COVID-19: Senator Adeyemi warns FG not to kill Nigerian economy with European style

Senator Smart Adeyemi has warned Nigerian Government that COVID-19 shouldn’t be used to kill Nigerian economy.

The Kogi lawmaker gave the admonition that the Federal Government should not kill the nation’s economy with the adopted European style of fighting COVID-19 pandemic.

This is as the National Coordinator of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, admitted that poverty is one of the strongest weapons against the pandemic.

Adeyemi’s admonition against imported idea of fighting COVID-19 came in his capacity as Chairman of Aviation Committee, during an interactive session of the committee along with the one on Health, had with stakeholders in the Aviation and Health Sectors on safety measures put on ground in the wake of commencement of International and domestic flights in the country.

Senator Adeyemi in his remarks at the interactive session, said though based on realities on ground, COVID-19 is real, but not potent in Nigeria and many of the African countries.

According to him, based on that reality, it is wrong for stakeholders in the country to be swallowing hook, line and sinker, measures being adopted to fight it in Europe , America, China etc.

“There is something in us as Africans that is not in them in Europe and America, which made COVID-19 not to be disastrous here as it was there.

“In the light of this, measures that are detrimental to the livelihood and well-being of Nigerians should be avoided, so as not to kill the nation’s economy”, he said.

He specifically faulted the policy adopted by the Presidential Task Force ( PTF) on COVID-19 which allows only private laboratories to carry out tests on intending Travellers abroad.

The measure according to him, is detrimental to average Nigerians who are being forced to cough out N75,000 for such tests.

“The amount is too high, it should be brought down and public health institutions laboratories should be equipped to carry out the tests.

“People are not finding things easy outside there as a result of way and manner COVID-19 pandemic is being fought in the country and as Representatives of the people , feelers reaching us, indicate revolt against government in December if drastic actions are not taken between now and then, to make things easier”, he warned.