Our Strategies To Tackle COVID-19 Working – Lai Mohammed

The Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed has lambasted some Nigerians who had come in with COVID-19 and are untraceable.

This was because many of them filled in untraceable details in their manifest as the government continues to curtail the spread of the dreaded virus.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday to give update you on the measures being taken by the Federal Government to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic, the minister said there is a long way to go, adding that the strategies being used to contain the virus are working.

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“We know our priorities and we know our challenges. We have taken very bold measures in stopping international flights into the country, and we hail the state governments that have taken equally bold measures in their states, which include the closure of markets and the prohibition
of large congregations.

However, we are determined to be more aggressive in enforcing the measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus, such as social distancing, contact tracing, testing, isolation of suspected, cases and ensuring that our messaging gets down to the grassroots

While noting that time is running out in tackling the epidemic, he said if more urgent measures and are not taken aggressively, there is a short window within which to stop the pandemic or face an explosion in terms of the cases.

“We cannot afford to be complacent. In view of this, we are considering tougher measures to enforce compliance, stop the exportation of the disease to states that do not have it and minimize spread. Possible measures include: stopping inter-state/inter-town travels, except for essential services, closing all motor parks and inter-state rail stations.

“Already, all train movements nationwide have been stopped. Using fire fighting and other adaptable vehicles and personnel to fumigated cities and towns.

“We will be considering and announcing new measures from time to time, but rest assured that whatever decisions we take will be in the best interest of Nigerians.”

While confirming the receipt of donated safety and test kits from the Jack Ma Foundation in China, the minister revealed that the supplies received are 100,000 Face Masks, 1,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and 20,000 test kits.

“The face masks and the PPE will be distributed to the front-line health workers while the test kits will be shared among the five test laboratories.

“We are also taking measures to increase the number of bed spaces for isolation of suspects. The facilities we have now include the 40-bed DSS Hotel, the 60-bed Medical Centre in Zuba and the 160-bed Women Development Centre in Abuja, We are still looking at other facilities within the Federal Capital Territory,” he added.

While noting that contact tracing is very critical to stopping the spread of the virus, the minister said that there 4,370 people of interest whom the Federal Government is tracing.

“We urge those who have had contact with suspected cases to immediately report to the authorities. We urge Nigerians to support the authorities in this regard. We are on the verge of reaching the level of community spread. We must stop this immediately or we will record exponential cases in the days ahead. There is no better way to say this.

“Let me say, without mincing words, that we are not getting the kind of cooperation that this moment deserves from Nigerians. Many are busy engaging in meaningless criticisms instead of complying with the stipulated directives to keep people safe. Some Nigerians who flew
into the country from overseas filled wrong addresses and phone numbers in their forms, making it difficult to trace them when the need arises. Some Nigerians defied orders to stay away from large
gatherings while some religious leaders willfully flouted the directives to ensure social distancing.”

He further said that the government is doing its best but the citizens need to do their best as well.

On the issue of fake news, Mohammed, he said the development is not helping the fight against the pandemic.

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“We have now gone past the stage of persuasion. It’s time for strong enforcement. This brings me to the rising instances of fake news associated with coronavirus. The epidemic of fake news is now competing with the pandemic of coronavirus, and this is not helping the fight against the
disease. Instances of such fake news include that there are only two ventilators in Abuja, out of which one has been commandeered for a top government official; that a British Airways Flight was due to land in Nigeria on Wednesday despite the closure of all international airports; that President Muhammadu Buhari has been coughing and is now on a ventilator. Fake. Fake. Fake. It’s all fake news.

“A section of the traditional media has also been engaging in scaremongering and irresponsible reporting on the disease. It is wrong to speculate on those who are positive or negative for coronavirus without any empirical information. In any case, being positive to coronavirus is not a death sentence, as we can see around the world.

“”There is no need for the kind of scaremongering we are seeing in a section of the media. The danger is that this scaremongering can even discourage some who may want to come forward for testing. We, therefore, wish to appeal to the media to be more circumspect in their reporting.”

He also noted that the suspension of activities by Air Peace, Aero, Azman, Dana and Arik is a boost for the efforts of the government to check the spread of the pandemic.

“Some of the airlines have also announced one form of support or another for the government’s efforts to tackle the pandemic. This is very commendable. We are aware of more private sector support to the FG and will be announcing this after full compilation.

“We seek the support and cooperation of more capable individuals and organizations in order to
defeat this pandemic.”

He also urged Nigerians not to panic, adding that panic is the greatest enemy.

“The Federal Government is determined to work with the good people of Nigeria to defeat Covid-19. And defeat the disease we will.”