STATES WOULD NOW HANDLE CASES SAYS PTF AS NIGERIA ENTERS SECOND PHASE OF CORONAVIRUS WITH OVER 10,000 CASES

PTF says Nigeria approaching phase two, cases pass 10,000

Olalekan Adetayo, Leke Baiyewu and  Tobi Aworinde

Leading health unions in the country on Sunday differed over Nigeria’s preparedness   for reopening of worship centres and other  sectors  in the country,   as the second phase of eased  lockdown ends today.

The Nigerian Medical Association, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives as well as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria spoke on reopening of worship centres just as the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 said in the next phase of the battle against the virus, states would handle cases.

The new President of the NMA, Prof Innocent Ujah, in an interview with The PUNCH, said  government should approach the issue of reopening of worship centres scientifically.

He said government must sensitise religious groups and other segments of society to ensure compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

Ujah stated that churches, mosques and others must abide by social distancing and use of face masks.

But the President of   the NANNM, Abdulrafiu Adeniji, said the reopening of churches and mosques should be gradual.

On his part, the General Secretary of the PSN, Emeka Duru, said churches were ready for reopening.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had on April 27 announced a “phased and gradual easing” of the lockdown declared to curtail the spread of COVID-19. He also declared a nationwide curfew with effect from May 4.

Two weeks after, on May 18, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, announced that the President had approved that the “phased and gradual easing” be extended by another two weeks.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said at the time that in spite of the modest progress made, Nigeria was not yet ready for full opening of the economy “and tough decisions have to be taken for the good of the greater majority.”

During the eased lockdown, the PTF said schools, churches, mosques and hotels remained shut, but some state governments, including Kano and Katsina, allowed the opening of worship centres during the last Sallah celebration .

Even with the extension of the eased lockdown, COVID-19 cases in the country increased to 9,855 cases on Saturday. No fewer than 2,856 patients have recovered from the virus, while 273 have died.

On Saturday alone, Nigeria had  553 cases, the highest since it recorded the index case on February 27. It has also tested 60,825 persons for the virus.

Already, religious groups, including the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, have been meeting government in preparation for the reopening of churches and mosques.

Nurses seek gradual churches, mosques reopening

In an interview with The PUNCH,  the President  of  the  NANNM, said the reopening of churches and mosques should be gradual.

The nurses’ president said, “In the first instance, they (churches and mosques)  are expected to be partners of progress with the government. A religious organisation (in the United States) went to court against the government and it lost. There is no way it could say the government should not try as much as possible to enforce public health law.”

The US Supreme Court, on Friday, turned away a request from a church in California to block enforcement of state restrictions on attendance at religious services.

Adeniji said, “If the religious institutions  are opened, we must know the limits and provide all the things that are expected to be provided. It is not a matter of multitudes just rushing in. It has to be bit by bit.

‘Lockdown hasn’t stopped COVID-19 spread’

“The people there should be asked to maintain social distancing, use masks and there should be fumigation from time to time. We have been in this (pandemic) since February. The lockdown has been on since around March and we have seen the results.

“Nigerians need to learn the basic rule of social distancing and public health regulation of adequate use of masks and having adequate knowledge and spread of the virus.”

He lamented that despite the partial lockdown, there were several violations, including people attending parties.

Adeniji said, “Some night clubs started hosting events. Even the transport operators started picking four passengers, even within towns and suburbs. The only thing is that the government is watching, with the advice of the experts. My take is that the lockdown has not stopped our problem totally and we must look elsewhere.”

“Besides, it is an equation — the economy on one side and bi-osecurity on the other side. As obedient Nigerians, each one of us should spread the message of how to maintain social distancing, even if you’re going out; use masks, wash your hands properly with soap; if you don’t get that, use sanitisers; and ensure that, if you are infected or exposed, you declare your status.”

Churches ready for reopening – PSN

But the General Secretary of the PSN, Emeka Duru, said the important issue regarding reopening churches and mosques was the economic ramifications.  According to him, churches are more ready than other sectors for reopening.

Duru said, “I think churches, from what I can perceive, are more ready, because they want to continue their activities, and they wouldn’t want the Federal Government interrupting their activities again, so they would try to enforce guidelines.

“For instance, in the Catholic Church, to which I belong, they also tell people not to engage in stretching of hands anymore. I believe that churches, especially the Catholic Church, would decide the number of people that will attend a particular session of mass, so that there would be a reduced number of people.”

He however expressed concern about  the reopening of what he described as “mushroom churches.”

The PSN secretary general explained that in such churches, as with any uncontrolled gatherings, “anything can happen, just like the buses we see on the road where everybody is on his own.”

Duru said, “It is not a matter of being ready. It is a question of if our economy is ready to sustain the present reality we have found ourselves. The Federal Government is a big institution, including provision of security, and it wouldn’t like to be embarrassed as the citizens are opening up the lockdown themselves.”

I have yet to see preparations for reopening – NMA president

The NMA President, Dr Innocent Ujah, said he had not seen any preparation for the reopening of worship centres.

He stated,  “What have we put on the ground to say they should push back a little bit? I don’t have the answer because I have to have evidence.

“They said there shouldn’t be more than 50 in a church or a mosque. But have we not seen congregation of people everywhere? What about markets?”

“But I have no power to say yes or no. I  am only  saying we should approach these things scientifically, because it’s science.  It’s not about emotions. The National Orientation Agency should also do its job. In this case, in my opinion, the NOA is not doing well. I think it should do more in sensitisation.”

He noted that with the eased lockdown, Nigerians were not abiding by social distancing and the use of face masks.

Ujah stated  “The issue of face masks and physical distancing is not obeyed or followed. I am a scientist and I’ve even commissioned some boys to look at the compliance on the use of face masks and social distancing.”

On non-compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, Ujah said though burials should be done quietly, people had been sighted crowding around graves.

He stated, “If you go to Lugbe, Nyanya (Abuja) or a place like Mararaba, Nasarawa State, there is nothing like social distancing. Over 90 per cent do not wear face masks. You have to have water to wash hands. We need to know whether there is universal availability of water to wash hands. That’s the truth.”

Nigeria approaching phase two, states to handle cases – PTF

Meanwhile, the PTF on Sunday met with the President. The PTF chairman said one of the recommendations submitted to Buhari was that  Nigeria would enter the second phase of the battle against the pandemic.

Mustapha, while briefing journalists after the meeting at the Presidential Villa, said the task force had made recommendations to the President. According to him,  states should now manage the pandemic, with coordination by the Federal Government.