Finally, the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 Pandemic (PTF) Wednesday at its daily press briefing in Abuja announced the much-awaited National Face Masks Wearing Policy.
This much was made public at the PTF press briefing by Nigeria’s Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and the NCDC Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu who warned that Face Masks Wearing Policy is to compliment other health experts’ recommended practices which include constant hands washing, Physical Distancing and maintaining good hygiene.
Both also advised the citizens especially the elderly over 60 years, those with chronic diseases and food vendors as well as persons going to the markets, malls and gatherings of many people to wear Face Masks.
They therefore asked Nigerians to patronize improvised or “Home-made” Face Masks which can be washed, dried and be used again instead of going for the scare disposable Medical Face Masks which is reserved for medical personnel in the frontline of the war against the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic ravaging the world.
SGF Boss Mustapha and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19
However, the PTF failed to address the begging question of where or how will the citizens who are observing the stay at home order will get the “Home-made” Face Masks to buy.
But before the PTF endorsed the National Face Masks Wearing Policy today, two State Governors – Professor Ben Ayade of Cross River and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, announced that their indigenous manufacturers can supply the nation all the Face Masks needed to combat Covid-19 pandemic.
Gov. Ayade has been showing off the Local- made quality Face Masks being produced in the Cross River state Industrial Clusters in Calabar. His counterpart in Abia state, Gov. Ikpeazu has also displayed Face Masks made in Aba popularly called “Aba Made” just as the whole world knows that Aba is reputed for tailoring or sewing and indeed fabrics manufacturing.
It is therefore a big surprise today to hear the PTF on Covid-19 bigwigs fail to recommend to the citizens to patronize Local Manufacturers or even comment on the availability of the products locally.
Also, one would have expected the PTF to even buy off all the “Home-made” Face Masks which they recommended to the citizens from Cross River and Abia states governments in order to ensure that the quality is good and later distribute to all Nigerians in addition to the Covid-19 Palliatives.
This is not too much for the PTF which has been mandated by the Federal Government to negotiate Nigeria out of the Covid-19 conundrum even with the huge sum of financial donations it has got from both local and international donors.
This is the way to save Nigerians from Covid-19 pandemic.
Harry Awurumibe, is Prompt News Abuja Editor.
