The Chairman of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Rivers State Chapter, Mr. Opunabo, Dokubo Captain Briggs has commended the proactive actions of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
He stated this over the weekend in Port Harcourt in a chat with newsmen.
According to him, “We appreciate all the measures the governor is putting in place to contain the COVID-19, although I think the measures are a bit stern and abrupt”.
He also observed that the enforcement of safety procedures and provisions of equipments to handle likely patients and for testing suspected cases is first place and very important.
“But in recent times, we gather there is a collaboration between Mr. Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria putting up isolation centres in addition to what the governor is working on. This is a welcome development”.
Mr. Opunabo however said he would like to see government give the citizens locked down in their homes as a result of the virus given a window of opportunity to buy their needs as markets are shut down. He suggested that the markets should be organized and managed in such a way that the traders can come out and trade in a given time under supervision.
“People can go into the market safely to shop and go back home under a stipulated time. We can manage it in terms of timing. For instance if one wants to buy food items he/she goes between say 10am – 12 noon. The entrance and exit clearly marked with people stationed in strategic places with wash hand water and sanitizers to attain to the people. This will help the traders and the city dwellers in minimizing the shortage and escalation of food items”.
He also suggested price regulation team to be raised to ensure that traders sell at normal prices considering the fact that the borders are now opened to food suppliers and medicals.
“Now that the borders are opened, then the shortage is no longer there and the need for price increase is also no longer there”.
Mr. Opunabo equally observed that the issue of sanitizers and face mask is critical, suggesting that the government should engage some of the bottling companies here to produce theses essential items so that one can be sure of their qualities at this time, as according to him some persons will take advantage of their scarcity to produce sub-standard ones that would endanger the people.
“We also encourage government to begin to invest in research so that subsequently we shall have an equipped and proper medical research laboratory in the state so that next time, if there is a next time, we have an epidemic like this, we shall not be caught napping”. He noted.
Mr. Opunabo made it clear that the state and the nation at large have people already who can look at any virus, analyse it and come up with solution or medication that will address them.
He stated that the nation cannot afford to wait for the Western World to profer solutions to problems before we can begin to solve the problem ourselves, adding that Nigeria has the human capacity. All that is needed is having government policies to deal with such issues.
“Our hospitals should be properly equipped so that we won’t have this sudden huge investment. The monies that are being raised to upgrade the capacity of our hospitals at this short time tells us that our facilities have been in dare neglect.
