How many people are currently infected by coronavirus in Nigeria? Government officials say eight, public commentators insist the public authorities are not being entirely honest and for many cynics- especially on social media, the figures are unknown and would never be known, no thanks to the chaos in the public system and the clear unpreparedness of the public officials in Abuja and in the state capitals to deal with the pandemic. To the cynics on social media, corona virus incidence in Nigeria could be in excess of one thousand and the figures are rising daily under a cloud of ignorance, official incompetence and a culture of complacency that trivialises matters that ought to keep us on our toes.
Consider that today, public authorities have not been able to identify all who flew with the Italian who became the index patient from Milan to Lagos. Recall also that the man spent time in Lagos, reportedly went to a school to see his nephew, visited his factory in Ogun and returned to Lagos where he spent time with a relative before he reported sick and was taken to see a doctor. How many persons who had contact with the index patient in Lagos and Ogun state have been identified? Why is it impossible to track those who flew into Nigeria from Milan on 23rd February? Many had applauded Nigeria for “taking steps to screen patients on arrival from overseas.” What was unknown to this category of people who praised the federal government for “doing the needful” was that the virus is not detected by mere temperature checks and asking patients if they are feeling sick. While a few ignorant commentators were praising the government for putting in place, “structures and checks” they did not see in the UK, America and South Africa, they failed to ask a few basic questions like “how many test kits are in the country? How many isolations centres have we set up? What measures do we have in place to handle an outbreak of the crisis in the country?” These questions were not asked as we continually pressed the health minister for carrying out very mundane obligations like speaking to the press.
When we begin to look into this national failure in taking appropriate precautions to insulate the country from the menace of this pandemic, the irresponsibility of the Nigerian press in taking the leaders to account must be well noted. The first case of the virus in the country was reported in late February, almost two months after the crises broke out in China. Nigerian officials knew how China is connected to the world being the global manufacturing hub. It was only a matter of weeks before the virus spread to Italy, South Korea and then, America, Egypt and then 70 differen countries and before you knew it, more than a hundred countries confirmed cases of the virus in their country.
Nigeria had all the time in the world to prepare adequately to tackle this crisis. Funds could have been allocated and health facilities built to cater for Nigerians who inevitably would come down with the sickness. Sadly, the government in Abuja preoccupied itself with the politics of 2023 elections and similar matters that have no place at a time like this. Rather than point the leaders to the threats posed by the virus, the papers kept cheering the politicians, television hosts made politicians the most important guests on their flagship programmes and OAPs preferred to talk about events in the movie industry than enlighten the public on the global emergency.
Consider also that not long after the virus became a global concern, Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries banned all public events including religious gatherings. The Vatican joined quickly and the Pope began to deliver his sermons via video. Football matches in Europe were suspended and across the world, any event that could bring people together was put on hold. Curiously, Nigeria carried on as if nothing was happening, as if we live in a different planet and events in neighbouring Ghana of no importance to us.
Earlier today, news filtered in that one person has tested positive to the virus in Katsina State. How do you contain and manage this crisis in any state in Nigeria? How do you tell people not to shake hands, to practise regular hand washing and be hygienic in their conducts whether they are in a public place or in the confines of their homes? In Nigeria, things like handshakes, picking of nose and coughing, sneezing and yawing with mouth wide open are common practices and as we say, you do not teach an old dog new tricks.
So how will Nigeria survive? Can we begin to do belatedly what several other countries did weeks ago? Should we close the schools? Should we suspend religious gatherings? How about weddings, traditional and religious, can they be put on hold for now? What about the markets, what if they are shut down? Can the government rise to the occasion by placing the safety of Nigerians over all other considerations? Playing the ostrich would not help the country at this point; it has never helped and will certainly not in this period of crisis. There is fire on the mountain and the safest thing to do now would be to run, even if it means running behind those who have started the race weeks ago.
Let us stay safe people.
