COVID 19: Lock down Abuja, Lagos, Melaye advises Buhari

…Commends efforts of govts at federal, state levels

…Calls for prayers

Senator Dino Melaye has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to curtail the spread of the pandemic coronavirus in Nigeria by issuing an Executive Order to shut down Abuja, the administrative capital and Lagos, the commercial capital of the country.

He admonished the President that this should be done with immediate dispatch to save the country further spread of the virus condidering the cosmopolitan nature of the two cities.

Melaye who represented Kogi West senatorial district in the 8th senate said this in an address to Nigerians on the scourge of Coronavirus and the way forward.

Acknowledging the fact that these are bad times anywhere in the world today, the politician commended government at the federal and state levels for intervention measures put in place to forestall widespread of the virus and awareness already created to guide against its spreading.

Stressing that Coronavirus pandemic is a threat against humanity, he called for drastic measures by everyone, adding that “this is not about government alone or any particular agency of government – it is about all of us, hence all hands must be on deck to combat Coronavirus”.

Further charging the Fedetal Government inspite of all measures and actions taken so far to fight Coronavirus, Semator Melaye “call on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, lockdown the nation’s capital – Abuja – and the nation’s commercial nerve – Lagos – via an Executive Order.

“This is necessary in the circumstance, in order to prevent further spread of Coronavirus. There is no doubt that preventive measures are cheaper than treatment of any ailment, talkmore of a global pandemic.

Rallying support for the government, he called “on the rich and well-to-do Nigerians, multinationals, international oil companies (IOCs), and corporate Nigeria to financially support government at all levels to curb this menace.

This is a test of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Nigeria. I will take a lead in this regard from the level of my native Kogi State.

He urged Nigerians not to see the fight against Coronavirus as a ‘government thing’, stressing that it is not about the government, it is about humanity and that public health affects national development, hence it should not be politicised.

“Therefore, every Nigerian should act as if he or she has contracted the virus already and see everyone as a carrier of the virus also, so that all of us will see it as our collective duty to make Nigeria Coronavirus-free.

READ ALSO: Criminals using chemicals to melt vehicles glasses in Kaduna – NSCDC

“This is the time when wealth made or stolen provides no protection, guarantee or refuge.

“Prayer is the key, I urge us all to ask for God’s mercy and pardon. We should have a day of National Prayer.

“Finally, I commend government at all levels for the preventive measures and actions adopted so far to stop the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

It is therefore incumbent on all Nigerians to, as a matter of necessity, abide by all the rules of personal hygiene, self-isolation, and social distancing as spelt out by relevant government agenies like the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal and State Ministries of Health across the country and others, in order for us to win this battle against Coronavirus”, he said.