Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Centre for Change, has hailed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to gradually ease the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Lagos and Ogun States.
Okei-Odumakin, who gave the commendation on Tuesday in Lagos, said the president’s decision was a welcome development as it was harmful to permanently shut down those economic centres indefinitely.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president in a nationwide broadcast extended the lockdown imposed on FCT, Lagos and Ogun, said it would be eased from May 4.
“The gradual ease should be combined with strict observance of safety measures like wearing of masks, washing of hands and social/physical distancing.
“The fumigation of public places must also continue to keep the spread of the pandemic very low.
“Provision of support to the most vulnerable should continue as the impact of the lockdown would still weigh heavily on the poor,” she said in a statement.
Okei-Odumakin said the president’s warning to security operatives on human rights abuses should be strictly enforced.
She noted that it was embarrassing to the country that its security forces were in competition with Coronavirus on who would kill more Nigerians.
The NGO’s president said it might not be out of tune to ask government to mobilise and empower the universities, polytechnics, and research institutes to join the search for a vaccine that would serve as cure for the virus.
“Also in line with what other countries are doing, including African countries, our scientists and researchers should be mobilised.
“They should be encouraged to invent ventilators, test kits and such other equipment that are hard to come by internationally since every country is fighting tooth and nail to cope with the pandemic.
“Finally, government must keep abreast of latest developments around the world in combating the pandemic,” she said.
Okei-Odumakin said special attention must now be focused on practices, sects, and groups that were deliberately flouting COVID-19 protocols, thereby encouraging community transmission of the virus.
She said this was the major reason why the figures of the infected were on the increase right now.
According to her, it must be stated quite clearly that such ignorance and or irresponsible behaviour endangers everyone.
Okei-Odumakin said it would also ensure Nigerians remained in the stranglehold of the virus for a very long time to come, with dire consequences on the health and safety of Nigerians as well as the quick recovery of the economy.
