Against the belief expressed by Federal Government and and most state Governors in the country that the lockdown order is one of the effective measures in containing the spread of Corona Virus, a non – governmental organization known as Equity International Initiative (EII) is advocating for the relaxation of the lockdown order.
Speaking to news- men in Port-Harcourt, the co-ordinator, of EII, Rivers State chapter, Barr. Franklin O. Otiotio said the continuous lockdown of most parts of the economic nerve centres of the nation is seriously destroying the economy of the country and wondered why the number of confirmed cases in places like Lagos and Abuja keeps increasing on a daily basis despite their total lockdown
He said work should be allowed to resume in phases, starting with food and agricultural chain so that farmers can utilize the raining and planting season regretting that a lot of people are sick and dying of starvation with no proper medical arrangements on ground to get people tested and treated.
Calling on Government to call off the lock down, he said the lockdown order so far has not served any useful purpose as Corona Virus will not be defeated by locking down but by looking for it’s cure and applying it to the Virus.
He further enjoined the Government to give attention to the health sector by increasing the number of medical doctors and health workers to meet the present challenges and stressed the need to take their increased incentives as a priority.
He maintained that as a country Nigeria has her own peculiarities as what works for other countries may not work for her and asked the Government to look inwards, look at what works best for this country and sponsor researches targeted at combating the pandemic while inviting retired but still active doctors and nurses to public service to help with the situation.
Equity International Initiative however demanded transparency, accountability and proper mechanism in the distribution of the COVID-19 palliatives from Federal Government especially as millions of naira are being doled out by well meaning Nigerians to help cushion the effects of the pandemic.
Commending the Rivers State Governor, Bar. Nyesom Wike on his efforts towards containing the spread of Corona Virus in the state, the group advised the State Government to open up the total lockdown in some parts of the state.
