In a bid to curtail
the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed a
lockdown nearly two weeks ago.
The Nigerian leader
made the announcement in a national broadcast on Sunday, March 29.
The ‘Stay at home’
rule which affected Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States commenced 11pm on Monday,
March 30.
This triggered
opposition by legal practitioners and critics as they took turns to chide the
president for what they described as an arbitrary action.
The All Progressives
Congress (APC) government bowed to pressure and twenty-hours later,
presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said Buhari had signed the COVID-19
Regulations, 2020.
A statement he
issued noted that the president relied on powers conferred on him by Sections
2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004).
However, the Ogun
Government got presidential approval to effect lockdown in the state from
Friday ,April 3.
Ahead of the
expiration of the 14-day time frame (Monday April 13), Nigerians have been
wondering the decision the president would proclaim.
Taking into
consideration figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),
analysts predictions and the current situation, the lockdown might continue.
Also, health sector
sources and government body language suggest this is what will likely happen.
On Tuesday, April 7,
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) refused to
confirm or eliminate the possibility of an extension.
On Thursday April 9,
Lagos declared that the lockdown would remain in force until President Buhari
said otherwise.
In the last 10 days, calculating from the night the order was enforced,
cases in the nation’s commercial hub jumped from about 78 to 138.
Consequently, five
factors would be cited as reasons in the event of an elongation in the city
with a population of 22 million.
These are: Lagos has
recorded the most new cases; there’s an ongoing tracking of contacts/exposed
persons; hidden positive cases are being suspected; level of compliance
unsatisfactory/average and; growing fear of more new cases.
While proponents are
calling for an extension of the rule to guarantee safety of lives, others say
they don’t see the need.
They posit that the
number of cases has not really skyrocketed when compared to other countries in
Africa and for this reason, life should continue.
The opponents also
have premised their argument on the fact that the masses were suffering as they
could not go out in search of daily income to feed themselves, families and
other dependents.
They are accusing
the government of unseriousness and insensitivity, pointing out that
palliatives such as cash and food items were not provided before or during the
lockdown.
In Ghana, President
Akufo-Addo pronounced free provision of water for all citizens in April, May
and June as well as stable electricity.
Health workers
treating COVID-19 patients will receive 50 percent additional salary allowance
and will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next 3 months.
But the Buhari
administration has repeatedly stated that it is reaching out to “the vulnerable
and the poor”.
Minister of
Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, claimed that over 2.6 million households
have so far received N20,000 each.
The claim triggered
outrage off and on social media to the extent that organizations have demanded
a full list of all beneficiaries across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, there is
an outrage over SGF Boss Mustapha’s confession on Nigeria’s health system.
At a meeting with
the National Assembly leadership, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19
Chairman said: “I never knew that our entire healthcare infrastructure was in
the state in which it is until I was appointed to do this work”.
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