It cannot be doubted that the rampaging novel coronavirus is here to stay with mankind for a long time to come.
As a result, many nations of the world have devised ways of preventing the further spread of the pandemic. A few others have already started to ease the various measures like total lockdown and social distancing laws.
It is also safe to submit here that the reality of the day is that easing of lockdown measure and others are not being done by the affected nations because the pandemic is gone. Many of such nations are doing so to guard against the total collapse of their economies.
In Nigeria, a few state governments including those of Lagos and Oyo have, in addition to opening up of economies, asked certain categories of school children to resume for academic activities.
In some cases, some of these children have been reported to have resumed without following the protocols recommended by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
We can suggest here that Old Boys/Girls of different schools can support by supplying face masks and other items to help protect these innocent students.
This is certainly no time for us to let down our guards. Governments at all levels should embark on campaigns to remind residents of this fact. Market women/men and their customers have been seen in various markets in Nigeria flagrantly disobeying NCDC’s protocols.
Governments at all levels in Nigeria should not over-use the goodwill divinely granted to residents of the country (and others in Africa) that ensured that COVID-19’s fatality rates are reduced.
It is time for us all to assume that the novel coronavirus is still deadly. It is time to maintain and sustain the culture of social distancing, usage of facemasks, hand sanitizers, regular washing of hands.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
