COVID 19: Address nation, provide special intervention fund, Senate urges Buhari

As debate on Coronavirus took the centre stage for the second day running in the Senate on Wednesday, the upper chamber called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency address the Nigerians on the extent of the pandemic in the country and precautionary measures taken by the government.

President Buhari was equally advised to suspend government’s visa-on-arrival-policy, set up special intervention fund and keep abreast of all measures and developments related to Coronavirus globally.

Other measures recommended by the Senate include asking that the Federal Government should suspend airlines that travel to coronavirus prone countries, to close down all airports in the country except Lagos and Abuja airports while it charged the Federal Ministry of Health to call an emergency meeting of the national council of health to harmonise experiences and responses of ministries of health in the states.

These resolutions and others were reached after the consideration of a motion by Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) who said there is the need for the Senate to extensively discuss the issues and advise the government adequately.

Leading debate on the motion, Senator Goje noted that even in the US, all the 50 states are affected, adding that even though the government is doing well, but that the effort is not enough.

Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), in her contribution to the motion, said the outbreak of the disease is a wake up call for Nigerians to take personal hygiene seriously, adding that Nigerians should not go about in fear.

Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North), said because Nigeria’s borders are porous, adding that foreign nationals now use the land borders as entry and exit route to and from Nigeria.

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He, therefore, urged the Ministry of Health to immediately place a ban on citizens of countries already affected by the Coronavirus disease.

Jibrin Barau (Kano North) advised authorities of churches and hotels to introduce the use of testers in identifying infected persons so as to control the spread of the dreaded disease.

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) said “the issue at stake is one that calls for caution and proactive measures.”

“There are people who are having the virus and the symptoms are not there.

“For us to deal with this matter, individual contribution is key. Those who have travel to the epicenter of the disease are supposed to isolate themselves. Are they keeping to this?

“If you look at our health facilities, it is not in the best of state. Countries with good health facilities are on lockdown,” the lawmaker added.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) said: “We (Nigeria) are the largest black nation in the world, and our borders are very porous.

“The dangers that this virus will bring upon us because of our policy will be very dangerous.

“Once you’re not a Nigerian, we should stop them at the border and ask them to return to where they are coming from”.

Senator George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East) said: “Even those that have the technology to solve the problem, the virus is still spreading without respecting any person.

“Let the ministry of health come with real standard on how to behave now.

“Our airports and seaports are still open, and you don’t have the equipment to fight it.

“Let no one from this chamber travel out of here. Let us quarantine those coming from outside. Let us be more careful because we don’t have the resources to fight it,” the lawmaker appealed.

Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North) urged Senators who travel out of the country to quarantine themselves before coming to the chamber to attend plenary proceedings.

Senator Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe (Kwara Central) advocated for more resources to enable Nigeria establish test centres across states.

He stressed that the availability of funds will ensure effective tracking, testing and quarantining of anyone who comes in contact with persons identified to be infected with the disease.

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in his concluding remarks, called for improved measures to be taken so as prevent uncontrollable outbreak of the disease in Nigeria.

He cautioned that “even if our environment is hostile to Coronavirus, we need to be extremely careful. We won’t know when it adjusts to the environment and become very potent.”

The Senate in its prayers, accordingly, urged the Federal Government and Nigerians to keep abreast of all measures and developments related to Coronavirus globally.