President Muhammadu Buhari
Nigeria's
President Muhammadu Buhari has come under intense pressure whether or
not to relax restrictions imposed in some parts of the country.
There is serious pressure on Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari
to relax restrictions as the lockdown declared in Lagos, Ogun and the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to curb the spread of COVID-19 expires
today even as confirmed cases of the virus continues to increase in the
country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and experts have expressed fears
of the negative impact of the stay-at-home on the citizens and the
economy if extended.
Pressure is also coming from governors of the 36 states of the
federation who have declared complete or partial lockdown amid
complaints by citizens and businessmen on the terrible impact on their
wellbeing and businesses. They also want Buhari to relax the
restrictions but with cautionary measures put in place.
However, medical experts are of the opinion that the federal and
state governments should not relax restrictions as such an approach will
jeopardise the gains recorded so far.
Some of those spoken to on Sunday by Daily Trust, including
economists, industrialists, bankers and investment experts, said they
were conscious of the dangers that might come when the country is let
loose, and people allowed to flout social distancing and other measures.
They, however, said there was the need to kick-start the economy as
obtained in other countries but with measures that will compel citizens
to observe the rules.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said there was the need “to relax the total lockdown so that some economic activities can go on.”
“If you look at the situation around the world, it is clear
that what is needed to be reinforced is the issue of preventive
measures.
“We have goods imported at the ports and the distribution has
become a problem despite the fact that the port authority said that
people should go and take their goods. But if there is a lockdown, how
can you take your goods?” he asked.
He said that the lockdown extension would lead to shortage of essentials including medical items.
“I have seen many countries relaxing the curfew because lockdown cannot be perpetual.
“And what we have said is that many people are hungry and there
is no way of getting means of livelihood; we don’t want a situation
where people will then take laws into their hands,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Vice President, Laolu
Akande, said the reaction of Minister of State for Budget and National
Planning, Mr. Clement Agba, was enough to address the concern over the
pressure to re-open the economy.
Agba, who spoke last Thursday after the fourth meeting of the
Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) chaired by Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, had revealed that talks on reopening the economy for business
and related activities had begun as the country prepares for a
post-COVID-19 era.
However, a medical practitioner, Dr. Abdullahi Aminu, said the
federal government should not allow free movement in the coming weeks to
avoid escalating the spread of COVID-19.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also said that relaxing the
lockdown would lead to a rise in the number of cases recorded across the
country.
NMA President, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, said, “I am not an
economist, so I may not be able to properly advise on that. But with the
rising figures of recent, it is not the time to ease the lockdown.”
Dr. Fatima Damagum said restricting movement of people to prevent the spread of disease is not a new phenomenon.
“Indeed, it has been used for thousands of years,” she said, but advised relevant stakeholders to provide necessities of life for the people.
A leaked letter dated April 24, 2020 from the Nigeria Governors’
Forum (NGF) and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation/Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha,
had advocated compulsory use of face masks in the public after relaxing
movement restrictions.
The letter signed by NGF chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti
State, was written as a follow-up to a teleconference meeting with Vice
President Osinbajo on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
If approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, the governors suggested
in the letter that the impending broadcast that will mark the end of the
fourth week incorporates “Internal free movement (within a state) but
with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies; overnight curfews;
lockdown of flights; and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the
public.”
Also, members of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 were
locked in a marathon meeting on Saturday, April 25, on the format of the
partial restrictions to put in place in 33 states without fuelling the
spread of the coronavirus.
According to a source, members were inching towards partial restrictions in some states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“One of the knotty issues is a recommendation by the NGF that
there should be internal free movement but with restrictions on large
gatherings and assemblies nationwide.
“But the PTF took exception to the partial lifting of the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos, Ogun and Kano states,” the source said.
A fashion designer in Kubwa, Mr. Tunji Ismail, appealed to the
government not to extend the lockdown, saying the last 14-day extension
crippled entire businesses in Kubwa.
Similarly, Mrs. Bisi Ayuba, a caterer in Dei Dei, noted that since
the government ban on occasions, her family had been finding it
difficult to make a living.
A businessman in Kano, Alhaji Gambo Kofar Dawanau, said the global
economy was in shambles saying each country was adapting to the
realities of the time.
“We are lucky that the federal government had started grooming
us towards embracing agriculture. We should be encouraged to go back to
farms,” he said.
Malam Bello Haruna Singa said it was time to fully concentrate on
farming since the country was blessed with fertile land for agriculture.
Hadiza Saidu, a food seller near Kalwa House at Zarmaganda Junction
in Jos, the Plateau State capital, said the lockdown had affected their
businesses saying they lost many perishable food items.
Malam Isa Abdullahi, a butcher at Kurmin Mashi Market in Kaduna,
called on the federal and state governments to come up with a plan that
will see to the gradual reopening of the country’s economy.
Some residents of Lagos who spoke with our correspondents said the
government should ease the lockdown, noting that any further extension
would further deepen their economic woes.
Mr. Ayodeji Adeniyi, an insurance broker who resides at Aina
Street, Ojodu, in Ikeja, noted that the lockdown had brought untold
hardship on many Lagosians especially those who work in the informal
sector.
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