Governors fear of possible second wave of COVID-19 pandemic

Per Second NewsNovember 5, 2020538

Nigerian Governors Forum has expressed fear of possible second wave of COVID pandemic in the country, urging immediate action across the states through scaling up testing capacity in all local governments.

The governors expressed worry about the current low numbers of those being tested for the virus in the country especially in the light of its resurgence globally.

Delta Gov. and Chairman of the NGF Sub-Committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force (PTF), Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who briefed the forum on Wednesday in Abuja, called for increased testing in all local government areas to avert a second wave of the pandemic from imported cases abroad.

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting by the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman, NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The PTF on COVID-19 had on Tuesday, warned that COVID-19 infections may spike across the country in the next two weeks.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha had alerted that the country was at the risk of importing more cases of the disease following the reopening of its airspace and the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country in October.

He had also cited the Edo and Ondo governorship elections as triggers too.

The SGF had also lamented the refusal of some Nigerians who, upon arrival from abroad, failed to present themselves for the polymerase chain reaction test they signed up for.

The NGF also commended the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) for clarifying the true situation on the distribution of palliatives at the state level looted by hoodlums.

They resolved that Fayemi should work with the CACOVID Chairperson to address the media on the matter and educate the citizenry about the palliatives provided by the states including cash transfers, food items, medical supplies, and tax incentives given to individual taxpayers and businesses.

The Acting Director of Corporate Communications of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Osita Nwanisobi, had on behalf of CACOVID explained why the distribution of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was delayed.

According to the coalition, the distribution of the relief items, which were for 2 million most vulnerable families in the 774 local government areas across the country, was delayed due to the magnitude of the number of food items to be distributed.

The coalition had added that the large scale of the nationwide food programme and the timing of the orders which coincided with the lockdowns and limited movement across the country, delayed the procurement and distribution of the palliatives.

Following the ENDSARS protests, the governors raised concerns about the prevailing security situation in the country.