By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The resumption of full business activities in Nigeria will depend solely in the response and cooperation of citizens from all walks of life to the defeat or mitigation of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
This hint was dropped on Monday by the Director General of Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu while speaking at the daily press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 in Abuja.
According to him, the complete lifting of the lockdown and resumption of full business activities can only happen when the numbers of Covid-19 positive cases drastically reduces across Nigeria.
Dr. Ihekweazu who is also a member of the PTF argued that he will want to see the flatting of Covid-19 curve in the country before full lifting of nationwide lockdown, adding that the present situation does not call for complete easing of the lockdown.
Said he, “I understand completely the arguments of the citizens especially a barber who cannot understand why a small virus can disrupt business activities”.
” I will want businesses to reopen but it will depend on how does the business owner wants to restart his business. We will want to know what steps the business owners are taking to safeguard staff and customers before business activities will commence”, the NCDC boss stated.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ihekweazu has defended the NCDC’s performance in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, pointing out that the Center is doing a great job bearing in mind the long years of neglect of the health sector
“When we came to NCDC 4yrs ago we met none functional Center and unserviceable
equipment that are littering across the nation. Sometimes, some of them are not working because of one problem or another. These huge equipment were bought with millions of naira or dollars. So what we are doing is to find those who can help us put them in good order”.
“We are partnering with JAC, a Japanese company which is very knowledgeable in the field to work with us to put the machines back in use”, Dr. Ihekweazu disclosed.
He however stated that NCDC is working extra time to ensure that Bio-medical engineers who are well versed in handling of the equipment help to put them into use, adding that NCDC is currently training personnel who will operate the equipment.
