days after the National Assembly called for probing of COVID-19 funds/ FG palliative.

Another painful development is that Nigeria has lost more citizens to indiscriminate and unlawful killings by her security operatives and other hazard as a result of the "lockdown directive" than to the COVID-19. The security agencies set on the street to effect these orders are oblivious of their duty. Citizens are being bullied and killed for agitating for a means of livelihood.

To cap it all, the FG has been trying to copy the policies of the European's on  the fight against the virus, but obviously lacking the wherewithal. Most of the European government are financially supporting their citizens in form of palliative to remain indoors, amongst other supports, while in the case of Nigeria, the funds meant for similar purpose are being mysteriously misappropriated.

The government of Nigeria's approach to curbing COVID-19 pandemic has obviously been worrisome as a result of inept leadership. Indeed, our "heroes past", anywhere they are must be disappointed at the current hands handling the affairs of the nation. Their labours have been rubbed on the mud.